Suddenly a thrilling cry went up.
“Fire! Fire!”
The stockade and ranch proper had been fired, and great columns of flame now arose.
The scene was fast becoming a thrilling one. Darkness was coming on, and the rattle of firearms the dark shadows of night partially dispelled by the flames, gave a weird aspect to everything.
Slow but sure was the conquest of Cliff and his gang.
Now he was driven to his last resort, the corner of the stockade nearest the river. Scarce a score of his followers now remained.
It was utterly no use for him to resist longer. The villain saw it but yet kept on fighting doggedly.
“Surrender, or die!” cried the lieutenant who led the squad. “It is your only chance.”
The remaining cowboys threw up their hands. But Cliff pitched forward in a heap upon the ground, struck by a pistol ball.
There he was found later under a heap of dead men. He was removed to the camp near and his wounds examined.