More than a dozen
horsemen were in sight at some distance from the wreck and with
their long-range rifles were doing their best to pick off any one
who showed his head.
"Our party must be out of ammunition," suggested Adrian, "or they
would give a better account of themselves."
"Our carbines would not carry that far," explained one of the
guards.
"Our Marlins will," replied Adrian, and as he spoke there were
two simultaneous flashes from two of the car windows and two of
the bandits fell, one shot from his horse and the other with his
horse shot under him.
For a moment the other horsemen hesitated as to the course they
should pursue and then, putting spurs to their horses, they
dashed toward the train, just as the express car, having reached
the end of the track, bumped onto the ties and came to a stop.
"Now!" cried Adrian as the riders drew near, firing as they came,
and four shots rang out.
The volley from so unexpected a quarter took the horsemen
completely by surprise, and they pulled up with a jerk. The
action proved their undoing, for as they stood thus for a moment,
they gave those in the train the opportunity they desired and the
volley that followed turned four more riderless horses upon the
plain.
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