Instinctively the highwaymen turned their heads to see what Major Rogers meant, and as they did the latter, hissing through his clenched teeth:
"Now then, Seth. Shoot the scoundrels!" whipped out his pistol and fired, Seth doing likewise so promptly that the two reports sounded almost like one.
With a groan and a cry of agony the two wretches, mortally wounded, fell to the ground, dropping the lantern, which, of course, was at once extinguished, leaving everything in darkness.
Vastly relieved at this sudden and surprising change in the situation, the driver was about to whip up his horses and make off when the stern voice of the Major rang out:
"Hold there! Don't start until I bid you!"
The man dropped the whip and reined in the horses.
"Jump out, Seth, and find the lantern," was the Major's next order, which Seth made haste to execute.
The lantern was found and relit, and then the Major proceeded to examine the fallen men.
They were both dead already, the Rangers' aim, in spite of the imperfect light and quickness of action, having been unerring, and as the Major regarded them with an expression, curiously blended, of triumph and pity, he said grimly:
"You poor fools! You've got your deserts, but you should have known better than to try and rob me."