Chapter 18

An hourglass passed, and my two were beginning to exchange glances, doubtless wondering why we had not yet appeared. I took a bead on the more distant warrior, afraid one of them might make some sort of move. One did. He checked his rear and found the bore of my Common centered on his chest. He let out a cry before I shot him.

I grabbed a second rifle as the other man whirled and fired. The ball gouged a furrow out of the meaty part of my right arm. He dropped his weapon and charged, loosing a horrendous scream that almost paralyzed me. Finally reacting, I adjusted for his movement and fired the second rifle. His body twitched, but he rolled out of sight behind a tree and came at me from a different direction. I planted a bullet from the third gun in his chest before he covered half the distance. Horrified, I saw the last remaining brave rise out of the brush. Cut was on him before he could fire his weapon.