Half a dozen of the pursuers were in a position to cut them off,
and now rushed for the cottonwoods, yelling to their comrades to join
them. A score of lights flashed like giant fireflies as the lynchers
opened fire.
"They've blocked the way!" groaned Haines.
Three men had brought their horses to a sliding stop in front of the
cottonwoods and their revolvers cracked straight in the faces of Dan
and Haines. There was no other way for escape. Dan raised his revolver
and fired twice, aiming low. Two of the horses reared and pitched
to the ground. The third rider had a rifle at his shoulder. He was
holding his fire until he had drawn a careful bead. Now his gun
spurted and Dan bowed far over his saddle as if he had been struck
from behind.
Before the rifleman could fire again Black Bart leaped high in the
air. His teeth closed on the shoulder of the lyncher and the man
catapulted from his saddle to the ground. With his yell in their ears,
Dan and Haines galloped through the cottonwoods, and swept down the
lane.
CHAPTER XXV
THE LONG RIDE
A cheer of triumph came from the lynchers. In fifty yards the
fugitives learned the reason, for they glimpsed a high set of bars
blocking the lane.
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