Evidently, Sanderson's silence had completely convinced them that they had killed him.
But halfway down the hill, one of the men, watching the rock near Sanderson as he walked, saw the muzzle of Sanderson's rifle projecting from between the two rocks.
For the second time since the appearance of Sanderson on the scene the man discharged his rifle from the hip, and for the second time he missed the target.
Sanderson, however, did not miss.

His rifle went off, and the man fell without a sound.

The other, paralyzed from the shock, stood for an instant, irresolute, then, seeming to discover from where Sanderson's bullet had come, he raised his rifle.
Sanderson's weapon crashed again.

The second man shuddered, spun violently around, and pitched headlong down the slope.
Sanderson came from behind the rock, grinning mirthlessly.

He knew where his bullets had gone, and he took no precautions when he emerged from his hiding place and approached the men.
"That's all, for you, I reckon," he said.
Leaving them, he went to the top of the hill and bent over the other man.