"Good work, Tom!" cried Carnes.
He raised his pistol and fired again and again into the darkness, from which still came the flashes of orange light. A cry of pain rewarded him.
"Come on, men, rush them!" he cried.
He jumped to his feet and dashed forward. A fresh beam of light stabbed a path through the darkness. A volley of fire came from behind it. Haggerty stumbled and fell.
"They've got me, Chief!" he cried faintly.
Disregarding the storm of bullets, Carnes charged ahead, Dillon at his heels. A sudden shout came from his left. A fresh beam of light made a path through the darkness and Carnes could see his opponents lying prone on the marsh. A cry of dismay came from them. Carnes fired again as he rushed forward. The men leaped to their feet and fled away into the darkness.
"Your light, Dillon!" he cried.
Dillon's light shone out and picked up one of the fleeing figures. The beam from the left was centered on another.
"Halt!" came a stern voice from behind the light. "You are surrounded! If I give the word to fire, you are dead men!"
"Dr. Bird!" cried Carnes in amazement.