reared and plunged and went down in a heap
beneath him.

In the meantime, Nick, Emerson, and Judge Harlin were exchanging rapid
shots with the rest of the sheriff's party. Those of the latter went
rather wild, because their frightened horses made it impossible for
them to take careful aim. And also by reason of the constant dancing
about of the beasts, the accurate markmanship of the men under the
trees was not of much avail. Nick found that his magazine was empty
and called out:

"Tom, give me some of your hulls! I used up all mine keepin' your
darned sheriff back. Gimme some hulls quick!"

He dropped a handful of cartridges into the magazine and raised his
rifle with the remark, "Now see 'em scatter!"

The sharp, crashing din of the Winchesters kept steadily on. One of
the Daniels party fell over on his horse's neck, and two of their
animals became unmanageable. Daniels had knelt behind his fallen horse
and across its body he was taking careful aim. Tom felt a bullet graze
his cheek, and saw whence it had come. "I'll put a stop to that," he
exclaimed, and in another moment the sheriff tumbled over with a
bullet in his shoulder. Mead felt a sharp pain in one side, and knew
that hot lead had kissed his flesh. It was the first wound he had ever
received. With a scream of pain a horse fell, struggling, beneath its
rider. From one man's hands the rifle dropped and his right arm hung
helpless by his side. Another horseman swayed in his saddle and fell
to the ground, and his horse galloped to the rear, dragging the man
part of the way with his foot in the stirrup.

Still the remnant of horsemen held their own against the steady rain
of bullets from the trees. Presently a flesh wound made Halliday's
horse unmanageable and it bolted straight for the grove. The four men
paused with fingers on triggers, looking at him in wonder.

"Who would have thought he had the sand to do that!" Mead exclaimed.

Suddenly his horse turned and flew toward the rear. "Whoo-oo-oo-ee!"
came a derisive shout from the grove, followed by a volley of
bullets. The other horsemen took advantage of the diverted firing, and
made a dash forward, dropping their rifles across their saddles and
using their revolvers. It was evident that they hoped, by this sudden
charge, to dislodge the enemy and force a retreat.

"Out and at 'em, boys," yelled Nick. "Whoo-oo-oo-ee!" And the four men
rushed from under cover of the trees, rifles in hand, straight towar