Hal saw no sign of an enemy and after the one whom he had accounted for, neither did Chester.  They kept careful watch, the while awaiting the signal that was to call them back to their horses in a final dash for safety.

From their places of concealment the lads heard a shot.  There was not a second.  Each was greatly worried, for neither knew who had fired it or whether friend or foe had been hit.  All they could do was wait.

At last the whistle came, the signal agreed upon.  It came so faintly as to be scarcely audible to those who had been awaiting it.  Hal and Chester moved toward the spot where stood the horses.  There they saw Colonel Edwards holding the bridle of his own animal.  A moment later Colonel Anderson and Nikol appeared.

“All right.  No use waiting longer,” said Colonel Edwards.  “Mount and we’ll run for it!”

All suited the action to the word.

“Go!” commanded Colonel Edwards.

There was a strange catch in the colonel’s voice and Hal glanced at him sharply before touching his horse.  He saw Colonel Edwards reel suddenly in his saddle, then fall heavily to the ground.

With a cry to the others, Hal leaped quickly to the ground, ran to the fallen figure of the colonel and bent over him anxiously.

The others, at Hal’s cry, also dismounted and returned to the fallen man.

“Stand guard there till I see what’s wrong!” Hal commanded.

Colonel Anderson, Chester and Nikol stood with drawn revolvers.

Gently Hal lifted Colonel Edwards’ head to his knee.  The eyes were closed.  The lad put a hand over the officer’s heart.  There was a faint beating.

A moment later Colonel Edwards opened his eyes.  He smiled feebly.

“Guess I’m done for,” he said quietly.

Hal did not reply, for the little wound just above the heart showed where the bullet had gone home.

Now Colonel Anderson knelt down beside his old friend.

“What’s the matter, old man?” he said.  “Did they get you?”

“They got me,” replied Colonel Edwards.  “You fellows go on.  You can do nothing for me.  It’s too late.”

A sudden shudder shook him and he burst into a fit of coughing.  His eyes closed, but he reached forth a hand and his fingers clasped Colonel Anderson’s hand.

“Tell the folks at home—­” he said feebly, then became still.

Quickly Colonel Anderson placed a hand over the other’s heart.  Then he looked at Hal.

“Dead!” he said simply.

For long minutes all stood there silently, their hats off.  How long they would have remained, it is hard to tell, but the sound of a shot close at hand awakened them to their own danger.

“We can do no good here,” said Colonel Anderson quietly.  “We may as well go.”

“First,” said Hal, “we shall move his body to a little hole in the ground I saw back here.  We’ll cover him up and then we’ll go.”