Then the raider
wheeled his plunging horse back to the level, and went racing wildly
down the valley.
The compact bunch of bays and blacks seemed to break apart and
spread rapidly from the edge of the mesquites. Puffs of white smoke
indicated firing, and showed the nature of the raiders' excitement.
They were far out of ordinary range, but they spurred toward Ladd,
shooting as they rode. Ladd held his ground; the big white horse
stood like a rock in his tracks. Gale saw little spouts of dust
rise in front of Blanco Sol and spread swift as sight to his rear.
The raiders' bullets, striking low, were skipping along the hard,
bare floor of the valley. Then Ladd raised the long rifle. There
was no smoke, but three high, spanging reports rang out. A gap
opened in the dark line of advancing horsemen; then a riderless
steed sheered off to the right. Blanco Sol seemed to turn as on
a pivot and charged back toward the lower end of the valley. He
circled over to Gale's right and stretched out into his run. There
were now five raiders in pursuit, and they came sweeping down,
yelling and shooting, evidently sure of their quarry. Ladd reserved
his fire. He kept turning from back to front in his saddle.
Gale saw how the space widened between pursuers and pursued, saw
distinctly when Ladd eased up Sol's running. Manifestly Ladd
intended to try to lead the raiders round in front of Gale's
position, and, presently, Gale saw he was going to succeed.
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