Immediately the affair resolved itself into a hand-to-hand fight of the most fierce and desperate character, for the bandits were running away from some hobgoblin of terror, and the travelers of the plains were defending their dear ones with noble hearts.
Frank shut off steam.
The horse went a few rods further and then stopped and there stood like some prairie-monster, looking upon the battle with his brilliant eyes.
A dark form leaped over the blazing line of lights that streamed up in parti-colored splendor from the rail.
It was the avenger.
With a yell of furious joy, he sprang into the thickest of the fray, seeming to court death in his reckless manner of fighting.
“Hooroo!” shrieked Barney Shea, and with a bound the brave fellow went over after Dwight.
“Worra-worra!” he shouted, smashing a big Indian over the head with his heavy shillaleh, and laying the red-skin out in the neatest possible style, “I’m here, and I mane that yez shall know the same, ma bouchals. Aha, friend top-knot, be me sowl, I’ve not seen ye since last summer; bedad, so take this schmall wee favor, with me compliments.”
And then another red-skin got the headache in no time, for, while talking and shouting and hopping around like a merry grasshopper, he was putting in big clips, and getting some neat ones in return too.