Bang!
Again Grace Harlowe had fired at the same rock, and again she heard a scattering rain of shale that her bullet dislodged.
The highwayman hiding there threw his rifle away. She heard it fall on the trail, but was certain that the man still possessed at least one revolver, and perhaps two.
“Disarm This Fellow.”
“The rest of them! You have two more weapons. Out with them, quick!”
Two revolvers followed the rifle and fell on the trail, just as she was about to emphasize her command with another shot, as a reminder that she meant what she said.
With rifle at ready, Grace now sprang boldly to the ledge of rock where she saw a man standing leaning against a tree, a hand pressed to his forehead. A few yards further on were two others, one lying beside the trail, the other sitting with his back against a rock.
“How many of you are there?” demanded Grace of the standing man.