“God bless you!” was all he could say.
At this moment one of the vigilants came up excitedly.
“We are just firing the last cartridges,” he declared. “What shall we do? Is it a retreat, Harmon?”
“Retreat!” cried the vigilant leader, clubbing his rifle. “Never! Come on one and all. The crisis has come. Now let us show them how brave men can die.”
The cowboys with their wild cheers were forcing the crippled vigilants back.
But even in the moment of their victory a strange sound came from the rear and a mighty cry went up from the throats of the vigilants.
“Hurrah! We are saved! Rescue has come at last.”
CHAPTER XVII.
ONCE MORE IN THE ENEMY’S POWER.
It had been Col. Clark’s firm intention to return to the fort for reinforcements.
It was a long ways, but he did not reckon this. He thought only of securing a sufficient body of men to cope successfully with the cowboys.