Evening star., 1940-05-10
CHAPTER XVIII.


Already Silcott's mind was work
ing in stabbing brain flashes. One
Of the ambushers had fired too
soon, forced to it by the dogs dis
covery of them. Otherwise he would
have been killed at the first blast.
His opinion was that the wound
In his leg was not too bad. No
artery had been hit, though the leg
Of his boot pressed soggy trousers
to his flesh.
He was back Of pretty good cover.
The enemies would have to come out
from the pass to get him, unless
they waited where they were to
peck at him whenever he showed
his head. If he could stop the
blood flow he might be able to hold
his own for while.
The situation might have been
worse. Except for his wound and
the disparity In numbers he was as
well OF as the Hat T men. They
held him prisoner where he was,
but by the same token they could
not easily leave the rocky fort
where they were hidden ct least
not to move forward and attack.
One advantage more they held over
him. In case they decided to ride
away without finishing the job, they
could do so undiscovered. But Jim
did not expect them to 60. They
must know he was wounded. They
would stay and do their best to
rub him out. His guess was that
they would very likely succeed.
But not, he thought grimly, with
out paying a price.
There was a chance, but q slender
hope to rely upon. A frightened
horse has the homing instinct.
Blaze might make a beeline for
the Longhorn Corral. II so, Rufe
Jelks would Immediately organize
. search party. He would probably
call up Anne Eliot. who knew he was
going to take the cut OH. Given
the breaks, Silcott might look for
help in about three hours.
Jim Returns Fire.
Jim drew the boot from his
wounded leg. The bullet had passed
through the leather Of the upper
part OF the boot and the flesh Of
the calf, A nice clean wound, If
infection did not set in from lack
Of attention. In his pocket he found
q cord. Using a splinter Of rock
for the screw, he made and fastened
. tourniquet to his leg. Around
this he wrapped the bandana
taken from his neck. While doing
this. he had peeked around the
edge Of his shelter every few
moments to make sure til t his
foes had not come into the open
to charge him.
A bullet flattened itself on the
rock slab. Jim thought 1t time to
let the Hat T men know he was
alive and still active. He fred a
shot at the rock pile where they
were concealed.
Pixie had vanished into the brush.
Now the collie reappeared and
trotted down the slope. Somebody
In the Gap took a shot at the dog.
A squirt of dirt to the front and a
little to the right of Pixie showed
where the lead struck.
Jim whistled sharply to the pup.
which barked Joyfully and came
frisking across the open toward his
master. Again a rife cracked. The
dog leaped or was flung into the
mir, turned heels over head, and
landed hard on the ground. He
moved once, feebly, then collapsed
into a Hfeless huddle.
Wings One Attacker.
Resentment blazed up in Jim. He
had not expected three killers to
give him chance. But the shoot
ing Of little collie pup out Of
sheer wantonness was something
else. The fellow had probably done
1t in evaporation, because the little
dog had been the means of frus-
trating in part the surprise.
A man slipped out Of the Gap
rifle In hand, and made for q sand
hummock so yards away. Jim fred
at him and missed, took q second
shot, and the rifle fell. from the
mans hand. He clutched Ut his
forearm, turned and scuttled back
to the Gap. Meanwhile the guns Of
his companions had been drumming
ut Silcott. Sand spurted at the right
Of Jim. Bullets spatted against the
slab.
The Diamond Slash man grinned
wyly. His leg was painful but this
last exchange evened the score. II