He pushed on almost unconsciously, with no thought except that with his rifle, hidden in the darkness, he could wage one sharp and terrible battle with the murderers of Judie and Tom and Joe, before suffering death at their hands.

The lightning struck a tree just ahead of him, but he seemed not to observe the fact.

He was going into battle, and what was a thunderbolt more or less at such a time.

The rain followed, drenching him instantly, but not dampening his determination in the least..