A horse came galloping toward them.

A dozen rifles were drawn from their gunboats.

When the horse drew near, it made a detour, avoiding them, and eyes accustomed to the darkness could see that it was riderless.

With no pause, but commenting on this, they rode on.
About two miles farther on, from the surface of the plain came a flash of flame and the short bark of a forty-five, followed by another and another.

The men reined in, but the shots were directed the other way.
The marksman was evidently too occupied with his invisible target to notice them.