The chief and I were now both on our feet, not twenty paces apart.

We fired at each other at the same instant.

My usual luck held.

His bullet whizzed harmlessly past my head, while mine struck him full in the breast.
He reeled and fell, but I took no chances.

He had barely touched the ground, when I was upon him, knife in hand, and to make sure of him drove the steel into his heart.
This whole affair, from beginning to end, occupied but little time.