He noted with rising apprehension that they checked the pace of their horses as they approached, and that they reined to either side of the road to compel him to go between them.  But he pulled his own horse out still further, and as they could not pass on both sides of him without an overt act of hostility they drew together again in the middle of the road.

“Mornin’ stranger,” they said together, when they were a few yards away.

“Good morning,” said Dick, riding straight on, without checking his speed.  But one of the men drew his horse across the road and said: 

“What’s your hurry?  It ain’t friendly to ride by without passin’ the time o’ day.”

Now at close range, Dick liked their looks less than ever.  They might be members of that very band of Skelly’s which had already made so much trouble for both sides, and he summoned all his faculties in order to meet them at any game that they might try to play.

“I’ve been on land business in the mountains,” he said, “and I’m anxious to get back to my home.  Besides the day is very cold, and the two facts deprive me of the pleasure of a long conversation with you, gentlemen.  Good-day.”

“Wait just a little,” said the spokesman, who still kept his horse reined across the road.  “These be war times an’ it’s important to know what a fellow is.  Be you for the Union or are you with the Secesh?”

Dick was quite sure that whatever he answered they would immediately claim to be on the opposite side.  Then would follow robbery and perhaps murder.

“Which is your side?” he asked.

“But we put the question first,” the fellow replied.

Dick no longer had any doubts.  The second man was drawing his horse up by the side of him, as if to seize him, while the first continued to bar the way.  He was alarmed, deeply alarmed, but he lost neither his courage nor his presence of mind.  Luckily he had already summoned every faculty for instant action, and now he acted.  He uttered a sudden shout, and raked the side of his horse with both spurs.

His horse was not only large and powerful but of a most high spirit.  When he heard that shout and felt the burning slash of the spurs he made a blind but mighty leap forward.  The horse of the first stranger, smitten by so great a weight, fell in the road and his rider went down with him.  The enraged horse then leaped clear of both and darted forward at headlong speed.

As his horse sprang Dick threw himself flat upon his neck, and the bullet that the second man fired whistled over his head.  By impulse he drew his own pistol and fired back.  He saw the man’s pistol arm fall as if broken, and he heard a loud cry.  That was a lucky shot indeed, and rising a little in his saddle he shouted again and again to the great horse that served him so well.

The gallant animal responded in full.  He stretched out his long neck and the road flew fast behind him.  Sparks flashed from the stones where the shod hoofs struck, and Dick exulting felt the cold air rush past.  Another shot was fired at long range, but the bullet did not strike anywhere near.