Elmer could just hear his soft footfalls in the sand. Suddenly
these ceased. Almost at the same moment there was the crack of
Buck's rifle, a groan and a moment later the scout was inside the
barricade.
"I guess I got him all right," he whispered, "he was makin' too much
noise."
This was the shot Ned heard miles away in the Cibola.
Again for some minutes there was no sound and then, suddenly and
from the left, came a spit of flame in the dark. Almost before
Elmer heard the explosion Buck's gun had spoken in reply. Both
bullets went wild, but Buck explained that it was necessary to give
shot for shot, "and right at 'em," said Buck, "as it takes a little
o' the ginger out o' them."
But the besiegers had undoubtedly widened out. The next signs of
them were two shots, almost together. Elmer's rifle made quick
reply, but, to the boy's surprise, Buck failed to fire in return.
The scout had disappeared from his companion's side. Before Elmer
could call out he heard a rush at the end of the barricade, and then
two explosions almost together and not ten feet away.
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