The Cowboy Leader pulled out two bullets from the saddlebag and bit them in his mouth, then withdrew both rifles from the saddle, pressing the bullets into the chambers of both. The other cowboys were doing the same.
These weren't the new-style repeating rifles, but used the previous loading mechanism. The magazine, plus the chamber, held ten bullets—two rifles meant twenty bullets.
Hunting and firefights were two different things. He wasn't sure if he could aim and shoot as calmly as hunting; all he could do now was to perform his best.
He returned one rifle back to the saddle, then looked around. There were about forty to fifty cowboys.
In fact, their total number was more than now, but some were off duty and went to the nearby town, hoping they could return in time.
The Cowboy Leader originally wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.
These traditional old cowboys clearly knew their worth; their hefty monthly wages were definitely not for retiring here.
