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.
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