\"Orfetchedhisownambulance，\"saidBriggs。
Nevertheless，afterapause，thewheelspresentlyrolledawayagain。
\"We’dbettergoandmeethimatthegate，\"saidRice，hitchinghisrevolverholsternearerhiship。\"Thatwagonstoppedlongenoughtoputdownthreeorfourmen。\"
Theywalkedleisurelybutsilentlytothegate。Itisprobablethatnoneofthembelievedinaseriouscollision，butnowtheprospecthadenoughpossibilityinittoquickentheirpulses。
Theyreachedthegate。Butitwasstillclosed；theroadbeyonditempty。