Hal aimed his automatic at him.
"Open it wide, quick!" he commanded.
The man hesitated no longer. He threw wide the door.
Again Hal glanced quickly about him; then gave the command in a sharp voice:
"Forward!"
Out the door they charged at a gallop—Hal and Chester in the lead, next
Colonel Anderson and Nicole, then Nicolas and Stubbs, with Ivan and
Colonel Edwards bringing up the rear.
Outside the door the enemy had drawn somewhat closer together and they stood with drawn revolvers as the riders charged.
There was no time for flight, and in spite of the fact that the charge was a distinct surprise, the foe opened with their revolvers.
Without checking their wild speed, Hal and Chester fired point blank into the faces of the men who barred their way. Whether they hit or not it was impossible to tell, but two men who were unable to jump out of the way in time, were knocked down by the foremost horses and the rest of the little troop passed over their prostrate forms.
But now beyond the enemy, Hal and Chester, leading, did not check the speed of their horses, for Colonel Edwards had mentioned the fact that there were more horses in the barn, and all knew that there would be pursuit.