"Villain!" I ejaculated, too full of rage to utter another word.
We met at full speedy but with my unmanageable horse I could only ward
off his blow as he swept past me. We wheeled again, and galloped
towards each other--both of us impelled by hatred; but my horse again
shied, frightened by the gleaming sabre of my antagonist. Before I
could rein him round, he had brought me close to the pickets of the
corral; and on turning to meet the deserter, I found that we were
separated by a band of dark objects.
It was a detachment of mules that had backed from the gates of the
corral and were escaping to the open plain. We reined up, eyeing each
other with impatient vengeance; but the bullets of my men began to
whistle from the pickets; and Dubrosc, with a threatening gesture,
wheeled his horse and galloped off to his comrades. They had retired
beyond range, and were halted in groups upon the prairie, chafing with
disappointment and rage.