Inza screamed.
The man who had seized her flung her into the carriage and leaped after her, jerking the door closed with a slam.
The whip in the hands of the driver whistled through the air and cut the horses.
Away they leaped.
The astounded people on the platform had seemed dazed, but now they awoke and shouted.
Buck Badger, who had sauntered after Hodge, turned at Inza’s cry. He saw her flung into the carriage and saw the desperate man leap after her.
“The old boy’s to pay!” cried Buck, his hand going to his hip. “That’s whatever!”
Two strides brought him to the edge of the platform. As the horses turned toward the street beyond the station something bright glinted in the hand of the Kansan. This thing was leveled and a spout of smoke burst from it.
The sharp report of a revolver added to the excitement of the moment.
With that report one of the horses gave a convulsive leap and fell to the ground, dragging the other horse down. The uninjured animal was so entangled in the harness that he could do little damage kicking. The carriage was overturned.