"Have you a bead on her head, Aleck?" he whispered; at the same time himself drawing his gun up to his shoulder and glancing along the double barrel; for Thad was of course carrying his Marlin with him at the time.
"Yes," came the answer.
"I'm going to count, slowly and evenly. When I say three, let go, Aleck!"
"I understand, Thad."
"All right. Hope we get her, sure. I'd hate to be bitten, or clawed by such a mad creature. Here goes, Aleck! One!"
"Yes."
"Two!"
A second passed, and then came the word:
"Three!"
It was drowned in a tremendous, deafening crash, as both guns were discharged so closely together that it made one report.