p where the fences are down. Damn the fog!"

The agreed signal of two shots reached them again, but clearer, like
drum-taps, and was immediately answered by scattering shots. A moment
later, as the two riders moved forward at a walk, a sharp volley rang out
quite clearly and they heard shouts and the crack of revolvers again.

"By George! They're coming--here we go!"

They put their horses to the gallop and rode swiftly through the fog. The
beat of hoofs was now perfectly audible ahead of them, and they heard,
quite distinctly, a single revolver snap twice.

"Oscar has them on the run--bully for Oscar! They're getting close--thank
the Lord for this level stretch--now howl and let 'er go!"

They went forward with a yell that broke weirdly and chokingly on the
gray cloak of fog, their horses' hoofs pounding dully on the earthen
road. The rain had almost ceased, but enough had fallen to soften the
ground.

"They're terribly brave or horribly seared, from their speed," shouted
Claiborne. "Now for it!"

They rose in their stirrups and charged, yelling lustily, riding neck and
neck toward the unseen foe, and with their horses at their highest pace
they broke upon the mounted trio that now rode upon them grayly out of
the mist.

There was a mad snorting and shrinking of horses. One of the animals
turned and tried to bolt, and his rider, struggling to control him, added
to the confusion. The fog shut them in with each other; and Armitage and
Claiborne, having flung back their own horses at the onset, had an
instant's glimpse of Chauvenet trying to swing his horse into the road;
of Zmai half-turning, as his horse reared, to listen for the foe behind;
and of Durand's impassive white face as he steadied his horse with his
left hand and leveled a revolver at Armitage with his right.

With a cry Claiborne put spurs to his horse and drove him forward upon
Durand. His hand knocked the leveled revolver flying into the fog. Then
Zmai fired twice, and Chauvenet's frightened horse, panic-stricken at the
shots, reared, swung round and dashed back the way he had come, and
Durand and Zmai followed.

The three disappeared into the mist, and Armitage and Claiborne shook
themselves together and quieted their horses.

"That was too close for fun--are you all there?" asked Armitage.

"Still in it; but Chauvenet's friend won't miss every time. There's
murder in his eye. The big fellow seemed to be trying to shoot his own
horse."

"