If he moved again in the same direction after firing they would not be able to reach him, and Warner, Reed agreeing with him, decided that they must make the attempt to remove him now or never.

It was a hard target, not much of Slade's body showing, but the entire party took aim and fired together at the leader's word.
Slade threw up his arms, fell back on their side of the mountain and then slid down the slippery slope.

Warner watched him with a kind of horrified fascination as he shot over the clear ice.

His body struck a small pine presently and shattered it, the broken pieces of the icy sheath flying in the air like crystals.

After a momentary pause from the resistance Slade went on, slid over a shelf, and disappeared in a deep drift.
"He's out o' business," said Reed.