"I'll wait a few moments," Hal decided. "Then, if I don't hear from the scoundrels, I'll cross over to see what has happened to Major Davis." Crack! crack! crack! The vanished pair of train robbers were opening fire again, from behind a boulder that sheltered them admirably. Hal and Noll had no protection other than they could get from lying close to the ground. But they answered the fire briskly. Crack! crack! crack! As fast as revolvers were emptied the marksmen reloaded and again began firing. In daylight the execution would have been swifter, but all hits made in black darkness are made by the grace of luck. In the first place the only target anyone in the combat had was the flash of an opponent's pistol. The train robbers behind the ledge changed their positions after nearly every shot. And Hal and Noll, after the warm, uncomfortable experience of having bullets fan their faces persistently, found it advisable to crouch low and dart here and there, firing from new positions. All this time the scores of people on the train were sitting in terrified silence. Passengers or train crews rarely interfere in a case of this kind. Not even the train's lights aided either side, for the two young recruits had taken pains to close in on the ledge sufficiently to escape illumination by the train's lights. Crack! crack! crack! This was a new note, coming from past the forward end of the ledge. Almost in the same instant a howl sounded from behind the barrier of rock. Then another voice was heard, shouting. "Hold on! We surrender! Stop the shooting!" Instantly this hail was answered by another. It sounded good to the young recruits as Major Davis roared from behind the forward end of the ledge: "Then throw up your hands, keep them up, and walk into the train light where we can see you." "You won't shoot?" demanded the voice of the surrendering one. "Not unless you attempt tricks," replied the voice of Major Davis. "All right. Here I come." A lone figure rose over the edge of the ledge, and a tall, masked man, holding his hands very high, strode toward the train, passing between Hal and Noll, who instantly turned and covered him with their weapons. "Where's the other man?" demanded Major Davis, still invisible in the blackness beyond. "You'll find him behind the ledge," returned the surrendered one. "He's hurt too bad to move." "Overton," called the major, "keep your weapon trained right on that prisoner. Terry, join me behind the ledge." "Yes, sir," answered both recruits. Noll was quickly with the major on the further side of the ledge. Here they speedily found a masked man, short and rather thick-set, who had the appearance of being unconscious. He was breathing with great effort, a deep crimson spot appearing on his right breast. "May I ask, sir, about the man you went under the train to get?" queried Noll. "He's dead, my man," replied Major Davis very quietly. "Shall I try to lift this man, sir?"