"This'll do it!" he whispered. "Come on."
Texas' heart began to throb with joy—Texas was the one with the gun.
"Victory! Victory!" he muttered. "Wow!"
Ready to shout with excitement at his success he started to follow the other, who was already making for the dense woods at the side of the road. He backed away slowly, still facing the two horrified lads, still leveling his weapons at them.
"Not a sound!" he muttered gruffly. "Remember!"
He reached the edge of the shadow in safety, and then suddenly a noise caught his sharp ear. It was not from the two, but from up the road. It was the sound of a horse's hoofs, accompanied by a jingling of sword and spur. Texas glanced around quickly; it was a horseman trotting up the road, an officer from the cavalry post! And in an instant more Texas had sprung into the woods and was dashing away with all his speed.
"Run, run!" he whispered to the cadet just in front. "Somebody's coming."
Benny Bartlett had not nerve to give an alarm; but the printer's boy had. The fleeing pair heard his voice shouting:
"Help! help! Murder!"
And an instant later came a clatter and thunder of hoofs as the soldier dashed up.