Snippet #2635205

The tent was wide enough to house up to a dozen people, if not more...though when Anna looked into the tent, she would only see one person. A child, a young girl by the look of things. The girl was laying on her side, her hands and feet bound, effectively restraining her and making her unable to move. She was also quite noticeably naked, not a stitch of clothing left on her body, with her body itself incredibly dirty, covered in dirt, dried blood, and other such stains. She may have been asleep, like the bandits, but the noise from the horses had certainly startled her awake. She lifted her head up, straining a bit to move herself into a better position to best see her new guest.

"W-Who are you?" the girl croaked out, her voice rather shaky and raw, as if she'd tired herself out screaming, or otherwise extensively using her voice.
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Horatio, meanwhile, heard the ruckus caused by the stampeding horses. Acting fast, he got out a match, and struck it alive, holding the tiny flame up from the entrance to the fort, knowing that Sheriff Thompson would be able to see the small flame with his spyglass.

He had to put it out after a minute, but the deed was done, and the posse was signaled. He heard a slight noise in the distance, and looking out he saw the telltale signs of an approaching party....the posse, riding on down to the fort!

He ducked out of the way, leaving room for the posse to ride through the gate. After a few minutes the thunderous sound of hoof-beats filled the air, as the large posse spilled into the fort, in pairs of two, until all the men and women they'd gathered were in. They all quickly dismounted, and get out their weapons.

"Shoot to kill! We gotta keep one left alive...but the rest can be damned to hell! Let's go!" Horatio urged, leading the posse forward.

One of the bandits, attracted by all the noise at the gate, came into view, and was immediately shot dead by Sheriff Thompson, the bandit crumpling to the ground moments later. That accomplished, Horatio and the posse started to surge forward, the sound of gunfire soon filling the air as the Dog and his men expertly ambushed the unsuspecting sinners.