Now that fellow raised himself, exposing himself more, but getting a solid left-hand rest for his rifle.
Hal could see and feel that the rifle was pointed fairly at him.
On the instinct of the moment the young sergeant fired. And he would have scored, had he not seen the other two riflemen leaving their cover also to get a better aim. That realization spoiled his shot.
"Gracious! That was my last cartridge, too!" groaned the young sergeant inwardly.
The realization made him feel creepy. It is one thing to fight bravely, when one has the fighting tools and a knowledge of their use. But it is quite another thing to face the certainty of being helpless with so many armed foes bent on one's destruction.
None the less, summoning up all his courage, Hal broke the revolver at the breech, allowing the ejector to shed the empty shells on the ground underneath.
With lightning motions Hal went through the sham of filling his cylinder with fresh cartridges.
"No use, little man! No use at all. If you had any more cartridges you'd get me now—but you can't. Come on, boys! We'll go under the tree and smoke him out!"
As he spoke, the leader moved boldly from cover, exposing the whole length of his body.
It would have made a splendid mark for as expert a shot as Sergeant Hal Overton. The soldier boy did raise his revolver, as though to shoot, but the leader, coolly confident, continued to come forward.