two he forgot his duties as a leader as, pistol in hand, he looked
for the little man under the enormous slouch hat. Once more the feeling
seized him that it was a long duel between Slade and himself that must
end in the death of one or the other, and he meant to end it now.
Despite the fierce notes of the whistle, coming from one point and then
another, he did not see him. He caught a glimpse of the gigantic form of
Skelly, but he too was soon gone, and then when he felt the restraining
hand of Shepard upon his arm he came out of his rage.

"Look there!" cried Shepard.

About a score of the guerrillas had been cut off from their comrades and
were driven toward the valley, where they remained on its edge, crouched
down, and firing. The deep snow in which they knelt was quivering.
Dick shouted to his men to draw back. Then the huge bank of snow gave
way and slid down the slope, carrying the guerrillas, and gathering
volume and force as it went. A terrified shouting came from the thick of
it, as the avalanche hurled itself into the valley, where the bruised and
broken guerrillas were taken prisoners without resistance.

Dick, after one glance at their fate, continued the pursuit of the main
band down the other slope. He knew that they were robbers and murderers,
and he felt little scruple. His sharpshooters fairly mowed them down
as they fled in terror, but all who threw up their hands or signified
otherwise that they wished to surrender were spared.

Still bearing in mind that it was their duty not merely to scatter but
to destroy, he urged on the pursuit continually, and Shepard and the
sergeant aided him. They gave Slade and Skelly no time to reform their
men, driving them from every clump of trees, when they attempted it,
and continually reducing their numbers.

The rout was complete, and Dick's heart beat high with triumph, because
he knew that his force had been the striking arm. They were nearly at
the foot of the far side of the mountain, when he saw Slade among the
bushes. He shouted to him to surrender, but the outlaw, suddenly aiming
a pistol, fired pointblank at the young lieutenant's face. Dick felt the
bullet grazing his head, and he raised his own pistol to fire, but Slade
was gone, and, although they trailed him a long distance in the snow,
they did not find him.

CHAPTER XIV

THE MOUNTAIN SHARPSHOOTER

Colonel Winchester's own mellow whistle finally recalled his men, as he
did