He had three shots yet left in his magazine, and his piece was at cock.
Rising, he made swiftly for the corn, and dived in.
"Back for your life!" sounded a voice straight ahead.
Crack! crack!
Two pistols shots fanned his face.
But Hal took another running bound forward, preferring to reserve his fire until he could catch a good glimpse of the fellow's body.
"Back, you fool!" hissed the voice, followed by two more shots.
"Come out with your hands up, or I'll get you!" Hal retorted.
Instead, the unknown and unseen turned and ran some fifty feet.
Hal pursued, without shooting.