In silence then they waited until, suddenly, the words were heard:
"Halt! Your money or your life!"
"Come!" and with the word Will and Hercules bounded from the ravine.
They saw farmer Lomax at a halt in the road, one man grasping the rein of his horse, and the other holding a pistol up in his face.
The farmer sat perfectly quiet, and the men each had an handkerchief over his face, with holes cut to see through.
"Come, out with your money, and lose no time, if you value your life!" sternly ordered Jerry, the Night Hawk.
The farmer thrust his hand into his pocket, drew out his well-filled wallet, and tossed it upon the ground, just as clear and sharp came the cry: "Hands up, Night Hawk Jerry!"
The two men uttered a cry of alarm and turned, to see the boy and the negro almost upon them; and recognizing Will, Night Hawk fired.
The bullet clipped a hole in Will's hat-brim, and at that moment the boy pulled trigger, just as the robber fired a second shot.
Down, dropped Night Hawk, a dead man, for Will's bullet had pierced his brain, while at the same moment Kent Lomax had hurled himself upon the other robber and held him at his mercy.