Yet, even as he hesitated, the remembrance came back to him of the evening before, when a Spanish officer had proposed to send him over the fatal ferry to Morro Castle.
The enemy would not hesitate; he must not. Besides, war consists of killing; war is gauged only by its successes.
With these thoughts surging through his mind, Hal Maynard steadied both hands and vision.
Crack!
His rifle spoke, and the sentinel at whom he had aimed dropped and lay still.
Crack!
Juan had waited only for this signal. Before the first sentinel had struck the ground, the second had received his death-wound.
Crack! crack!
Right on the heels of the first two shots came the next pair.
Before the last two sentries had time to turn, run or fire, they had met their fates.