They made an attempt to cross the creek and fired a volley.
But it did little damage, and another volley from the prospectors turned the tide of battle.
Overwhelmed with the force of the attack, the greasers fell back.
Frank sent the Steam Man close to the bank of the creek, and Barney and Pomp opened fire with their repeaters.
The greasers saw at once that their plan had failed, and they retreated in wild dismay.
Had it been daylight they might have been badly repulsed.
But in the darkness Silver Sam concluded that it would be folly and even dangerous to pursue them.
So this course was abandoned.
But the prospectors felt that they had gained an important victory and their cheers rent the air.
The greasers disappeared, and did not make an appearance again that night.