There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness. Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
"Quick, Hal! Grab him!" shouted Chester.
But quick as he was, Hal was not quick enough. With a snarl the man jumped toward Hal even as Hal leaped himself. The stranger was of much greater bulk than Hal and the lad was hurled to the ground. When he regained his feet the stranger had disappeared.
Chester, unmindful of his wound, had leaped from his cot and now ran outside. Some distance away he saw a figure disappear in the darkness. The lad did not fire a second shot, for at that distance he could not be sure of a hit and he did not wish further to alarm the camp.
Hal struck a light and the two chums looked at each other.
"Did you get a look at him, Hal?" asked Chester.
"No, did you?"
"No. He was in the tent for some time, but I waited until I was sure what he was going to do before I fired, though I had him covered all the time."
"You must be losing your eye. At that distance you should you should have potted him without trouble."
"I guess I could have done it this time had I tried," returned Chester.
"I shot at his revolver."