CHAPTER XXI
THE DUEL IN THE DARK
ALL this had occupied but a few seconds.
Private Hal Overton was on duty, and bent on business.
"I'll get one, or both of the rascals—dead or alive!" flashed through his mind.
Not even those two pistol shots brought him to a halt.
Yet one of the bullets struck the ground beside him as he raced, the other fanning his left cheek with a little breeze.
"Get back there, boy!" growled a gruff voice. "You don't want to be killed, do you?"
For answer Hal sighted swiftly and fired.
Then, for an instant, he dropped to one knee.