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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..65e546c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #62236 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62236) diff --git a/old/62236-0.txt b/old/62236-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7087742..0000000 --- a/old/62236-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7369 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jesse James' Bold Stroke, by William Ward - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Jesse James' Bold Stroke - The Double Bank Robbery - -Author: William Ward - -Release Date: May 26, 2020 [EBook #62236] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE JAMES' BOLD STROKE *** - - - - -Produced by Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: "He pushed out beyond the shadows of the trees."] - - - - - JESSE JAMES' BOLD - STROKE - - OR - - The Double Bank Robbery - - BY WILLIAM WARD - - -Jesse and his band while passing through Colorado on their way east -have many exciting adventures. The great desperado is captured by the -Indians, after a battle with United States Cavalry and is rescued by an -Indian maiden. He blows up an Indian village with dynamite and performs -other of the daring feats for which he was so noted during his career. -In a mining city in Colorado, he saves the life of a sheriff and robs -two banks, from which he and his men carry away more than a hundred -thousand dollars. - - - ADVENTURE SERIES No. 31 - - Copyright, 1909, by The Arthur Westbrook Company - - - Published by - THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY, - CLEVELAND, U.S.A. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Chapter Page - - I. Indians 7 - - II. Tied to the Stake 13 - - III. The Flight from the Cliff 29 - - IV. The Strange Battle in the Witch's Cave 39 - - V. A Desperate Charge 51 - - VI. The Race for Life 59 - - VII. Dew Drop Again to the Rescue 68 - - VIII. In the Fatal Circle 76 - - IX. When the Earth Fell Apart 85 - - X. In a Living Tomb 94 - - XI. Jesse James' Desperate Leap 103 - - XII. In the Hands of the Redskins 111 - - XIII. Under the Branding Iron 124 - - XIV. Jesse Takes a Terrible Revenge 142 - - XV. The Battle of the Blades 156 - - XVI. The Fight in the Golden Arrow 175 - - XVII. The Double Bank Robbery 181 - - XVIII. Conclusion 188 - - - - -Jesse James' Bold Stroke - -OR - -The Double Bank Robbery. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -INDIANS! - - -"Look! Look!" - -The cry was uttered by the foremost of a little band of horsemen riding -slowly in single file over the rocky bed of what had once been a raging -torrent. - -Darkness was descending over the canyon-traversed wilds of Southern -Colorado and the air was hot and still. - -Towering high above them, sinister and awesome in the half light rose -solid walls of rock. - -And as the leader of the little band had rounded a jutting crag, he -beheld a sight that had brought the startled cry to his lips. - -Far down the canyon, two fires glowed, seeming, in the darkness, like -the luminous eyes of some wild monster. - -Roused by the exclamation of their companion, the others drew rein, -peering intently ahead of them. - -Footsore and weary, for they had travelled fast and far during the day -that was just drawing to a close, the jaded horses stood, with heads -hanging low, while their riders stared ahead of them. - -"Them's either signal fires or camp fires," grunted one of the men, -after a careful study of the brilliant lights. - -"Ain't you the wise lad, though," snorted another. "You talk as though -we were tenderfeet. Any fool knows they're camp or signal fires. - -"It's which of the two they are that counts. Tell us that and you'll be -saying something." - -"Well, Comanche Tony's the laddy buck who can find out," snapped the -man who had first espied the glaring fires, slipping from his saddle. - -And without heeding the protests of the others, he glided away, soon -being lost to sight among the rocks. - -The little band of horsemen were none other than Jesse James' notorious -gang of outlaws. - -After their sensational hold-ups of the Overland Stages in the Devil's -Burying Ground, the last one of which had been done under the very -noses of a troop of United States cavalrymen, the outlaws had headed -for Arizona. - -Hiding in caves and riding by night they had eluded the troopers and, -at last, in the belief that they had outdistanced their pursuers, they -had relaxed their caution, continuing their flight by day instead of -under cover of darkness. - -Consequently, when the member of the desperate gang of cut throats who -was in the lead had caught sight of the fires, they were struck with -consternation. - -"It doesn't seem possible them sojers could have ridden round us," -exclaimed Bob Moore, as Comanche Tony disappeared on his reconnaissance. - -And this statement voiced the opinion of the others. - -"No, it doesn't," returned the bandit-chieftain. "But you can't tell. -Maybe they've sent word to one of the forts to the south of us and -they've sent out a searching party." - -"Phew! That would be tough!" gasped Sam Dirks. "We'd be between two -fires, sojers in front of us and sojers behind us. It would take some -figurin' on your part, Jess, to get us out." - -The fact was so patent that the leader of the outlaws made no comment. - -Well he realized the danger such a contingency would mean, yet till his -trusted pal had returned from his scouting expedition, he could make no -plans. - -Finding that they could not draw their chief out, the others whispered -among themselves for a while, finally lapsing into silence. - -Steadily the two fires, that had so startled them, burned. - -Once or twice, some of the bandits thought they beheld figures moving -about them. - -But the fancied forms disappeared so suddenly that they could not be -sure. - -"Seems as though it was taking Tony an all-fired long time," growled -Wild Bill, glancing about him, uneasily. - -But scarcely had the words left his lips than a piercing shriek rent -the air. - -"That's Tony!" "Suthin's happened to him!" "He's caught!" ejaculated -the startled bandits. - -With a burst of sulphurous profanity, Jesse slid from his horse. - -"Whatever has happened, we must go to him," he snapped. "Frank, you and -Sam stay here with the horses. The rest of you come with me. Be lively -now!" - -Yet before the desperadoes were out of their saddles, they received -still another surprise. - -The fires vanished. - -With a suddenness that savoured of the magician's art, the two balls of -flame disappeared before their very eyes. - -"It's the Devil's work," gasped Bud Noble. - -"Devil nothing!" snarled the world-famous desperado. "Come on! _We must -rescue Comanche!_" - -Little relishing the task of advancing down the canyon whose jagged -sides seemed alive with men, so excited were the imaginations of the -outlaws, they hastened on, stumbling and tripping over the rock-strewn -trail. - -With Wild Bill beside him, Jesse led the way. - -Every few yards they stopped to listen. - -But all was as silent as the tomb. - -"I reckon we're purty close to whar the fires were," whispered Wild -Bill, at last. "I can smell the smoke from 'em." - -"Guess you're right. Boys, get your shooting irons ready. We're liable -to run into an ambush any time. Keep to the rocks as much as you can." - -But his warning was of no avail. - -Of a sudden, the still, hot air was rent with whoops and yells. - -"Injuns, or I'm a nigger!" gasped Wild Bill. "Poor Tony! He's in for -it bad--unless we get to him!" - -Jesse, however, had made a more important discovery. - -The shouts of defiance had come from above. - -And as the last warwhoop rolled back and forth between the towering -cliffs, he raised his pistols, pointing them at random. - -Crack! Crack! - -Sharp and loud their report rang out. - -Sounded a shriek of mingled pain and terror and the next instant a dark -mass came hurtling down upon the little group of men standing huddled -together on the rocky bottom of the canyon. - -The smell of powder broke the spell that had fallen upon Jesse's -comrades. - -With rousing cheers, they greeted the falling form. - -Viciously their pistols barked as they emptied them at the towering -cliff. - -But their exultation was short lived. - -Yells, hoarse with rage, broke from the Indians. - -High above them rang some commands in the native tongue. - -And the next instant a deluge of rocks and stones was launched from the -cliff above. - -Fortunately for the little band of outlaws, the Indians had misjudged -their position and the avalanche of missiles fell to the south of them. - -Some of the scattering stones, however, struck the bandits, inflicting -flesh and scalp wounds. - -Walled in between the two sides of the canyon, the din was deafening. - -All at once, as there came a momentary lull while the redskins awaited -the result of their broadside, a voice bellowed: - -"Back, boys! Run for your lives! The bucks have tons of rocks!" - -It was Comanche Tony, who, despite the danger he ran of having a knife -jabbed into him as he spoke, had braved death to warn his pals. - -A moment Jesse hesitated. - -Loath was he to leave his intrepid pal in the hands of the Indians. But -he realized that should they tarry longer where they were, in the face -of Tony's warning, the lives of all of them might be crushed out in a -death more horrible than by bullets or torture--their bodies mashed to -a pulp between the boulders hurled from the cliff and the rocky bottom -of the canyon. - -"Stop firing! Back to the horses!" he roared. - -Amazed at this desertion of their comrade, the outlaws, nevertheless, -obeyed. - -And scarcely had they moved from where they had been standing before -another broadside of boulders was launched. - -"That was a close call," gasped Bud Noble. "It's a good thing we -started when we did. But it don't seem right to leave Tony." - -"We're not going to leave him," snapped the world-famous desperado. -"When we get back to the horses, I'm going to take Wild Bill and Texas -and go after him." - -Anxious and excited were the two desperadoes who had been left in -charge of the horses as they heard the sounds of conflict down the -canyon. - -Ignorant of how, what they supposed was a battle, might have gone, -when they caught sight of the forms running toward them, Frank -challenged: - -"Who's coming? Halt or we'll fire!" - -"It's all right! Don't shoot!" returned Jesse. - -Relieved at finding the approaching figures were their comrades -returning, Sam cried: - -"Have you got Tony?" - -But the world-famous desperado made no answer. - -"The rest of you wait here. Post sentries and keep your eyes and ears -open. - -"Don't move from here till I get back. Come Bill. Come Texas." - -And, his two pals at his heels, Jesse started up the canyon in the -direction from which they were coming when they had first seen the -fires, bound for a break in the wall of rock he had noticed as he -passed. - -But though he found it, because of the darkness, he was unable to make -any headway, ignorant of the lay of the land as he was and, at last, he -was forced to abandon his attempts to rescue Comanche Tony, deciding to -wait till daylight should come. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -TIED TO THE STAKE. - - -When Comanche Tony had glided from his companions at the bend of the -canyon, little did he think what was in store for him. - -Stung to the quick by the unjustified slur of the brother of the -bandit-chieftain, he was fiercely resentful, muttering to himself as -he dodged from rock to rock. - -Silently, stealthily, the wily old bandit drew nearer and nearer to the -fire. - -But he was labouring under a disadvantage that was to be his undoing. - -Constantly was he looking at the two fires as he advanced and their -glare so blinded him that he was unable to see aught at either side of -them. - -But the crouching forms that lurked in the shadows of the cliffs were -not so handicapped because their backs were toward the flames. - -Warned by the echo of hoofbeats, as the outlaws rode down the canyon, -the Indians had ample time to arrange their ambush. - -Who the travellers were, it mattered not to them. - -They were on the warpath and redskin or paleface was equally welcome. - -Yet so craftily did Comanche Tony approach that he was almost upon them -ere the keen eyes of the expectant bucks had detected his stooping form -as he glided from one rock to another with absolute noiselessness. - -Startled to think that any one could get so near to them and -disappointed that they were to capture only one prisoner, the bucks -watched the bandit steal nearer and nearer. - -Bodies crouched, muscles tense, the savages waited till their victim -was close to the fire. - -Scenting a trick, since he had been allowed to approach unchallenged -and could discern no sleeping forms about the fire, Comanche Tony had -turned, determined to get back to his pals without delay. - -But he was too late. - -No sooner had he faced about than the air was full of leaping forms -which the glare from the fires showed to be streaked with gaudy-hued -paints. - -Instantly the outlaw realized that they were Indians. - -Yet so sudden had been their appearance that they were upon him, -encircling him with their powerful arms, ere he could draw his six -shooters. - -For the moment, it maddened him to think that he, old Indian fighter -that he was, had walked unsuspectingly into the snare of the cunning -redmen, but only for a moment. - -If he had been caught, his pals should not be. - -And, utterly heedless of what the consequences might be to himself, the -intrepid old bandit let out a yell. - -Startled, the bucks gazed at their captive an instant, then their -amazement gave way to snarls as a dozen hands sought Tony's throat, to -choke off his outcry. - -And it was the terrific pressure exerted by the steel-like fingers that -had given to the shout of warning, the peculiar half wail, half roar, -which Jesse and his men had heard. - -Maddened by such defiance, the redskins uttered a few hoarse commands -and the next instant Tony felt himself lifted from his feet and -carried, in sturdy arms, up a path in the cliff. - -But even then, desperate as his predicament was, the fearless outlaw's -thoughts were of his fellows rather than of himself and he muttered: - -"I've warned the boys, anyhow, no matter if I did get caught in -springing the trap." - -Yet he was quickly recalled to his surroundings by feeling his feet set -on a rock. - -Accustomed by this time to the darkness, Comanche Tony was able to make -out that he and his captors were on a ledge in the cliff along the edge -of which was a black, irregular mass. - -Forgetting, in his eagerness to discover what this was, that he was a -prisoner, the intrepid bandit stepped forward. - -Uttering vicious grunts, two bucks grabbed him and threw him roughly -against the wall of rock behind them. - -"Paleface heap fool," snarled one of his guards. "Get too fresh, fall -over ledge, spoil Injun's fun!" - -"By my scalp, but I must have suthin' pleasant ahead of me if fallin' -to my death will spoil these devil's fun!" thought Comanche Tony. - -But again the contemplation of the perilousness of his own plight was -forgotten in the realization that his reckless attempt to warn his pals -had been of no avail. - -For, in the brief interval that he had gazed on the edge of the ledge, -he had seen several bucks frantically beating out the two fires with -their blankets, and he knew that whatever their game, the world-famous -desperado and his men would be in grave danger, forced, as they would -be, to advance in the darkness. - -Yet had he been an instant later, he would have seen the same braves -hurriedly scoop handfuls of dirt onto the glowing coals, after which -they covered the piles with their blankets and bounded up the path to -the ledge. - -On their arrival, a hasty pow-wow was held and the next minute Comanche -Tony had learned the purpose of the irregular mass of black along the -edge of the ledge. - -Lying flat on their bellies, the Indians braced their feet against the -wall of rock and threw out their hands in front of them. - -A sickening fear gripped the heart of the bandit as he divined that the -objects were stones to be hurled from the ledge. - -Wondering if he could warn his pals of the terrible fate awaiting them, -Tony's eyes were drawn to the figure of an Indian standing clear of the -others. - -Like a statue he loomed. - -All at once, he uttered an ear splitting yell. - -He had caught sight of a black line of objects moving in the canyon -below. - -Immediately his braves joined in and as the strident warwhoops rent the -air, the prostrate bucks exerted their strength and the first avalanche -of stones was started on its mission of death. - -But that it was launched too soon, the reader already knows. - -The suspense to Tony, however, was awful as he strained his ears for -the sound of his pals' voices. - -And as he heard their yells of defiance he heaved a mighty sigh of -relief which ended in a grunt of delight as he saw the figure of the -Indian lookout topple and pitch to the bottom even while the report of -a pistol rang out. - -"That was Jesse's shot, I'll bet!" he chuckled. - -But his exultation vanished as he saw the bucks stretched out on the -ledge move along to more stones. - -And then it was that, tempting Fate for the second time, he had -shouted his warning to his pals to flee for their lives. - -Too late was it for the redskins to save their missiles as his cry rang -out. - -But even as the boulders were hurtling to the bottom of the canyon, the -braves leaped to their feet and charged him. - -So terrible was their anger, that they almost crushed the bandit as -they pressed about him. - -"Have your fun if you want," grunted Comanche Tony. "I can't die but -once. But it'll be the sorriest work you devils ever did if you do kill -me!" - -The tone in which the fearless old Indian fighter uttered this defiance -was as calm and cool as though he were talking to a group of children -instead of to a pack of blood-thirsty savages. - -His gameness amazed his captors, though it only made them crush him -against the rocks the more furiously. - -But as he closed his eyes to keep out the sight of the hideous, -passion-distorted faces before him, a deep-lunged voice uttered some -sharp commands. - -In a trice, the terrible pressure relaxed and the next moment the -outlaw felt himself again raised from his feet and borne rapidly upward. - -Ere many minutes he could tell that he was again on a level and -instantly his mind sought some scheme by which he could kill time. - -For he felt that the world-famous desperado would not leave him to the -anything but tender mercies of the savages. - -Yet had he known that his beloved chief was even then returning to his -pals, having failed to find a way to scale the wall of rock, he would -have been sad, indeed. - -But he did not know and his ignorance was bliss, in truth. - -As Comanche Tony racked his brain for some manner to delay his captors, -more commands rang out and the Indians who were carrying him set him -down. - -The moon had just risen above the peaks of the mountains to the east -and, in its light, the bandit saw that he was on a plateau sparsely -covered with stunted trees. - -To one of these his captors guided him. - -As he reached it, a couple of the braves lopped off the lower branches. - -Whirling him roughly, his guards backed him against the tree trunk and -while they held him, others deftly bound him to the improvised stake -with lariats they had brought with them from the bottom of the canyon. - -Grave, indeed, was his situation. - -And it needed no one to tell the captive bandit that the redmen -proposed to burn him at the stake when they should tire of their -preliminary tortures. - -But as his plight became more desperate, Comanche Tony became the more -determined to gain time. - -Only one expedient was there of which he could think that was adequate -in his dire extremity. - -He must scare the painted bucks. - -And while he was considering whether he could do this the most readily -by threatening them with vengeance at the hands of the world-famous -desperado, or by telling them a squad of United States cavalry were on -their trail, the Indians made what was, to them, a fatal move. - -They kindled a fire about two rods from where Comanche Tony stood tied -to the stake. - -As the tongues of flame leaped in the air, their reflection was seen by -Jesse James and his men in the canyon. - -"By thunder! Do you suppose that's from the Injuns or the sojers?" -asked Wild Bill, as his chief sprang to his feet. - -"I don't know. _But I'm going to find out!_ - -"There's no need of waiting till morning. - -"Come on, everybody. We'll go down to where the first fires were." - -Quickly the desperadoes started, for they had ill liked the thought of -leaving their pal to his fate. - -With Texas Jack and Wild Bill at his side, the bandit chieftain -advanced till he reached the heaps of broken boulders that had come so -near to being their death a short time before. - -As the bandits gazed up at the top of the wall of rock, Texas remarked: - -"It's a cinch, Jess, those bucks have some trail up the cliff. We -didn't find any place to scale it, back where we come from, and by the -looks of the wall ahead, there isn't any break, so they couldn't have -got to the end of the canyon and back on top in such a short time. - -"That being so, it means there's some path near here." - -"Then we'll look for it. Get busy, boys. Comanche Tony's life may -depend on our haste." - -With a will, the outlaws set about examining the side of the canyon. - -And while they searched, their pal was sparring for time with his -infuriated captives. - -"See here, my buckos," he said, his voice as cool as when he had -addressed them before, "I reckon you're making a mistake. I haven't -done you any harm. - -"_But if you touch a hair on my head thar's not one of you who won't be -shot to pay for it!_" - -The redskin warriors, to the number of a score, had been standing about -the fire, now and then turning toward their captive as they jabbered -excitedly, evidently arguing over some part of their contemplated -torture. - -But as the calm words fell on their ears, they all faced about, while -one of them, whose peculiar head-dress proclaimed him to be a chief, -grunted: - -"Paleface talk heap big. Navajos fool paleface frien's. How um know -Navajos kill paleface. Heap Injun in country." - -"That may be. But my friends are not ordinary men. _They're smarter -than any palefaces you ever saw._" - -"You got caught. Heap smart, huh," and the chieftain grunted in disgust. - -"True enough. I did. _But my pals didn't._ They were smart enough not -to get under the cliff where you shoved the rocks over." - -Guttural grunts came from several of the Indians and quickly the chief -demanded: - -"Who you?" - -"I don't know that it's any of your business." - -"Me know. Great Bear know. Paleface army scout." - -Instantly the bandit realized that the braves had decided he was -connected with the soldiers of the Great Father in Washington. - -And quickly was he to see his advantage. - -"You're wrong there, Great Bear," he declared. "I told you you were -making a mistake. - -"I don't belong to the sojers any more'n you do. - -"_My chief's greater'n any sojers!_ He's got two battalions chasin' him -now!" - -This announcement produced a profound sensation among the braves and -excitedly they jabbered. - -But whatever his warriors were urging, their chief refused, again -turning toward his prisoner: - -"Paleface talk heap big. No fool Great Bear. Great Bear burn paleface -at stake. Paleface frien's cum, Injun fight um, scalp um. Ugh! Ugh!" - -And he sucked in his breath, making a gruesome sound. - -But Comanche Tony refused to be frightened. - -He knew that the Navajos were a peaceful tribe, as Indian tribes went, -and he wondered what had sent them on the warpath, till suddenly he -remembered the attack on the cabin Jesse had repulsed just before he -had made his race for life from the Vigilantes, and it occurred to him -that perhaps these were some of the same bucks seeking revenge. - -If such should be the case, it would never do for him to disclose his -identity. - -Their words had told him that they had no fear of the cavalrymen, so -that reference to them would stand him in no stead, and as minute after -minute went by without any sound or sign of Jesse, his hope began to -fail him. - -Yet no trace was there in his face of what was passing in his mind. - -Indeed, his wonderful coolness puzzled the redskins. - -They had been accustomed to see white men cringe and tremble before -them, and the words of Great Bear had doubtless been intended to strike -terror to his heart. - -But the fact that he was cool and indifferent made them think they had -captured a man who knew no fear. - -One more attempt they made, however, to break their captive's spirit. - -After a consultation with two or three of his warriors, Great Bear -spoke a few words in a low voice. - -Immediately four bucks stepped from the circle about the fire, their -scalping knives in their hands. - -Came a sharp command from the chief. - -As with one movement, the braves raised their arms and lowered them, -sending the wicked blades straight at their helpless victim. - -Shrilly the knives whistled as they sailed through the air. - -Fascinated, Comanche Tony watched the flashes of steel as they sped -toward him. - -Could any strain have been more nerve-destroying? - -Any one of the four blades, should it strike a vital spot, would kill -him. - -But all four were speeding toward him together, so nicely had the bucks -gauged their throws. - -Yet the bandit was too familiar with the nature of the redman not to -know that instead of striking him where death would result, the blades -would simply inflict painful flesh wounds, that the red devils might -gloat in the sight of his blood and agony. - -Every nerve in his body was atingle as he waited for the impact. - -Of a sudden, however, he made a terrible discovery. - -The knives were coming for his head. - -Like a flash, it occurred to him that his eyes and ears were the -targets. - -A trice he contemplated the possibility of dodging them, for his head -was not bound. - -But the realization came to him that while he might avoid one of the -whistling blades, he could not escape all four, and he decided to make -no move. - -Fortunate, indeed, was it that he did so. - -Nearer and nearer came the knives. - -Yet it seemed to Comanche Tony that years had elapsed since they had -left the hands of the savages. - -Of a sudden, he felt a cool draught against his cheeks, and then he -could no longer see the awful blades. - -Scarce able to believe his senses, he could feel no pain. - -Then it dawned on him that the bucks had been testing his courage by -aiming the scalping knives so they would just miss him, if he remained -motionless--and he thanked his lucky stars that he had not tried to -dodge them. - -It was the very refinement of torture to which he had been subjected. - -And well the redmen knew it. - -To see the wicked blades coming for his head and not to move it when he -was free to do so was an ordeal such as only one man in a million could -survive. - -But Comanche Tony was that one man. - -Eagerly the bucks had watched him. - -When they saw he had faced death unflinchingly, they grunted in -grudging admiration. - -"Paleface heap brave," exclaimed Great Bear. "Me know um now. Only one -paleface got nerve like that. Him Jess Jame. You Jess Jame. - -"Injun hate Jess Jame! - -"You got die!" - -The logic of the chief was crude. But it answered his purpose and again -he repeated: - -"Injun hate Jess Jame! Um got die! Burn um at stake!" - -Turning to his warriors, Great Bear addressed them in the Navajos -language earnestly. - -And so engrossed were the bucks in listening to the words of their -chief that they failed to see three faces rise cautiously above the -edge of the cliff and gaze at the strange scene. - -Jesse had found the trail and was soon to make his presence known. - -When the bandit-chieftain and his men had reached the ledge whence the -rocks had been hurled at them, he had ordered all but Wild Bill and -Texas Jack to wait there while he and his chosen pals climbed to the -top, fearing that the approach of all might be heard by the redmen. - -Sweeping the top of the cliff with a hurried glance the world-famous -desperado had seen, with joy, that he was in time to save the life of -his chum. - -Yet because he was aware that to act too soon would be as bad as to act -too late, he dropped back behind the cliff again. - -"Texas, go down and bring the others up," he whispered, putting his -mouth close to his pal's ear. "Don't make a sound going down. But it -won't matter coming back. - -"_I reckon the fun'll be on before you get here!_ - -"But hurry. We'll have our hands full." - -Hastily the bandit descended and again Jesse straightened up and peered -over the edge of the precipice. - -And what he saw made his face grow hard as he raised his six shooters. - -Bearing burning brands in their hands, two bucks were advancing toward -their victim tied to the stake, while two more carried armsful of dried -twigs and leaves. - -Less than ten feet were they from Comanche Tony. - -Squatting about the campfire, prepared to enjoy the writhings of their -captive, sat the rest of the Indians. - -The distance from the edge of the cliff to the stake was too great for -a pistol shot. - -Yet Jesse realized that he must act at once were he to spare his chum -awful suffering. - -Bending toward Wild Bill, he breathed: - -"We've got to rush 'em! Come on! Nail the devil's with the firebrands -first!" - -With a stillness marvelous in the rapidity of their actions, the two -desperadoes gained the top of the precipice and dashed forward. - -So engrossed were the bucks in watching their fellows that they had not -seen the bandits. - -"Give 'em a yell, then shoot!" whispered Jesse. - -With a will the two outlaws gave the old guerrilla battle cry that had -made Quantrell's men known and feared. - -Panic-stricken, the redskins leaped to their feet. - -Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack went the four six-shooters in the -desperadoes' hands. - -And with each bark of a pistol one of the Indians advancing toward -Comanche Tony, pitched forward, a bullet hole in his heart. - -But only for a minute did the braves lose their heads. - -Thundering at his warriors, Great Bear commanded: - -"Charge them! They are only two, we are twenty! We can push them off -the precipice!" - -Inspired by the words of their chief, which had been uttered in their -native tongue, the braves drew their revolvers, opening fire on Jesse -and Wild Bill as they advanced. - -Never had the guerrilla battle cry sounded so sweet as it did to the -ears of Comanche Tony as he stood, bound fast to the stake, watching -the bucks approach with the firebrands and twigs with which to kindle a -blaze about his feet. - -But, when turning his head, he saw only Wild Bill and Jesse and a -moment later beheld the warriors rally to the charge, he was filled -with fear. - -Two men, no matter how brave, would have little chance against the -overwhelming numbers of the redskins. - -Then he remembered that his six-shooters had not been taken from him -and he bellowed: - -"Jess! Jess! Cut me loose! I've got my guns! I can help you!" - -"Keep pumping at the devils, Bill," commanded the world-famous -desperado. "We've got to stand 'em off till the others get here!" - -And, discharging his own shooting irons the while, Jesse ran to -Comanche Tony. - -But though the shots of the Indians had been wild at first, they were -so close to the outlaws now that many a bullet ploughed through their -flesh. - -Seeing Jesse's purpose, Great Bear ordered the fire to be trained on -him. - -And so furiously did the bucks respond that the bandit-chieftain was -forced to give ground. - -Delirious were the yells of the braves as they saw this move. - -But their rejoicing was short lived. - -Aware, from the shots and shouts, that the fight was on, Texas and the -rest of the bandits hastened up the trail, reaching the top just as -their leader and Wild Bill were retreating toward the edge of the cliff. - -"Hold your ground! We're coming!" yelled Frank. - -Never were words more welcome than these as they rang in the ears of -the sorely pressed outlaws. - -And even as they heard them, a volley crashed from the guns of their -fellows. - -Surprised at the unlooked for re-enforcements, the bucks, however, held -their own. - -But only for a few minutes. - -The fusilade of lead poured into them was too galling. - -Though they outnumbered the bandits almost two to one, for death had -thinned their ranks, Jesse and his men fired three times as rapidly. - -Fast and furious raged the battle. - -Then, of a sudden, Great Bear shouted a command. - -With one accord, the bucks whirled and ran for the farther side of the -cliff. - -And, while some of his men pursued them, Jesse hurried to Comanche Tony -and slashed the bonds with his bowie-knife. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE FLIGHT FROM THE CLIFF. - - -As the severed cords of rawhide dropped about his feet, Comanche Tony -leaped from the tree to which he had been tied, swinging his arms like -a flail. - -"By my scalp! it feels good to be able to move 'em," he declared. "I -begun to think I'd never git the chance to use 'em again. I ain't never -been bound afore. - -"You come jest in the nick of time, Jess. An' perhaps the old battle -cry didn't sound good to my ears." - -"I reckon it did," assented the bandit-chieftain. - -All the while the two outlaws had been walking toward where the rest of -the notorious band were standing, making an examination of their wounds. - -"Any of the bucks' shots get you fellows bad?" asked the -bandit-chieftain, anxiously, as he swept the little group with his eyes. - -"Sam's got it the worst," returned Frank. - -Muttering an imprecation, Jesse strode to where Dirks was standing. - -"Where'd they hit you, Sam?" he asked. - -"In the shoulder, the right one." - -With tender fingers, the world-famous desperado cut away the -blood-soaked clothes, while his men gathered about to learn the extent -of their pal's injuries. - -As the red, angry looking flesh was exposed to view, they uttered -various exclamations. - -One and all of them had seen enough wounds to know that this was -serious. But to learn just how bad it was they awaited their leader's -announcement. - -"That sure is a nasty one," declared Jesse in a few moments. "The -shoulder blade's shattered." - -"It's too much for me to attempt to fix up. I'll just put a bandage -round it and then you'll have to go to some town where there's a -sawbones. - -"He'll probably say you'll have to lose your arm." - -The words evoked groans from the others as Sam wailed: - -"And it's me best arm, too. What good'll I be with only one fin left? I -wish the devils had a killed me." - -"Nonsense, man! Buck up! You can shoot with your left hand and when you -get into a fight there won't be so much of you to hit." - -This lugubrious consolation did not reconcile Sam to the prospective -loss of his good right arm, however, and all through the time his -leader was dressing the injury he lamented his fate. - -The wounds of the others, though painful, were not serious. - -Bud, Bob and Frank had all been hit in their legs. - -"I reckon you three," said Jesse, addressing the last named, "had -better be the ones to take Sam to the Sawbones. - -"He can't go alone, and if we should be obliged to make any hard rides, -it wouldn't help the holes in your legs any." - -Loudly the trio protested. - -"But suppose we run into the soldiers?" queried Bob. "Four of us, with -Sam worse than useless won't be able to do anything against 'em and -we'll get pinched and run to the nearest fort. And you know what that -means," he added significantly. - -"For my part I'd rather stay with you-all and take my chances on my -legs mortifying." - -But the bandit-chieftain was not to be moved. - -"I know it's a chance," he replied. "You've got to take it, though. -Sam's got to be taken to a sawbones and somebody's got to go with him. - -"If you do meet the cavalrymen, you can tell 'em you-all had a run in -with a bunch of men. - -"That'll make 'em think it's me you met and they'll swallow the bait. - -"You can describe us exactly and give 'em a steer as to where you met -us, only be sure you send them in the wrong direction. - -"If you only work it right, you'll be able to put the soldiers on the -wrong track and get yourselves clear. - -"Why, it's a cinch." - -"If it's so mighty easy, why don't you go with the boys and let me -stay?" demanded Frank. - -"Because they have my description too close," returned his brother. -"It's dollars to a piece of hard tack they'd recognize me the minute -they got their eyes on me. - -"And then it would be all up with little Willie." - -Jesse's argument was too cogent to admit of further dispute and, much -against their will, the quartette of wounded outlaws accepted the -decree of separation. - -But it was not ordained that the plan should be put into effect. - -The last of the wounds inflicted upon the bandits by the bullets of the -redskins was being dressed when Comanche Tony came up to Jesse. - -The old Indian fighter who, alone of all, had not been injured for the -reason that he had been tied to the stake and was therefore prevented -from taking any part in the furious encounter, had taken advantage of -the pre-occupation of his pals to make a little reconnaisance on his -own account. - -Familiar with the habits of the redmen, he believed from the fact that -he had seen no ponies in the canyon that the bucks were not far from -some of the villages of their tribe. - -Convinced of this, the bandit reasoned that the braves would return for -re-enforcements with which to avenge the slaughter, and it was to learn -if there were any campfires to be seen below, over the farther side of -the top of the cliff, that he had left his companions. - -To the east, as he peered through the bushes that lined the edge of the -cliff, he caught sight of a flickering light that came and went like -the spasmodic radiance of a fire-fly. - -For a few minutes he had stood staring at the curious sight, in -bewilderment. - -Of a sudden, its meaning came to him. - -When it did, he turned on his heel and made his way to his chief, -eager to tell him of his discovery. - -"What is it, Tony?" asked the world-famous desperado, as he caught -sight of the excited countenance of his chum. "You look like a woman -who's just heard a choice bit of scandal! - -"What did you discover? I saw you sneaking into the brush." - -The fact that his scouting expedition had been known to his master -caused the old Indian fighter's face to fall, for he had thought that -his going had been unnoticed. - -"Poke fun at me if you want to," he retorted. "You may not git the -chance to laugh again for some time." - -The seriousness of their pal's tone hushed the hilarity on the outlaws' -lips. - -Yet before he had the opportunity to explain his words, Wild Bill cried: - -"Look! Look! To the north! Quick!" - -Believing their fellow had caught sight of the redskins coming back, -the desperadoes wheeled like a flash, whipping out their shooting irons -at the same time. - -But it was not Indians they saw. - -Hastily raising their eyes, when they found that it was no skulking -figures that had called forth Wild Bill's excited exclamation, they -were just in time to see a shower of seeming stars dropping through the -air. - -"It's a falling meteor!" ejaculated Bob Moore. - -Believing it was, indeed, some of those phenomena so common on the -plains, the outlaws gazed at the spectacular sight. - -But the bandit-chieftain did not share their opinion. - -"Dropping meteor nothing," he exclaimed. "Have you fellows all gone -nutty that you can't recognize a falling rocket? - -"You've seen enough of them, I should think." - -"That's just what I was goin' to say," declared the bandit who had been -the one to call the attention of his fellows. "When I first saw it, -them white stars was a green ball." - -"Then it's a signal," ejaculated Bud. - -"My eye! but you're the wise guys," grunted Jesse. - -"Of course it's a signal. You didn't think it was old Great Bear giving -a fireworks display in our honour, did you? - -"It's a signal, all right, all right, and it's from those cavalry -fellows, too. - -"Injuns don't go round carrying a stock of rockets in their belts. - -"Now the thing to do is to find out what point of the compass they're -signalling to." - -With alacrity, the outlaws faced about, some gazing in one direction -and some in another. - -Not long were they obliged to wait to learn the answer to their -leader's question, however. - -Scarcely had the shower of sparks vanished than one of them sang out: -"Here she comes, from the East, boys!" - -But the words had no more than left his lips than another shouted: - -"They're answering from the south, too!" - -Rapidly Jesse and his men whirled, viewing first the rocket to the east -and then to the south. - -"Jumpin' snakes! They've got us surrounded!" gasped Texas Jack. - -"You're wrong, pard," interposed Bob. "They haven't quite surrounded us -yet. There's been no rocket from the West." - -"And that's the side of the canyon where our horses are. Were sure in -luck. I reckon it's a good thing we had this brush with the redskins. -It's showed us where the sojers are," chimed in Homely Harry, not -wishing to let the others get ahead of him. - -"After them rockets, we kin ride dead West an' git away. If it hadn't -been for the Injuns we might a rid right into some of the sojers." - -"Come on! We'll go down and get the ponies while we have the chance," -cried Frank, moving toward the edge of the cliff. - -Ere he had taken more than a few strides in the carrying out of his -purpose, Jesse's voice rang out: - -"Hold on; don't be in such a hurry! - -"_If any of you show yourself on the edge of the cliff, I'll drop you -in your tracks!_" - -In amazement those of the outlaws who had started after Frank, stopped -and turned toward their leader, their surprise evident in their faces. - -"What's the reason we can't get the horses?" snapped the elder of the -James boys. "Speak lively! You're wasting valuable time!" - -"It's better to waste time than our lives, isn't it?" returned his -brother, with a deliberation that was exasperating to the highly -wrought bandits. - -"You ought to know better, Frank. - -"I reckon Texas hit it right when he said we were surrounded!" - -"Then why didn't the men in the West send up a rocket?" demanded the -elder of the James boys. - -"_Because they're on our trail!_" - -This statement produced a profound sensation among the bandits and -quickly they plied Jesse with questions as to his reasons for making -it, that is, all but Frank, who, with a sneer started toward the edge -of the cliff to find out for himself, though it was eloquent testimony -for his secret regard for his brother's intuition that he dropped to -his belly and approached the precipice with all the caution of which he -was master. - -Smiling as he saw this indication of alarm, Jesse addressed the others: - -"It's an old trick among troopers, one that will be well for you to -remember in the future, when they are on a search, for the squad that's -hit the trail not to answer the rocket signals of the others. - -"If the men they're hunting happen to see the rockets in every -direction but one, they'll naturally make the move Homely -suggested--ride away in the direction from which there was no -signal--and fall right into the trap! - -"I had a close call once--before I got wise. That's how I happen to -know. - -"How near the troopers on the west are to us, of course I can't tell. - -"But they're not very far off. They've hit our trail in the canyon -and--" - -"They're right down at the foot of the cliff examining the dead -campfires the Injuns left," interrupted Frank. - -"You doped it right, Jess, I'll have to admit." - -So engrossed had the others been in listening to the bandit-chieftain -that they had not seen Frank as he returned from his reconnaisance, -and the effect of his words, melodramatic as was the manner in which -they fitted in, struck consternation to their hearts. - -Enjoying the sensation he had caused, the elder of the James Boys -continued: - -"They've corralled our ponies, I could see one of the sojers leading -'em. - -"The moon against the walls of the cliff makes it pretty near as light -as day down at the bottom." - -"We _are_ in a mess," grunted Bob. "Injuns on one side of us and sojers -on all the others. Looks as though this top of the cliff was going to -be our burying ground." - -"Between the two, the way things is, I reckon I'd ruther tackle the -Injuns, eh, Jess?" interposed Comanche Tony, hurriedly, ere his chief -could say another thing. - -"When I was peerin' through the bush on tother side of this table of -rocks, I see'd a campfire with a lot of Injuns cuttin' up round it. - -"At fust, I couldn't git on to wot it meant, then I tumbled that it's a -war dance. - -"I'll bet my scalp, them bucks wot got away from us ull hipper over to -the pow-wow to bring 'em back here, thinkin' we'll either be on top, as -we be, or down in the canyon, as we was." - -"But they'd see the rockets," protested Bud. - -"Wot of it? They ain't got no Jess James with 'em to put 'em next to -the signal trick an' they'll think there ain't no one to the West." - -"Findin' we ain't on top, they'll start down into the canyon. - -"Then, if we has _any_ luck at all, the sojers ull jump 'em and -they'll have a fine old set-to while we're doin' the sneak act." - -"Good boy, Tony. You've got the right dope. Come on, boys! It's time -for us to be lighting out," cried the world-famous desperado. - -"Can you walk, Sam, or do you want us to make a sling for you?" - -"I cal'late I can walk, for awhile anyhow." - -"All right. If we stay here too long the soldiers may find the trail -and climb up here. - -"They heard the shooting, of course, and I reckon they'll be curious to -find out what it was about. - -"If they only do, and Tony has it right about the bucks going for -re-enforcements, when they see the redskins coming from the brush, -they'll start shooting. So we'll win out, which ever way it happens." - -Quickly and silently the outlaws entered the fringe of bushes along the -top at the opposite side of the cliff, descending by the trail which -Wild Bill and Texas Jack had found while the bandit-chieftain had been -talking. - -With every sense alert, the outlaws proceeded, increasing their caution -as they approached nearer and nearer to the bottom. - -To their delight, they beheld a heavy patch of fir trees at the foot. - -But just as they were within a rod of it, they were startled to hear a -voice cry, faintly: - -"Jess Jame! Jess Jame!" - -In consternation, the desperadoes looked at one another. - -Whether the calling of the name was a lure of the Indians, who, -returning, had seen the men filing down the cliff and planned another -ambush or what it betoken they could not tell. - -"We're in for it now, for fair," growled Frank. - -And as though to give emphasis to his words, a shout of triumph sounded -from above them, and looking up, they beheld the forms of a score of -cavalrymen silhouetted against the sky. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE STRANGE BATTLE IN THE WITCH'S CAVE. - - -"Quick! Into the woods, boys!" snapped the world-famous desperado. - -Instantly the bandits sprang to obey. - -Fully ten feet away were the evergreens. - -Desperately the men sought to gain their cover. - -But less than half the distance had they traversed when from above -there rang out in stentorian command: - -"Fire!" - -R-r-rip! crashed the sharp, staccato volley of carbines. - -The aim of the cavalrymen was deadly. - -With shrieks of pain, three of the outlaws threw up their hands and -pitched forward. - -Convulsively their bodies twitched for a few moments and then lay -still, while their life blood oozed from wounds in their backs, -saturating their clothes and making soggy the ground on which they lay. - -With a terrible oath, the world-famous desperado hissed: - -"Don't try to return the fire. Our pistols won't carry up the cliff. -Into the woods! Leave the bodies!" - -As they saw the desperadoes continue their flight without stopping to -take their dead pals with them, a mighty cheer broke from the soldiers. - -And, while it echoed, again the deep-lunged voice bellowed: - -"Fire!" - -Once more the rattle of the musketry rang out. - -But this time no men fell. - -The outlaws had gained the protection of the evergreens. - -"Who's here?" demanded Jesse, a strange tremor in his voice. "Answer to -your names as I call them." - -So sudden had been their dash from the unprotected trail of the cliff -to the woods that none of the outlaws knew who of their number had -fallen victims to the terrible rain of lead that had been literally -poured down on them from the edge of the precipice above. - -And it was with bated breath that they heard their leader say: - -"Comanche Tony!" - -"O.K." - -"Wild Bill?" - -"Here." - -"Texas Jack?" - -"Here." - -"Sam Dirks?" - -Heavily the others drew in their breath as no one answered. - -"Sam Dirks?" repeated Jesse, in hushed tone. "Poor Sam." - -"Frank?" - -"Here." - -"Homely Harry?" - -"O.K." - -"Bud Noble?" - -Again there was no answer. - -"Bob Moore?" - -Silence greeted this name also. - -A moment later the bandits stood. - -The calling of the roll in the sombre setting of the overhanging -branches of the evergreen trees, through which, here and there, the -moonlight filtered, amid the crash of the carbines and the whistle of -the bullets, as they searched out the possible hiding place of the -little band of fugitives, was dramatic in the extreme. - -And the outlaws, rough and desperate men as they were, were cowed -as they realized that the same death they had visited upon so many -helpless mortals, had thinned their own ranks. - -And the shock was all the greater for the reason that they had -practised their nefarious pastime with such seeming immunity that they -had come to look upon themselves as bearing charmed lives. - -Not long, however, were they left to their thoughts. - -Of a sudden, above the cheering of the troopers, above the rattle -of the musketry, above the shrilling of the bullets rang the wild, -blood-curdling war whoops of infuriated redskins. - -"Quick, on your bellies under the trees!" whispered Jesse. "We'll let -the devils charge the soldiers and may they battle till every one, -Injun and trooper, falls dead!" - -But just as the bandits were obeying their leader, there sounded from -close beside them a plaintive: - -"Jess Jame! Jess Jame! Don' lie down. Injun see um dead paleface, hunt -um wood. Injun no care sojer, want Jess Jame. - -"Come Dew Drop. Dew Drop show um place hide." - -As she uttered the last words, the amazed desperadoes saw a slender -creature, clad in what seemed an old wrapper, part the branches of the -tree near which they stood. - -An instant the world-famous desperado hesitated. - -"If the bucks see the corpses and don't find us in the woods won't they -search the place you're going to take us?" he asked, anxiously. - -"No. Dew Drop take um cave Kaw-Kaw, Injun witch. Injun fraid go in -Kaw-Kaw cave." - -"Well, we won't be any worse off than we will here, that's sure. But -why you want to help us I don't see. However, we'll take the chance. -Come on, boys." - -And, following the Indian maiden, the outlaws wound in and out among -the evergreens till they reached a black hole, like a cavernous maw, in -the cliff from which was exhaled a curiously intoxicating aroma. - -"Paleface no make noise. Kaw-Kaw deaf, no hear. Lie down, no see. Dew -Drop lie nex' Jess Jame so can talk." - -Wondering what adventure was in store for them, the bandits quickly did -as the Indian maiden told them, their chief choosing a place near the -mouth of the cave with his chum at his side. - -Scarcely had the world-famous desperado squatted down, with Dew Drop -on his left and Comanche Tony on his right, than howls and yells of -exultation reached them, telling them that the savages had discovered -the three dead bodies at the foot of the cliff. - -"By my scalp! we didn't git hyar any too soon, I reckon, jedgin' by -them whoops," whispered the old Indian fighter. - -But his master paid him no heed. - -The action of the red-hued maiden in coming to him when he was in such -sore need puzzled him, and he was racking his brain to remember whether -or not he had ever seen her before. - -Unable to place her, his mind once more reverted to the thought that -her opportune appearance might have been but a part of a plot conceived -by Great Bear to lure him and his men to the cave of the witch that -they might be slaughtered without chance of escape. - -If such were, in truth, the case, he and his companions were wasting -precious moments. - -Determined to end his suspense, Jesse clutched the maiden in a -vice-like grip with his left hand, raising his bowie knife in his -right, ready to plunge it into her heart, as he whispered in a tense, -hoarse voice: - -"Tell me why you brought me here! Was it at Great Bear's order? Tell -the truth, as you hope to carry your scalp to the Happy Hunting Ground!" - -Startled by the suddenness of the move and frightened by the stern face -peering into hers, her eyes rivetted on the keen edged blade, Dew Drop -blinked. - -But a rough shake recalled her to the necessity of replying. - -"No, no!" she gasped. "Great Bear no know Dew Drop left tepee. He kill -um if knew." - -"Then what made you?" - -"Dew Drop want save um Jess Jame." - -"Why?" - -"Jess Jame save um Dew Drop." - -"_I_ save _you_?" repeated the bandit-chieftain, surprised in his turn. -"When? What do you mean?" - -"Kaw-Kaw say Great Spirit want Dew Drop be squaw um son Dog Face. Dew -Drop no want. No like Dog Face. Dog Face bad Injun. Kaw-Kaw say must. -Have heap pow-wow. - -"Little Wolf come tepee say um hunting um see paleface burned -Silverstock cabin, Jess Jame. - -"Great Bear ask where. - -"Little Wolf say canyon. - -"Dog Face say get um Jess Jame scalp give squaw. - -"Great Bear take Dog Face, Little Wolf twenty Injun leave um pow-wow go -git Jess Jame. - -"Dew Drop no know what happen." - -"Great Bear five Injun come run tepee say Jess Jame on cliff, kill um -Injun, kill um Dog Face. - -"Kaw-Kaw say must scalp um Jess Jame or cuss um Great Bear. - -"Great Bear make heap talk. Call um brave go back get Jess Jame. - -"Dew Drop no wait hear more. - -"Jess Jame save Dew Drop from Dog Face. Dew Drop save Jess Jame from -Great Bear. - -"Dew Drop git cliff see um paleface come down. Dew Drop call. Sojer -shoot. - -"Dew Drop 'fraid Jess Jame get um lead. When see no dead, hear um Great -Bear. - -"Dew Drop think where hide. - -"Dew Drop think um cave Kaw-Kaw. - -"Jess Jame in Kaw-Kaw cave." - -Like a torrent the Indian maiden poured forth her story and as the -world-famous desperado learned the strange reason for her friendship, -he exclaimed: - -"Well, I'll be jiggered! So my men killed Dog Face, eh? I guess we can -trust you, if that's the way things are. - -"I'm sure mighty glad we put an end to your prospective husband." - -"But she said Kaw-Kaw was in the cave when we got here, and just now -she tells us she's at the pow-wow," breathed Comanche Tony, who had -heard the remarkable tale. - -"How about that?" demanded Jess sharply, his suspicions rekindled by -the seeming discrepancy in Dew Drop's statement. - -"Kaw-Kaw in um cave," returned the maiden with positiveness. "When um -hear Great Bear say go back git um Jess Jame, Kaw-Kaw say go um cave -get um cuss ready case Great Bear no get um Jess Jame." - -"So that smell's the old hag's curses, a brewin', eh?" chuckled Tony. -"I'm glad they're for Great Bear and his bucks and not me, if they're -that strong." - -But further speech was stopped by the sudden appearance of three tall -forms, looming in the entrance of the cave. - -Crouching low, the bandit-chieftain watched them, stealthily drawing -his shooting-irons. - -Yet before he could extract them from his holsters, he felt Dew Drop's -hand on his arm, restrainingly. - -Turning toward her, wondering what she meant, he saw her shake her -head vigorously, at the same time pressing upon his arm. - -"Evidently doesn't want me to shoot," reasoned Jesse. "I reckon she -knows more about what's best in this witch-den than I do." - -And he silently dropped his guns back into their holsters. - -The old Indian fighter had been a spectator of the pantomime and as he -saw his chief relinquish his weapons, he did likewise. - -All this had taken but a few seconds, and even while it was -transpiring, one of the bucks was jabbering excitedly. - -What he was saying, the bandits did not know, for the redmen spoke in -their own language. - -Yet from the jumble of guttural sounds, they occasionally distinguished -the words "Jess Jame" and "Kaw-Kaw." - -But if they could not understand what was said they could see what was -happening. - -The jabberings of the excited bucks had been carried on in loud tones. - -Scarcely had they begun than the outlaws beheld a bent and bowed figure -hobble into the light at the mouth of the cave, leaning on a crooked -staff. - -At her approach, the warriors drew back. - -In shrill tones the figure, whom they realized must be the witch, -Kaw-Kaw, harangued them, waving her staff as her excitement got the -better of her. - -Soon she paused and the bucks replied. - -Again the piping voice answered. - -And, as she heard the words, Jesse could feel Dew Drop tremble, so -close was she to him. - -Deciding because of this that whatever the gibberish meant it spelled -danger for himself and his men, the world-famous desperado again -whipped his hands to his pistol holsters. - -And this time there was no objection from the Indian maiden by his side. - -Yet before he could draw them, Kaw-Kaw hobbled from the cave, joining -the three braves and vanished from sight with them. - -As they disappeared, Dew Drop breathed a sigh of intense relief. - -Ere Jesse could utter the question that was on his lips, the -red-skinned maiden whispered: - -"Quick! Quick! Get um paleface. Dew Drop take um back Kaw-Kaw cave -while um 'way." - -Springing to her feet, the maid seized the hand of the bandit-chieftain -and dragged him back into the pall of blackness that enveloped the -witch's den. - -Seeing their leader rise, his pals had followed suit, even before he -commanded in a low voice: - -"Get up, boys. Take hold of one another. Follow me quickly!" - -Had Kaw-Kaw returned to her den just then, she would have been filled -with amazement at the file of men, who threaded their way through -the maze of pots, tripods and implements dear to the heart of the -sorceress, led by the lithe, slim maiden. - -But her amazement would have turned to alarm had she seen them enter -a second cave, which led from the first, the existence of which she -thought she herself alone knew. - -So low was the opening into the inner den that the bandits were forced -to drop to their hands and knees. - -"This is a fool's stunt, getting in farther instead of--" began Frank. - -But his words were frozen in his mouth by a terrible, hair-raising -growl that sounded from the recesses of the cave. - -"No 'fraid, no 'fraid!" gasped Dew Drop hurriedly. "Um Wa-Wa, Kaw-Kaw -bear. Um no hurt." - -"Sure not, his growl doesn't sound fierce, I don't think!" ejaculated -Wild Bill. - -But the Indian maiden, laughing softly, quickly allayed their fears by -adding: - -"Wa-Wa no got claw, no got teeth.'" - -"Well, the growl's the real thing, all right, all right," exclaimed -Jesse. "The old hag hasn't removed his hug, too, has she?" - -"No-o," replied the maiden, doubtfully. "But Dew Drop know Wa-Wa. Um -play, Dew Drop an' Wa-Wa. - -"Dew Drop come cave any day. Kaw-Kaw deaf no hear. - -"Wa-Wa know Dew Drop. No hurt." - -"That may be all right for you," snarled Frank, "but Wa-Wa may not take -so kindly to our coming." - -The series of growls, growing in intensity and volume with each -successive outburst, that came from the monster, lent a force to the -outlaw's words that even the Indian maiden could not disregard. - -"Wa-Wa!" she called, soothingly, adding something in her native tongue. - -But the pet of the witch, Kaw-Kaw, as though he recognized among the -strangers, whose presence he scented, the man who had grievously -wronged his mistress by killing her son, refused to be pacified. - -Each moment, his growls announced that he was getting nearer and nearer -to the bandits. - -Of a sudden, two little balls of seeming phosphorous glowered at them, -as the brute came from behind a boulder. - -"You can stand there like dummies, if you want to," snapped the elder -of the James boys. "_I'm going to shoot him!_" - -"No! No! No shoot!" protested Dew Drop, in alarm. - -"Why not?" - -"Kaw-Kaw smell powder when um came back. Know some one in um cave. Make -heap cuss. Fin' um paleface. Call um Injun. Devil to pay!" - -"I reckon the girl's right, Frank," declared his brother, smiling at -the words of his saviour. "It wouldn't take long for the old hag to -notice the odour of the saltpetre and when she called the bucks it -would be all over but the shouting. - -"And I've no intention of adorning an Indian triumph." - -"All right," grudgingly acquiesced the elder of the James boys. "I -won't shoot, but something's got to be done. - -"I don't propose to stay in here with a bear walking round loose, if it -hasn't any teeth or claws." - -This announcement expressed the feelings of the rest of the bandits, -yet what to do, they did not know. - -And as they stood, in helpless perplexity, the brute itself solved -their dilemma. - -As its wicked little eyes beheld the figures of the intruders in -its retreat, the monster reared on its hind legs, and with a roar, -deafening because of the narrow confines of the cave, charged at them, -laying about it viciously with its herculean paws. - -In panic, the outlaws fled before it. - -But the rock side of the den checked them. - -Came a mighty swish and Comanche Tony fell, dropped by the clawless -paws of the monster. - -And, in a trice, the bear stood over its unconscious victim, snarling -ominously. - -The peril of their pal broke the spell of terror in which the outlaws -stood. - -"Stab the brute! Tackle him, boys!" snapped Jesse, leaping toward the -monster as he spoke. - -Instantly his comrades obeyed. - -Drawing their keen-edged bowie-knives, they buried them to the hilts in -any part of the bear's body they could reach. - -Stung by the sharp pains, the monster reared on its hind legs again, -lashing about viciously with its paws, emitting savage growls, awful in -their fury. - -But its raising up was the beast's doom. - -Crouching low, dodging the terrible lunges as a prize-fighter dodges -the blows of his adversary in the ring, the world-famous desperado -watched his chance. - -Suddenly he saw the monster's breast unprotected. - -With a lightning movement, the bandit-chieftain leaped forward. - -In his right hand he clasped his bowie-knife. - -His arm, bent close to his body, shot out. - -And the force of his spring drove the keen-egded blade to the hilt, -straight through the bear's heart. - -But so great was the power of resistance of the monster that, despite -the steel in its most vital organ, it seized Jesse in a mighty -embrace, holding him helpless as it staggered. - -"T-trip it!" gasped the leader of the outlaws frantically, "I--I've -st-tabbed it." - -Again his men sprang forward. - -Yet before they could carry out their master's instructions, the bear -fell, its embrace unbroken. - -Not long did it take the bandits to extricate their chief from his -uncomfortable position. - -But as they raised him to his feet, they heard the sound of hoarse, -excited voices in the outer cave. - -"The bucks have come back!" hissed Texas Jack. - -"No, no Injun! Um paleface sojers!" gasped Dew Drop in consternation. -"No Injun come Kaw-Kaw cave." - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -A DESPERATE CHARGE. - - -In dismay, the bandits gazed at one another, as they heard the -portentous words of the Indian maiden. - -And in a moment more their own ears confirmed their truth. - -No mistaking the identity of the men in the outer cave was there, as a -sharp command, in plain English, rang out: - -"Search every nook and cranny in the den, men. It's just the place for -Jesse James and his pack of cutthroats to hide." - -"That pet name'll cost the life of many a soldier, young fellow, if I -ever get out of here!" hissed Comanche Tony in a low, harsh voice. - -But his pals were too taken up with the peril of their position to make -any comment on the blood-thirsty announcement. - -No need was there to tell them it was one thing to have the Indians -search the cave and quite another to have the cavalrymen. - -The superstitious reverence and fear of the bent and bowed sorceress -would not sway the troopers or cause them to consider the intrusion of -the abode of the witch a sacrilege. - -Rather would their contempt for the customs and beliefs of the redmen -incite them to unusual effort. - -Should they chance to espy the hole leading into the second cave, every -one of the six men knew that they would lose no time in exploring it. - -And it was to what they should do, in such event, that each man devoted -his thoughts. - -"Can't we block up the hole?" hazarded Texas Jack, grasping at the most -obvious expedient. - -"No," returned Dew Drop. "Kaw-Kaw see, Kaw-Kaw get wise. Hole always -open for Wa-Wa. - -"Dew Drop no see why Kaw-Kaw let sojers come um cave." - -"Probably they didn't ask her permission," returned the -bandit-chieftain. - -But the explanation did not satisfy the Indian maiden. - -From her earliest memory, she had been taught reverence for the -aged sorceress and she knew the fear her fellow-tribesmen held of -the terrible curse that would be visited upon any Indian who dared -penetrate the recesses of the cave. - -Indeed, not unless she had been invited to enter, as an honour that -would influence her to accept Dog Face as her brave, would she ever -have had the temerity to enter and as she thought of being discovered -in the "holy of holies" with the men she was trying to save, she -trembled like a leaf, silently rocking too and fro as she wrung her -hands in an agony of despair. - -Plainly the outlaws heard the troopers draw nearer and nearer as they -proceeded with their fruitless hunt. - -"I reckon there's nothing for it but to stab the first trooper who -pokes his head through the opening," whispered the world-famous -desperado. - -"I'll take that job for mine. The rest of you line up about me. As soon -as I've knifed the first, some of you pull him out of the way and the -others be ready for the next. - -"If we can kill 'em without an outcry, we may be able to get em all." - -The fiendish plan of slaying one man after another as fast as they -appeared showed clearly how desperate Jesse believed their position to -be. - -It proved that in order to save his own life he had no hesitancy in -killing any number of men. - -And, as they heard the shocking proposition, even his pals, steeped -in the gore of innocent men as their hands were, recoiled at the task -imposed on them. - -Yet they dared not disobey and silently took their places, kneeling, at -the entrance to the cave, opposite their inhuman chief who waited, with -bowie-knife upraised to plunge it into the heart of the first soldier -that appeared. - -But before the awful scheme could be put to the test, the old witch -herself took a hand in the proceedings. - -As the bandits kneeled, the beats of their hearts alone breaking the -silence of the den in which they were, their ears strained for the -first sound that should announce the discovery of the hole, they -suddenly heard a shrill snarl in good English: - -"Dogs of palefaces! What are you doing in my cave? How dare you profane -the temple of a Navajo medicine? Curses on your palefaced heads! May -you perish on the plains, riddled with wounds, mad for water! May the -coyotes feed on your carcasses! May no grave hold your bones and may -they be scattered to the winds! Curse you! Curse you! Curse you!" - -So furious, so terrible was the wrath of the aged sorceress that the -troopers stopped in their search, staring at the wizened, bent figure, -abashed. - -Not slow was the shrewd old hag to note the impression her bitter -invective had made upon the cavalrymen and, without delay, she followed -it up. - -"If the dogs of palefaces have wives, may they rot with child; if they -have sweethearts, may they play with them and jilt them; if they have -children, may they grow up deformed and idiotic! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" - -And she croaked in diabolical glee. - -Of a sudden her manner changed. - -"What do the palefaces want, more curses? Haven't they had enough?" -she shrieked, angered that, though the soldiers trembled beneath her -imprecations, they made no move to leave the cave. - -"May--" - -But before another word could leave her lips, the lieutenant commanding -the troopers, having recovered from the first shock of surprise, -bellowed: - -"Seize her! Bind her! Gag the old vixen!" - -Eagerly the cavalrymen sprang forward, their faces bespeaking with what -relish they would obey the commands. - -Yet before they could lay hands on her, Kaw-Kaw began to back away, -swinging her crooked staff in front of her to hold off the troopers, -while she screamed in the language of her tribe. - -"Kaw-Kaw call um Great Bear an' um braves," gasped Dew Drop, excitedly, -close to Jesse's ear. "Paleface dogs must fight for coming Kaw-Kaw -cave." - -So unexpected and so startling had been the intervention of the old -witch that Jesse forgot his own peril in his interest to learn the -effect of the awful curses on the soldiers. - -But the words of the Indian maiden recalled him to himself. - -Whoops and yells resounded in the outer cave in answer to Kaw-Kaw's -appeal to her tribesmen. - -Suddenly a flare of light shone through the hole leading into the -cavern in which the outlaws were. - -"The bucks have thrown in lighted faggots," grunted Comanche Tony. -"There'll be suthin' doin', now." - -Ere he had more than spoken, the barks of pistols rang out, like the -explosion of gigantic fire-crackers. - -The deeper toned army revolvers answered. - -In a trice the din was deafening. - -"Here's our chance!" declared the world-famous desperado. "We'll crawl -into the other cave and attack the troopers from the rear. - -"Judging by their guns, there are only a dozen or so. - -"Our charge'll rattle 'em so we can rush through 'em and get outside. - -"The Indians won't stop us. - -"When we get clear, we'll strike for the place the bucks are grazing -their ponies, Dew Drop'll tell us where it is." - -"Jus' other side trees, straight from cave," responded the red-skinned -maiden. - -"Good. All ready, boys! I'll go first. Don't begin shooting till we're -all in the other cave. - -"Dew Drop, you stay here." - -Desperate was the scheme. - -If the braves or troopers recognized Jesse, they might forget their -fight in the desire to capture their common enemy. - -And then the outlaws' shrift would be short. - -But no word of protest did the others offer. - -In deciding upon the sortie, the bandit-chieftain had counted on the -cavalrymen mistaking him and his pals for Indians while he hoped the -savages would think them troopers. - -Furiously was the battle raging as Jesse finished the announcement of -his plans. - -From the yells and shouts, he decided that the soldiers were driving -back the redskins. - -And, with hope high, he began to crawl through the hole onto the field -of strife. - -Rapidly his five pals followed. - -As they gained the larger cave, they saw that the troopers had, indeed, -forced the braves back. - -"Don't shoot till we get on top of 'em," breathed Jesse. "I'll give the -word. Ready! Charge!" - -Like deers the outlaws sped toward the cavalrymen, their presence -unsuspected. - -But as they got within twenty feet of them, a voice suddenly shrilled: - -"There he is! There's Jesse James!" - -In their reckoning, the desperadoes had forgotten the old witch whose -son they had killed. - -The cause of the fight between soldiers and Indians, Kaw-Kaw, had -ducked into a niche out of range of the bullets, from which she watched -the conflict. - -And as the bandits rushed past, she recognized them. - -Yet before her warning had rung out, the bandit-chieftain thundered: - -"Fire! Rake 'em, boys! Drop 'em!" - -But while his men poured their murderous fire into the troopers, Jesse -turned and sent a shot crashing into the brain of the old hag and she -toppled from her hiding place, a blood-curdling shriek coming from her -lips as she fell. - -Amazed at the warning which was followed on the instant by the fusilade -from behind, the cavalrymen whirled to face their foes from the new -quarter. - -But the rain of lead from the outlaws' guns was terrible. - -One after another, the troopers fell, mowed down like grass before the -scythe. - -"We've cleaned 'em out! Come on! Charge the Injuns! We've got to shoot -our way through!" bellowed the world-famous desperado. - -Howling, yelling, leaping like Dervishes, the six desperadoes dashed -from the mouth of the cave. - -An instant the braves stood and faced them. - -But the fire from the outlaws' pistols was too galling and they gave -way. - -Intoxicated by the smell of powder, wild with the sight of carnage on -all sides of him, Jesse led his men through the evergreens, coming upon -the Indians' ponies where Dew Drop had said they were. - -Quickly the desperadoes cut out six, leaped on their backs and dashed -southward. - -Behind them, having recovered their nerve, swarmed every buck who could -find a mount, rending the air with fiendish whoops of fury and chagrin. - -"We can get away from them, all right," declared the world-famous -desperado. "What worries me is where the troopers are who signalled -from the south." - -And scarcely had the words left his lips before he caught sight of a -body of horsemen rising from a ravine less than a quarter of a mile in -front of him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE RACE FOR LIFE. - - -In the light from the moon, which bathed the brush-grown plain and -towering cliff in a flood of silver sheen, the figures of the troopers -stood out clearly. - -By common consent, without waiting for the command, the men with the -world-famous desperado checked their ponies and watched the cavalrymen -rise from the ravine. - -Whether or not, the soldiers had caught sight of them they did not -know. But shouts of delirious glee from behind told them that the -pursuing Indians had discovered the troopers. - -Of a verity, the little band of desperadoes were between two fires. - -Apparently the liberty they had achieved by such ruthless slaughter -of soldiers and redmen in the cave of the old witch was to count for -naught. - -And as this thought came to them, the companions of the notorious -outlaw groaned inwardly. - -Not so the notorious Jesse, however. - -Save for the deepening of the lines about his mouth and the compression -of his lips, he sat erect and rigid. - -But his mind was working as it never had worked before. - -Through many a desperate situation had he passed unscathed. Yet none -of the ruses which had stood him in such good stead on those occasions -could he use in his present predicament. - -The brilliancy of the moonlight, the presence of foes in front and -back, the treeless waste all about him prevented. - -Should he make any move, it would be clearly discernable to troopers -and Indians alike. - -And, aware of his seeming helplessness, the bucks were already yelling -in anticipation of his capture. - -Their attention attracted by the howls of the savages, the cavalrymen -quickly discovered the group of horsemen in the bracken. - -Hoarse commands, the sounds of which alone reached the bandits, were -spoken and, in a twinkling, those of the troopers who had mounted the -level from the ravine, set their horses toward them. - -Turning his head, the world-famous desperado looked toward the Indians. - -All of half a mile away were they, though each minute lessened the -distance. - -"Its a chance, but we've got to take it," snapped Jesse, thinking -aloud. "Quick, boys! Whirl your ponies. We'll ride back a way then make -a dash for the ravine! Come on!" - -Even as the words fell from their leader's lips, his men had turned -their mounts and, as he gave the word, buried the rowels of their spurs -in the flanks of the fleet footed Indian ponies. - -Startled by the unwonted pain, the animals leaped away like stones from -catapults. - -The race for life was on. - -Scarcely a minute had it been from the time the outlaws had caught -sight of the cavalrymen till they were in full flight. Yet to them each -second their chief had sat inactive had seemed an hour. - -In amazement, the savages beheld the men they had been pursuing rush -toward them. - -"Kaw-Kaw's bewitched them! They've lost their minds! Her curses live -to destroy the men who killed her!" shouted Great Bear in his native -tongue, transported with joy. "At them! At them! Jesse James is the -Navajos' prey. The paleface dogs must not get him first!" - -Goaded to frenzy by the words of their chief, the bucks fell to lashing -their ponies, riding like fiends in their effort to prevent the -troopers from snatching their quarry from their very grasp. - -But the cavalrymen viewed the course of the desperately pressed little -band with different feelings. - -"Jesse's in the bunch, all right. That move shows it," growled one of -them, the stars and chevrons on whose uniform proclaimed him a captain. -"No one but that murdering daredevil would have chosen to ride back -toward that pack of howling savages rather than toward us. - -"Curse the luck! Why couldn't we have struck the ravine half a mile -farther east? Then we'd been right on top of him and could have shot -him down." - -"But the bucks 'll drop him," asserted a lieutenant who rode at his -side. "So long as he's shot, I don't see what difference it makes -whether we get him or they." - -"_But they won't get him!_" bellowed the captain, his disappointment at -losing his chance to capture the most famous desperado the world has -ever known and anger at the ill-disguised rebuke of his subordinate -getting the better of him. - -"Won't get him?" repeated the lieutenant, as though he seemed to doubt -his ears. - -"_Yes, won't get him!_" returned the man in command of the troops. -"You've got a lot to learn, young man, about hunting bad-men. - -"But if you never learn any thing else, remember this--Indians, when -they're howling and whooping and all excited, are the worst shots in -the world. - -"Jesse James knows it. And he'd rather take the chance of riding by the -whole pack of 'em than to give the few of us a shot at him." - -Such, indeed, was the reason that the world-famous desperado had chosen -the course he did. Yet his decision had been strengthened by the -further knowledge that the redmen feared him and his marvelous prowess -with his shooting-irons. - -All the while, the little group of outlaws and the two bodies of men -bent on their death or capture, were drawing closer together. - -Never was there stranger chase. - -In full view of one another, each party was riding like mad to gain its -own end. - -Yet never a shot was fired. - -The distance that separated them was too great. - -Nearer and nearer drew the bandits and the Indians and farther and -farther were the cavalrymen getting from the ravine. - -Less than two hundred yards separated the former. - -With eyes now in front, now turned behind, Jesse watched the approach -of his enemies. - -"Damme! I believe they're mad! Why don't they open fire?" snarled the -captain. - -To which of the two groups the words referred, the lieutenant did not -know and his recent, caustic reprimand prevented him from asking. - -His mind, however, was instantly diverted by his superior. - -"Ha! What's that mean?" cried the latter, then added instantly "Jesse's -turning. I see. He's making for the ravine. I've been fooled!" - -Almost choking with rage at the thought that he had allowed himself to -be out-generaled by the notorious cutthroat, the captain rose in his -stirrups, jerked his sabre from its scabbard and, pointing toward the -ravine, turned to his troopers, bellowing: - -"Fours oblique _and ride like Hell_!" - -Chuckling inwardly at the choler of their commander, the cavalrymen -executed the orders. - -As Jesse and his pals heard the frantic command, they yelled in -defiance, waving mocking goodbyes at the discomfited troopers as, -leaning forward along the necks of their ponies, they raced past the -head of the column of cavalrymen. - -Better than he had dared hope had the bandit-chieftain's ruse worked. - -But the end of the race for life was not yet. - -Though the world-famous desperado had held his course straight toward -the whooping Indians, his mind and eyes had been almost entirely upon -the troopers. - -When he had caught sight of the first troopers rising from the ravine -and realized the desperateness of the position of himself and his -companions, with that instinct which had made him so valuable an -asset to the old guerilla chieftain, Quantrell, in the days of the -Civil War, he had realized that the one chance of escape open, lay in -reaching the ravine. - -Yet his eyes, calculating the distance nicely, told him that, should he -make a dash for it, the troopers could head him off by riding along the -edge of the gorge. - -A moment he had been puzzled as to what to do. Then, in a flash, it had -come to him that by retracing his course and riding straight at the -howling savages he might be able to entice the soldiers to follow him, -abandoning their strategic advantages of the position along the ravine. - -With elation, he had seen the troopers fall into his snare. - -This accomplished, he had kept watch of their pursuit, waiting for the -instant when they should be so far away from the ravine that he could -beat them to it. - -At last the time came. - -With a whispered command, he had bidden his pals wheel and rush for the -gorge. - -Skilled horsemen all, they had accomplished the turn which was so -sudden that it would have unseated less expert riders. - -But so absorbed were they in watching the troopers that they had not -noticed five bucks who had broken away from their fellows and were -bearing down upon them with the speed of whirlwinds. - -Riding with marvelous ease and grace, the redmen closed upon them with -incredible rapidity. - -No whoop or yell did they utter. - -Their success in getting near enough to the men who had killed their -brother warriors and outraged their race by shooting their medicine -woman lay in their silence. - -Breathlessly the rest of the braves watched them. - -As the echoes of the outlaws' derisive shouts, when they dashed past -the head of the cavalry, died away, one of the bucks straightened and -raised his arm. - -Bang! went the pistol in his hand. - -The report of the gun was the first intimation Jesse and his pals had -of the proximity of the braves. - -And as the bullet whistled over their heads, they whirled on the backs -of their ponies to see who it was that had been able to get within -shooting distance of them, undiscovered. - -"Drop em! Drop 'em!" roared the world-famous desperado, adding a -terrible oath. - -Crash! went the dozen six shooters. - -The six outlaws were firing with a gun in each hand. - -But only one Indian toppled from his pony. - -"Again!" bellowed Jesse. "Get 'em this time!" - -Once more the twelve pistols barked. - -And once more only one brave fell. - -"What's the matter with you?" snarled the notorious outlaw. "_If we -don't get them, they'll get us!_" - -But the task imposed on the bandits was no easy one. - -Keeping their seats on the backs of their madly galloping mounts only -by the grips of their knees, the desperadoes were obliged to shoot with -their bodies twisted round to face behind them. - -And small wonder was it that their aim was bad. - -But on the three remaining redskins rushed, firing frantically and -behind them thundered the rest of the savages and the troopers, yelling -encouragement. - -No chance was there for the little band to throw off the pursuit when -they reached the ravine unless the trio of braves was killed. - -Cursing furiously as he saw the second volley had accomplished no more -than the first, Jesse forebore to call for another. - -Well he knew that it had been the bullets from the gun in his right -hand that had toppled the two Indians from the horses and he made up -his mind that upon him devolved the killing of the others. - -With the marvelous rapidity that had won him his reputation, he snapped -his trusty "Colts" in quick succession. - -Two more of the savages pitched from their ponies. - -Again his guns spoke. - -Yet before he could see the result of his last attempt to drop the lone -buck, Homely Harry shrieked: - -"Watch out, boys! We're right on to the ravine!" - -The warning came too late. - -Even as the cry rang out, the bandits felt their ponies sink beneath -them as the animals rushed over the edge of the gorge. - -Never was such horsemanship as Jesse and his pals displayed. - -To the average man, the plunge taken at the whirl-wind speed of the -ponies would have meant death. - -Turning the instant their pal's voice had sounded, the bandits steadied -themselves by bracing their hands, still holding their revolvers, -against the necks of their mounts, leaning back to offset the shock -when the ponies should strike the brush-covered bottom of the ravine -that yawned beneath them. - -To any one in the gorge, they would have seemed like huge, ungainly -birds sailing through the air. - -For so terrific was the pace at which the animals had approached the -ravine that their momentum carried them far out over the brush ere they -began to drop. - -"Be ready to slide when the pintos strikes!" yelled Comanche Tony, -quickly realizing the danger. "If you tries to set your horses it will -mean your death!" - -Quickly his pals relaxed their muscles. - -And well was it that the old Indian fighter had given the advice. - -With feet braced stiff, the ponies struck the ground. - -There was a snapping and cracking and the poor beasts sank down, their -legs broken by the awful force of the impact. - -Yet even as they fell, the outlaws, prepared by the warning of Comanche -Tony, shot over their heads, landing in the bushes unscathed save for -scratches and the jolting they received as they struck. - -And as they picked themselves up, they heard the captain of the -troopers roar: - -"Find the horses! Jesse and the bunch'll be near 'em. No man could take -that plunge and come out whole." - -"That's where your wrong, old top," grinned the world-world famous -desperado. "Quick boys! drop on your hands and knees! We'll work up -the ravine a couple of rods from the ponies and then strike for the -side from which they jumped. Careful, now, we won the race. But if the -troopers or Injuns get their peepers on one of us, its death to the -whole bunch!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -DEW DROP AGAIN TO THE RESCUE. - - -Hurriedly the outlaws dropped to all fours and resumed their hazardous -attempt at escape. - -The bushes that grew in the ravine, fortunately for them, were of -sufficient height to conceal their bodies as they advanced. Yet mere -concealment, they knew, was not sufficient to insure their safety. - -Should the keen eyes of soldiers or savages detect a suspicious -movement among the brushwood, the hue and cry would instantly be raised. - -And, aware of this full well, the six sorely pressed bandits crawled -with infinite stealth. - -So near were the troopers that the creaking of their saddle leathers -was audible, followed almost instantly by the snapping and cracking of -twigs and bushes as the horses picked their way gingerly down the steep -side of the ravine. - -Eagerly the eyes of the cavalrymen searched the bottom of the gorge, -bent on discovering the forms of the horses, as their captain had -commanded. - -So thick was the tangle of brushwood, however, that it was several -minutes after the desperadoes had heard them crashing into the ravine -ere their hearts were set a flutter by excited cries, breaking from -several mouths at the same time: - -"There they are! On the farther side!" - -The announcement of the discovery was received with wild cheers. - -"Where? Which direction?" yelled those of the troopers whose sight -was unable to discern the dark forms of the ponies writhing in their -suffering. - -"To the East! To the East!" answered the ones who saw them. "Come on! -Come on! We've got 'em." - -Wild with the excitement of the soldiers at the prospect of capturing -the desperate cutthroats who had defied all efforts of an army -of man-hunters either to kill or to take them into custody, so -successfully. - -Yet scarce had the cries of the exuberant troopers rung out than their -commander bellowed: - -"Give 'em a volley before you ride at 'em. They're tricky devils!" - -In the exigencies of the moment all thought of military discipline was -forgotten. - -The captain knew his men and the men knew their captain. Many a -punitive expedition had they ridden on before, against outlaws and -renegade redskins alike and no need was there to waste time in giving -book-rule commands. - -No sooner had the words of caution left the officer's lips than the -troopers threw their carbines to their shoulders, sighted them on the -dark, struggling forms in the brushwood and pulled the triggers. - -With deafening roar the guns spoke. - -Straight and true sped the bullets. - -But instead of stopping the heart beats of any of the James gang they -simply put an end to the miseries of the maimed ponies. - -As the report of the broadside rang out over the plains, the cavalrymen -urged their mounts forward, eager to be in at the death. - -In the stress of their emotions, they had not noticed that no shots had -been fired at them. - -Had they been more calm, this fact alone would have told them the -outlaws were not by the ponies. - -And it was not till they had reached the bodies of the beasts, -dismounted and searched the nearby bushes that they found that Jesse -and his band had again outwitted them. - -But when the fact dawned on them, loud and forceful were their curses. - -"Beat up and down the gorge!" shouted the lieutenant, believing that -the mistake of his superior gave him a license to issue commands. - -"Shut up, you dunderhead!" roared the captain, his face livid with -rage. "I was chasing men when you were in swaddling clothes. I know how -they act. - -"_The bandits have crossed the ravine and struck into the brush beyond! -After them!_" - -In a wild scramble, the troopers mounted the farther side of the -ravine, gained the edge and were soon lost to view. - -And as the world-famous desperado, peering cautiously from the -brushwood, saw they had vanished, he heaved a mighty sigh of relief. - -Terrible, indeed, had been the suspense of the six men crawling on -hands and knees under cover of the bushes. - -On their ears alone had they been obliged to rely to tell them what was -transpiring about them, for they dared not raise their heads to look, -lest the eyes of the troopers decry them. - -When they had heard the crash of the volley, Jesse had turned toward -the very bank from which it was fired. - -And as the soldiers descended to learn the result of their shots, the -outlaws had crept up the steep incline. - -Of necessity, their progress was slow and not more than half way to the -top were they when the words of the captain, expressing his belief that -his quarry was on the farther plain, had reached them. - -Still crawling, the bandit-chieftain had waited till he thought -sufficient time had elapsed for all to have gained the plains before he -ventured to look to make sure. - -And when he found that the cavalrymen had, indeed, disappeared over the -opposite bank, he quickly apprised his companions. - -"I'll bet my hair's turned white," ejaculated Wild Bill. "I ain't never -been through no such tryout before an' I don't want to agin." - -"Don't crow too soon," admonished Comanche Tony. "We ain't clear -yet--by a long shot." - -"Right you are, pard," declared Jesse, "And it doesn't look as though -we'd get clear," he added. "Duck, boys, duck! Here comes the Injuns! -Skirt the edge of the bank!" - -Luckily for themselves, none of the outlaws had risen from the -brushwood so that their chief's exhortation was unnecessary and, with -agility born of desperation, they struck westward along the crest of -the gorge. - -When they had seen the troopers change their direction and rush madly -after the fleeing bandits, the savages had checked their pursuit, all -but the five whom Jesse had sent to the Happy Hunting Ground. - -No love did they bear for the soldiers and they were not eager to -mingle with them, even though they were engaged in the chase of a -common foe. - -Hurriedly Great Bear had passed the word for silence and, sitting on -their ponies like statues, they had advanced at a walk. - -Not even the roar of the carbines had induced the chieftain to increase -the pace. - -But when he saw the forms of the cavalrymen mounting the farther edge -of the ravine, he became interested. - -"Jess Jame fool um paleface!" he grunted, his eyes twinkling with -delight. "Sojers no get Jess. Injun got chance." - -If the bandits had, indeed, taken to the plains across the gorge, -Great Bear knew that he and his braves were as likely to find them as -the troopers. But because he was wise in his generation, the wily old -warrior again enjoined his braves to silence that they might surprise -the little band had they doubled on their tracks as he more than half -suspected. - -The shoeless hoofs of their ponies making scarcely no sound because -of the thunderous charge of the cavalry on the farther plains, the -redskins bore down on the ravine. - -But, as the reader knows, Jesse had seen them and, with his pals, was -scurrying from their path. - -The Indians slowed up as they reached the edge of the ravine, then -descended, crossed, mounted the other side, and swept on in the trail -of the soldiers. - -Pausing as he heard the bucks plunge into the gorge, Jesse parted the -bushes at his side, peering at the dark, tossing forms. - -Cautiously his pals followed his example. - -Never had men seemed to move so slowly as did the Indians in crossing -the gulch. - -But at last only a few stragglers had not mounted to the plains. - -"Quick, boys! Crawl to the top of the bank, only keep under cover!" -whispered the world-famous desperado. - -With alacrity his companions obeyed. - -A rod he led them, still on their hands and knees, after they had -gained the level. - -"There's no danger of our being seen now, I reckon," he declared, -rising to his feet. "But we won't run any risk by showing too much of -ourselves. - -"Come on! While the Injuns and troopers are searching the other side of -the ravine, we'll get back to the cliffs on this." - -Overjoyed at their escape from the foes, which seemed little short -of miraculous, the bandits broke into a swift, steady jog trot that -carried them rapidly over the ground. - -Nearer and nearer they approached the rocks that towered majestically -ahead of them. - -But just as safety seemed within their grasp, Frank gasped: - -"I'm all in! The--wo--wound--in--my--leg." - -And he sank to the ground, in collapse. - -Muttering an oath under his breath at this misfortune when all was -going so well, Jesse hurried to the side of his brother and the others -joined him. - -"Take an arm, Texas," snapped the bandit-chieftain, as he put his own -hand under Frank's left shoulder and lifted him to his feet. - -Quickly the other obeyed and, supporting their exhausted comrade -between them, they resumed their progress toward the cliffs. - -"I reckon we might as well go back into the canyon," asserted the -world-famous desperado. - -"We'll climb up to the table land where we rescued Tony and rest for a -few days. We can see all about us. No one can surprise us and the bucks -and troopers would never think we'd go back. - -"We'll be able to find something we can eat." - -This suggestion met with the approval of the others and the little band -bent their steps toward the black cleft that marked the entrance into -the rocky defile. - -Occasional glances behind them told them that none of the pursuers had -returned from the chase. - -Indeed, no moving object could they discover in any direction and, with -hearts beating light at their successful escape from the blood-thirsty, -revenge-craving savages and the cavalrymen whose ire had been roused by -their strategic errors, they were just about to enter the canyon when a -lithe figure darted toward them from behind a boulder. - -"It's more of the red devils," snarled Wild Bill, whipping out his -guns. "We _are_ smart--I don't think. While we've been patting -ourselves on the back, they've been lying here, waiting for us." - -Yet the alarm of the outlaws was short-lived. - -Ere any of them could draw their weapons, a voice cooed, softly: - -"Don' shoot! Don' shoot! Me Dew Drop!" - -The relief the words brought to the bandits, who feared the fruits of -their desperate escape and retreat were to be snatched from them, was -inexpressible and it was turned to outright joy as the Indian maiden -continued: - -"Dew Drop take um Jess Jame to safe cave. Heap food. Heap water in -pool. Then Dew Drop leave. Injun move camp, Dew Drop got go." - -"Then if they're going to take you along, they haven't got wise to your -hiding us in Kaw-Kaw's cave, I judge," exclaimed the bandit-chieftain, -glad to know the assistance which had been so opportune to his little -band had brought no trouble to the girl. - -"Squaws no know. Bucks forget 'fore get back. Um go on raid. Sojers no -be in forts now," returned Dew Drop. - -"Sorry I didn't pot more of 'em if that's what they're up to," grunted -the world-famous desperado. - -But his good fairy did not understand what he meant and prattled -artlessly. - -Skirting the base of the precipice, Dew Drop passed the mouth of the -canyon and led them more than a mile beyond, stopping when she reached -a fissure that ran from top to base. - -Squeezing into it, the bandits were plunged in darkness. - -Putting his hand on his guide's shoulder, Jesse bade his men hold onto -the one in front of him and in single file they advanced till they -could feel from the change in the air that they had reached the cave. - -"Dew Drop no stay," declared the maid, slipping from the -bandit-chieftain's hand. "Mus' join um squaw. Paleface fin' grub, -water. So long." - -And, ere any of the outlaws had the time to protest, the Indian maiden -sped from them, leaving them in the unknown cave in pitch darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -IN THE FATAL CIRCLE. - - -But Jesse had plans other than to permit the soft-voiced Indian maiden -to desert them thus suddenly. - -Without a word, with the quickness of a panther he sprang after her -leaving the others helpless and surprised at the unexpected action of -their chief. - -"Has Jess gone plumb bug house?" breathed Tony, scarcely daring to -trust his voice. - -"Everybody's got wheels in this devil's neighborhood," averred Texas. - -"And if he ain't he will have in the hole we're in now," added Homely -Harry. - -Frank groaned weakly. - -"Hey, pard," interrupted Tony, suddenly bethinking himself of their -wounded companion, "How you comin' along?" - -"Give me a drink," returned the elder James brother in a voice scarcely -above a whisper. "I feel as if I was dying." - -"Bosh," retorted Tony. "I know them symptoms. You're been loosin' some -red juice. Here, take a pull at the flask. It'll put you right in a -jiffy." - -Frank James gulped down the liquor greedily, so much so that for the -instant it nearly strangled him. - -"How's that," grinned Tony in the darkness, fetching the flask away and -restoring it to his ample hip pocket. - -"B--b--better," coughed Frank. "But I'll be bad again in a minute. -Where's Jess?" - -"Dunno. He vamoosed like a lightning bug. Sloped after the Indian -maiden I guess." - -"Call him back quick," demanded Frank. "You, Texas. Hurry or I'll bleed -to death. I'm bad hurt, I tell you fellows." - -Without an instant's hesitation Texas sprang away to do the wounded -man's bidding, regardless of any personal danger to himself. - -But Texas did not have far to go. - -Just without the cave he was grasped in a grip of iron. His hand flew -to his belt. - -"Stop, you fool! Where are you going!" hissed Jesse in his ear. - -"Gad, what a fright you gave me," gasped Texas. "I was going for you. -Frank's bad and said you'd got to come right away. Oh there's the girl, -eh." - -"Bad? Come along Dew Drop," and without further parley Jesse led the -way into the cave, keeping tight hold on the Indian girl, who though -reluctant, made no protest at being dragged back by the man she had -just saved. - -"Somebody strike a light," demanded the great bandit. - -"No, no," protested Dew Drop with a quick pressure on the outlaw's arm. -"Injun smell smoke. Stop um hole up an catch pale face. Jess Jame and -other pale faces come with Dew Drop." - -"All right go ahead and we'll follow," decided Jesse. "Frank can you -walk?" - -Frank groaned. - -"Pick him up, two of you and follow. Be careful." - -Not a word was spoken as the strange procession moved silently on, -deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mountain. - -The silence was, after what had seemed an age to the men whose nerves -were tensed by the strangeness of the cave, broken by the voice of the -Indian girl. - -"Pale faces git down um bellies," she directed tersely. "Me go first." - -Suiting the action to the word Dew Drop threw herself down and crawled -through a hole in the rock. But Jesse, who followed, did not succeed in -passing the narrow opening with the same ease that Dew Drop had, but -he finally accomplished the feat with sundry exclamations of disgust -beneath his breath. - -Texas, more ample of girth, got stuck in the hole, which he had -attempted to get through feet first, and he could not move either way. -Jesse solved the difficulty quickly by grabbing the unfortunate outlaw -by the feet and jerking him in beside him. - -But with Frank the task was still more difficult. - -"Easy there," commanded the bandit-chieftain. "Put him through head -first and I will draw him in." - -This they did, and though Frank groaned and begged piteously the move -was quickly executed. - -Dew Drop now led the way again, which Jesse observed led slowly upward -and that the air was freshening as they proceeded. - -At last the Indian maiden came to a quick stop. - -"Light um fire," she directed tersely. - -It was the work of a moment for Jesse to strike a match and to his -intense satisfaction he discovered a pile of dry limbs in one corner -of the chamber where they had halted, and a blazing fire was burning -quickly. - -The men uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -What they saw challenged the admiration of every man present. - -Millions of brilliant stalactites hung suspended from the domed arch -above them, and gave back scintillating flashes from the light of the -flames. For the moment they forgot the real purpose of their presence -there. - -"Diamonds, by Judas," exclaimed Homely Harry in open mouthed wonder. - -"Diamonds, your eye," returned Texas. "Them ain't no diamonds. I know -the kind, I've seen them before." - -But Jesse had given no heed to their expressions of admiration. - -Instantly the fire was started, he dropped down by the side of his -wounded brother, making a hurried examination of his wounds. - -"Give me a piece of lariat," he commanded. - -Tony passed over a strip of tough leather. With this the -outlaw-chieftain bound the leg just above the wound, administering a -drink from his own flask, and turned to Dew Drop. - -"Got any saw bones around here?" he demanded sharply. "That's what I -brought you back for." - -The Indian girl looked at him blankly. - -"Pale face medicine man," he explained. - -Dew Drop smiled understandingly, but shook her head. - -"Two suns journey," she explained, pointing to the north. - -"Got a medicine man in your village, then? We've got to have some one -here quick and I guess a medicine man of one color is about as good as -another." - -"Great Bear him got medicine man," explained the girl. "No get medicine -man. Great Bear kill white man; Great Bear kill me." - -"We'll kill Great Bear; so, that'll be a toss up. You go get the -medicine man. Tell him your Indian beau is down in the canyon so badly -wounded that he will die and fetch him here." - -"Dew Drop fraid," she protested. - -"Don't worry, we'll fix him so he won't hurt you. I will follow along -behind you to see that no harm comes to you. Two of you men go outside -the cave after a while and hide there and when Dew Drop brings the man -you jump on him, and carry him in--" - -"No, no," answered the maiden hurriedly, "me put out um medicine man -eyes." - -"Put out his eyes?" demanded Jesse in surprise. - -"So," drawing her hand across her eyes and to the back of her head. - -"Oh, I see: you mean to blindfold him? But how are you going to do it?" - -"Me tell um take um cave of Great Spirit and must not see." - -The others gazed at the girl blankly. Jesse haw-hawed loudly. - -"Well, you are a wise little savage. I guess Jesse James and his band -had better hang around here a while and take some lessons from you. -What do you say, boys? Dew Drop ain't near so soft as her name, is she -now?" - -"She ain't that," they chorused. - -"Oh hurry up," urged Frank. - -With that, Jesse and the girl quickly made their way out of the cave. -Once outside he gave the girl explicit directions, and without further -delay she sped away, quickly disappearing amid the foliage without so -much as betraying her movements by the snapping of a dry twig. - -"A snake couldn't get away any quieter than that," nodded Jesse -approvingly, and after a keen survey of rock and wood he too slipped -away in the direction that Dew Drop had taken. - -Not quite sure of his way, Jesse cautiously mounted a rock and, shading -his eyes from the setting sun, peered off to the north. - -He found what he was looking for, and, dropping from his perch once -more took up his cautious way toward the Indian village. That he was -going toward what would prove certain death, should any watchful, -sneaking redskin chance to discover him or even come upon his trail, -did not trouble the great bandit in the least. - -His brother's life was at stake and that there might be no slip up he -would follow clear to the Indian village, if necessary. - -"I'll bring back the medicine man dead or alive," he swore under his -breath. - -Twilight was deepening and Jesse went more boldly on. But he had made -a fatal move. He had done a thing that he would not have done had -his band of hardy outlaws been with him, for then Jesse's sense of -responsibility would have been doubly heavy. - -He might expose his own life to peril unnecessarily. But for his -companions, no. He took no more chances than was necessary where they -were concerned. - -During the brief moment that he had stood poised on the rock, however, -the field glass of a United States Cavalry officer chanced to be -trained on that very spot. More than that the pair of eyes behind the -glass, also chanced to belong to the very officer with whom the band -had mixed it up earlier. - -The Captain uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -"Quick! mount!" he commanded. "Not a word as you value your lives." - -Trained to instant obedience, the troopers sprang into their saddles. -They did not know what the order portended, nor did they care. The -Captains manner meant that there was excitement ahead and that a brush -with the red skins was more than likely at no distant moment. - -"Red skins?" asked the young Lieutenant, in a low voice, riding up -beside his superior officer. - -"Worse," was his laconic reply. "James, and he was alone when I saw -him. I think he is out reconnoitering. We'll bag him this time I hope." - -"That ought to be easy if he is alone," returned the Lieutenant. - -"Humph," snorted the Captain. "You'll learn more as you grow older. -I'd rather hunt savages than those Missouri outlaws, for when it -comes to devilish tricks, the Missourians can give the Indians points -blindfolded. - -"Halt! Dismount! - -"Tether your ponies." - -"Where away?" asked the Lieutenant softly. - -"To the north. He should be near us providing he has not changed his -course and I don't think he has, for very good reasons too." - -"Why, Captain." - -"Because, young man, on one side is an Indian village full of savages -thirsting for his blood, and on the other a sheer precipice dropping -down a few hundred feet only. We are on the third side, and, unless he -turns back there is only one course open for him--to run into us. - -"Throw your men out into a circle. Conceal them behind boulders. We -should get him in the circle that way, and once there I don't think he -will get away. - -"Catch him alive if you can. Kill him if you have to." - -Silence again fell over the night. - -The troopers trained to tread on velvet feet, slipped along like so -many silent shadows. - -But every first right finger trembled on a trigger. - -They knew the man they had to deal with, and the mere click of a -gunlock on their part might mean instant death at the hand of the great -bandit. - -They lay down. - -Each tree and rock beyond seemed to hold a lurking shadow, so tensely -strained were their nerves and vivid their imaginations. - -A twig snapped among the trees in the dense shadows. But not a man -stirred. For long minutes they waited there, scarcely drawing a free -breath. - -The men needed no orders from their captain, no imposition for silent -caution. They were trained too finely in Indian warfare to need such -injunctions. - -If indeed it were the great outlaw himself who stood under the -spreading trees whence had come the warning sound, they knew he would -not move for some time. Not until he had waited the effect of his -incautious step would he move a muscle of his body, and perhaps he -would be standing with one foot poised in the air, every sense keenly -alert, his eyes piercing the shadows with almost superhuman vision. - -To such extremes are men's senses trained, who live in momentary -expectation of the blinding crash and the bullet between the eyes. - -The troopers heard no further sound. - -Their eyes suddenly began to blink. They could scarcely credit what -they saw. - -Right in the middle of the moonlit space, as if he had risen from the -ground, stood the great outlaw himself. - -How he had come there without their observing him, was beyond their -understanding. - -He was standing behind a large boulder, hat tipped back, his features -plainly outlined in the brilliant moonlight, nose and face tipped -upward as if scenting danger in the air. - -Twenty trigger fingers twitched nervously, and as many Winchesters -swung silently until they focused on the figure no more than twenty -paces distant. - -The great desperado poised there like a statue, hands and arms hanging -listlessly at his sides, guns in their holsters as if there was no -expectation of their being needed for instant use. - -But this did not deceive Uncle Sam's Indian fighters. They were too -familiar with Jesse James' reputation for quickness on the trigger not -to understand that the mere glint of a moonbeam along a rifle barrel -would mean death to the soldier behind it almost before he could pull -his own trigger. - -Like a blow in the face came the sudden command: - -"Put up your hands, Jesse James!" - -"Crash!" - -Both the desperadoe's "Colts" spoke in a single explosion, and the -Captain yelled with pain as a bullet tore through one arm. - -"Give it to him!" he roared. - -"Fire in a volley." - -The roar of the heavy Winchesters sent the leaves of the trees a -rustling and even the rocks and earth catching up the note, responded -with a tremor. - -Dimly they could see the figure of the outlaw stretched out on the -ground in the shadow of the boulder after the smoke had drifted away. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -WHEN THE EARTH FELL APART. - - -Just before leaving the cave the great desperado had whispered a word -of command to Tony and Texas. - -But the nature of the orders so secretly conveyed the others did not -know, and none save Frank felt licensed to make inquiry, for Jesse was -apt to administer a sharp rebuke that the inquisitive one would not -soon forget. - -Being the interested party the elder James brother glared suspiciously -at the two bandits. - -"See here, you mutts," he exploded with all his remaining strength, "I -know what you are up to. You think my leg has got to come off and Jess -didn't want me to know about it cause I'd make a ruction. - -"Take it from me, you've got another guess coming. The leg is mine -and it's on to stay. Time enough to plant it when I'm put away. Nice -looking chump I'd be hopping around on one peg, eh?" he laughed -maliciously. - -"You're wrong, Frank," corrected Texas. "You ain't so bad off either. -I'll gamble my spurs on it, that it's only a flesh wound and there -ain't no bullet in there at all. But them gunshot wounds is nasty -things, and what the chief wants is for that redskin sawbones to put on -a lotion that will draw out the poison and--" - -"Then what did he want to be so danged secret like with you duffers -for? That's what gets me. You tell me right now or I'll give you a dose -of the same medicine I got!" he growled menacingly. - -Tony laughed good-naturedly. - -"Jest a little job Jess had put up to save the girl's skin. What do you -s'pose would have happened to her if she brought the medicine man here. -Sure as you're alive, she'd a been in a bad way if the redskins got -wise to what she's doin' with the medicine man. Do you get it?" - -Frank nodded and emitted a sigh of relief. - -"I just wanted to give you all a tip that I've got a gun or two in my -belt, and what's more, they are liable to go off if any of you dubs -monkey with this peg of mine. See?" - -But Tony and Texas, grinning broadly, had slipped away, their -moccasined feet giving no intimation of their departure on the mission -of the chief. - -The time seemed interminable to Frank and the wounded leg gave him -much pain, as he twisted and swore at intervals over the long delay in -bringing help. - -Night had fallen by the time the two bandits reached the opening of the -cave. They had proceeded only a short distance beyond when their keen -ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps. - -Quickly secreting themselves and crouching low the men awaited the -nearer approach of the strangers, eyes keenly bent in the direction of -the faint sound they had heard beyond. - -They had only a moment to wait. - -Tony nudged his companion and nodded his head. - -"Them's them," he ejaculated sententiously. - -"And by my spurs he's a giant," added Texas. - -"Yes, and there the gal behind him, Tex. She's a wonder." - -"There's some things worse'n some squaws," replied Texas. - -"S--h--h--h," cautioned Tony. - -"I'll take the big one and you get the girl, but don't hurt her. Give -her a hunch as to what we're up to as soon as you get your clamps on -her. Now." - -Silently and with bated breaths, the two desperadoes waited until the -medicine man, who indeed did loom up a veritable giant in stature, had -passed Texas. - -He was right beside Tony now, and so close that the bandit could easily -have reached out and touched him. But Tony did not propose to adopt the -ordinary methods of catching an Indian and for the very good reason -that he had no ordinary man to deal with. - -His plans had been quickly matured. And what he did was successful from -the very novelty of the proceeding. - -What Tony did was to shove a stout stick squarely between the medicine -man's shins, at the same time giving a quick, sharp twist. - -The effect was magical. - -The Indian plunged head foremost to the ground, his feet waving wildly -in the air for a moment. But before he could gain equilibrium or cry -out, the same stout stick came down on his head with crushing force. - -The copper-hued sawbones lay still. - -"Holy snakes!" exclaimed Texas with genuine admiration. "Ef that ain't -the all-firedest way to catch a doctor that I ever seen. Here, my -pretty squaw, you're my prisoner too. Now come along like a good little -papoose." - -Dew Drop, with a surprised look in her eyes, turned to flee. Texas -caught her. - -"Keep yer head plumb. We're just makin' believe capturin' you and when -old sawbones wakes up we'll have you tied so he don't get wise to your -little game. See?" - -A smile slowly rippled over the face of the little red girl. - -"Pale face smart like Indian," she answered, nodding her head -vigorously. "Um hurry. Big Bear and braves up yonder. Come for Jess -Jame pretty soon." - -"Jess?" questioned Tony rising from the medicine man whose arms and -hands he had been pinioning. "By the way, where's the chief. He went -with you, didn't he?" - -Dew Drop shook her head. - -"Dew Drop no see um." - -"That's funny. Lend a hand here, Texas and let's get this red devil -into the cave. No need to blindfold him now--" - -"Didn't put out his light, did you Tony?" asked Texas a bit anxiously. - -"Kill him? N--a--w. Head's too thick to break if a log fell on it." - -It was no easy task to get the inanimate form of the giant to the cave. -At first they essayed to carry him, one at the head, the other at the -feet. - -Tony dropped his burden in disgust. - -"Say, Texas, come here. This is too much like work. Jest get hold of -his feet with me and we'll drag him the rest of the way--" - -"But it will hurt him," protested Texas. - -"What, hurt a redskin? G'wan. It'll wake him up, that's all, and he'll -be fit as a fiddle when we git him into the cave. Come along." - -The way was rough and the sacred medicine man got the roughest voyage -of his life for the next few moments. And as Tony had predicted, by the -time they had reached the entrance to the cave, his eyes were open -and he was glaring at his captors with malignant eyes. He could speak -no word because Tony with rare forethought had twisted a gag into his -mouth, fearing that should the man come to he might give the alarm and -bring down some lurking savages on them. - -Just before reaching the mouth of the cave Texas, at his companion's -bidding, bound a handkerchief over the prisoner's eyes. Then with great -caution, they hauled him into the hole in the rocks. - -Being a large man the savage went through the smaller hole opening into -the large chamber, with much less ease than had the bandits. In fact -they had pulled him only half way through when he stuck there fast. - -"Can't make it. He's too fat," decided Texas. - -"Can't? Wait. I know the breed. He's making himself fat--swelling -himself out. Here you savage," roared Tony, "we're going to give a good -long pull and if you don't come through we'll fix you so you do." - -The medicine man grunted. - -"That's right, grunt. But you'll grunt harder when I get through with -you. And understand me, and if you don't get through this time, Harry -here will slice off a few slabs of flesh so you'll fit. Harry'll do a -good job too, and don't you forget it, for he used to slaughter cattle -on a range out in Missouri. Now draw in your belly unless you want to -lose some skin. Heave away boys." - -The bandits counting, "one, two, three," gave a mighty pull. - -This time the medicine man came through, but little rivulets of blood -trickled down his sides as they pulled him into the brilliantly lighted -room. There they removed his blindfold and released his arms, after -first taking possession of his knife. - -The redskin's glance swept the room, then rested on Dew Drop. - -But the little Indian maiden was acting her part to perfection. Tied -hand and foot, she had been stood against one side of the chamber, -where she rested, her eyes blazing with well-assumed hate at her -captors. - -"Big Bear kill um pale faces," she gritted. - -"Never you mind about Big Bear," retorted Tony. "If there's any killing -going on we will take a hand in it ourselves. We shall not hurt you if -you keep quiet--" - -"Indian girl no fraid white man. She stick um knife some day, maybe." - -"Ho, ho," roared Texas. - -"Our little pussey has sharp claws," interjected Homely Harry. - -Frank had been taken into the next chamber, an apartment somewhat -smaller than the one they were in, and there they carried the Indian -medicine man after having instructed him as to what was expected of him. - -They planked him down beside the wounded man. - -Frank's right hand slipped down to his trusty "Colt." - -But the Indian made no move. - -Tony's face grew stony. - -"You red devil," he cried, "don't get stubborn. Do as we demand and no -harm will come to you, but if you don't fix this man up inside of ten -minutes--by the watch, remember--you're a dead Indian. Get busy!" - -The Indian bent a keen glance on Tony, then looked sharply from one to -the other of the assemblage as if to satisfy himself that he was not -being tricked. - -But there was no trickery lurking at the corners of the stern mouths of -the desperate men. - -"Kill um pale face," urged Dew Drop with a vicious snap of the jaws. - -"Ugh," grunted the medicine man with a shake of his head, as he slowly -began drawing a variety of herbs from his belt. These he quickly meshed -together with a stone, and, forming them into a poultice applied it to -the wounds of Frank James. - -The latter let out a yell and tugged at his gun. - -But Tony anticipating just such a move, closed over his wrist in a -vice-like grip. - -"Easy pard," he cautioned. "The poultice is drawing out the pizen. It -won't hurt but a minute, will it old sawbones?" peering up into the -savage face before him for confirmation of his words. - -"White man cry out, then hurt go way," grunted the savage. - -"There, what did I tell you," chortled Tony. "Poultice goes on, you -yell like--like--like you did, and pain goes away. That's it." - -"Oh, shut up," snarled Frank, the lines of his face drawing sharply -under the excruciating pain he was enduring. - -"How--how long is this going to keep up?" he demanded. - -"Yes, when can the captain get out again?" chimed in Homely Harry. - -"White man walk byemby," returned the man of herbs. "Before sun up he -go out. Then mebbe Indian kill um." - -"That's alright, Reddy; we'll be there for the killing. But we don't -'low we've got any hard feelings again you. Hey, boys?" - -"Sure not," chorused the others. - -Crossing the medicine man's palm with a gold piece, to his intense -surprise and satisfaction, they again led him into the vaulted chamber -and releasing Dew Drop bade her bind the cloth about his eyes once more. - -Tony seeing that his orders were being obeyed, had stepped back to -speak to Frank as to the best means of disposing of their prisoners. As -he turned he observed that the Indian girl was feeding embers to the -fire the better to light their way out. - -But the desperado had no more than turned his back on the savage and -the girl ere the rocks beneath him were shaken by a mighty tremor. - -A sudden and awful roar smote his ears. - -A fearful blow seemed to have been struck across his eyes. - -The air was full of hurling rocks and debris. - -Tony and his companions were tumbled together in a confused heap, -yelling in terror at the awful thing that had happened, though they -knew not what it meant. - -Rocks and particles rained down upon their bodies with sickening force. - -But the desperate men neither heard nor felt now. - -A sudden darkness had settled over them and they lay motionless and -lifeless. - -A mighty explosion had rent the cave from end to end. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -IN A LIVING TOMB. - - -It might have been hours for aught they knew that they had lain there. - -Frank was the first to regain consciousness. He heard someone groan and -called out demanding whose voice it was. - -"It's Tony, or what little is left of him," was the answer. - -"Are you hurt?" - -"Donno. Feel as if the roof had caved in on me. Where's the rest of the -gang?" - -"If they only have got out of it as easily as we have we can count -ourselves the luckiest men on earth," returned the elder James boy with -emphasis. - -Forgetting his recent wound, which the herbs of the medicine man had -most miraculously put to sleep so that he felt no pain at all, Frank -struggled to his feet and struck a match. Texas and Harry he espied -lying in a heap in one corner half hidden by the debris which had -fallen upon them. - -Out of the wreck he gathered some sticks and rekindled the fire which -in a moment brightly illuminated the chamber. The scene that met his -gaze was one of wreck and ruin. - -But to this the bandit gave no heed. His first care was for the other -members of the band. - -"They're alive, Tony," he cried, "every man of them. Come help me get -them out--" - -"You'll have to get Tony out first, I'm thinkin'. I'm wedged in here -under this heap of stuff tighter'n a sardine in a box." - -It was but the work of a moment for Frank to release the imprisoned -desperado, and after taking careful inventory of his anatomy and -learning to his delight that no bones had been broken, both men turned -to with a will and began digging out their companions. - -"Thank Providence, or whatever or whoever did it, that my flask was not -broken," exclaimed Frank. - -"Here, hold Texas's head while I pour a few fingers down his throat. -That'll bring him around if anything will." - -And it did. Texas gasped, strangled, sat up and swore roundly. - -The others were quickly restored to consciousness and the men were -overjoyed that all had escaped. - -"Say," spoke up Tony suddenly. "That explosion come from that other -room there. What do you s'pose did it--" - -"And the medicine man and the squaw were in there alone, weren't they?" -asked Frank. - -"By the gods you're right," exclaimed Texas. - -With one accord each man grabbed up a burning brand and climbing over -the obstructions that the explosion had placed in their way, dashed -into the adjoining chamber. - -If anything the disaster had been greater here than in the other room. - -"There's the redskin all shot to pieces," cried Harry. - -"Yes, deader'n a tick," agreed Texas. "But where is the gal?" - -"Yes, where is the girl?" demanded Frank suddenly aroused to action. - -"Blown into little pieces. She's too tender to stand a racket that -would put out a giant like the medicine man," opined Tony. "But where -the devil is she? There ain't no pieces of her layin' about here as I -sees. It makes a feller shivery--like--kinder weak under the belt." - -"Dig! Dig like hell every man of you!" roared Frank in a frenzy of -haste at thought that the girl who had proved such a friend in need -might be dying within a few feet of them for want of a willing hand to -give her succor. - -They set to with a will. - -"Dew Drop here," piped a voice that seemed to come out of the air, but -from just what direction none could say. - -They looked about; peered into every corner and crevice, then faced -each other questioningly. - -"Hello!" shouted Frank, but only the echoes of his own voice came back -to him. - -"Mebby it's the Great Spirit she was tellin' us about," suggested Texas -with a hoarseness in his throat that he tried vainly to down. "She's a -dead one that's sure--" - -"Dew Drop no go Happy Hunting Ground; Medicine man he go Happy Hunting -Ground. Mebby Jesse Jame he happy Hunting Ground," came in the -plaintive tone of the Indian maiden. - -It was maddening. - -In a moment these hardy desperadoes who had faced death in a thousand -forms, would feel their courage oozing from their finger tips and would -make a run for the outer air. - -"Where are you?" roared Frank. "Are you dead or alive?" - -"Me here; me no with Great Spirit." - -"Where?" bellowed Tony. "Where in the humping pizen snakes be you -anyhow? You sound as if you was over my head, but if you be you're a -dead one, and that goes." - -Frank with a sudden thought in his mind was shading his eyes from the -flaming torches and peering up into the shadows. There, more than ten -feet above their heads, he saw the form of the little Indian maiden -wedged in a crevice of rocks where she had evidently been hurled by the -sudden explosion. - -The men shouted for pure joy. - -"Jump, you little devil," shouted Texas, "we'll catch you." - -"Paleface say well. Dew Drop no jump." - -"Not jump? Don't be afraid," reassured Frank. - -"Dew Drop um no jump. Um fast," she wailed. - -"She's wedged in between the rocks," yelled Tony. "Git a ladder -somebody quick." - -Everybody laughed but it was evident that Tony in his excitement was in -dead earnest. - -"Yes, how we going to git the gal down?" demanded Texas. - -"Can't one of you take a running jump and reach her?" cried Frank. "If -my leg wasn't game I'd do it myself." - -"Yes, you would," sneered Tony. "You ain't no bird and neither be I. -That's twelve feet if its one up there." - -"I've got an idee," interrupted Homely Harry. "I'll stand agin the wall -and you fellers climb up on top of me, one top of tother. I've seen 'em -do that in a circus once. We kin git her down that way." - -Frank shot an approving glance at him. - -"You're the only one in the bunch that's got a head on his shoulders -about now I reckon. I ain't much on the climb, but try it and if you -don't get her, I'll go to the top of the pile myself." - -The agile mountaineers formed a human pyramid in a moment with Texas as -the top-mounter, Tony groaning beneath his weight and threatening every -moment to give way sending the pyramid a bruised and broken wreck to -the hard stone floor of the cave. - -It was with no little effort that they finally accomplished the feat of -releasing the girl from her rocky prison. - -But once free she slid down the pyramid with the grace of a lofty -tumbler. - -Tony and Texas came down rather less easily. - -"Now I want to know what this is all about?" demanded Frank when they -once more had recovered themselves. - -"Yes, what devil's prank put this joint on the blink?" added Tony. -"I've had some jars in my time, but I never did have such an all-fired -bump as this one." - -"Me not know," answered Dew Drop hanging her head. - -"What were you and the bones doing when it happened?" urged Frank, -pointing to the mangled remains of the medicine man. - -Dew Drop gazed at the horrid sight with emotionless eyes, then turned -toward them. - -"Me make fire burn one--two times--" - -"Yes, yes," they chorused. - -"You put wood on the fire to make it bright," added Frank. - -The Indian girl nodded. - -"What then?" - -"Make fire more. - -"Then heap fire like sun. Dew Drop go sleep. Great Spirit get um. Dew -Drop open eyes--see pale faces and um want see Dew Drop." - -Harry scratched his head. - -"Clear as the big Muddy in a spring freshet," agreed Tony. - -"Wait a minute," commanded Frank, raising a restraining hand. - -"You put one, two, three sticks on fire, then you put another?" - -Dew Drop nodded vigorously. - -"But when you put on the fourth one, hey?" - -"Um pale face he know." - -"Then the whole business went up?" - -Dew Drop puffed out her cheeks and said "Pouf! So." - -"Well I'll be damned!" exclaimed Frank. - -"What is it?" demanded Texas. - -"What was it?" urged Tony. - -"Dynamite!" snapped the desperado holding the girl with a wondering -gaze. "And you near put us all out of business at the same time. - -"Yes, dynamite. I understand it all now. _Jess must have left those -sticks here and the girl used one of them to build the fire with._ -It's a wonder it didn't blow us all to kingdom come." - -A loud guffaw greeted Frank's explanation. - -All danger past they could afford to look on the humorous side of the -disaster now. - -"Well, we got rid of old saw bones quicker'n we thought," chuckled -Tony. "Good thing Jesse wasn't here. It might have got him too, for -he'd a been right on top of it likely as not." - -"Jess. I had forgotten," cried Frank. "What has become of him? He's got -into trouble, I'll bet my spurs on it. It must have been hours since he -went away. - -"Say Dew Drop, did he go with you?" - -The girl shook her head. - -The men looked into each other's faces in dismay. - -"Come, we must find him," cried Frank, his face narrowing down until -the lines of it laid up in projecting, stern wrinkles. - -"Mebbe Big Bear git um Jess Jame," vouchsafed the girl stoically. - -"What's that?" demanded Frank suddenly turning on her. - -"Mebbe sojers git um Jess Jame." - -"Soldiers. No, they're miles away to the north of us by now. We headed -them toward the fort hours ago." - -"Sojers come back," averred the girl. - -"Came back? How do you know?" - -"Me see um, Me see injuns. Injuns he look for Jess Jame." - -"The girl is right," roared Frank. "Out of this devilish hole. They've -got him. What can one man do against a company of infantry and a whole -village of redskins. Come!" - -The bandit strode toward the opening whence they had first entered, -then stopped short. - -"Trapped!" he cried hoarsely. - -"The explosion has blocked our entrance. We're caught like rats in a -trap." - -The outlaws groaned. - -Hoarse curses and muttered imprecations were passed from lip to lip as -the enraged desperadoes ran from point to point seeking in vain for -some means of egress from their rocky tomb. - -"We're done for," snarled Tony, his hand slipping instinctively to his -pistol holster. - -"Jess will get us out somehow," soothed Harry. - -"No. Jess is probably in a worse fix than we are at this very minute," -exploded Frank, "and--" - -A timid pressure on his arm caused him to look suddenly down. - -"Well, what is it?" he demanded shortly. "Haven't you got us into -enough trouble already? What do you want now? Say it and say it quick." - -"Pale face um want go way?" - -"Want to? Holy snakes, hear the girl," laughed Tony harshly. "I -calkerlate it don't make a mighty sight of difference whether we want -to or not. We don't." - -"Silence!" commanded Frank. - -"Well, what is it, girl?" - -"Pale face want go--Dew Drop want go. Um show pale face." - -So astounded were the outlaws at her amazing confidence in her ability -to pilot them to freedom, that for a moment no one answered, and by -the time they had gathered their wits again, Dew Drop was tripping on -velvet feet to the chamber they had just left. - -They sprang after her eagerly, but just in time to see the girl -disappear behind a pyramid of rock and which they now discovered for -the first time, led into another passage. - -"Hold on," called Tony, "you're taking us further into this infernal -hole." - -But Dew Drop made no reply. - -Her confident manner brought hope to the bandit's hearts almost in -spite of their determination not to be trapped at any cost. - -"Bring lights," commanded Frank. - -They did so. - -As they progressed they noticed that their course was leading them up -and up, further and further, and with each rise of the trail their -spirits ascended proportionately. - -"Hooray! I see moonlight," cried Texas. "By gad we're getting out as -sure as you're alive." - -Dew Drop turned and laid a warning finger on her lips, and bent her -head in a listening attitude. - -"What is it?" they demanded in bated breaths. - -"Injuns," breathed the Indian maiden. - -Each right slipped to pistol holster. - -"Indians," muttered the desperadoes, and "Colts" were quickly -unsheathed. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -JESSE JAMES' DESPERATE LEAP. - - -Not a man moved. - -Every rifle was turned on the prostrate man. - -The captain peered suspiciously at the form of the great desperado for -a moment, then nodded his satisfaction. - -"Cease firing!" he commanded. - -Placing a whistle to his lips the officer blew a short, shrill blast. -Two troopers in response, came dashing up on their ponies, saluted and -sat at attention awaiting their leader's commands. - -"Boys, we have got him at last," he said, addressing the two troopers. -"That's Jesse James over there on his back. Sorry we had to kill him. -But it's my opinion he's safer that way. I knew we should get him -in time. Outlaws may fool posses indefinitely, but when it comes to -beating the United States Cavalry, that's different. Young man," he -continued, "let this be an object lesson to you in persistance. Four -times within the past twenty-four hours I am free to confess we have -been outwitted by the world's greatest desperado, but each time we came -back stronger than ever and as full of fight. You see the result. We -have done our full duty." - -"Yes, but what shall we do with the body, bury it or roll it into the -gully somewhere hereabouts?" asked the Lieutenant, stepping over toward -the body of the outlaw, then turning back. - -"Neither. Have some saplings cut and make a litter between two ponies. -We must get him to the fort immediately before it is too late. No one -would ever believe we had killed the world's greatest bandit unless we -had something better to show for it than our mere word. It is not that -they would doubt our word, but the rub is they know Jesse James," he -grinned. "And so do we," he added grimly. - -"Make haste now. We'll surely have the redskins down on us after all -this racket, and we've made a lot of it, I reckon." - -"I'll attend to it at once, sir," responded the Lieutenant. - -"Throw out pickets!" ordered the commander. "We are in a dangerous -strategical position here." - -"But what about the rest of the gang--do we go after them?" asked the -Lieutenant after executing his superior officer's commands. - -"Yes, we might as well clean house thoroughly while we are about it. -Let two men ride in with the body. They should reach the fort by -daybreak. We will remain here with the rest of the troop and finish -up the job. It should be easy to at least disperse the gang, now that -their leader has turned up his toes for the last time. It has been a -good job, Lieutenant, eh?" - -The young officer nodded and smiled, for his share in the great -achievement had been no small one and in all probability would bring -him much nearer to having a command of his own at no distant day. - -With the others, the army officer's words were accepted as final. -Meantime the troopers had constructed a litter and were now engaged -in dragging it to the spot where Jesse lay face up on the rocks, the -moonbeams lighting up his face with a ghastly pallor, to the strained -imagination of the soldiers. - -At a motion from the Lieutenant, the two mounted men rode their ponies -to the scene and sprang from their saddles to lift the inanimate form -of the fallen desperado to the litter to be conveyed to the fort some -thirty miles away. - -The men's Winchesters reposed safely in their saddle holsters, and -the ponies, unmindful of the tragic scene before them, calmly began -browsing on the tender underbrush. - -The two troopers bent over to lift the body to the litter that the -others were bringing up. - -At that instant a strange and unexpected thing happened. - -The supposed dead man moved. - -Both arms shot out and the moon beams caught and reflected a steely -glint in each hand. - -With lightning-like quickness the bandit's hands shot into the shadows -formed by the bodies of the two troopers. The movement was so slight as -to have been almost indistinguishable two paces away. - -The soldiers with a groan settled down in a heap. - -Yet nothing of the tragedy being enacted before their very eyes, -conveyed itself to the troopers just beyond, and the Captain was -calling out some order to the men that the bandit had laid low. They -did not know that two of their companions lay dying there, their life -blood staining the virgin rocks. - -"Hey, what is going on over there?" shouted the Captain, his keen eyes -noting something unusual in the attitude of his men. - -There was no response. - -"Lieutenant, you had better straighten out those men." - -With one movement, the great bandit had driven his bowies straight into -the hearts of the unsuspecting soldiers. In bending over him to raise -his body to the litter, they had presented a mark that the veriest -novice at man-killing, could not have missed by any chance. - -Their blood in crimson stream spurted into the face and eyes of the -blood-thirsty desperado, but the only emotion it stirred in him was to -arouse him to deepest anger. - -Not a bullet of the death-dealing volley had reached Jesse. With that -marvelous instinct that had saved his life on so many occasions in the -past, the outlaw had sensed the danger that confronted him, he knew -that the eyes of enemies were upon him, but whether of white men or -redskins, he did not know. - -Instantly his quick mind evolved a plan. He knew that death yawned in -the shadows there, which one false move would precipitate upon him. -With Jesse James, to think was to act. - -He dropped at the instant when twenty Winchesters hurled their death -missiles at him. But the leaden pellets sped harmlessly over his head. - -Instead of leaping to his feet and making a desperate dash for liberty, -as a less experienced man in the art of guerilla warfare might have -done, the great bandit stiffened out and lay motionless in well-feigned -emulation of death. - -His ruse was successful. - -But now the moment for action had arrived. Yet he did not move a -muscle and respiration seemed to have ceased utterly. - -One of the ponies moved a step forward, having sighted a fresh bit of -tender verdure. Its body was thus projected between the main arm of the -troop and the prostrate outlaw, hiding his movements from them. - -With a blood-curdling yell that sent terror to the hearts of the -soldiers for an instant, Jesse leaped to the startled pony's back. He -seemed to spring from the ground as if impelled by some giant spring. - -So unexpected had been the move that the troops stood paralyzed--unable -to move hand or foot. In fact, no comprehension of the real meaning of -the scene--of the terrible tragedy that had taken place before their -very eyes--had forced itself into their minds. - -The outlaw's yell of defiance had accomplished the exact result that he -had intended it should. - -"It's James!" roared the Captain in a fearful rage. - -"Take aim! - -"Fire!" - -Twenty Winchesters crashed, a dull flash of flame lighted up the -scene and was instantly lost in a pall of suffocating smoke, the -reverberations from the explosion, thundering from peak to peak of the -surrounding mountains. - -The command was repeated and again the guns of the troopers spoke -hoarsely. - -Coincident with the first volley the outlaw had thrown himself down on -the horse's side, away from the attacking force, Indian fashion. He was -a master of every trick known to savage warfare, learned in the school -of Quantrell years before. - -So suddenly had he gone down that at first they thought he had fallen. -But the world's greatest outlaw was not thus easily to be disposed of. - -"It's a trick," yelled the Captain. - -He was goaded to desperation. - -"Fire at will!" he commanded. - -"Give it to him! Shoot low and fast!" - -Still another heavy volley broke the stillness. - -"Mount and pursue!" came the stern command. - -Jesse rose in his saddle and swung the Winchester that he had drawn -from the saddle holster, on his enemies. - -Two soldiers bit the dust. - -The troopers sprang to saddle. The death of their companions had filled -them with mad lust for the blood of the desperado. Now they were -yelling like a band of Indians who had discovered that their coveted -prey was almost within their grasp. - -The fleeing bandit made a sudden discovery. The opposite side of the -circle of troops was drawing in on him. But instead of taking alarm, -Jesse was quick to note the advantage that their manoeuvre gave him. -The newcomers fired a volley into the air to warn the Captain of their -location that he might not fire into the ranks of his own men. - -Jesse shouted a jeer, and rising in his saddle again, pumped his -Winchester first into the ranks of one body of troops and then into the -other side, continuing to yell like a Comanche Indian on the warpath. - -It was maddening. Not a shot was fired in answer by the enemy. - -A blast of the bugle had commanded the troops to "cease firing." - -"Charge!" - -The notes of the command rippled musically from the bugler's horn and -the troops, swinging to saddle as one man, swept down in pursuit. - -They were moving in a half circle formation, now. - -"We've got him this time, sure," exulted the Captain. - -"Depends on whether our horses are faster than his, which I very much -doubt," objected the Lieutenant. - -"You've still got a few things to learn, young man," retorted his -superior officer. "When you have been in the service longer you'll find -out an officer has to use his eyes and every other sense that nature -has given him, if he expects to save his hide, letting alone catching -the enemy." - -"I don't catch you," shouted the Lieutenant above the sound of the -fleet-footed rushing ponies. - -"He is headed for the canyon. That's what I mean." - -"The canyon! Good God!" gasped the young officer. - -"Surrender!" roared the Captain. - -"It's sure death to go on." - -The desperado rose in his stirrups. He again emptied his Winchester -into the ranks of the pounding troop on his flanks. - -The feel of the swift-moving little Indian pony beneath him, filled -him with unholy joy. On a fleet-footed animal the great outlaw feared -neither man nor beast, and in very truth, few of the wild men or -savages of the turbulent west, were his equals in the saddle any more -than they were when it came to quickness on the trigger. - -Three ponies fell as the result of his deadly fire, and as many riders -were hurled into the air, an instant later to fall with a sickening -thud as they struck the hard ground. - -But the outlaw did not turn to note the result of his fusilade. He had -other momentous things to occupy his mind at that moment. - -Casting his Winchester aside he threw his full weight on his toes in -the stirrups and sat crouching like some wild animal about to spring -upon its unsuspecting prey. - -The desperado's eyes were fixed and staring. - -Ahead of him yawned the black and awful abyss. - -Driving in the rowels of his spurs until the pinto snorted with pain, -Jesse fairly threw the hardy little Indian pony at the rocky canyon. - -"My God, he is going over!" cried the Lieutenant, aghast at the awful -leap the great bandit was about to take. - -"He don't see it! He don't see it! - -"Halt! The canyon!" roared the young officer in the stress of his -excitement. For the moment he had forgotten that the man he was warning -was he for whose death half a continent was clamoring. - -"He knows it, you fool!" snarled the Captain. "Don't you see he's going -to jump it?" - -"But its certain death." - -"So is this," gritted the commander of the troop. "It's death either -way he takes it, back or front. - -"Call the halt or we'll be going over with him, the whole pack and -parcel of us." - -The bugle sounded its warning short and sharp. - -On the very brink of the precipice stood a giant spreading oak, and -into it's broad shadow the world-famous desperado drove his mount, a -veritable living projectile in its undeviating flight. - -The notes of the bugle trilled again and the horses of the troopers -slid to their haunches perilously near the brink. - -"Fire!" rang the stern command. - -Once more the heavy Winchesters crashed. - -A wild yell greeted the volley. - -But whether of pain or triumph they did not know. - -With a scream of awful fright, the pony leaped high in the air and -plunged far out and over the terrible precipice. They heard his body -buffeted from rock to rock in its descent. And finally as they listened -they caught the sound of the impact when it struck for the last time on -the rocks far below. - -Not a man spoke. They were too full of wonder and horror for speech. - -A heavy silence had fallen over the scene of death. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -IN THE HANDS OF THE REDSKINS. - - -"Well, I guess that will be about all--that settles the career of the -world's greatest bandit," averred the Captain. - -Both officers and men stood on the brink of the black chasm, gazing -down fearsomely into the apparently bottomless pit. The thought of the -fearful plunge that they had just witnessed, had a sobering effect on -all of them. It had stirred within the men an emotion almost akin to -fear, and each trooper as he turned away, felt a little chill trickle -up and down his spinal column, all in spite of his stern effort to -repress it. Hated as was the great outlaw, the soldiers rated him as a -brave man, a quality that touches a responsive chord in every soldier's -breast. - -The Captain broke the silence, his words falling on them almost like a -blow. - -"No living man could come out of that fall alive," he continued. "It is -a sheer drop of more than two hundred feet to the bottom of the gulch, -and there isn't a ghost of a show for anything human or inhuman that -goes over it. - -"Lieutenant, take a squad of men and ride north until you strike the -entrance to the gorge. The water is low at this time of the year and -you can easily get up to the point where the bandit and the pinto -struck. This time there won't be any question about it. He won't look -very pretty, but we've got to get him to the fort as soon as possible, -for the weather is warm." - -"Right, sir; but I should like to know how he played that scurvy trick -on us?" demanded the Lieutenant. "I can't get it through my head how -our men ever missed him." - -"That is elemental. He lay down before the volley was fired!" - -"That's all right, Captain, but I still don't understand how he knew -we were going to shoot," persisted the Lieutenant. - -"Because he was Jesse James. That's the only answer I can give you. I -made my mistake when I failed to order a volley fired into him after -he was down. That's the trouble when troops are opposed to savages and -outlaws. We fight according to the rules of civilized warfare while -they--well, they are just common murderers. Warfare to them is only -assassination. - -"Have the recall sounded, then start for the gulch. Jesse James is dead -for the last time." - -But once more the army officer had been tricked. - -In a pure game of wits, he with all his military training and his -experience in fighting savages, had been outwitted. When it came to -pitting one man in a battle of wits against another, Jesse James had no -known peer. He never seemed to come to the end of his resources, and -the most desperate situations, the moments of the gravest peril, gave -him not the slightest apprehension as to the ultimate outcome. He was -able to cope with them all, come when and how they might. - -As he lay, back down, on the rocks, after the first volley had been -fired by the troops, the great desperado formed his plans concisely -and definitely, and these plans, as it proved, he followed without the -slightest deviation. - -Jesse had heard the command of the Captain to prepare a litter and it -brought a sardonic grin to his hardy face. - -"They sure will need that litter themselves before I get through with -them," he muttered. - -The outlaw reasoned with marvelous precision, just what the soldiers -would do, and, therefore, his quickly laid plans worked out without the -slightest slip or miscarriage. - -The great oak tree on the brink of the precipice proved Jesse's -salvation, as he proposed that it should. Had it not been there, -another and different ending to his escapade, might have resulted. - -But the officers did not attach any special significance to the -fact that the outlaw had driven his pony straight for the tree in -his mad flight from them, seeing only in the act a desire to put an -end to himself rather than fall into the hands of the United States -Government. Still the tree was the key note to the situation--the -one factor that enabled him to elude his pursuers, and at the same -time save himself from being dashed to certain death on the rocks two -hundred feet below. - -As his pony shot into the shadow, Jesse raised himself in his stirrups -and caught a low-lying limb. With the agility of a trapeeze performer -he drew his body up and free of the horse just at the instant when the -bullets of the troops sang by beneath him and the screaming pinto went -dashing to its death. - -Like a squirrel, Jesse ran up the trunk of the tree, and there he -perched, his body convulsed with fiendish glee at the neat trick he had -turned on the cavalry troop for the second time that night. And it was -with intense interest that he listened to the comments of the officers -down below. - -"So, Jesse James is dead, eh?" he chuckled. - -Yet at that moment the supposed dead man held with steady hand, a heavy -"Colt," trained on the redoubtable captain. The officer was nearer to -death than he ever knew, and Jesse himself, was not so far from it as -he thought. - -It was a relief, however, that he noted the final departure of the -troops. Jesse was anxious to get back to the cave. He wondered that -none of the band had been out in search of him. This augured trouble -of some sort. And he wondered too, how successful Dew Drop had been -in corralling Great Bear's medicine man, for he felt that the need of -the herb doctor's services, was urgent. Perhaps that was where the rub -lay--perhaps his whole outfit had been picked up by the redskins. - -It suddenly occurred to the desperado too, that no redskin had shown -himself during the melee. Certainly they had not been so deaf as not to -have heard the bombardment of the cavalrymen. - -"There's sure something doing," he muttered. "Things look kinder -ticklish." - -Jesse decided that it would be wise to get away while the coast was -clear. The troops were now well out of the way. - -But his cogitations were rudely interrupted by a guttural grunt at the -foot of the tree. - -Jesse started. - -He recognized the sound. No other than a redskin could give vent to an -exclamation like that. - -The desperado's gun came out in a flash. He peered down through the -foliage, dimly making out the figure of a savage. Perhaps the Indian -was alone, but more than likely there were others nearby. - -The outlaw, adopting the policy of the savages, waited patiently for -further developments. But all hope of the redskin not being aware of -his presence in the tree, was shattered a moment later. - -"Ugh," said the Indian. - -"Great snakes," muttered Jesse. - -"Jesse James, um up tree," announced the Indian stoically. - -"That I am for certain," growled the great bandit chieftain, under his -breath. - -"Jesse James um in a fix." - -"Great Bear, as I'm alive," whispered Jesse, slipping down the tree -trunk a few feet. - -"Pale face um fool sojers. Um no fool Great Bear. Great Bear um see -many things. Um see sojers shoot Jess Jame. Great Bear know um not -shoot Jess Jame. Jess Jame he play possum. Ugh. Great Bear um wait. Um -want pale face for umself. Huh." - -"Well, you've got another guess coming," retorted the outlaw. - -Jesse began parleying to gain time. He first wanted to know if the -chief was alone, which fact was all-important to him in his present -predicament. - -"Great Bear go away," he called down gently. "Great Spirit up here in -tree," he crooned with subtle cunning. - -"No, no!" protested the chief, "Great Spirit not for pale face. Great -Spirit stay Indian." - -The great desperado fingered his guns nervously. It required all the -self control he could impose upon himself to refrain from shooting the -redskin, where he stood in plain view of the man up the tree. It was a -terrible temptation, but the bandit-chieftain resented it manfully. - -"All right, old moccasin foot, we'll see about that later!" - -Great Bear, he realized had been a witness to his brush with the -cavalry troops; but with a cunning characteristic of the savage that he -was, had viewed it with keener eyes than had the officers of the troop. - -"Um Jess Jame come down," grunted the chief. - -"Jesse James will come down when he gets good and ready, you greasy -old cutthroat," he jeered. "Great Bear had better look out or my men -will shoot him in the back. Do you think I'd let you stand there making -threats at me all this time without killing you, if I hadn't known my -men had you covered. You are not half so smart as you think you are, -eh?" - -The old chief did not change his position in the least. - -But meanwhile Jesse was cautiously making his way down the trunk of the -tree, yet in doing so not so much as displacing the smallest particle -of dry bark whose falling would warn the savage of his approach. - -"Ugh," grunted the chief. - -"Ugh it yourself," threw back the desperado. - -"Um lie. Great Bear um know Jess Jame. No paleface get Great Bear. -Paleface all gone. Indians here--Great Spirit here. Indian in -bush--many Indian in bush there," indicating a half circle by a sweep -of his hand. - -"Ah," exclaimed the desperado. - -Jesse had drawn from the big chief the very information he was seeking. -He knew now that the savage was alone. "When an Indian tells you a -thing is so, you know it isn't," was Jesse's motto and it was the one -he applied to the present case. - -Still, he dared not use his guns. - -Great Bear, perhaps, following the same process of reasoning, stood -confidently awaiting the moment when the desperado should find it -convenient to move. - -"Pale face no jump. Um fall down big hole like pinto," he warned. - -"Don't worry, my sweet papoose," jeered the outlaw. "Jesse James don't -jump down holes, nor does he run away. But he's going to kill an Indian -bye and bye, when he gets down. But paleface going to stay up here -till Big chief gets sore feet waiting for him. Good night, you old -dog-eater." - -The great desperado laughed and chuckled, all with a purpose, but not -so loudly at any time that his voice could easily be heard beyond the -circle of shadow thrown by the great tree. - -"Ugh. Pale face, dog--" retorted the savage. - -But he got no further. - -Like a flying projectile, a dark object was hurled from the tree. -Straight did it speed at the copper-hued savage below, and as true as -if it had been from a mountain battery. - -The projectile was none other, however, than the great desperado -himself. With rare cunning, Jesse had step by step, drawn the chief's -attention from his real purpose, the while occupying the time in -getting into the most advantageous position for the carrying out of his -plans. - -The outlaw's flying body with unerring aim, hit the savage fair and -square and both men went down in a heap. - -Great Bear uttered a grunt of terrible rage, but could not speak. The -terrific impact of Jesse's heavy body striking him, knocked all the -wind out of his savage body. - -But the Indian's arms suddenly closed over the desperado in a crushing -grip. Jesse, tough and muscular as he was, felt that his ribs were -being slowly, but relentlessly crushed in. - -Neither man spoke a word at first, each playing for an advantage that -would enable him to reach his knife. - -One of Jesse's bowies that he held in his teeth, when he jumped, was -lost at the moment his body struck that of Great Bear. - -The desperado now discovered that his antagonist was working slowly -toward the precipice. But whether he thought to frighten the outlaw or -whatever his motive, Jesse checkmated it. - -"S-s-o--that's y-o-u-r g-g-a-m-e is it?" he gritted, "you black hearted -savage. All right, if you want to go over, come on." - -Great Bear changed his mind instantly. - -"Jess Jame um brave man. But Injun kill um," he hissed between breaths. - -Over and over the combatants rolled, first one gaining a slight -advantage which would be quickly lost to the other. Great Bear on his -side possessed one advantage that Jesse did not--he was stripped to -the waist while the outlaw was fully clothed. This gave the Indian -something to hold to, while Jesse's grip on the perspiring skin of his -antagonist was an uncertain thing. - -But the bandit king was working his hands upward as frequently and as -rapidly as he dared. Once when he had succeeded in forcing Great Bear -to his side, with the left hand pinioned under him, Jesse's right shot -up and his fingers closed over the savage's right ear. With a grunt of -rage Jesse's hand came away covered with blood. - -The hand held the ear of his savage antagonist. But the stoical Indian -gave no sign that he had been injured. If anything the terrible wound -gave him added strength. - -A sudden upward expansion of his muscles, chest and abdomen, fairly -lifted Jesse into the air. - -When the two came down, Jesse was underneath. In a moment more their -positions were reversed. - -Great Bear's fingers closed over the outlaw's throat, while the -desperado's knee forced itself into his adversary's abdomen with -terrible force. - -The Indian emitted a grunt, which was followed by another as the -desperate outlaw bored in and in with the bony knee until it seemed as -if the flesh of the other's body must give way and let the knee find an -easy path. - -The Indian's grasp slackened and Jesse's terrible fist smote him -squarely in the face until the blood of the savage spurted into his own -eyes. - -Again and again the outlaw rained sledge hammer blows on his opponent's -face until it was reduced to a bloody pulp. But still the desperate -battle waged. - -Now and then both men would lay still for a moment, clasped in a -desperate embrace, gasping for breath, but speaking no word. - -The time for vituperation had passed. - -It was now a battle to the death. - -They were wonderfully matched. And though Jesse's hands and face were -smeared with red blood that showed ghastly in the moonlight, he had -sustained no wounds. - -In a moment of relaxation he jabbed a thumb with all his force into the -savage's eye. - -The pain must have been excruciating. But the redskin gave no sign that -he sensed its pain. - -Great Bear had succeeded in unsheathing his knife, but his hand -instantly was pinioned to the ground where the great outlaw held it in -a vice-like grip. - -All at once Jesse released his hold on the knife hand. The hand with -lightning-like quickness shot up to make the fatal thrust. - -It got no further. - -With a movement equally quick, the desperado caught the hand and with -an unexpected movement bent it backward. - -"Snap!" - -Great Bear cried out, and the hand hung limp. - -"Ha, ha! Reached you, did I?" gasped Jesse in triumphant tones. - -Great Bear snarled like a wounded animal. - -The hand though useless, slipped about the outlaw's neck and the -savage's arm pinioned it in a grip of iron, while with his free hand he -showered blows on the bandit's side. - -Jesse fastened his teeth in the redskin's cheek and when he pulled away -there was left a great gaping wound, and the bandit spat out his toll -of human flesh. - -The Indian's grip on Jesse's neck was released and Great Bear with his -free hand dealt his antagonist a frightful blow on the side of his head. - -Jesse sunk down and all grew black about him. - -With a muffled yell of fiendish joy Great Bear sprang free of his -antagonist, throwing Jesse with crushing force to the ground where he -lay for a brief moment on his back. - -The redskin scrambled for his knife. - -It was but the work of an instant for him to secure it. - -He made a mighty leap for his desperate, fallen antagonist, his face -contorted with the awful passion that was raging within him. - -But the brief respite had given Jesse's wonderful recuperative powers, -time to act. Yet he lay perfectly still calmly awaiting the onslaught. - -The Indian sprang clear of the ground, projecting his body at his -fallen antagonist and with gleaming knife held aloft for the fatal -blow, was descending upon him with crushing force. - -In his rage he did not pause to think or to consider. The lust for -human blood overcame all other emotions and blinded the savage's -judgment. - -The outlaw's eyes were upon him, but this, Great Bear did not know, nor -would he have heeded had he seen. - -Quicker than the human eye could follow, the desperado's knees doubled -up, his legs were drawn back. - -The feet shot out with terrific force, catching the savage redskin full -in the abdomen. - -Great Bear doubled up like a jack knife and catapulted in the air, -turning a complete somersault, ending up by landing on his head on the -hard rocks some distance away. - -The Indian toppled over and lay still. - -It was now Jesse's moment to act. - -He too sprang into the air. - -His heavy boots landed full on the Indian's face, mangling and -mutilating it almost beyond human semblance. - -But the uncertain footing threw the outlaw from his feet and he fell -sprawling over the body of his antagonist. - -In an instant he had whirled over. - -Again the combatants were locked in a deadly embrace. - -It seemed as if human flesh and blood could not stand the terrible -gruelling that each desperate man had sustained. - -Still the battle waged on as sanguinary as before. - -Never had such a desperate fight to the death been known in all that -wild, barbarous country, and the story of it has been handed down--told -in tepee and at firesides to this day. You can hear it any day should -you chance to come across some old trapper or Indian chief when either -is in a communicative mood. - -But neither man of iron could conquer the other. - -Jesse while holding his antagonist down, had pinioned both arms to -the ground and with hands in the redskin's hair, was beating his head -against the rocks, with an impact that might have been heard for many -rods around. - -He hoped to wear out his antagonist in this way. Both men's knives had -now been lost beyond recovery, and nothing but pure muscular prowess -could decide the equal battle. - -All at once Jesse sensed that some one was approaching him from the -rear, but whether friend or foe, he could not tell, for all behind him -was in a deep shadow now. - -His guns were still in their holsters, but the sudden strain that the -desperado put upon himself to draw them, was futile. The Indian's grasp -of iron could not be broken for the infinitesimal space of time that -was necessary to give Jesse an opportunity to jerk his "Colts" from -their resting place. - -With a mighty effort he twisted his antagonist about so that he could -partially look behind him. - -The discovery that he made was enough to shake the stoutest nerves. - -Over him towered the savage, malignant face of a giant Indian. - -He held in his hands a club which was descending on Jesse's head with -fearful force. - -Like a flash the outlaw dodged and the blow fell upon Great Bear's arm, -crushing it, and bringing from the warrior a groan of agony. - -Jesse sought to free himself from the killing embrace. - -He was a second too late. - -Again the mighty club was swung on high. - -It landed fair on the bandit's head. - -The world's greatest desperado toppled over the form of his antagonist, -with a subdued moan. - -Jesse did not move. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -UNDER THE BRANDING IRON. - - -"Take that rock off my head," Jesse caught himself mumbling as he -slowly returned to consciousness. - -Two factors had served to save the outlaw's life: One that the Indian -behind him had struck him a glancing blow, and the other that Jesse -James' skull was too thick to break by any ordinary means. - -But the blow had been a terrific one and the outlaw's head throbbed -like a locomotive under full headway. - -He emitted a subdued groan and tried to move. To his surprise he found -he could not. - -He was now conscious of shooting pains through his whole body. His arms -were stretched above his head, and when he sought to draw them down by -his side, he found he could not move them. - -Jesse cautiously tried to move his feet, but like the arms, these also -refused to respond to his will. - -"That's queer," he thought. "I wonder if I'm dead." - -He tried to recall the incidents that had preceded his present -condition, but his mind was sluggish and just as he would almost come -upon a solution of his strange condition, memory would elude him again. - -He tried to open his eyes, but the eyelids seemed held down by some -irresistible weight. - -For a time the desperado sought to gratify the sensation of drowsiness -that seemed to steal over him. Then he would suddenly awake with a -start, the pain in his body more intense than before. - -At last with a mighty effort of will he dragged his heavy eyelids open. -At first he could see nothing for the darkness, then little by little -he made out his surroundings. - -He was in an Indian tepee. - -"How did I get here?" he wondered. - -He tried and tried to think. - -Suddenly memory returned like a blow. - -He remembered it all. The desperate battle on the ground--the club that -finally had laid him low. But beyond that all was dark. - -For a moment he could not make up his mind whether it was night or day, -but glancing up he noted that the flap that covered the entrance to the -wigwam showed a tiny ray of light through a fine slit that its owner -had made for secret observations when within. Jesse wished he might be -able to pull himself together sufficiently to get up and peek out. - -But the effort to raise only gave him pain. - -He sensed that his holsters were still at his sides and by their weight -against his leg he judged that his guns must be in their places. - -The thought gave him comfort. The outlaw's guns had become as much a -part of himself as were his hands or his feet. - -As his mind by slow process began to clear, he set about finding out -why it was that he could not move--whether he had been seriously -wounded or what mysterious force was holding him down. - -The discovery came as a distinct shock and roused all the rage that his -savage nature was capable of. - -He was bound hand and foot. - -Jesse's inclination was to give voice to his passions--to hurl -invective at his unseen captors, to taunt them, to goad them, but not -to plead. Jesse James had pleaded with no man in his eventful life. It -was not in his nature to do so, nor would he begin now. - -Yet he did not quite understand what manner of torture they had -inflicted upon him to put him in such pain. But it was a matter of only -a moment or so before he was made acquainted with his exact situation. - -The great desperado had been subjected to the humiliation of being -bound hand and foot. And more than that, his manacled hands had been -triced up to a stake protruding from the ground some eighteen inches, -and the feet had been treated similarly. His position was such that the -weight of his body was a constant strain upon the thongs that bound -him, a strain that extended through his entire body. - -Jesse swore a terrible oath. - -"I hope I killed the cursed savage," he gritted. - -But his fond hopes were dashed almost at the moment of the utterance of -them. - -The flap was slowly pulled aside and an evil, ghastly face peered in--a -face so torn and mutilated that Jesse observed nothing familiar in it. - -He stared at it without speaking. - -All at once he noticed that an ear was missing from the place where it -should have been. - -Then Jesse understood. - -The face was that of his late antagonist, Great Bear. - -The desperado laughed mockingly. - -Great Bear jerked aside the flap so viciously that he tore it from its -fastenings, allowing it to drop slowly from his lingering grasp as he -surveyed his captive with malignant eyes. - -"Welcome to our home, old scarred-face," jeered Jesse. - -Great Bear made no reply, standing with head erect, searching keenly -for some sign of fear or weakening in the face of his captive. - -After a time, the redskin squatted on the turf and with chin in hands -sat holding the outlaw with a steady gaze. For an hour he sat thus, -Jesse glaring back at him with menacing, challenging eyes. - -"Ugh! Paleface brave man," he grunted. - -"Ugh! Big Chief a dirty cutthroat," retorted Jesse. - -"Huh!" said Great Bear. - -"I can lick you with one arm tied behind my back, old pizen snake," -leered the desperado. "Let me up and I'll show you." - -Great Bear rose, and stepping to the door gave a terse, guttural -command to some one without. Returning to the wigwam, he squatted down -at the great bandit's feet again and resumed his intent gaze into the -other's face. - -"Well," questioned Jesse, "Am I so purty that you can't keep your eyes -off'n me? Think you'll know me when you see me again? I'd know you -among a million with that face. I certainly did lam it to you, didn't -I? I ought to have killed you when I had the chance up the tree there, -but I hated to take an unfair advantage, even of such an old murderer -as you are." - -While the outlaw was now suffering terrible tortures from his strained -position, he gave no sign to the waiting Indian chief. - -A silent-footed savage appeared in the doorway, placing before the -chief an earthen jar from which a thin curl of smoke ascended. - -But even then Jesse did not catch the full significance of the chief's -intentions. - -From the receptacle the Indian removed a short iron rod. It's end was -at white heat. - -Great Bear moistened a finger at his lips and touched it. The rod -hissed angrily. - -Jesse understood now. - -It was a branding iron. But still he did not quail, though his passions -rose in a perfect storm. - -"Paleface like um?" grinned Great Bear once more causing the hot iron -to hiss. - -"Never ate any," retorted the desperado with a grin that was even more -expansive than that of the chief. "Going to brand some stock that you -have stolen, eh?" - -"Huh! Indian no brand cows. Um brand men. Um burn you." - -"Oh, so that's the game is it? You're going to brand me like you would -a critter on the range? Well, what do you think my men will do to you -if I don't get away from here before you do it? Think they will do -anything to you, you black-hearted cur?" - -"Paleface no hurt Indian. Paleface all dead." - -"That's a lie. One of them is here now watching you. He'll carry the -word to the men and if there is not enough of them left he'll go to the -fort for help. Guess the soldiers wouldn't do much to you." - -Great Bear cast a glance that was almost apprehensive, out through the -opening. With an expression that was half snarl, half grunt he drew the -branding iron from the pot and squatted down beside the great outlaw, -leering down into his face, gloating over the joy that was to be his. - -Roughly he tore apart his prisoner's shirt and drove the blunt, white -hot iron against his chest. - -The iron hissed again. But this time a little thin line of blue smoke -curled upward. - -Great Bear inhaled a deep breath of heavenly satisfaction as the odour -of burning flesh permeated his nostrils. - -Jesse steeling himself, glared back at his tormentor. He gave no sign -that he sensed the excruciating torture. But the lines of his mouth -drew tense and hard. - -The redskin replaced the iron in its heating pot and sat gloating over -his victim as it burned again to a white heat. - -Next he bared the left side of the outlaw and carefully selected his -spot with the eyes of an expert, he applied the torture rod, holding it -in place with steady, resistless pressure. - -The agony that the victim suffered was almost more than human being -could endure. - -But still the man of iron there at the stake made no outcry, gave no -sign, still smiling up at his tormentor. But the eyes were not in -sympathy with the smile on the lips. They were cold and steely--they -were the eyes of the gun-expert at the moment when he is about to take -the life of a human being. - -"Great Bear," began Jesse in an even, emotionless voice. "I shall be -going away from here pretty soon. You will be dead then. I shall kill -you. But before I go I am going to cut out your tongue and feed it to -the dogs. Then I shall cut off your other ear and give it to the first -drove of hogs that I meet. You'll be up in the Happy Hunting grounds -then and you can't help yourself." - -Once more the fiendish redskin tuned his branding iron to a sizzling -white heat. - -Great Bear felt the outlaw's cheek apparently with the intention of -applying the iron there next. But for some reason, he evidently changed -his mind. Carefully slitting the shoulders of Jesse's shirt, he burned -a deep, livid impression on each, holding the iron for what, to the -tortured bandit, seemed ages. - -The great desperado was faint and dizzy, and tepee and savage danced -before his eyes in a most outlandish fashion. Jesse wondered vaguely -if all had gone suddenly crazy. But he had borne the ordeal without so -much as a groan. - -Great Bear scrutinized the outlaw's face keenly, and what he saw filled -his soul with savage glee. - -The Indian grunted a long-drawn grunt of satisfaction and laid aside -his instrument of torture. - -"Injun come again," he informed as Jesse opened his eyes once more. -"Come tomorrow sun up. Take eyes out. Jesse Jame no fool Injun this -time. No fool sojer. Byemby Jesse Jame Indian kill um. Injun get heap -money for kill um Jesse Jame. Sojers no get um paleface. No get um -money. Huh!" - -"Jesse James will beat you yet," gasped the desperado weakly, mastering -his faintness by a supreme effort. "He'll kill you!" - -"Ugh!" breathed the savage, picking up his fire pot and departing from -the wigwam without another word, nor once looking back at his miserable -victim. - -His fiendish torture had only just begun, and the anticipation in the -mind of the savage was the keenest of all his inhuman emotions. He -could afford to wait and he would yet see his victim writhe in agony -and scream out as the awful pain was inflicted upon him. - -Jesse emitted a long-drawn pent up sigh of relief, and a slight moan of -agony escaped him as he closed his eyes wearily. - -Great Bear had been gone but a moment when an Indian whom Jesse had -never seen before, stalked in and made a careful examination of the -tortured captive and his wounds. - -From the savage's actions Jesse judged that he must be a medicine man. -The outlaw grinned sardonically. - -"Want to find out how much more I can stand, eh?" he jeered. "I'll take -all you blood-thirsty devils can give me, don't you forget that." - -His suspicions were confirmed when shortly after the medicine man had -departed, three other Indians accompanied by Great Bear entered the -wigwam, the chief giving them some terse directions in his own tongue -that Jesse could not understand. - -He did, however, understand the purport of it when the thongs that -bound him to the stake, were severed by the strike of a keen-edged -knife. - -The desperado was roughly turned over on his face, and while two -stalwart savages sat on him to hold him down, his arms were brought -down to their normal position, then securely tied behind his back. - -It was not much to be thankful for, but the change brought to Jesse the -most heavenly sensation he ever had known. - -His inclination was to draw a deep, long breath, but he resisted and -shut his lips tight. - -He would not give them that satisfaction. - -The thongs that held his feet were now made doubly secure, so that in -reality he was more helpless than before. But he was not inclined to -complain, though the desperado never had been in such sore straits -before. - -His tormentors left him. - -Jesse had been left lying on his face, the Indians not taking the -trouble to turn him over. But after satisfying himself that he was -alone, the outlaw cautiously rolled over on his back and rested for a -few minutes. But his new position enabled him to see out through the -opening, only the upper part of the flap having been put back in place -by the savages when they left him. - -He discovered that two stolid Indians had been left on guard. They -were squatting on the ground in front of the wigwam. And now the -desperado's mind began to work like a piece of well-oiled machinery, -planning an escape. But just how he expected to accomplish this, was -not clear to himself. Yet to his resourceful mind, no situation was -impossible. Therefore the outlaw took cheer and set about the task in -hand, regardless of the stinging pain from his burns, that he was now -beginning to sense more keenly. - -The desperado pricked up his ears at the sound of voices outside. He -recognized the tones of Dew Drop, the Indian maiden. She was speaking -loudly in her broken English, and Jesse understood instantly that she -intended he should hear what she was saying. - -Somewhere within her words there lay a message for him. - -Dew Drop had launched into a perfect tirade of invective against the -helpless desperado there in the wigwam, and with straining ears he -listened for the words that would give him a clue to her motives. He -observed too, that the shadows of night were falling. Between these two -incidents the desperado believed there was a connection that augured -well for his plans. - -Once during her conversation with the Indians, he caught the words, -"fire-water." Then Dew Drop's voice was heard no more, and he -understood that she had gone away. - -His heart sank. Perhaps he was wrong in his surmise, after all. - -But Jesse's spirits revived a moment later when he heard her returning. -He was at a loss at first to account for her movements. That something -of interest to himself was occurring, Jesse was firmly convinced. But -wriggle about as he would, he could not get a glimpse of the group -outside. - -However, the desperado's curiosity was soon rewarded. - -"Firewater. That's it," he exclaimed. "By the great humping snakes. -Sure as I am alive, the little savage is filling them up. I wonder what -she's got up her sleeve now? If I only was able to get hold of my guns. -I'd help her clean 'em out." - -The sky was heavily overcast and black night had settled down over the -scene, when finally labored breathing and guttural snores from without -told the desperado that little Dew Drop's medicine had done its work -well. Heap big Injun had gone to the happy hunting ground of dreamland. - -But the bandit's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice beside -him. - -"Jesse Jame," breathed the soft, purring voice of the Indian maid. - -"Right you are, my little Dew Drop--" - -"S-h-h-h!" cautioned the girl laying a soft, warm palm over his lips. - -The sensation was peculiarly pleasant to the great bandit. - -"Me cut um lariats. Um Jesse Jame go back by paleface brothers--" - -"Where are they?" interrupted Jesse. "Do you know where they are now?" - -"Dew Drop know. Dew Drop um know too bad chief kill um Jesse Jame -morning." - -"Hurry, little one," he begged, "let me get my guns. I must get out of -here now." - -He heard the girl utter a little startled exclamation as if she had -been suddenly surprised by some one from without, then she sped away as -silently as she had come, much to Jesse's surprise. - -"Well, that gets me." - -He could not understand her peculiar actions. - -At least the desperado did not propose to remain quiescent when the way -to freedom had been laid open to him. Dew Drop too, must have ere this, -told the members of his band of his predicament, but by the time they -were able to reach him, it might and probably would be too late. - -Seconds were precious. - -"I'd be a fool to stay here any longer," muttered Jesse. "The kid -fluttered away like a frightened bird. Guess I'll go to." - -Going, for the great desperado, however, was a far different matter. He -could not walk nor could he crawl, and there seemed only one way left -open to him, and this he adopted. He rolled. - -It was not a dignified exit that he made from the wigwam, but it was -better than being bound and guarded there with the prospect of further -tortures in the morning. - -He found his first difficulty was in getting out of the wigwam without -pulling it down about him. This might attract attention and defeat his -plan of escape. But Jesse finally accomplished it by going out head -first, wriggling along like a clumsy snake on a frosty morning. His -burns tortured him excruciatingly, but the great desperado shut his -teeth together savagely and began to roll. - -His two Indian guards lay directly in his path. Jesse with some -misgivings and a greater effort, rolled over them as the quickest way -to get on. - -The Indians grunted but did not wake up, which he was positive would be -the case in their condition. But the feel of their bodies against his -had stirred the blood lust within him and suggested a new idea to the -great desperado. - -"If my hands only were free," he growled. "Ah, I have it. I'll try it," -he gritted, with blazing eyes. - -Quickly the outlaw rolled back to them. Now he was bent on a terrible -revenge. And he forgot for the moment his own deadly peril in his -ferocious desire to be revenged on Great Bear. - -With as much speed as his manacled condition would permit, the great -outlaw worked his head along the body of the Indian nearest to him. -Not finding what he sought at first, he braced his feet with great -difficulty and putting forth an almost superhuman effort, pushed and -pushed against the redskin with his head, until the savage had been -rolled over. The deed, however, had required a supreme effort. - -The Indian squirmed and muttered surlily, but to the desperado's -intense relief, did not awake. - -Jesse searched at the side he had just turned up, and with a savage -exclamation of delight, bit hard at the Indian's waist. - -The desperado's face came away with the redskin's bowie between his -teeth. - -The outlaw could have shouted, so great was his joy. After laborious -effort he succeeded in setting the keen-edged blade more firmly between -his teeth, so that only the hilt was held by them. - -Cautiously he squirmed and wriggled until his head and shoulders were -over the body of the redskin whom he had again rolled over on his back. - -The great desperado, still holding the knife in a vice-like grip -between his teeth, twisted his head at right angles to his body and set -the needle-like point of the blade, on the Indian's abdomen. - -The cruel blood-thirstiness of what he was about to do made no -impression on him, for Jesse was bent on a terrible vengeance. And it -was a moment of supreme ecstasy for the bandit-chieftain, bound and -manacled and helpless as he was. - -Suddenly throwing the weight of his body on his toes and neck, the -deadly bowie, by the sheer force of the outlaw's own weight, was driven -into the Indian's bowels while the blood in a sudden red sheet, spurted -into his mouth and eyes. - -The redskin sprang almost clear of the ground, then settled back with -a heavy groan, his stupor too heavy to resist the work of the vengeful -blade. - -With a fiendish light in his eyes the desperado gloated over the death -throes of the unconscious savage, whose writhings, whose agonized -twistings and muscular contractions, sent the outlaw into an ecstasy of -delirious joy. - -After a little, the Indian stiffened out and lay still. - -"One!" snarled the desperado. - -Once more the avenging outlaw crawled laboriously to his victim. And -that despite the fact that every moment's delay placed his own life -more and more in jeopardy. - -Now came the most difficult part of his task. The bowie, driven in to -its keen-edged limit, was tightly wedged in the body of the dead savage. - -With feverish haste, the world's greatest desperado again buried his -face in the awful pool of blood. - -His teeth closed over the slippery hilt of the blade. - -But it stubbornly resisted all his efforts. - -The knife was too firmly embedded in its human sheath, to come away at -his command. - -The cords of the outlaw's neck swelled to enormous proportions from the -fearful strain he was subjecting them to. - -He sought to accomplish his ends, in another way. Biting the hilt as if -he would sever it in twain, Jesse pushed against it with all the weight -of his body. The keen edge, under his irresistable pressure, cut its -way into the Indian's flesh at right angles to his body, thus widening -the wound and making its sheath less binding. - -Back and forth did the blood-thirsty outlaw work the blade. - -He pushed and he pulled like a dog wrestling with a bone. He shook it -like a rat. Then he gave it a long, vicious tug. - -The bloody blade came away with a sickening sound. - -And the desperado fell backward with a terrible curse. Yet, withal, his -grip on the bloody hilt did not relax. - -Now came the most arduous task of all, that of crawling over the body -of his victim and rolling to the remaining savage, without losing the -knife from his teeth. The feat was not so easy as it would seem, and he -could accomplish it only by keeping his head from touching the ground -over every inch of the way. - -He struggled desperately. - -Minutes elapsed. - -But the second redskin died more speedily than had the first, Jesse -having given him a terrible thrust with the deadly blade. And with -eager, fascinated eyes he watched the death agonies of his victim. In a -moment all movement ceased. The man was dead. - -Jesse's work of vengeance, for the time, was ended. And now to roll for -safety, if that were possible. Should he be caught, he knew that this -time his punishment would be swift and sure. Great Bear would take no -chances with him after this. - -But just as the outlaw was about to start on his unequal journey, he -suddenly espied the figure of an Indian standing a few paces away, in -the gloom, gazing intently in his direction. - -The desperado fairly held his breath. He wished now that he had -brought away the bowie from his second victim. But it was too late to -rectify his mistake. - -Still, defenceless as he was, the great bandit devoutly hoped the -savage redskin would throw himself upon him. Jesse believed that, with -a well directed kick he could silence the fellow and put an end to him -afterwards, for his thirst for blood had not yet been satisfied. - -Though it would be a desperate chance he was willing and anxious to -take it. But he was not given a chance to put his foolhardy plan into -operation. The redskin emitted a sudden grunt, and dropping into a long -lope, sped noiselessly toward the main part of the village, that lay -some twenty rods to the west. - -Jesse was off like a flash. - -His one supreme object now was to put as much distance as possible -between himself and his savage enemies. - -But the laborious rolling process was too slow for him. - -He had rolled himself clear of the bodies of his victims, when all at -once, acting upon sudden impulse, he adopted a new and unique method of -facilitating his progress. With a tremendous effort he raised himself -on his manacled feet. - -Despite the fact that his hands were tied behind him, the desperate man -threw himself head first to the ground. None but the toughest skull -could have survived the impact when his head struck the hard ground. - -Jesse's object was now obvious. - -The instant he sensed the feel of the ground under his head, by a -sudden twist of the body, using his head as a pivot, the desperado -threw himself to his feet again, thus finishing as pretty a head spring -as ever a trained performer in a circus had done. - -With movements so lightning-like that the eye, in the uncertain light, -would scarcely have been able to follow them, the great bandit hurled -himself into a mad whirl of somersaults that carried him away from the -scene of his recent exploits almost as fast as his legs could have done -had they been free. - -He heard a loud commotion in the Indian village behind him. But whether -the savages had learned of the death of the two men or that they simply -had been told by the Indian who came upon him so suddenly, that the -sentinels were asleep, he neither knew nor cared. - -Jesse reasoned shrewdly that in any event the Indians would be delayed -a few moments in their surprise at finding their companions murdered, -and then the search for him in the wigwam and its immediate vicinity -following, all of which would give him a fair start. - -Still he knew his trail was as plainly marked as if it had been made -by a log-rolling gang, a trail which they would have no difficulty in -following at top speed. Therefore haste was all imperative if he hoped -to keep his scalp fitted in its proper place. And the world's greatest -bandit was not ready to part with that portion of his anatomy just yet. - -On dashed the desperado, his movements resembling the evolutions of a -cart wheel down a mountain road. And so rapid was his flight that he -was unable to take note of either direction or location. - -The savages were now hot on his trail. - -He could hear their shouts as they discovered it. Like the bay of the -hounds when close upon their prey they came rushing down upon him. - -Jesse redoubled his efforts. Bending every nerve to the tremendous task -before him, the terrible outlaw sprang far up into the air to increase -the reach of his next leap. - -He stiffened his nerves to meet the impact when his feet should next -touch the ground. - -But to his intense surprise, the feet did not touch at all. They were -kicking wildly in empty space. - -All at once the great desperado realized that he was falling through -space. - -Like a rock, hurled with terrific force, he had thrown himself over a -sheer precipice whose rocky bottom lay two hundred feet below him. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -JESSE TAKES A TERRIBLE REVENGE. - - -"Danged queer about Jess," declared Comanche Tony. - -"Something sure has happened to him and I for one am going to look for -him," returned Frank. - -The bandits were gathered on a broad, shelving rock looking down into -the canyon, where they had remained when Dew Drop left them after -conveying them to safety after the explosion in the cave. - -Acting upon her advice they had remained there until she should have -gone to the village to learn if Jesse had been taken prisoner or -killed, perhaps, by the savages. She had promised them a speedy return, -but hours had elapsed since her departure and the men were getting -restive. Little had been said by them, they being too full of the -thoughts of the lively incidents that had happened since they first set -foot in the mountains of Southern Colorado. - -"Better not try it till the moon comes up," advised Wild Bill who knew -the treacherous nature of the country where they were. "I calkerlate -you'd break yer danged neck tryin' to git out of here in the dark -without a guide. When it gits lighter we'd better all vamoose. We'll -find Jesse if we can, and if not we'll mosey over to tother side of the -gulch and make camp in a place I know of. From there we kin scout for -him. The gal said we was to stay here--" - -"Sure, she did," added Texas. "I reckon she knew what she was doing. -We'd better bide here a bit I reckon." - -Under their urging, Frank gave a reluctant consent, for he knew that -Jesse would expect him--would expect every one of them to come to him -at once, had they reason to believe he was in trouble. - -So they waited. One hour, two hours, and three passed, and the men had -finally decided to make an investigation, provided they could discover -the trail that led up the mountain side. They had only a general idea -of where the Indian village lay, but reasoned that they could easily -locate it by the camp fires that surely would be burning. They decided -that it would be safest to start in single file, the leader holding to -the hand of the next to him, and so on, making a human chain, the last -man to at all times make sure that he had firm hold of a tree or rock. - -"Hark," warned Frank after they had decided upon the direction in which -they would make their first attempt. - -"What is it?" asked Tony. - -"I didn't hear anything," returned Texas. - -"Keep still," commanded the elder of the James boys, listening -intently. "I am sure I heard a yell." - -"Mebby 'twas a cat," suggested Bill. "There's a lot of them in these -hills, and they're a danged tough proposition to run into when a -fellow's afoot." - -"There it is again," cried Frank in a suppressed voice. - -They all heard the cry this time and it seemed to be drawing near them. - -"Indians agin," breathed Tony. - -"By the great jumpin' cats," exclaimed Texas. "What do you suppose -they're up to?" - -"They are chasing somebody," declared Wild Bill confidently, knowing -the ways of the savages thereabouts as he did. "The question is, who or -what is it." - -"Dew Drop, mebby," suggested Harry. - -"Yes, mebby the skunks have got wise to her," added Texas. "But if the -cutthroats do her dirt they'll have to reckon with me. She's been the -squarest little pard that a bunch ever come up with. She's got some -white blood in her, I'll bet my spurs on that." - -The outlaws listened in awed silence as the yells grew louder, -increasing steadily in volume. - -"More of 'em joined in the chase," nodded Bill. "Guess the whole -village is out on the warpath." - -"And they're coming this way," asserted Frank. - -"Mebby we'd a better git back in the cave," urged Texas. "We can watch -out from there." - -"No, we'll stay right here," returned Frank, savagely. "We may have to -take a hand in this. Perhaps they are after Jess." - -"After Jess?" replied Comanche Tony laughing sardonically. "You haven't -heard any shooting going on, have you? You don't suppose Jesse James -would let a lot of dirty Indians chase him out of their village without -potting a few of them in the meantime, do you?" he demanded. - -His reasoning appealed to them. - -"I guess you are right," agreed Frank. "But squeeze up closer to the -rocks. They may take it into their heads to roll a few more boulders -down on us. Bowling with hard-heads seems to be a favorite occupation -with these copper-colored curs." - -"Yes, it's a heap o' fun for the chap on top, but it's hell for the -feller down below," agreed Homely Harry humorously. "Excuse me from the -job of settin' up the pins in this alley." - -"Silence," commanded their leader. "We may have to do some shooting -pretty soon." - -Not a word was spoken and for several minutes they waited with bated -breaths. - -Every man sensed danger and every man felt instinctively that they were -on the verge of a sudden and unexpected explosion. - -And, indeed, it did come, but in a manner totally unexpected by them. - -There occurred a sudden rattle of fine stone from above that pelted -down on the rocks like a volley from a gatling gun. - -"Crash!" - -A heavy body landed in a broad-topped tree that grew out of a deep -fissure in the rocks some twenty paces to the south of them. Then -sudden silence in the tree. - -Up above them they could hear the Indians chattering volubly, but so -far away were they that the outlaws could make nothing of what they -were saying, nor could any of the men have understood them if they had -heard them. - -"What the--" began Texas. - -Frank pushed his elbow viciously into the outlaw's ribs, to silence him. - -"What do you make of that?" whispered Tony. - -"Somebody's gone over the cliff. Or something has--I don't know." - -"In that tree?" - -"Yes. Wait till they go away up there." - -For several minutes the savages continued their talking, then their -receding voices told the anxious outlaws on the ledge far below, that -they were retracing their steps. - -"We must find out what's in that tree," spoke up Frank with emphasis, -after assuring himself that all the savages had left. - -"Hadn't we better wait till daylight," suggested Comanche. "We'll break -our necks or worse in this blackness." - -"No. That's what the redskins are going to do. At the first touch of -dawn the whole pack and parcel of them will be up on the edge of the -cliff there peering down. We've got to act now and quickly for it's -near morning." - -"Yes, the dawn breaks all of a sudden up here," added Wild Bill. - -But how to reach the tree was another matter. A wall of smooth -perpendicular rock lay between them and the tree whose outlines they -could only faintly make out in the darkness. - -"A fly couldn't walk that," averred Harry with his usual facetiousness. - -"No, we must find another way," agreed Frank. - -"Anybody got any suggestions to make?" - -"Not bein' a bird I don't know how I'd git over there," replied Harry. - -"We might cast a lariat and the lightest of us go over," suggested -Texas. - -"No, it is too far, and besides no lariat would hold us that way. -You've got to think of something better. Perhaps we can--" - -"I say, I've got an idee," interrupted Wild Bill. "I remember that when -we first came out, it being lighter, I seen a shelf of rock right above -that tree. It was twenty feet wide I opine. Now if we can manage to git -up on the rock we can turn the trick." - -"Now you are talking," commented their leader. "Bill supposing you make -the try for it. Be careful, and don't send any rocks rolling down or -you'll have the Indians back on us. Give the owl call if you make it -and then we'll try to follow you. Or better still, come back here and -show us the way. It will be safer." - -Anxious to be off, Bill threw off his coat, tightened his belt and -disappeared in the shadows silently. With cat-like movements he -scaled the jagged side of the mountain without a sound or so much -as disturbing a particle of shale from the rocks over which he was -creeping. - -To the waiting bandits down below him it seemed an age, as they stood -with strained ears to catch the signal agreed upon. - -Suddenly Wild Bill appeared before them. So quietly had he approached -that not a man of them had heard or seen him. They clutched their guns -instinctively. - -"It goes," was Bill's succinct summing up of the result of his trip. -"You've got to crawl. A snake couldn't get over that trail without -falling off," he concluded. - -"Could you make out anything in the tree?" demanded Frank impatiently. - -"Nary a thing. Blacker'n an Alabamy coon down there. And about as -slippery along the trail," he added. - -"How we going to work it, Cap'n?" asked Comanche as the outlaws, with -Wild Bill in the lead, began their perilous climb over the side of the -mountain, a single misstep in which would precipitate them to the rocks -more than a hundred feet below. - -"We will see when we get there. Be careful there Harry. Do you want -to pull the whole bunch of us down? Your feet are as clumsy as an -elephant's." - -At last the hardy outlaws stood upon the shelving rock peering down -curiously into the dark abyss below them. It was not an inviting -outlook, but Frank was determined to learn who or what it was down -there in the tree top. After looking over the ground with a critical -eye, he told the men to braid their lariats into one single rope. This -done he tested its length by letting it down over the edge of the -cliff. It reached the tree as nearly as he could make out, then he made -an end fast around a projecting arm of rock on the ledge where they -were standing. - -"Well," he demanded, "who is going down? I am not going to ask any of -you to take the risk. I would do it myself only I am afraid I shouldn't -be much good with my game leg." - -"Let me take a chance at this game, Captain," urged Comanche Tony. - -"No, you're too heavy," objected Frank. - -"I'll try it," said Texas. - -"Very well, you will do." - -They bound the rope tightly about his waist. All hands took strong hold -of it and Texas sitting down on the edge of the cliff, boldly slipped -off into space. - -The end of the rope had nearly been reached when a short sharp whistle -from below and a slacking off of the weight told them that he had -gained the goal and found for himself a foothold. - -"Hey, up there," he called softly after several minutes of aggravating -silence. - -"Yes," answered Frank quickly, lying down on his stomach and peering -over the edge. "What is it?" - -"I've made the lariat fast around his waist. Pull him up then send the -rope down for me. He can't help himself--" - -"Who can't--who is it--do you know him?" - -"It's Jess," came the answer faintly from the dark pit below. - -"Pull boys, it is Jesse," exclaimed Frank springing up more excited -than they ever had seen him before. - -"Is--is he dead?" asked Comanche apprehensively. - -"I don't know. Don't stop to ask questions now, but pull." - -Their new burden was a dead weight and it was all the outlaws could do -to get him up to the edge, where the body awkwardly caught under the -shelf of the ledge. - -"Make it fast around the rock!" commanded Frank, sharply. "Bill, you -get your arm around the rock and all join hands. All lie down." - -Quickly was the human chain forged, and with Harry holding him by the -feet, Frank leaned far out over the dizzy height and exerting every -ounce of strength that he possessed pulled the body of the great bandit -over onto the rock. - -"He's bound!" hissed Frank. - -It was but the work of a moment to sever the thongs that held him. -The elder brother already had slipped his hand over Jesse's heart and -learned that he still lived. - -"Bill where's that flask?" he demanded. - -Wild Bill passed it over and a large draught was quickly forced down -the throat of the great bandit. - -The result was gratifying. He began to choke and at a signal from Frank -they picked him up and carried him just within the mouth of the cave. - -"Hey," hailed a voice from below. "Going to leave me down here all -night? This tree's liable to give way and send me to kingdom come." - -"Pull him up," directed Frank, redoubling his efforts to bring his -brother back to consciousness. - -In this he was aided by the wonderful recuperative power of his outlaw -brother. And in a few moments Jesse sat up and rubbed his eyes, -blinking in the light of the fire they had started in the cave. - -"Hello, boys," he greeted. "What's happened?" - -"That is what we want to know," responded Frank without the suspicion -of a smile, though the others were grinning broadly. "You fell off the -mountain, that's all we know about it. We heard the redskins hitting -the trail of some one, and the next thing you did a high dive and -landed in the tree." - -At the mention of the word "redskin" Jesse's face suddenly was filled -with an expression of terrible, malignant rage. He swore a fearful -oath, and rising, rather unsteadily paced back and forth in the narrow -cave while he related all that had befallen him. Black were the faces -of the hardy band and many were the curses that the men uttered under -their breaths as they listened in strained silence. - -"And I'm going back there and wipe the curs off the face of the -mountain," concluded Jesse. - -Frank objected emphatically, to any such proceeding. He argued that -they all were worn out with the hardships they had been subjected to, -and to such good purpose that Jesse began to lean toward the point of -view of his men. - -"Well," he began when a sudden thud outside the entrance caused him to -wheel sharply, whipping out both his "Colts" as he turned. "What in--" - -The desperado chieftain sprang out and was down on his knees in a -flash. And the others followed just in time to hear him swear a -blood-thirsty oath of revenge. - -Without another word he picked up the object that had fallen in front -of their hiding place and carried it into the cave. There he laid it -down, kneeling beside it with his head bent low. - -"Who--," began Texas drawing near. - -"Why it's--" interrupted Harry. - -"By the great pizen snakes, it is." - -"It's a girl," marveled Frank, bending over the inanimate body. - -"Dew Drop," answered Jesse, in a strange voice of constraint. - -He opened the child's mouth gently and peered within. - -"The little Indian maiden's tongue has been cut out. She was then -thrown over the precipice after me," announced Jesse in a voice that -brought a chill to every human being within hearing of it. - -All the great outlaw's bodily ills were forgotten now, and in the -stress of the moment his strength had come back. He was the man of iron -once more and vengeance was written in the stern lines of his face. - -"What are you going to do?" demanded Frank. - -Jesse pointed to the body of the child. - -"There is your answer," he retorted. - -"But," began his elder brother. - -"Am I the master here or are you?" he demanded, an ugly glitter -flashing into his eyes. - -"I'll take it back; you are right, Jess," apologized Frank. - -"Any of you got any dynamite? I left some in the cave, where is it?" - -"I reckon we can't git that now," grinned Tony sheepishly, "But I 'low -we can scare up a few sticks." - -From various receptacles in their clothing, the desperadoes drew little -white sticks of the harmless-looking, but deadly explosive, all of -which they handed over to their chief. Next came a coil of fine copper -wire and a small compact battery. - -Jesse took the collection and examined it closely. - -"Good," he exclaimed. - -"Are we with you in this?" asked Wild Bill. "I allow the boys would -like to pay off a little of your score," pointing to the livid marks on -his shoulders, discernible through the bandit chieftain's torn shirt. - -"I reckon we would," added Comanche Tony. - -Jesse looked at them steadily for a moment, the lines of his face -softening almost imperceptibly. - -"No boys. This is my kettle of fish. And I'm going to fry them alone. -If I should fail to get back in an hour and you don't hear anything -doing, send Bill up to the Indian village to size things up. You will -know what to do after he gets back." - -"Be careful, Jess." - -"Put the little one in a hole in the rocks some where hereabouts and -block it up with stone so she can rest easy. We don't want any buzzards -nosing around her tender little body," was the great desperado's -parting injunction as he passed out from the circle of light and strode -away on his mission of death. - -Very tenderly they bore the body of Dew Drop, deeper into the cave. -Finding a suitable place they laid her away, blocking the opening -as directed by their chief. Then these hardy men--these men to whom -murder was merely an incident in following their vocation of rapine and -plunder, with one accord clutched their hats from their heads and stood -bowed before the shrine of the child who had given her life to save -them. - -"I reckon she war no less'n twenty-four carat fine," opined Tony, -turning away slowly. - -"She war that," chorused the others solemnly, nervously crushing their -sombreros in their awkward hands, and following slowly after him. - -Just within the entrance they paused and with one accord squatted down -on the hard rocks where they lighted their pipes. - -Few words, were spoken, for the thought that was in the minds of all -was not one to be lightly discussed, nor could they form the sentences -to frame the thought itself. - -"I reckon it's about time we heard something from Jess," suggested Tony -after a long silence. - -Frank consulted his watch anxiously. - -The men relapsed into silence again. But somehow the deadly stillness -seemed to get on their nerves and one by one they rose and began pacing -back and forth on the narrow platform of rock that hung over the great -canyon. - -Suddenly the earth began to tremble beneath their feet. - -They grasped the projecting rocks fearful that they would be thrown -over the precipice. - -A great sheet of flame lighted up the sky. And a report that seemed -as if earth and sky had suddenly been rent asunder crashed on their -expectant ears, and went thundering off from mountain peak to mountain -peak. - -"Get inside!" commanded Frank sharply. - -They obeyed the summons in the nick of time, for in a few seconds more -a rain of rocks and debris began to shower down on the ledge in front -of them. - -Comanche stepped out again, once the shower had ceased and curiously -picked up an object that had caught his eye. - -He brought it within the circle of light, holding it at arm's length -and gazed at it with fascinated eyes. - -What he held was a battered human head. The cruel, blood-thirsty, -malignant eyes of a savage redskin were gazing out at him from the -tangle of hair and lacerated flesh that he held in his hand. - -"Bah!" exclaimed Tony in a tone of disgust as he threw the horrible -object far from him over the precipice. - -Tony wiped his hand gingerly on his trousers, holding the hand up to -the light to see that no traces of his recent burden remained. - -"Ugh! It makes me feel hollow under the belt," averred Harry, turning -away and knocking the ashes from his pipe. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE BATTLE OF THE BLADES. - - -"Well, boys," greeted Jesse suddenly appearing among them. - -"That was a clean up for sartin," answered Texas, grinning. "One of 'em -come down here and Tony here picked him up. He was going to kiss the -fellow, but we wouldn't let him. Ha, ha." - -Tony went outside for a breath of fresh air. - -"Tell us about it, Jess," urged Frank. - -"There isn't much to tell," informed Jesse. - -"The fools didn't even have pickets out. I managed to shove a stick of -the stuff under the chief's wigwam--" - -"Who, Great Bear?" interrupted Wild Bill. - -"Yes. The rest of the stuff I distributed around where it would do the -most good and crawling under a rock back of the village I let 'er rip." - -"I should say you did," interjected Frank. "How many of them do you -think you blew up?" - -"I'll gamble my pistols that there isn't enough of that community left, -if patched together, to make six whole men--maybe even less than that. -It rained Indians and pieces of Indians for ten minutes steady. And you -know a lot of redskins could rain down in ten minutes. What's left of -them will never trouble Jesse James again. Eh, boys?" - -The gang nodded their approval of the sentiment. - -"What are your plans now?" asked Frank. - -"That's what I was coming to," answered Jesse. "First of all I want to -corral a side of beef or a leg of mutton. It has been so long since I -had anything to eat that my pipes have nearly growed shut. How is your -appetite, Harry?" - -"Me?" replied the homely one. "I could eat a sheep, from hoof to wool. -I've drawed my belt so tight already that the end of it trips me up -every time I try to walk. I'--I'm ready to be one of them fellers--what -do they call them fellers that eat men?" - -"Cannibals?" suggested Jesse. - -"That's the breed. That's what I'd be if I had half a chance." - -Jesse laughed good-naturedly. - -"I move we get out of this place as soon as possible. We shall probably -not be able to get a meal before morning, but as soon as we decide -on what direction we shall take, we can be on our way and out of the -canyon before morning. The first thing for us to do, it seems to me, is -to get some horses. Ours have gone. Either the soldiers or the Indians -got them. Most of the Indian ponies went up in my little explosion, and -those that did not, ran away. - -"I know where there was some ponies yesterday," spoke up Comanche. "I -saw a whole bunch of them grazing on the mountain on the other side of -the canyon over there." - -"We'll see about that later," replied Jesse. "The question is, what -direction shall we take? It won't do to go north, for we are liable to -run into more of the troops. The fort is off in that direction, and -they would be glad to see us. - -"How about it, Bill? You know this country. Is there any place near -here where we can lay up for a while and not get sold out--a good safe -hang-out where the grub is plenty and not too many babblers around?" - -Wild Bill considered the question carefully for a moment. - -"I opine I could find such a shack," he answered with a grin. "I know a -fellow who would take us in and be danged glad of the chance--" - -"Is he all right?" demanded the desperado. - -"Well, they'll all bear watchin', I reckon. He makes his living out -of a stage coach now and then. When business is poor he catches a -prospector or something of the sort. Guess he'll do though." - -After long and laborious effort the outlaws succeeded in picking their -way down the steep mountain side. Instead, however, of following on -down the canyon toward its foot, they turned abruptly south, and the -dawn was appearing in the eastern sky, when, foot-sore and weary, as -well as ill-tempered, they finally ascended to the broad plateau to the -west of the canyon, but as they looked across, nothing was to be seen -of the Indian village where the stirring incidents of the previous day -had occurred. - -"Any almost-food places hereabouts, that you know of?" demanded Jesse -of Wild Bill. - -"No, but there's a ranch about two miles west of here. And the fellow -used to have a fine bunch of Kentucky thoroughbreds. Probably stole -them at that, but they were dandies--" - -"Good. Me for the ranch," exclaimed the great desperado as the men -settled down in a long lope with anticipations of a steaming breakfast -at the end of their journey. - -It was just sun-up when the bandits finally approached the ranch, and -Jesse announced his intention of going to the rancher's cabin alone, -while the others remained in the background. But upon second thought, -he told Wild Bill to accompany him. - -No sign of life was observable about the place, and the outlaws were of -the opinion that the household had not yet awakened. - -The great desperado struck the door of the cabin, several thunderous -blows with the butt of his revolver. But there was no response to his -noisy summons. Stepping back a few paces he gave vent to a roar that -should have awakened the soundest sleeper. - -"Hullo the house!" he shouted several times, but without result. - -Having failed to bring any response at all, the outlaw adopted a more -drastic method of arousing the inmates of the place. He heaved a rock -through an upper window, then set to with a will kicking the door with -his heavy boots. - -Then a most surprising thing happened. - -The door suddenly flew open. A brawny hand grasped the outlaw by the -collar and jerked him violently inside. Then the door was slammed to -behind him. - -At the instant of the occurrence, Bill's attention was directed in -another direction. He had observed a bunch of likely looking horses -grazing in a large corral on beyond the cabin. He was watching them -with envious eyes. And his surprise was therefore great, when, upon -turning he found that Jesse had suddenly disappeared. Not twenty -seconds had elapsed since he first turned his attention to the horses, -and he had heard no sound of voices nor the opening and closing of -doors. - -Bill did not like the look of things, and dodged behind a tree to wait -further developments, though just what he expected might occur, he was -unable to define to himself. There had been no commotion within the -cabin so far as he had been able to observe. He could not relieve his -mind of the feeling, however, that his chief was inside and that he -was in difficulty of some sort. But what to do under the circumstance, -he did not know. Perhaps the bandit-chieftain was working out some -suddenly laid plan of his own, and to interfere with which would be -fully as serious for Bill as would be the leaving of his chief in -danger. - -Wild Bill finally made up his mind to hurry back for consultation with -his companions. Acting upon this impulse he turned and ran swiftly -back, dodging in among the trees to screen his movements as much as -possible, from any prying eyes that might be about. Seeking out the men -he quickly made known to them the strange situation. - -Frank's keen perception reached a solution of the problem instantly. - -"Of course Jess is inside. They opened the door and pulled him in. -That's what there is to it. You heard no shots?" - -"Nary a shot." - -"Then there is a bunch of them in there," he emphasized conclusively. -"Can we get near the place without being seen from the cabin?" - -"Yes, the trees run down pretty close to it on one side. At the back -they are further away. The corral is in back and there is a bunch of -fine nags there too." - -"Ah," exclaimed Frank, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Come on -boys, we have got some more work on hand." - -"And danged little grub," added Homely Harry ruefully. - -"I calkerlate we'll corral some of that too," grinned Comanche Tony. - -"Yes, but we will be lucky if we don't get a belly full of lead," -warned Frank with his customary pessimism. - -By this time they had come within sight of the cabin, but still, no -sign of life was discoverable to their keen eyes. The place might have -been deserted for aught they could observe. - -The leader decided to wait, and, placing a man on either side of the -clearing so that no one could leave the place without being seen by one -of them, the bandits settled down as patiently as their empty stomachs -would permit. They were well supplied with rifles and ammunition, -provided for them by Dew Drop, and so far as fire arms were concerned -were in position to do effective work. - -"Why not give 'em a volley?" suggested Comanche Tony. - -"Yes, and probably kill Jess," growled Frank. "That would be a fool -thing to do for sure." - -"I've got a plan," suggested Wild Bill. "If there's any duffers inside, -it'll smoke 'em out sure enough, I reckon." - -"Quick, out with it," commanded their leader. "We must do something." - -"It's this. Supposing one of us goes over to the corral there and cuts -out a hoss. Let him bring the critter along and tether him out here -somewhere in the bushes. I reckon they'll show their hand about that -time if there's anybody there," grinned Bill. - -Frank appreciated the force of the argument. - -"I should imagine they would," he agreed. "Better leave your rifle -here, but see to it that your side arms are in working order. We will -support you from the bushes with our rifles if necessary." - -Wild Bill, skirting the clearing, kept well within the line of trees -until he had arrived opposite the corral. The latter now being between -him and the cabin, effectually screened his approach to the horses. - -There still was no movement about the place, and the bandit, crouching -low, roped a fine, rangy thorough-bred and led it out through the rear -of the corral where saddles and bridles were hanging in a row on the -fence. - -"This is like gittin' money from home," muttered Bill as he saddled and -bridled the supple-limbed animal. - -All being in readiness, the hardy desperado swung himself into the -saddle. But instead of adopting the safer course and cutting into the -forest at his right, Bill dug the rowels of his spurs into the sleek -sides of his mount, and with a wild whoop dashed straight across the -clearing to where his companions were waiting with guns trained on the -cabin. - -To their surprise and mystification, however, not a word nor protest -was raised from the mysterious cabin. - -"Well, I'll be--" began Bill, pulling up and surveying the clearing in -perplexity. - -"Try it again," suggested Frank. - -"We have got a good horse, anyhow. Go back the way you went before, -don't hurry. If they see the performance is not to be repeated they -will turn their attention this way." - -The desperado's plans had been laid with savage cunning, but the -fruition of them seemed as far away as when they began. - -Again had the clever outlaw reached the corral without being detected. -And as before, he made a choice of the best animal in it, which he -quickly roped, led out and mounted. But before setting out on his -journey to the other side of the clearing, he drew one of his trusty -"Colts," grasped the reins firmly and dug in the spurs. - -This time, however, the outlaw rough rider adopted a different plan -acting on his own initiative. He drove the animal first straight over -the course previously followed, but when almost opposite the cabin, -suddenly whirled toward it, passing within a rod of it at express train -speed. - -As the desperado swept by a rifle crashed from an upper window, but -Wild Bill's sudden and unexpected change of course had destroyed the -marksman's aim and his bullet flew harmlessly over the rider's head. - -Like a flash, Bill threw down his gun on his assailant who stood in -plain view up there in the window, with rifle poised for another shot. - -Rising in his stirrups the outlaw took a quick pot shot back at his -adversary, uttering a savage yell of triumph and challenge as the man -lunged head first from the window with a bullet through his heart. - -Still, the outlaws off under the trees, divining his purpose, held -their fire, and Wild Bill made safe cover with his second capture. - -A shout of triumph from the assembled outlaws was quickly suppressed by -Frank's stern command. - -It was his purpose to leave those in the cabin, if persons there were -there, in ignorance of their presence until the moment for action -should have arrived. - -It came too, unexpectedly. Two men, who somehow had managed to leave -the place unobserved, were driving toward them on fleet horses that -they had quickly taken from the corral. - -"Well, of all the tarnation fools," exclaimed Wild Bill as he observed -them coming. - -"This simplifies matters," breathed Frank. - -"Halt!" he commanded stepping to the edge of the clearing. - -A fusilade of revolver shots greeted his order. - -"Then take your medicine," he snarled. - -The desperado's Winchester crashed twice. The two foolhardy horsemen -toppled from their mounts dead. And to complete the coup, Wild Bill -dashed from cover and skillfully roped the two animals, leading them in -triumph to the outlaws' hiding place. - -"If we wait long enough things will come right to us," he laughed -tethering the horses in the bushes. - -"Know that bunch?" demanded the leader. - -"Never sot eyes on 'em before. They don't belong in these parts. I -shouldn't be surprised if they was in here on a raid of some sort. And -I'll gamble too that the fellow what own's the place ain't there. If -he is he ain't takin' any part in this ruction." - -"Well, what do we do next? Want some more nags?" - -"Yes, better go back. We'll draw the rest of them out, if there are -any more in the place. I would charge it, but it would be sure death -to Jess and suicide for the rest of us. We must draw them out without -showing our hand if possible. Failing in that we shall have to wait -until night. Jesse is a captive and--" - -"But what's the game?" asked Texas. "I never see such a queer one in my -time." - -"We will find that out later. Mebby the answer won't please us and -mebby it will," was Frank's enigmatic reply. - -Suddenly Wild Bill held up his hand for silence, his head extended -forward in front of his body in an intense listening attitude. - -"By heavens they're shooting!" he cried. - -"To horse, all that have them!" roared the leader. "The rest jump on -behind. Unsling your rifles as you go. - -"Half go to the rear and the other half to the front. Smash the door in -and shoot quick and fast." - -By this time they were half way down the clearing. But those within -were too busily engaged with their own affairs now to notice the -bandits sweeping down upon them. - -"You fellows in the rear duck and look out for our bullets if we get -in first. If you break in before we do, we'll lay low!" was Frank's -parting injunction to his men as they separated. - -Leaping from their saddles the outlaws rushed on the door which went -crashing in under their combined weight. - -The room was so full of powder smoke that at first they were unable to -distinguish a single object. - -"Here I am over in this corner," roared Jesse. "Shoot the other way!" - -And they did. - -A volley of rifle shots rang out from both sides, but the bandits had -dropped to their knees and fired up at their adversaries, whose bullets -had whistled over the newcomers' heads and buried themselves in the -logs of the cabin. - -"Once more!" thundered Jesse. - -Again the outlaws poured their deadly fire into the ranks of their -enemy. And just then the door of the cabin at the rear crashed in and -Wild Bill and the rest of the bandits rushed in. - -With them came the sunshine and the gentle morning breeze that swept -away the smoke. - -Seven men lay dead and groaning on the floor. - -"Jess, where are you?" cried Frank, peering over the ghastly array of -faces. - -"Here," answered Jesse. "Come and release me." And sure enough the -notorious outlaw lay over in one corner. His hands were free, but his -feet were securely bound, and in this condition he had been holding his -desperate adversaries at bay, after surreptitiously freeing his hands. - -Wild Bill's revolver cracked spitefully, and one of the fellows who had -scrambled to his feet and sought to sneak away, went down with a bullet -in his leg. - -"Get him Bill!" roared the desperado chief. "He's the leader of this -gang. But don't kill him." - -And while Frank was releasing his brother, the others turned their -attention to the men on the floor, all of whom were dead save two, -besides the fellow Bill had winged in his attempt to escape. - -Jesse's face was stern and those of his followers who chanced to -observe the expression knew that the blood lust was once more strong -upon their leader. - -"Bring that fellow here! He seems to be the leader of this gang." - -Tony jerked the cowering wretch to his feet and turned his face so the -full morning light shone upon it. - -"Hello, Sam," greeted Wild Bill with a grin. - -"Know him, do you?" questioned Jesse. - -"Know him? I should say yes. He's Sagebrush Sam, one of the orneriest -coyotes that ever pulled a trigger." - -"He is the fellow that laid me out with an iron bar when they jerked me -into this place," announced Jesse grimly. "Now Mr. Sam, I reckon you'll -answer a few questions." - -"I ain't answerin' questions for the likes of you," snarled the captive. - -"There is a ring up there in the joist boys, trice him up by his -thumbs." - -They did so, so that only the fellow's toes touched the floor. In a few -moments he was writhing in agony. - -"Did you know me when you saw me coming up to the cabin?" demanded -Jesse. - -No answer. - -"Trice him up higher!" commanded the great desperado. "He'll come -around in a minute or two." - -Great beads of perspiration were rolling from the victim's face and -signs of weakening were already noticeable in his agonized features. -Jesse grinned appreciatively. - -"Let me down! Kill me! I can't stand this!" groaned the unhappy wretch, -his head dropping forward listlessly. - -"Let him down. He's fainted," announced Jesse. - -They forced a draught of whiskey down the man's throat after having -laid him on the floor. - -"Now get up!" commanded Jesse administering a vicious kick as Sam came -back to consciousness. "Where is the man who owns this joint?" was his -first question. - -Sam pointed to the floor. "Down cellar." - -"Dead?" - -"No. We tied him up and left him there yesterday." - -"What for?" - -"We allowed we'd take his money and his horses. He sorter didn't take -to the notion, so we put him away--" - -"Wait a minute. Texas, go down cellar. Now go on. What next?" - -"That's all." - -"You lie!" roared Jesse striding forward and pressing his bowie against -the fellow's throat. "You wanted those horses--what did you want them -for? Quick!" - -Jesse's keen mind had instinctively divined that the fellow had -possessed some motive that he did not want to make known to them, and -therefore, the desperado reasoned that this self-same information -might prove useful to Jesse James. - -"For to go to Silver City." - -"Silver City? What for?" - -"We 'lowed we'd stake out a claim thereabouts." - -"String him up again boys," commanded the bandit chieftain. "He can't -tell the truth any other way." - -"I'll tell, I'll tell," cried Sam. "Kill me, for God's sake don't do -that again." - -"I am waiting. Go on." - -"It was this way," began the captive hesitatingly. "They's been some -big strikes in the mountains there and the bank we'd heard was keeping -a lot of the dust and like, for a big shipment east in about a week." - -"So, you were going to soar high--you were planning to rob a bank, eh?" -sneered Jesse. - -Sam nodded wearily. - -"Where is this bank?" - -"It's in the half of the building where they has the postoffice. It's -an easy job if a fellow's got the nerve to go in in the daytime when -the safe is open--" - -"So you got a gang of cutthroats together and were going to steal the -horses to go down there and try it, hey?" - -"I could do it as well as Jesse James--" - -"That will do," warned the notorious outlaw. "How many banks are there -in Silver City?" - -"Two. But I reckon the other one don't amount to much. It's in the back -of a store about two streets down." - -"What is the name of the first one?" - -"The Silver City National. It's run by a man named Kemp from the east. -But they do say he's stole more money by giving the miners underweight, -than the whole pack of 'em has got out of it. I reckon it wouldn't do -no harm to trim up that kind of a skunk." - -"No, one skunk is as bad as another," returned Jesse significantly. -"How much money or how much gold did you figure old man Kemp would have -in his money bags?" - -"We figured there'd be close onto fifty thousand," was the startling -reply. - -The bandits pricked up their ears and evinced a sudden interest in the -conversation, but Jesse continued with his examination as carelessly as -if the matter were of no moment to him at all. - -"How do you happen to know all about this, Sagebrush Sam?" - -"I wuz over there last week--" - -"And of course you blabbed your plans to your cronies. Oh, you make me -sick." - -"No, no, honest to God, I didn't. I never told a living soul -except--except a fellow that helps around the post office. He was to -meet us when we got there and tell us how the wind blew--" - -"And he was to get--how much?" - -"We 'lowed we'd give him ten per cent of the rake off." - -"H'm," mused Jesse. "What is the fellow's name?" - -"Jake Fowler." - -"Well, what next?" - -"There ain't no next. I've told you all there is." - -"I'll tend to you in a minute. Where's that rancher?" - -"Here," answered Texas, leading in a very much bedraggled and sullen -individual. - -The notorious desperado related to him what Sam had just told them in -so far as it concerned the rancher himself and asked the man if it were -true. The latter said that it was. - -"Then you haven't got any particular love for Sam here, eh?" chortled -the desperado. - -His men knew that their leader had some scheme in mind, but what it was -they could not imagine. - -The rancher's face suddenly filled with murderous hate. - -"I'd like the chance to show you--and him," replied the other, turning -a malignant look on their prisoner. - -"Mebby we'll give you the chance. But first I want to make a little -bargain with you. We want some horses. We're prospecting through here, -and the Indians attacked us on the other side of the gulch, stampeding -our ponies, and we barely got away with our lives." - -The rancher nodded. - -"I hearn them tell there was doings across the gulch." - -"We will give you a thousand dollars for six, our own pick." - -The owner started to protest. - -"And here's your money," continued Jesse, without giving the fellow -an opportunity to object. "Not a cent more. You've had one experience -today and you'd better take the offer." - -The rancher looked from one to the other of the stern faces about him. - -"And besides we have saved your life, eh?" - -"I'll take it," was the terse reply, as he reached for the roll of -bills that the desperado extended in his open palm. "What about the pup -over there?" - -"Got a gun?" asked Jesse. - -"They took 'em away from me." - -"Here's mine. Use it if you want to," replied the outlaw carelessly. - -"You, you mean--" - -"Oh hurry up, or give me back the gun," retorted Jesse. - -"You ain't goin' ter kill me be yer?" begged the miserable captive. - -The rancher was fingering the gun at his side with convulsive fingers, -his face growing more malignant with deadly hate from moment to moment. - -"Bang!" - -Sagebrush Sam wavered and plunged forward on his face, dead. - -"Good job," commented the desperado. - -The rancher had fired the fatal shot without so much as raising the -revolver from his hip. - -"You ain't no slouch on the trigger," commended the bandit chieftain. -"There are two more fellows over there who haven't had enough medicine -yet. I observe they are trying to crawl away now. Wait, don't shoot. -Bill, straighten them up. Can they stand?" - -"I reckon they can," grinned Wild Bill. - -Jesse strode over to them and handed each a keen-edged bowie. - -"Fight," he commanded tersely. - -The horror of it sent a shiver down the spine of every man in the room. - -The men were friends, and the hands bearing the knives settled slowly -to their sides as they looked into each other's eyes. - -Two guns in the notorious outlaw's hands barked viciously at the same -instant and each of the unwilling combatants lost a portion of one ear. - -"By Judas that was a shot," exulted the rancher. "Mine ain't in it with -that. Fight, you measly spalpeens!" he roared and Jesse smiled as he -noted that the blood lust had taken supreme possession of the man. - -"Yes, fight," added Jesse, notching the ends of the arses of both men -with another of his wonderful shots as if to emphasize his command. - -In blind despair the unhappy wretches raised their knives and with -tightly closed eyes struck blindly out into the air. - -"Close in," commanded Jesse sternly, sending a bullet ploughing through -the upper lip of either man. - -And now in blind consuming rage the victims began to strike. Their eyes -were wide and in the desperateness of the moment, friendship turned to -un-dying hate. - -Each proved an expert with the knife. Their blades flashed in the -sunlight whose rays slanted down through window and door. - -It was thrust and parry as they leaped from side to side, forgetful of -the wounds that the bandits had inflicted on them in the earlier battle. - -Now and then a bowie would come away stained half way to its hilt. - -Not a word was spoken. - -The labored breathing of the combatants and the chilling clash of -blades, were the only sounds that broke in upon the sweet-scented -stillness of the mountain morning. - -The scene held the spectators breathless. Even the great outlaw found -himself interested in the desperate battle. - -Blood was over everything, but the desperadoes heeded it not. The -rancher's eyes were strained and the eyelids, drawn far up against the -forehead, never once closed in a wink. - -The blade of one antagonist went through the other's scalp, and a -crimson stream spurted half way across the room. The faces of each were -scarred with crimson rivulets that were constantly fed from the blood -springs above. - -The blade of the other sheathed itself in the shoulder of his -antagonist, and in the next second each was tugging at the hilt of a -knife in his opponent's shoulder. - -The shirts of the desperate combatants were hanging in ribbons where -the keen blades had been drawn in hopes of finding a human path and -through the rents livid streaks showed in strong relief against the -white flesh. - -Weak from exertion and loss of blood, the fighters staggered together -and with arms thrown about each other's necks, hung resting each upon -the other. - -"Break away!" thundered Jesse. - -His voice seemed to rouse them suddenly--to renew the hate that for the -moment had been allowed to slip like a mantle from the hearts of the -two friends. - -Their movements were slower now and less certain. - -Finally each with a hand upon the other's shoulder began swinging the -free arm to give it momentum and even then their blades did not reach. - -"Thrust!" roared the blood-thirsty bandit chieftain. - -Exerting a supreme effort a hand swung away from each body and -returning empty hung listlessly at its owner's side. - -Each had buried his blade in the abdomen of the other. - -For a full moment the antagonists stood with hand on each other's -shoulders. - -At last their bodies began to sway. - -They toppled and fell. - -The body of one lay sprawling upon that of his friend. - -And neither man moved again. - -"I guess that will be about all," said the notorious outlaw in a harsh -rasping tone that chilled them through and through. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE FIGHT IN THE "GOLDEN ARROW." - - -Silver City lay at the base of two great mountain ranges. - -It was, like most mining towns of that time, filled with a floating -population of gamblers, prospectors, miners and bad men. However, a -semblance of law and order had been established by the new sheriff, -Ben Teall, whose courage and quickness on the trigger had gained for -him no little respect among the gun-toters of that rough country. Some -who had doubted both these qualities, were now occupying six-foot -claims in Silver City's graveyard. - -Ben never pulled a trigger unless convinced that his own life was -in danger, and then he shot to kill. The fact that he still lived -was evidence that he had never yet failed of accomplishing that much -desired result. - -Bill was standing back to the bar in the Golden Arrow saloon one -evening two days after Jesse and his companions had departed from the -cabin of the rancher, headed for Silver City. - -The green baize door that was the pride of the Golden Arrow, swung in -and two strangers entered, who attracted Ben's attention instantly. -They were well set up, sharp-featured and clear-eyed fellows, and -though there was nothing about their dress to distinguish them from -the other habitues of the place, Ben mentally put them down as secret -service men; but what mission they could possibly be bent on there, he -could not understand. - -The two sat down at a table and ordered whiskey with "rain water" on -the side, and the keen-eyed sheriff noted that while they only took one -sip of the fire-water, they took down the "rain water" with evident -satisfaction. The rest of the whisky was dumped onto the floor. All -this he noted under half-closed eyelids. - -"If they ain't service men, they'll bear watching," was his comment. - -After a little the newcomers and the sheriff's eyes met, and each saw -in the other something of interest. - -"That's the sheriff over there sizing us up, or I'm a goat," mumbled -Jesse to his companion, who was none other than his elder brother. - -"Is he next, do you think?" asked Frank. - -"No, he don't know us. He's looking for somebody and he ain't sure -whether we are the ones or not." - -"Hadn't we better make believe we have finished and walk out? I don't -like the idea of hanging around and letting the whole town spot us, -anyway," growled Frank. - -"You can go. You ain't tied," sneered Jesse. "But come on, let's be -good-natured. There ain't no call for you and I being sore on each -other." - -"No, that's so," agreed Frank swallowing his resentment toward his -brother for the time being. But try as he honestly did, not to hate -his brother, at times the old feeling would come out. Yet on the other -hand, between the two was a strong bond, perhaps due more to the -strenuous scenes through which they had passed together, than to any -tie of brotherly love. - -"That man and I are going to mix it up some day," mused the sheriff. - -"Say," said Jesse to his companion, "if that fellow don't quit boring -into me with his eyes I'm going over and hand him something hotter than -the fire-water he gits over the bar of the Golden Arrow. It's beginning -to get on my nerves. - -"But watch out. He's got something else on his mind now I reckon," -warned Jesse suddenly. - -The green baize door had swung in and the man who was entering let -it close to behind him with a snap, as he quickly stepped inside. -His hands fell to his holsters as he swept the room in one quick -comprehensive glance. - -"One of Silver City's bullies," decided Jesse under his breath. - -"I know the breed. I believe the pup is going to shoot." - -At that moment Jesse's glance alighted appreciatively on the sheriff. -He was standing with folded arms gazing at the bad man with a challenge -in his eyes. - -"Steve," said the sheriff in a quiet voice, "I've told you to get out -of town before sun-up tomorrow; I've told you to keep out of the gin -mills tonight. If you're here five minutes from now I'll kill you." - -With that the sheriff turned away. - -"Jim," he said to the bartender, "give me a cigar." - -But the move came near to being a fatal one for the little officer of -the law. - -The instant his back was turned, one of the bad man's guns came out -with a flash and his eyes blazing with terrible rage he was throwing it -down on the man who had given him his final notice to quit. - -But he was not quick enough. - -"Bang!" - -The notorious outlaw's trusty "Colt" had spoken first, and the bad -man's gun fell to the floor, as its owner uttered a howl of mingled -rage and pain. - -He reached for his other gun with the left. - -"Hands up!" commanded the desperado in an even voice. "I reckon we -don't 'low curs like you to shoot men in the back." - -Instantly the room was in an uproar. There were those present who, -though they had not deemed it wise to express their sentiments in the -presence of the sheriff, were Steve's cronies on the side. - -Their hands flew to their guns. - -"Hands up, every mother's son of you!" roared the desperado in a -terrible voice that thrilled every man in the room. "Come over here," -he said jerking his head to one side for the sheriff to join them, and -while Jesse's eyes swept the evil faces about them the sheriff calmly -walked over to where the two outlaws were standing, and took his place -beside them. - -"Thanks, pard," he breathed. "You winged him. He won't use that hand -again right away." - -A gun flashed at the far end of the room. - -Jesse's 44 barked viciously and the other's bullet buried itself in the -wall behind him. But his assailant fared not so well. He sank to the -floor with a dull red mark placed fairly between his eyes. - -Now guns crashed everywhere. The sheriff worked his weapons with the -rapidity of a gatling gun. But Jesse and Frank fired now slowly. They -were at a disadvantage. They were unable to distinguish friend from -foe, while the sheriff knew every man there. So the two outlaws kept -their sharp eyes dancing from face to face and at the least sign of -treachery, the man went down with a bullet well placed somewhere in his -anatomy. - -By now the battle was getting too hot for most of the miners and bad -men and they took to the windows like a flock of frightened sheep. The -temptation was too great for the notorious outlaw to resist. He was in -a devil-may-care mood this night, and his recent exploits had whetted -his appetite for more desperate deeds. - -He discharged a quick volley after the fleeing men, and though not -once shooting to kill, inflicted wounds from which many an unfortunate -fellow never recovered. - -The firing ceased. - -Jesse laughed harshly. - -The bar tender poked his head above the bar cautiously. - -"Gentlemen all finished?" he asked, peering suspiciously at the three -men on the other side of the room. - -"That depends," answered the desperado easily, "upon whether there are -any other gentlemen in need of pills around here. If you know of any -more would-be bad men go out and get them. We might as well clean out -the whole danged town while we are at it, eh, sheriff?" - -Suddenly Jesse wheeled and sent a bullet crashing through the green -baize door. - -This was followed instantly by a yell of pain and one of the bad man's -friends, plunged headlong into the room dead. He had been taking -careful aim at the great desperado, who suddenly sensing that danger -lurked beyond the door, had fired. - -"Say pard," glowed the sheriff, "I've seen some pretty tall shooting in -my time and I'm something on the trigger myself, but you fellows have -got anything in Silver City backed clear off into the gulch. Shake." - -Jesse extended his hand and bowed with mock gentility. - -"There's only one man that I ever heard of who could handle a gun like -you do," continued the officer of the law. - -"And he?" smiled the outlaw. - -"And he is Jesse James." - -"_And it is Jesse James who stands before you_," was the outlaw's -startling and unexpected reply, one of those devil-may-care impulses -that now and then stirred him on to acts that from their very daring, -overcame all obstacles and brought him out victorious. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE DOUBLE BANK ROBBERY. - - -For a moment the sheriff stood like a man stricken suddenly dumb. Jesse -faced him with a mocking smile on his face. - -"You--you are--Get out of here! Vamoose quicker'n a streak of greased -lightning. Don't you know I'm an officer of the law?" exclaimed the -gamey little sheriff suddenly turning his back on Jesse and Frank. -And the latter two with a laugh walked from the scene of carnage and -disappeared in the night. - -"Well," snarled Frank, "you have put your foot in it this time -everlastingly." - -"Oh, I don't know. We'll see," was his laconic answer. - -The two men walked across a vacant lot, picked up their horses, -mounted and rode out to a mountain gulch nearby, where they joined -their fellows. It was no unusual thing for horsemen to be seen on the -streets of Silver City, and therefore it excited no comment when seven -men rode in from different directions on the following morning. The -uniform quality of their horseflesh, however, did attract the attention -of the mountaineers, but though each carried a Winchester in his saddle -holster, the men excited no more than ordinary interest. - -So changed in appearance were the notorious outlaw and his brother -that it would have been a keen eye indeed, that would have been able -to discover, under their disguises, the men whose guns had done such -deadly work in the Golden Arrow on the previous evening. - -None of the newcomers appeared to be traveling together. Now and then -one would drop from his horse and visit a saloon, two visited the -postoffice and others took in a general store below in which was the -second bank. - -But had one been suspicious he might have noted a certain method in the -actions of these newcomers who seemed to be everywhere at once, and yet -acting without any apparent motive. - -After a time the band seemed to have formed in two sections--one at the -north end of the main street and the other at the south, the latter -section consisting of fewer men than the northern group. - -On the north might have been found the great outlaw, his brother having -cast his lot with the band to the south. - -Jesse sauntered carelessly into the postoffice and asked if there was -any mail for Jim Howard. - -While the postmaster was looking over his letters Wild Bill slipped -behind the case and dealt the postmaster a terrific blow with the butt -of his revolver. - -While the act was in plain view of the street through the large front -window, there chanced to be no one passing at the moment, and neither -was the brutal assault observable to those in the bank on the other -side of the partition. - -"Who are you?" demanded Jesse as a fellow, hideous in his hunchbacked -deformity leered up into his face. - -"I reckon I don't know you either?" was the enigmatical reply. - -"You're Jake Fowler. I know you." - -"But you ain't Sagebrush Sam. What do you want here?" - -"S-h-h," whispered Jesse. "He sent me here. How many men are over there -behind the counter of the bank?" - -"Two, the owner and the cashier," informed the other, his eye twinkling -with intelligence. - -"Call them over here. Tell them the postmaster has been hurt. They -won't see me, but my pard here will cover them the minute they get -behind the case, and we'll hold you in here till we get through. No -tricks or I'll shoot you full of holes," hissed the desperado, dropping -behind a barrel and motioning to Bill to make himself scarce, as Jake -ran to the bank counter in great excitement. - -"Come quick!" cried Jake. "The postmaster has been hurt or else he's -fallen in a fit." - -"What--where?" cried the two bankers excitedly. - -"Over here. Hurry." - -Jake was playing his part as if he had been studying it for months and -Jesse grinned approvingly. - -The three had stooped to raise the body of the prostrate man when they -were startled by the sudden command: - -"Move an inch and you're both dead men." - -The owner of the bank started to utter an exclamation, but the words -froze in his mouth as looking sideways he found himself gazing along -the black, menacing barrel of a heavy "Colt's." - -Jesse, not wasting the time to go around into the enclosure, had leaped -the counter and was down on his knees in front of the large open safe -whose doors were swung wide, displaying their glittering contents to -his avaricious gaze. - -Gold, bills, little sacks of precious dust were swept with ruthless -hand into the yawning gunny sack like meal from a miller's hopper. - -Meanwhile two mounted men in front had dismounted and were busily -engaged in tightening their saddle girths, apparently oblivious to -anything that was going on around them. - -Not a soul save those directly connected with the daring robbery had -been disturbed. - -With a sweeping glance around him, Jesse, observed with a grin that the -coast was clear, and came around the counter with the bag of precious -loot in his hand. - -Not a word was spoken as he passed around to the rear of the Postoffice -case. - -Raising his gun by the barrel he brought it down with terrific force, -first on the head of one and then on the other of the bankers. They -fell forward groaning. - -"Follow me and guard the rear," announced Jesse to Wild Bill. "Here's -a drunk for you baby," he added, tossing a thousand dollar bill to the -hunch-back. "Better mosey or they'll be stringing you up before the sun -is over the gulch. You'll get drunk and that'll be the end of you." - -"Can't I go with you?" leered the outlaw. "I ain't no tenderfoot." - -"Not unless you are ready to die," retorted Jesse - -"Then I'll peach," was the sudden and unexpected reply. - -A sudden rage leaped into the eyes of the outlaw. - -Throwing his gun down on the horrible dwarf he pulled the trigger. "I -guess that'll hold him a while," decided the outlaw with a cruel smile, -as the dwarf fell over dead. - -"Shall I get the money you gave 'im?" asked Bill - -"No," snapped the desperado. "Jesse James does not rob dead men's -pockets. It's his. Let him have it." - -Strangely enough to the outlaws the shot had attracted no attention. -And mounting they rode leisurely up the street toward the store where -the second bank was located. He could see the remaining members of the -band lounging recklessly about in the street in front of the place, and -wondering at the delay. - -"Something must have gone wrong," he muttered, urging his horse along a -little faster. - -Just then the ground under them was shaken by a dull heavy explosion. -People came flocking from shop and saloon and curious scared faces -appeared at the open windows of upper stories. - -"Dynamite," he growled. - -"It's the bank!" was the startling cry, taken up from mouth to mouth -and passed along down the village street, as a shouting, gesticulating, -yelling mob rushed to the store where the second bank was located. - -The desperado saw his men coolly swing themselves into their saddles -and face the mob with leveled Winchesters. - -A rain of scattered shots began to patter about those in front of the -bank. But the men held their fire, ordering the people back on the pain -of instant death. - -A thirty-two stung Comanche Tony in the cheek. - -Throwing his Winchester to his shoulder he shot the man who had wounded -him, dead. - -The citizens answered with a volley. At that the desperadoes pumped -their magazines, into the crowd, until they were emptied and then -released their revolvers from their holsters began fanning the mad mob -with deadly effect. - -Jesse, having secured the gunny sack firmly to his saddle, and so that -it might not impede his movements, rode still leisurely along. - -Suddenly he espied Frank running down the steps of the store. Like -his younger brother, Frank also bore a gunny sack and from the manner -in which Frank was carrying it, Jesse understood that his brother had -succeeded in his mission of plunder. - -Frank swung into his saddle under a perfect storm of bullets. - -With a wild whoop and a savage yell the great desperado and his -immediate companions dug the rowels of their spurs into their horses -and charged down on the crowd. - -The mob taken suddenly by surprise at this attack on their flank, -ceased firing and fell swiftly back. - -"Forward!" roared the great desperado. - -Frank and his men heard and understood. - -Their horses sprang away under the pressure of the cruel spurs. - -Now Jesse and his companions thundered down on the crowd in the wake of -the first line of fleeing desperadoes. - -All at once a slight, wiry figure sprang out into the middle of the -street. - -"Halt! I know you, Jesse James." - -But the desperado threw himself suddenly forward on the neck of his -horse as the sheriff's bullets sang over him so close to his head that -he could feel the hair on the top of his head, slightly pulled back by -the sudden suction of air from the leaden pellets. - -Both his revolvers flashed up on either side of the horse's neck. They -barked in unison and the sheriff fell dead. - -The outlaw's horse leaping over the body of the fallen officer of the -law, sped away. - -Jesse rose in his saddle and sent a volley of shots from his Winchester -into the crowd in his rear. Then he was obliged to cease firing because -of the fear of hitting one of his own men, whose bodies were now -between him and the mob. The men had swung half way round in their -saddles, reins on their horses' necks, and were pumping lead into the -mad mob with deadly effect. - -Jesse fired a signal shot high into the air. - -Their fusilade suddenly ceased. - -With a wild, blood-curdling yell, the desperadoes dug their spurs deep -into the sleek sides of the sensitive thoroughbreds and sped off like -the wind headed for the protection of the mountain fastness. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -CONCLUSION. - - -Not until the shadows of night were falling did the desperate band halt -to make camp. - -So far as they had been able to observe there had been no organized -pursuit of them attempted. But they knew full well that they would not -be permitted to escape without some effort being made to apprehend them. - -But instead of following on south as they had started, Jesse after an -hour or so changed his course and turned due east, thus carrying them -away at right angles to the scene of their late operations. This, he -reasoned shrewdly would send any posse that might follow them, off on a -blind trail for a long distance before they discovered their mistake. -To accomplish this the men had to dismount and lead their horses up a -steep mountain side where the least misstep would have precipitated -them to certain death on the rocks below. - -But the hard rocky sides of the mountain left no trail for the -mountaineers to follow. - -It was with intense relief that the men dismounted after their trying -ride, and their appetites, whetted by the day's strenuous doings, were -soon satisfied with a hearty meal of bacon and potatoes, sizzling hot -from their improvised stone stove. - -And by the light of the camp fire, Jesse and Frank spread out their -ill-gotten gains on a slab of rock. - -The eyes of the bandits glowed avariciously as package after package of -bills was thrown out, to be followed by many bags of rich, yellow gold -dust. - -A careful count of the money and a rough estimate of the gold dust was -made, Jesse figuring the total by marking on the slab of rock with a -sharp stone. - -"How much?" asked Frank. - -"It'll run better than a hundred thousand, I reckon," answered Jesse, -calmly. - -The desperadoes gave a long, low whistle of surprise. - -"I calkerlate I'd be willing to go hungry for three days any time -for such a bunch of the long green as that," averred Homely Harry -facetiously. - - -THE END. - - -Be sure to read the next story, JESSE JAMES MIDNIGHT ATTACK, or THE -BANDIT'S REVENGE ON THE VIGILANTES. In this story will be chronicled -a series of startling adventures in which the noted outlaw turns the -tables on the man-hunters who are on his trail, to their complete -undoing. It is No. 32 in the Adventure Series. - -_TO THE READER._ - - -Only in the _Adventure Series_ can you get the absolutely true and -authentic history of the lives and exploits of the - - JAMES BOYS, - YOUNGER BROTHERS, - HARRY TRACY, - THE DALTON GANG, - RUBE BURROW, - -and the other Notorious Outlaws of the Far West. - - * * * * * - -We are the authorized and exclusive publishers for Jesse James' only -son, - - JESSE JAMES, JR. - - and are the publishers of his great book, - - JESSE JAMES, MY FATHER, - -which is for sale everywhere. Buy it where you bought this book, and -read the inside history of the life of Jesse James. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Jesse James' Bold Stroke, by William Ward - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE JAMES' BOLD STROKE *** - -***** This file should be named 62236-0.txt or 62236-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/2/3/62236/ - -Produced by Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Jesse James' Bold Stroke - The Double Bank Robbery - -Author: William Ward - -Release Date: May 26, 2020 [EBook #62236] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE JAMES' BOLD STROKE *** - - - - -Produced by Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: "He pushed out beyond the shadows of the trees."] - - - - - JESSE JAMES' BOLD - STROKE - - OR - - The Double Bank Robbery - - BY WILLIAM WARD - - -Jesse and his band while passing through Colorado on their way east -have many exciting adventures. The great desperado is captured by the -Indians, after a battle with United States Cavalry and is rescued by an -Indian maiden. He blows up an Indian village with dynamite and performs -other of the daring feats for which he was so noted during his career. -In a mining city in Colorado, he saves the life of a sheriff and robs -two banks, from which he and his men carry away more than a hundred -thousand dollars. - - - ADVENTURE SERIES No. 31 - - Copyright, 1909, by The Arthur Westbrook Company - - - Published by - THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY, - CLEVELAND, U.S.A. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Chapter Page - - I. Indians 7 - - II. Tied to the Stake 13 - - III. The Flight from the Cliff 29 - - IV. The Strange Battle in the Witch's Cave 39 - - V. A Desperate Charge 51 - - VI. The Race for Life 59 - - VII. Dew Drop Again to the Rescue 68 - - VIII. In the Fatal Circle 76 - - IX. When the Earth Fell Apart 85 - - X. In a Living Tomb 94 - - XI. Jesse James' Desperate Leap 103 - - XII. In the Hands of the Redskins 111 - - XIII. Under the Branding Iron 124 - - XIV. Jesse Takes a Terrible Revenge 142 - - XV. The Battle of the Blades 156 - - XVI. The Fight in the Golden Arrow 175 - - XVII. The Double Bank Robbery 181 - - XVIII. Conclusion 188 - - - - -Jesse James' Bold Stroke - -OR - -The Double Bank Robbery. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -INDIANS! - - -"Look! Look!" - -The cry was uttered by the foremost of a little band of horsemen riding -slowly in single file over the rocky bed of what had once been a raging -torrent. - -Darkness was descending over the canyon-traversed wilds of Southern -Colorado and the air was hot and still. - -Towering high above them, sinister and awesome in the half light rose -solid walls of rock. - -And as the leader of the little band had rounded a jutting crag, he -beheld a sight that had brought the startled cry to his lips. - -Far down the canyon, two fires glowed, seeming, in the darkness, like -the luminous eyes of some wild monster. - -Roused by the exclamation of their companion, the others drew rein, -peering intently ahead of them. - -Footsore and weary, for they had travelled fast and far during the day -that was just drawing to a close, the jaded horses stood, with heads -hanging low, while their riders stared ahead of them. - -"Them's either signal fires or camp fires," grunted one of the men, -after a careful study of the brilliant lights. - -"Ain't you the wise lad, though," snorted another. "You talk as though -we were tenderfeet. Any fool knows they're camp or signal fires. - -"It's which of the two they are that counts. Tell us that and you'll be -saying something." - -"Well, Comanche Tony's the laddy buck who can find out," snapped the -man who had first espied the glaring fires, slipping from his saddle. - -And without heeding the protests of the others, he glided away, soon -being lost to sight among the rocks. - -The little band of horsemen were none other than Jesse James' notorious -gang of outlaws. - -After their sensational hold-ups of the Overland Stages in the Devil's -Burying Ground, the last one of which had been done under the very -noses of a troop of United States cavalrymen, the outlaws had headed -for Arizona. - -Hiding in caves and riding by night they had eluded the troopers and, -at last, in the belief that they had outdistanced their pursuers, they -had relaxed their caution, continuing their flight by day instead of -under cover of darkness. - -Consequently, when the member of the desperate gang of cut throats who -was in the lead had caught sight of the fires, they were struck with -consternation. - -"It doesn't seem possible them sojers could have ridden round us," -exclaimed Bob Moore, as Comanche Tony disappeared on his reconnaissance. - -And this statement voiced the opinion of the others. - -"No, it doesn't," returned the bandit-chieftain. "But you can't tell. -Maybe they've sent word to one of the forts to the south of us and -they've sent out a searching party." - -"Phew! That would be tough!" gasped Sam Dirks. "We'd be between two -fires, sojers in front of us and sojers behind us. It would take some -figurin' on your part, Jess, to get us out." - -The fact was so patent that the leader of the outlaws made no comment. - -Well he realized the danger such a contingency would mean, yet till his -trusted pal had returned from his scouting expedition, he could make no -plans. - -Finding that they could not draw their chief out, the others whispered -among themselves for a while, finally lapsing into silence. - -Steadily the two fires, that had so startled them, burned. - -Once or twice, some of the bandits thought they beheld figures moving -about them. - -But the fancied forms disappeared so suddenly that they could not be -sure. - -"Seems as though it was taking Tony an all-fired long time," growled -Wild Bill, glancing about him, uneasily. - -But scarcely had the words left his lips than a piercing shriek rent -the air. - -"That's Tony!" "Suthin's happened to him!" "He's caught!" ejaculated -the startled bandits. - -With a burst of sulphurous profanity, Jesse slid from his horse. - -"Whatever has happened, we must go to him," he snapped. "Frank, you and -Sam stay here with the horses. The rest of you come with me. Be lively -now!" - -Yet before the desperadoes were out of their saddles, they received -still another surprise. - -The fires vanished. - -With a suddenness that savoured of the magician's art, the two balls of -flame disappeared before their very eyes. - -"It's the Devil's work," gasped Bud Noble. - -"Devil nothing!" snarled the world-famous desperado. "Come on! _We must -rescue Comanche!_" - -Little relishing the task of advancing down the canyon whose jagged -sides seemed alive with men, so excited were the imaginations of the -outlaws, they hastened on, stumbling and tripping over the rock-strewn -trail. - -With Wild Bill beside him, Jesse led the way. - -Every few yards they stopped to listen. - -But all was as silent as the tomb. - -"I reckon we're purty close to whar the fires were," whispered Wild -Bill, at last. "I can smell the smoke from 'em." - -"Guess you're right. Boys, get your shooting irons ready. We're liable -to run into an ambush any time. Keep to the rocks as much as you can." - -But his warning was of no avail. - -Of a sudden, the still, hot air was rent with whoops and yells. - -"Injuns, or I'm a nigger!" gasped Wild Bill. "Poor Tony! He's in for -it bad--unless we get to him!" - -Jesse, however, had made a more important discovery. - -The shouts of defiance had come from above. - -And as the last warwhoop rolled back and forth between the towering -cliffs, he raised his pistols, pointing them at random. - -Crack! Crack! - -Sharp and loud their report rang out. - -Sounded a shriek of mingled pain and terror and the next instant a dark -mass came hurtling down upon the little group of men standing huddled -together on the rocky bottom of the canyon. - -The smell of powder broke the spell that had fallen upon Jesse's -comrades. - -With rousing cheers, they greeted the falling form. - -Viciously their pistols barked as they emptied them at the towering -cliff. - -But their exultation was short lived. - -Yells, hoarse with rage, broke from the Indians. - -High above them rang some commands in the native tongue. - -And the next instant a deluge of rocks and stones was launched from the -cliff above. - -Fortunately for the little band of outlaws, the Indians had misjudged -their position and the avalanche of missiles fell to the south of them. - -Some of the scattering stones, however, struck the bandits, inflicting -flesh and scalp wounds. - -Walled in between the two sides of the canyon, the din was deafening. - -All at once, as there came a momentary lull while the redskins awaited -the result of their broadside, a voice bellowed: - -"Back, boys! Run for your lives! The bucks have tons of rocks!" - -It was Comanche Tony, who, despite the danger he ran of having a knife -jabbed into him as he spoke, had braved death to warn his pals. - -A moment Jesse hesitated. - -Loath was he to leave his intrepid pal in the hands of the Indians. But -he realized that should they tarry longer where they were, in the face -of Tony's warning, the lives of all of them might be crushed out in a -death more horrible than by bullets or torture--their bodies mashed to -a pulp between the boulders hurled from the cliff and the rocky bottom -of the canyon. - -"Stop firing! Back to the horses!" he roared. - -Amazed at this desertion of their comrade, the outlaws, nevertheless, -obeyed. - -And scarcely had they moved from where they had been standing before -another broadside of boulders was launched. - -"That was a close call," gasped Bud Noble. "It's a good thing we -started when we did. But it don't seem right to leave Tony." - -"We're not going to leave him," snapped the world-famous desperado. -"When we get back to the horses, I'm going to take Wild Bill and Texas -and go after him." - -Anxious and excited were the two desperadoes who had been left in -charge of the horses as they heard the sounds of conflict down the -canyon. - -Ignorant of how, what they supposed was a battle, might have gone, -when they caught sight of the forms running toward them, Frank -challenged: - -"Who's coming? Halt or we'll fire!" - -"It's all right! Don't shoot!" returned Jesse. - -Relieved at finding the approaching figures were their comrades -returning, Sam cried: - -"Have you got Tony?" - -But the world-famous desperado made no answer. - -"The rest of you wait here. Post sentries and keep your eyes and ears -open. - -"Don't move from here till I get back. Come Bill. Come Texas." - -And, his two pals at his heels, Jesse started up the canyon in the -direction from which they were coming when they had first seen the -fires, bound for a break in the wall of rock he had noticed as he -passed. - -But though he found it, because of the darkness, he was unable to make -any headway, ignorant of the lay of the land as he was and, at last, he -was forced to abandon his attempts to rescue Comanche Tony, deciding to -wait till daylight should come. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -TIED TO THE STAKE. - - -When Comanche Tony had glided from his companions at the bend of the -canyon, little did he think what was in store for him. - -Stung to the quick by the unjustified slur of the brother of the -bandit-chieftain, he was fiercely resentful, muttering to himself as -he dodged from rock to rock. - -Silently, stealthily, the wily old bandit drew nearer and nearer to the -fire. - -But he was labouring under a disadvantage that was to be his undoing. - -Constantly was he looking at the two fires as he advanced and their -glare so blinded him that he was unable to see aught at either side of -them. - -But the crouching forms that lurked in the shadows of the cliffs were -not so handicapped because their backs were toward the flames. - -Warned by the echo of hoofbeats, as the outlaws rode down the canyon, -the Indians had ample time to arrange their ambush. - -Who the travellers were, it mattered not to them. - -They were on the warpath and redskin or paleface was equally welcome. - -Yet so craftily did Comanche Tony approach that he was almost upon them -ere the keen eyes of the expectant bucks had detected his stooping form -as he glided from one rock to another with absolute noiselessness. - -Startled to think that any one could get so near to them and -disappointed that they were to capture only one prisoner, the bucks -watched the bandit steal nearer and nearer. - -Bodies crouched, muscles tense, the savages waited till their victim -was close to the fire. - -Scenting a trick, since he had been allowed to approach unchallenged -and could discern no sleeping forms about the fire, Comanche Tony had -turned, determined to get back to his pals without delay. - -But he was too late. - -No sooner had he faced about than the air was full of leaping forms -which the glare from the fires showed to be streaked with gaudy-hued -paints. - -Instantly the outlaw realized that they were Indians. - -Yet so sudden had been their appearance that they were upon him, -encircling him with their powerful arms, ere he could draw his six -shooters. - -For the moment, it maddened him to think that he, old Indian fighter -that he was, had walked unsuspectingly into the snare of the cunning -redmen, but only for a moment. - -If he had been caught, his pals should not be. - -And, utterly heedless of what the consequences might be to himself, the -intrepid old bandit let out a yell. - -Startled, the bucks gazed at their captive an instant, then their -amazement gave way to snarls as a dozen hands sought Tony's throat, to -choke off his outcry. - -And it was the terrific pressure exerted by the steel-like fingers that -had given to the shout of warning, the peculiar half wail, half roar, -which Jesse and his men had heard. - -Maddened by such defiance, the redskins uttered a few hoarse commands -and the next instant Tony felt himself lifted from his feet and -carried, in sturdy arms, up a path in the cliff. - -But even then, desperate as his predicament was, the fearless outlaw's -thoughts were of his fellows rather than of himself and he muttered: - -"I've warned the boys, anyhow, no matter if I did get caught in -springing the trap." - -Yet he was quickly recalled to his surroundings by feeling his feet set -on a rock. - -Accustomed by this time to the darkness, Comanche Tony was able to make -out that he and his captors were on a ledge in the cliff along the edge -of which was a black, irregular mass. - -Forgetting, in his eagerness to discover what this was, that he was a -prisoner, the intrepid bandit stepped forward. - -Uttering vicious grunts, two bucks grabbed him and threw him roughly -against the wall of rock behind them. - -"Paleface heap fool," snarled one of his guards. "Get too fresh, fall -over ledge, spoil Injun's fun!" - -"By my scalp, but I must have suthin' pleasant ahead of me if fallin' -to my death will spoil these devil's fun!" thought Comanche Tony. - -But again the contemplation of the perilousness of his own plight was -forgotten in the realization that his reckless attempt to warn his pals -had been of no avail. - -For, in the brief interval that he had gazed on the edge of the ledge, -he had seen several bucks frantically beating out the two fires with -their blankets, and he knew that whatever their game, the world-famous -desperado and his men would be in grave danger, forced, as they would -be, to advance in the darkness. - -Yet had he been an instant later, he would have seen the same braves -hurriedly scoop handfuls of dirt onto the glowing coals, after which -they covered the piles with their blankets and bounded up the path to -the ledge. - -On their arrival, a hasty pow-wow was held and the next minute Comanche -Tony had learned the purpose of the irregular mass of black along the -edge of the ledge. - -Lying flat on their bellies, the Indians braced their feet against the -wall of rock and threw out their hands in front of them. - -A sickening fear gripped the heart of the bandit as he divined that the -objects were stones to be hurled from the ledge. - -Wondering if he could warn his pals of the terrible fate awaiting them, -Tony's eyes were drawn to the figure of an Indian standing clear of the -others. - -Like a statue he loomed. - -All at once, he uttered an ear splitting yell. - -He had caught sight of a black line of objects moving in the canyon -below. - -Immediately his braves joined in and as the strident warwhoops rent the -air, the prostrate bucks exerted their strength and the first avalanche -of stones was started on its mission of death. - -But that it was launched too soon, the reader already knows. - -The suspense to Tony, however, was awful as he strained his ears for -the sound of his pals' voices. - -And as he heard their yells of defiance he heaved a mighty sigh of -relief which ended in a grunt of delight as he saw the figure of the -Indian lookout topple and pitch to the bottom even while the report of -a pistol rang out. - -"That was Jesse's shot, I'll bet!" he chuckled. - -But his exultation vanished as he saw the bucks stretched out on the -ledge move along to more stones. - -And then it was that, tempting Fate for the second time, he had -shouted his warning to his pals to flee for their lives. - -Too late was it for the redskins to save their missiles as his cry rang -out. - -But even as the boulders were hurtling to the bottom of the canyon, the -braves leaped to their feet and charged him. - -So terrible was their anger, that they almost crushed the bandit as -they pressed about him. - -"Have your fun if you want," grunted Comanche Tony. "I can't die but -once. But it'll be the sorriest work you devils ever did if you do kill -me!" - -The tone in which the fearless old Indian fighter uttered this defiance -was as calm and cool as though he were talking to a group of children -instead of to a pack of blood-thirsty savages. - -His gameness amazed his captors, though it only made them crush him -against the rocks the more furiously. - -But as he closed his eyes to keep out the sight of the hideous, -passion-distorted faces before him, a deep-lunged voice uttered some -sharp commands. - -In a trice, the terrible pressure relaxed and the next moment the -outlaw felt himself again raised from his feet and borne rapidly upward. - -Ere many minutes he could tell that he was again on a level and -instantly his mind sought some scheme by which he could kill time. - -For he felt that the world-famous desperado would not leave him to the -anything but tender mercies of the savages. - -Yet had he known that his beloved chief was even then returning to his -pals, having failed to find a way to scale the wall of rock, he would -have been sad, indeed. - -But he did not know and his ignorance was bliss, in truth. - -As Comanche Tony racked his brain for some manner to delay his captors, -more commands rang out and the Indians who were carrying him set him -down. - -The moon had just risen above the peaks of the mountains to the east -and, in its light, the bandit saw that he was on a plateau sparsely -covered with stunted trees. - -To one of these his captors guided him. - -As he reached it, a couple of the braves lopped off the lower branches. - -Whirling him roughly, his guards backed him against the tree trunk and -while they held him, others deftly bound him to the improvised stake -with lariats they had brought with them from the bottom of the canyon. - -Grave, indeed, was his situation. - -And it needed no one to tell the captive bandit that the redmen -proposed to burn him at the stake when they should tire of their -preliminary tortures. - -But as his plight became more desperate, Comanche Tony became the more -determined to gain time. - -Only one expedient was there of which he could think that was adequate -in his dire extremity. - -He must scare the painted bucks. - -And while he was considering whether he could do this the most readily -by threatening them with vengeance at the hands of the world-famous -desperado, or by telling them a squad of United States cavalry were on -their trail, the Indians made what was, to them, a fatal move. - -They kindled a fire about two rods from where Comanche Tony stood tied -to the stake. - -As the tongues of flame leaped in the air, their reflection was seen by -Jesse James and his men in the canyon. - -"By thunder! Do you suppose that's from the Injuns or the sojers?" -asked Wild Bill, as his chief sprang to his feet. - -"I don't know. _But I'm going to find out!_ - -"There's no need of waiting till morning. - -"Come on, everybody. We'll go down to where the first fires were." - -Quickly the desperadoes started, for they had ill liked the thought of -leaving their pal to his fate. - -With Texas Jack and Wild Bill at his side, the bandit chieftain -advanced till he reached the heaps of broken boulders that had come so -near to being their death a short time before. - -As the bandits gazed up at the top of the wall of rock, Texas remarked: - -"It's a cinch, Jess, those bucks have some trail up the cliff. We -didn't find any place to scale it, back where we come from, and by the -looks of the wall ahead, there isn't any break, so they couldn't have -got to the end of the canyon and back on top in such a short time. - -"That being so, it means there's some path near here." - -"Then we'll look for it. Get busy, boys. Comanche Tony's life may -depend on our haste." - -With a will, the outlaws set about examining the side of the canyon. - -And while they searched, their pal was sparring for time with his -infuriated captives. - -"See here, my buckos," he said, his voice as cool as when he had -addressed them before, "I reckon you're making a mistake. I haven't -done you any harm. - -"_But if you touch a hair on my head thar's not one of you who won't be -shot to pay for it!_" - -The redskin warriors, to the number of a score, had been standing about -the fire, now and then turning toward their captive as they jabbered -excitedly, evidently arguing over some part of their contemplated -torture. - -But as the calm words fell on their ears, they all faced about, while -one of them, whose peculiar head-dress proclaimed him to be a chief, -grunted: - -"Paleface talk heap big. Navajos fool paleface frien's. How um know -Navajos kill paleface. Heap Injun in country." - -"That may be. But my friends are not ordinary men. _They're smarter -than any palefaces you ever saw._" - -"You got caught. Heap smart, huh," and the chieftain grunted in disgust. - -"True enough. I did. _But my pals didn't._ They were smart enough not -to get under the cliff where you shoved the rocks over." - -Guttural grunts came from several of the Indians and quickly the chief -demanded: - -"Who you?" - -"I don't know that it's any of your business." - -"Me know. Great Bear know. Paleface army scout." - -Instantly the bandit realized that the braves had decided he was -connected with the soldiers of the Great Father in Washington. - -And quickly was he to see his advantage. - -"You're wrong there, Great Bear," he declared. "I told you you were -making a mistake. - -"I don't belong to the sojers any more'n you do. - -"_My chief's greater'n any sojers!_ He's got two battalions chasin' him -now!" - -This announcement produced a profound sensation among the braves and -excitedly they jabbered. - -But whatever his warriors were urging, their chief refused, again -turning toward his prisoner: - -"Paleface talk heap big. No fool Great Bear. Great Bear burn paleface -at stake. Paleface frien's cum, Injun fight um, scalp um. Ugh! Ugh!" - -And he sucked in his breath, making a gruesome sound. - -But Comanche Tony refused to be frightened. - -He knew that the Navajos were a peaceful tribe, as Indian tribes went, -and he wondered what had sent them on the warpath, till suddenly he -remembered the attack on the cabin Jesse had repulsed just before he -had made his race for life from the Vigilantes, and it occurred to him -that perhaps these were some of the same bucks seeking revenge. - -If such should be the case, it would never do for him to disclose his -identity. - -Their words had told him that they had no fear of the cavalrymen, so -that reference to them would stand him in no stead, and as minute after -minute went by without any sound or sign of Jesse, his hope began to -fail him. - -Yet no trace was there in his face of what was passing in his mind. - -Indeed, his wonderful coolness puzzled the redskins. - -They had been accustomed to see white men cringe and tremble before -them, and the words of Great Bear had doubtless been intended to strike -terror to his heart. - -But the fact that he was cool and indifferent made them think they had -captured a man who knew no fear. - -One more attempt they made, however, to break their captive's spirit. - -After a consultation with two or three of his warriors, Great Bear -spoke a few words in a low voice. - -Immediately four bucks stepped from the circle about the fire, their -scalping knives in their hands. - -Came a sharp command from the chief. - -As with one movement, the braves raised their arms and lowered them, -sending the wicked blades straight at their helpless victim. - -Shrilly the knives whistled as they sailed through the air. - -Fascinated, Comanche Tony watched the flashes of steel as they sped -toward him. - -Could any strain have been more nerve-destroying? - -Any one of the four blades, should it strike a vital spot, would kill -him. - -But all four were speeding toward him together, so nicely had the bucks -gauged their throws. - -Yet the bandit was too familiar with the nature of the redman not to -know that instead of striking him where death would result, the blades -would simply inflict painful flesh wounds, that the red devils might -gloat in the sight of his blood and agony. - -Every nerve in his body was atingle as he waited for the impact. - -Of a sudden, however, he made a terrible discovery. - -The knives were coming for his head. - -Like a flash, it occurred to him that his eyes and ears were the -targets. - -A trice he contemplated the possibility of dodging them, for his head -was not bound. - -But the realization came to him that while he might avoid one of the -whistling blades, he could not escape all four, and he decided to make -no move. - -Fortunate, indeed, was it that he did so. - -Nearer and nearer came the knives. - -Yet it seemed to Comanche Tony that years had elapsed since they had -left the hands of the savages. - -Of a sudden, he felt a cool draught against his cheeks, and then he -could no longer see the awful blades. - -Scarce able to believe his senses, he could feel no pain. - -Then it dawned on him that the bucks had been testing his courage by -aiming the scalping knives so they would just miss him, if he remained -motionless--and he thanked his lucky stars that he had not tried to -dodge them. - -It was the very refinement of torture to which he had been subjected. - -And well the redmen knew it. - -To see the wicked blades coming for his head and not to move it when he -was free to do so was an ordeal such as only one man in a million could -survive. - -But Comanche Tony was that one man. - -Eagerly the bucks had watched him. - -When they saw he had faced death unflinchingly, they grunted in -grudging admiration. - -"Paleface heap brave," exclaimed Great Bear. "Me know um now. Only one -paleface got nerve like that. Him Jess Jame. You Jess Jame. - -"Injun hate Jess Jame! - -"You got die!" - -The logic of the chief was crude. But it answered his purpose and again -he repeated: - -"Injun hate Jess Jame! Um got die! Burn um at stake!" - -Turning to his warriors, Great Bear addressed them in the Navajos -language earnestly. - -And so engrossed were the bucks in listening to the words of their -chief that they failed to see three faces rise cautiously above the -edge of the cliff and gaze at the strange scene. - -Jesse had found the trail and was soon to make his presence known. - -When the bandit-chieftain and his men had reached the ledge whence the -rocks had been hurled at them, he had ordered all but Wild Bill and -Texas Jack to wait there while he and his chosen pals climbed to the -top, fearing that the approach of all might be heard by the redmen. - -Sweeping the top of the cliff with a hurried glance the world-famous -desperado had seen, with joy, that he was in time to save the life of -his chum. - -Yet because he was aware that to act too soon would be as bad as to act -too late, he dropped back behind the cliff again. - -"Texas, go down and bring the others up," he whispered, putting his -mouth close to his pal's ear. "Don't make a sound going down. But it -won't matter coming back. - -"_I reckon the fun'll be on before you get here!_ - -"But hurry. We'll have our hands full." - -Hastily the bandit descended and again Jesse straightened up and peered -over the edge of the precipice. - -And what he saw made his face grow hard as he raised his six shooters. - -Bearing burning brands in their hands, two bucks were advancing toward -their victim tied to the stake, while two more carried armsful of dried -twigs and leaves. - -Less than ten feet were they from Comanche Tony. - -Squatting about the campfire, prepared to enjoy the writhings of their -captive, sat the rest of the Indians. - -The distance from the edge of the cliff to the stake was too great for -a pistol shot. - -Yet Jesse realized that he must act at once were he to spare his chum -awful suffering. - -Bending toward Wild Bill, he breathed: - -"We've got to rush 'em! Come on! Nail the devil's with the firebrands -first!" - -With a stillness marvelous in the rapidity of their actions, the two -desperadoes gained the top of the precipice and dashed forward. - -So engrossed were the bucks in watching their fellows that they had not -seen the bandits. - -"Give 'em a yell, then shoot!" whispered Jesse. - -With a will the two outlaws gave the old guerrilla battle cry that had -made Quantrell's men known and feared. - -Panic-stricken, the redskins leaped to their feet. - -Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack went the four six-shooters in the -desperadoes' hands. - -And with each bark of a pistol one of the Indians advancing toward -Comanche Tony, pitched forward, a bullet hole in his heart. - -But only for a minute did the braves lose their heads. - -Thundering at his warriors, Great Bear commanded: - -"Charge them! They are only two, we are twenty! We can push them off -the precipice!" - -Inspired by the words of their chief, which had been uttered in their -native tongue, the braves drew their revolvers, opening fire on Jesse -and Wild Bill as they advanced. - -Never had the guerrilla battle cry sounded so sweet as it did to the -ears of Comanche Tony as he stood, bound fast to the stake, watching -the bucks approach with the firebrands and twigs with which to kindle a -blaze about his feet. - -But, when turning his head, he saw only Wild Bill and Jesse and a -moment later beheld the warriors rally to the charge, he was filled -with fear. - -Two men, no matter how brave, would have little chance against the -overwhelming numbers of the redskins. - -Then he remembered that his six-shooters had not been taken from him -and he bellowed: - -"Jess! Jess! Cut me loose! I've got my guns! I can help you!" - -"Keep pumping at the devils, Bill," commanded the world-famous -desperado. "We've got to stand 'em off till the others get here!" - -And, discharging his own shooting irons the while, Jesse ran to -Comanche Tony. - -But though the shots of the Indians had been wild at first, they were -so close to the outlaws now that many a bullet ploughed through their -flesh. - -Seeing Jesse's purpose, Great Bear ordered the fire to be trained on -him. - -And so furiously did the bucks respond that the bandit-chieftain was -forced to give ground. - -Delirious were the yells of the braves as they saw this move. - -But their rejoicing was short lived. - -Aware, from the shots and shouts, that the fight was on, Texas and the -rest of the bandits hastened up the trail, reaching the top just as -their leader and Wild Bill were retreating toward the edge of the cliff. - -"Hold your ground! We're coming!" yelled Frank. - -Never were words more welcome than these as they rang in the ears of -the sorely pressed outlaws. - -And even as they heard them, a volley crashed from the guns of their -fellows. - -Surprised at the unlooked for re-enforcements, the bucks, however, held -their own. - -But only for a few minutes. - -The fusilade of lead poured into them was too galling. - -Though they outnumbered the bandits almost two to one, for death had -thinned their ranks, Jesse and his men fired three times as rapidly. - -Fast and furious raged the battle. - -Then, of a sudden, Great Bear shouted a command. - -With one accord, the bucks whirled and ran for the farther side of the -cliff. - -And, while some of his men pursued them, Jesse hurried to Comanche Tony -and slashed the bonds with his bowie-knife. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE FLIGHT FROM THE CLIFF. - - -As the severed cords of rawhide dropped about his feet, Comanche Tony -leaped from the tree to which he had been tied, swinging his arms like -a flail. - -"By my scalp! it feels good to be able to move 'em," he declared. "I -begun to think I'd never git the chance to use 'em again. I ain't never -been bound afore. - -"You come jest in the nick of time, Jess. An' perhaps the old battle -cry didn't sound good to my ears." - -"I reckon it did," assented the bandit-chieftain. - -All the while the two outlaws had been walking toward where the rest of -the notorious band were standing, making an examination of their wounds. - -"Any of the bucks' shots get you fellows bad?" asked the -bandit-chieftain, anxiously, as he swept the little group with his eyes. - -"Sam's got it the worst," returned Frank. - -Muttering an imprecation, Jesse strode to where Dirks was standing. - -"Where'd they hit you, Sam?" he asked. - -"In the shoulder, the right one." - -With tender fingers, the world-famous desperado cut away the -blood-soaked clothes, while his men gathered about to learn the extent -of their pal's injuries. - -As the red, angry looking flesh was exposed to view, they uttered -various exclamations. - -One and all of them had seen enough wounds to know that this was -serious. But to learn just how bad it was they awaited their leader's -announcement. - -"That sure is a nasty one," declared Jesse in a few moments. "The -shoulder blade's shattered." - -"It's too much for me to attempt to fix up. I'll just put a bandage -round it and then you'll have to go to some town where there's a -sawbones. - -"He'll probably say you'll have to lose your arm." - -The words evoked groans from the others as Sam wailed: - -"And it's me best arm, too. What good'll I be with only one fin left? I -wish the devils had a killed me." - -"Nonsense, man! Buck up! You can shoot with your left hand and when you -get into a fight there won't be so much of you to hit." - -This lugubrious consolation did not reconcile Sam to the prospective -loss of his good right arm, however, and all through the time his -leader was dressing the injury he lamented his fate. - -The wounds of the others, though painful, were not serious. - -Bud, Bob and Frank had all been hit in their legs. - -"I reckon you three," said Jesse, addressing the last named, "had -better be the ones to take Sam to the Sawbones. - -"He can't go alone, and if we should be obliged to make any hard rides, -it wouldn't help the holes in your legs any." - -Loudly the trio protested. - -"But suppose we run into the soldiers?" queried Bob. "Four of us, with -Sam worse than useless won't be able to do anything against 'em and -we'll get pinched and run to the nearest fort. And you know what that -means," he added significantly. - -"For my part I'd rather stay with you-all and take my chances on my -legs mortifying." - -But the bandit-chieftain was not to be moved. - -"I know it's a chance," he replied. "You've got to take it, though. -Sam's got to be taken to a sawbones and somebody's got to go with him. - -"If you do meet the cavalrymen, you can tell 'em you-all had a run in -with a bunch of men. - -"That'll make 'em think it's me you met and they'll swallow the bait. - -"You can describe us exactly and give 'em a steer as to where you met -us, only be sure you send them in the wrong direction. - -"If you only work it right, you'll be able to put the soldiers on the -wrong track and get yourselves clear. - -"Why, it's a cinch." - -"If it's so mighty easy, why don't you go with the boys and let me -stay?" demanded Frank. - -"Because they have my description too close," returned his brother. -"It's dollars to a piece of hard tack they'd recognize me the minute -they got their eyes on me. - -"And then it would be all up with little Willie." - -Jesse's argument was too cogent to admit of further dispute and, much -against their will, the quartette of wounded outlaws accepted the -decree of separation. - -But it was not ordained that the plan should be put into effect. - -The last of the wounds inflicted upon the bandits by the bullets of the -redskins was being dressed when Comanche Tony came up to Jesse. - -The old Indian fighter who, alone of all, had not been injured for the -reason that he had been tied to the stake and was therefore prevented -from taking any part in the furious encounter, had taken advantage of -the pre-occupation of his pals to make a little reconnaisance on his -own account. - -Familiar with the habits of the redmen, he believed from the fact that -he had seen no ponies in the canyon that the bucks were not far from -some of the villages of their tribe. - -Convinced of this, the bandit reasoned that the braves would return for -re-enforcements with which to avenge the slaughter, and it was to learn -if there were any campfires to be seen below, over the farther side of -the top of the cliff, that he had left his companions. - -To the east, as he peered through the bushes that lined the edge of the -cliff, he caught sight of a flickering light that came and went like -the spasmodic radiance of a fire-fly. - -For a few minutes he had stood staring at the curious sight, in -bewilderment. - -Of a sudden, its meaning came to him. - -When it did, he turned on his heel and made his way to his chief, -eager to tell him of his discovery. - -"What is it, Tony?" asked the world-famous desperado, as he caught -sight of the excited countenance of his chum. "You look like a woman -who's just heard a choice bit of scandal! - -"What did you discover? I saw you sneaking into the brush." - -The fact that his scouting expedition had been known to his master -caused the old Indian fighter's face to fall, for he had thought that -his going had been unnoticed. - -"Poke fun at me if you want to," he retorted. "You may not git the -chance to laugh again for some time." - -The seriousness of their pal's tone hushed the hilarity on the outlaws' -lips. - -Yet before he had the opportunity to explain his words, Wild Bill cried: - -"Look! Look! To the north! Quick!" - -Believing their fellow had caught sight of the redskins coming back, -the desperadoes wheeled like a flash, whipping out their shooting irons -at the same time. - -But it was not Indians they saw. - -Hastily raising their eyes, when they found that it was no skulking -figures that had called forth Wild Bill's excited exclamation, they -were just in time to see a shower of seeming stars dropping through the -air. - -"It's a falling meteor!" ejaculated Bob Moore. - -Believing it was, indeed, some of those phenomena so common on the -plains, the outlaws gazed at the spectacular sight. - -But the bandit-chieftain did not share their opinion. - -"Dropping meteor nothing," he exclaimed. "Have you fellows all gone -nutty that you can't recognize a falling rocket? - -"You've seen enough of them, I should think." - -"That's just what I was goin' to say," declared the bandit who had been -the one to call the attention of his fellows. "When I first saw it, -them white stars was a green ball." - -"Then it's a signal," ejaculated Bud. - -"My eye! but you're the wise guys," grunted Jesse. - -"Of course it's a signal. You didn't think it was old Great Bear giving -a fireworks display in our honour, did you? - -"It's a signal, all right, all right, and it's from those cavalry -fellows, too. - -"Injuns don't go round carrying a stock of rockets in their belts. - -"Now the thing to do is to find out what point of the compass they're -signalling to." - -With alacrity, the outlaws faced about, some gazing in one direction -and some in another. - -Not long were they obliged to wait to learn the answer to their -leader's question, however. - -Scarcely had the shower of sparks vanished than one of them sang out: -"Here she comes, from the East, boys!" - -But the words had no more than left his lips than another shouted: - -"They're answering from the south, too!" - -Rapidly Jesse and his men whirled, viewing first the rocket to the east -and then to the south. - -"Jumpin' snakes! They've got us surrounded!" gasped Texas Jack. - -"You're wrong, pard," interposed Bob. "They haven't quite surrounded us -yet. There's been no rocket from the West." - -"And that's the side of the canyon where our horses are. Were sure in -luck. I reckon it's a good thing we had this brush with the redskins. -It's showed us where the sojers are," chimed in Homely Harry, not -wishing to let the others get ahead of him. - -"After them rockets, we kin ride dead West an' git away. If it hadn't -been for the Injuns we might a rid right into some of the sojers." - -"Come on! We'll go down and get the ponies while we have the chance," -cried Frank, moving toward the edge of the cliff. - -Ere he had taken more than a few strides in the carrying out of his -purpose, Jesse's voice rang out: - -"Hold on; don't be in such a hurry! - -"_If any of you show yourself on the edge of the cliff, I'll drop you -in your tracks!_" - -In amazement those of the outlaws who had started after Frank, stopped -and turned toward their leader, their surprise evident in their faces. - -"What's the reason we can't get the horses?" snapped the elder of the -James boys. "Speak lively! You're wasting valuable time!" - -"It's better to waste time than our lives, isn't it?" returned his -brother, with a deliberation that was exasperating to the highly -wrought bandits. - -"You ought to know better, Frank. - -"I reckon Texas hit it right when he said we were surrounded!" - -"Then why didn't the men in the West send up a rocket?" demanded the -elder of the James boys. - -"_Because they're on our trail!_" - -This statement produced a profound sensation among the bandits and -quickly they plied Jesse with questions as to his reasons for making -it, that is, all but Frank, who, with a sneer started toward the edge -of the cliff to find out for himself, though it was eloquent testimony -for his secret regard for his brother's intuition that he dropped to -his belly and approached the precipice with all the caution of which he -was master. - -Smiling as he saw this indication of alarm, Jesse addressed the others: - -"It's an old trick among troopers, one that will be well for you to -remember in the future, when they are on a search, for the squad that's -hit the trail not to answer the rocket signals of the others. - -"If the men they're hunting happen to see the rockets in every -direction but one, they'll naturally make the move Homely -suggested--ride away in the direction from which there was no -signal--and fall right into the trap! - -"I had a close call once--before I got wise. That's how I happen to -know. - -"How near the troopers on the west are to us, of course I can't tell. - -"But they're not very far off. They've hit our trail in the canyon -and--" - -"They're right down at the foot of the cliff examining the dead -campfires the Injuns left," interrupted Frank. - -"You doped it right, Jess, I'll have to admit." - -So engrossed had the others been in listening to the bandit-chieftain -that they had not seen Frank as he returned from his reconnaisance, -and the effect of his words, melodramatic as was the manner in which -they fitted in, struck consternation to their hearts. - -Enjoying the sensation he had caused, the elder of the James Boys -continued: - -"They've corralled our ponies, I could see one of the sojers leading -'em. - -"The moon against the walls of the cliff makes it pretty near as light -as day down at the bottom." - -"We _are_ in a mess," grunted Bob. "Injuns on one side of us and sojers -on all the others. Looks as though this top of the cliff was going to -be our burying ground." - -"Between the two, the way things is, I reckon I'd ruther tackle the -Injuns, eh, Jess?" interposed Comanche Tony, hurriedly, ere his chief -could say another thing. - -"When I was peerin' through the bush on tother side of this table of -rocks, I see'd a campfire with a lot of Injuns cuttin' up round it. - -"At fust, I couldn't git on to wot it meant, then I tumbled that it's a -war dance. - -"I'll bet my scalp, them bucks wot got away from us ull hipper over to -the pow-wow to bring 'em back here, thinkin' we'll either be on top, as -we be, or down in the canyon, as we was." - -"But they'd see the rockets," protested Bud. - -"Wot of it? They ain't got no Jess James with 'em to put 'em next to -the signal trick an' they'll think there ain't no one to the West." - -"Findin' we ain't on top, they'll start down into the canyon. - -"Then, if we has _any_ luck at all, the sojers ull jump 'em and -they'll have a fine old set-to while we're doin' the sneak act." - -"Good boy, Tony. You've got the right dope. Come on, boys! It's time -for us to be lighting out," cried the world-famous desperado. - -"Can you walk, Sam, or do you want us to make a sling for you?" - -"I cal'late I can walk, for awhile anyhow." - -"All right. If we stay here too long the soldiers may find the trail -and climb up here. - -"They heard the shooting, of course, and I reckon they'll be curious to -find out what it was about. - -"If they only do, and Tony has it right about the bucks going for -re-enforcements, when they see the redskins coming from the brush, -they'll start shooting. So we'll win out, which ever way it happens." - -Quickly and silently the outlaws entered the fringe of bushes along the -top at the opposite side of the cliff, descending by the trail which -Wild Bill and Texas Jack had found while the bandit-chieftain had been -talking. - -With every sense alert, the outlaws proceeded, increasing their caution -as they approached nearer and nearer to the bottom. - -To their delight, they beheld a heavy patch of fir trees at the foot. - -But just as they were within a rod of it, they were startled to hear a -voice cry, faintly: - -"Jess Jame! Jess Jame!" - -In consternation, the desperadoes looked at one another. - -Whether the calling of the name was a lure of the Indians, who, -returning, had seen the men filing down the cliff and planned another -ambush or what it betoken they could not tell. - -"We're in for it now, for fair," growled Frank. - -And as though to give emphasis to his words, a shout of triumph sounded -from above them, and looking up, they beheld the forms of a score of -cavalrymen silhouetted against the sky. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE STRANGE BATTLE IN THE WITCH'S CAVE. - - -"Quick! Into the woods, boys!" snapped the world-famous desperado. - -Instantly the bandits sprang to obey. - -Fully ten feet away were the evergreens. - -Desperately the men sought to gain their cover. - -But less than half the distance had they traversed when from above -there rang out in stentorian command: - -"Fire!" - -R-r-rip! crashed the sharp, staccato volley of carbines. - -The aim of the cavalrymen was deadly. - -With shrieks of pain, three of the outlaws threw up their hands and -pitched forward. - -Convulsively their bodies twitched for a few moments and then lay -still, while their life blood oozed from wounds in their backs, -saturating their clothes and making soggy the ground on which they lay. - -With a terrible oath, the world-famous desperado hissed: - -"Don't try to return the fire. Our pistols won't carry up the cliff. -Into the woods! Leave the bodies!" - -As they saw the desperadoes continue their flight without stopping to -take their dead pals with them, a mighty cheer broke from the soldiers. - -And, while it echoed, again the deep-lunged voice bellowed: - -"Fire!" - -Once more the rattle of the musketry rang out. - -But this time no men fell. - -The outlaws had gained the protection of the evergreens. - -"Who's here?" demanded Jesse, a strange tremor in his voice. "Answer to -your names as I call them." - -So sudden had been their dash from the unprotected trail of the cliff -to the woods that none of the outlaws knew who of their number had -fallen victims to the terrible rain of lead that had been literally -poured down on them from the edge of the precipice above. - -And it was with bated breath that they heard their leader say: - -"Comanche Tony!" - -"O.K." - -"Wild Bill?" - -"Here." - -"Texas Jack?" - -"Here." - -"Sam Dirks?" - -Heavily the others drew in their breath as no one answered. - -"Sam Dirks?" repeated Jesse, in hushed tone. "Poor Sam." - -"Frank?" - -"Here." - -"Homely Harry?" - -"O.K." - -"Bud Noble?" - -Again there was no answer. - -"Bob Moore?" - -Silence greeted this name also. - -A moment later the bandits stood. - -The calling of the roll in the sombre setting of the overhanging -branches of the evergreen trees, through which, here and there, the -moonlight filtered, amid the crash of the carbines and the whistle of -the bullets, as they searched out the possible hiding place of the -little band of fugitives, was dramatic in the extreme. - -And the outlaws, rough and desperate men as they were, were cowed -as they realized that the same death they had visited upon so many -helpless mortals, had thinned their own ranks. - -And the shock was all the greater for the reason that they had -practised their nefarious pastime with such seeming immunity that they -had come to look upon themselves as bearing charmed lives. - -Not long, however, were they left to their thoughts. - -Of a sudden, above the cheering of the troopers, above the rattle -of the musketry, above the shrilling of the bullets rang the wild, -blood-curdling war whoops of infuriated redskins. - -"Quick, on your bellies under the trees!" whispered Jesse. "We'll let -the devils charge the soldiers and may they battle till every one, -Injun and trooper, falls dead!" - -But just as the bandits were obeying their leader, there sounded from -close beside them a plaintive: - -"Jess Jame! Jess Jame! Don' lie down. Injun see um dead paleface, hunt -um wood. Injun no care sojer, want Jess Jame. - -"Come Dew Drop. Dew Drop show um place hide." - -As she uttered the last words, the amazed desperadoes saw a slender -creature, clad in what seemed an old wrapper, part the branches of the -tree near which they stood. - -An instant the world-famous desperado hesitated. - -"If the bucks see the corpses and don't find us in the woods won't they -search the place you're going to take us?" he asked, anxiously. - -"No. Dew Drop take um cave Kaw-Kaw, Injun witch. Injun fraid go in -Kaw-Kaw cave." - -"Well, we won't be any worse off than we will here, that's sure. But -why you want to help us I don't see. However, we'll take the chance. -Come on, boys." - -And, following the Indian maiden, the outlaws wound in and out among -the evergreens till they reached a black hole, like a cavernous maw, in -the cliff from which was exhaled a curiously intoxicating aroma. - -"Paleface no make noise. Kaw-Kaw deaf, no hear. Lie down, no see. Dew -Drop lie nex' Jess Jame so can talk." - -Wondering what adventure was in store for them, the bandits quickly did -as the Indian maiden told them, their chief choosing a place near the -mouth of the cave with his chum at his side. - -Scarcely had the world-famous desperado squatted down, with Dew Drop -on his left and Comanche Tony on his right, than howls and yells of -exultation reached them, telling them that the savages had discovered -the three dead bodies at the foot of the cliff. - -"By my scalp! we didn't git hyar any too soon, I reckon, jedgin' by -them whoops," whispered the old Indian fighter. - -But his master paid him no heed. - -The action of the red-hued maiden in coming to him when he was in such -sore need puzzled him, and he was racking his brain to remember whether -or not he had ever seen her before. - -Unable to place her, his mind once more reverted to the thought that -her opportune appearance might have been but a part of a plot conceived -by Great Bear to lure him and his men to the cave of the witch that -they might be slaughtered without chance of escape. - -If such were, in truth, the case, he and his companions were wasting -precious moments. - -Determined to end his suspense, Jesse clutched the maiden in a -vice-like grip with his left hand, raising his bowie knife in his -right, ready to plunge it into her heart, as he whispered in a tense, -hoarse voice: - -"Tell me why you brought me here! Was it at Great Bear's order? Tell -the truth, as you hope to carry your scalp to the Happy Hunting Ground!" - -Startled by the suddenness of the move and frightened by the stern face -peering into hers, her eyes rivetted on the keen edged blade, Dew Drop -blinked. - -But a rough shake recalled her to the necessity of replying. - -"No, no!" she gasped. "Great Bear no know Dew Drop left tepee. He kill -um if knew." - -"Then what made you?" - -"Dew Drop want save um Jess Jame." - -"Why?" - -"Jess Jame save um Dew Drop." - -"_I_ save _you_?" repeated the bandit-chieftain, surprised in his turn. -"When? What do you mean?" - -"Kaw-Kaw say Great Spirit want Dew Drop be squaw um son Dog Face. Dew -Drop no want. No like Dog Face. Dog Face bad Injun. Kaw-Kaw say must. -Have heap pow-wow. - -"Little Wolf come tepee say um hunting um see paleface burned -Silverstock cabin, Jess Jame. - -"Great Bear ask where. - -"Little Wolf say canyon. - -"Dog Face say get um Jess Jame scalp give squaw. - -"Great Bear take Dog Face, Little Wolf twenty Injun leave um pow-wow go -git Jess Jame. - -"Dew Drop no know what happen." - -"Great Bear five Injun come run tepee say Jess Jame on cliff, kill um -Injun, kill um Dog Face. - -"Kaw-Kaw say must scalp um Jess Jame or cuss um Great Bear. - -"Great Bear make heap talk. Call um brave go back get Jess Jame. - -"Dew Drop no wait hear more. - -"Jess Jame save Dew Drop from Dog Face. Dew Drop save Jess Jame from -Great Bear. - -"Dew Drop git cliff see um paleface come down. Dew Drop call. Sojer -shoot. - -"Dew Drop 'fraid Jess Jame get um lead. When see no dead, hear um Great -Bear. - -"Dew Drop think where hide. - -"Dew Drop think um cave Kaw-Kaw. - -"Jess Jame in Kaw-Kaw cave." - -Like a torrent the Indian maiden poured forth her story and as the -world-famous desperado learned the strange reason for her friendship, -he exclaimed: - -"Well, I'll be jiggered! So my men killed Dog Face, eh? I guess we can -trust you, if that's the way things are. - -"I'm sure mighty glad we put an end to your prospective husband." - -"But she said Kaw-Kaw was in the cave when we got here, and just now -she tells us she's at the pow-wow," breathed Comanche Tony, who had -heard the remarkable tale. - -"How about that?" demanded Jess sharply, his suspicions rekindled by -the seeming discrepancy in Dew Drop's statement. - -"Kaw-Kaw in um cave," returned the maiden with positiveness. "When um -hear Great Bear say go back git um Jess Jame, Kaw-Kaw say go um cave -get um cuss ready case Great Bear no get um Jess Jame." - -"So that smell's the old hag's curses, a brewin', eh?" chuckled Tony. -"I'm glad they're for Great Bear and his bucks and not me, if they're -that strong." - -But further speech was stopped by the sudden appearance of three tall -forms, looming in the entrance of the cave. - -Crouching low, the bandit-chieftain watched them, stealthily drawing -his shooting-irons. - -Yet before he could extract them from his holsters, he felt Dew Drop's -hand on his arm, restrainingly. - -Turning toward her, wondering what she meant, he saw her shake her -head vigorously, at the same time pressing upon his arm. - -"Evidently doesn't want me to shoot," reasoned Jesse. "I reckon she -knows more about what's best in this witch-den than I do." - -And he silently dropped his guns back into their holsters. - -The old Indian fighter had been a spectator of the pantomime and as he -saw his chief relinquish his weapons, he did likewise. - -All this had taken but a few seconds, and even while it was -transpiring, one of the bucks was jabbering excitedly. - -What he was saying, the bandits did not know, for the redmen spoke in -their own language. - -Yet from the jumble of guttural sounds, they occasionally distinguished -the words "Jess Jame" and "Kaw-Kaw." - -But if they could not understand what was said they could see what was -happening. - -The jabberings of the excited bucks had been carried on in loud tones. - -Scarcely had they begun than the outlaws beheld a bent and bowed figure -hobble into the light at the mouth of the cave, leaning on a crooked -staff. - -At her approach, the warriors drew back. - -In shrill tones the figure, whom they realized must be the witch, -Kaw-Kaw, harangued them, waving her staff as her excitement got the -better of her. - -Soon she paused and the bucks replied. - -Again the piping voice answered. - -And, as she heard the words, Jesse could feel Dew Drop tremble, so -close was she to him. - -Deciding because of this that whatever the gibberish meant it spelled -danger for himself and his men, the world-famous desperado again -whipped his hands to his pistol holsters. - -And this time there was no objection from the Indian maiden by his side. - -Yet before he could draw them, Kaw-Kaw hobbled from the cave, joining -the three braves and vanished from sight with them. - -As they disappeared, Dew Drop breathed a sigh of intense relief. - -Ere Jesse could utter the question that was on his lips, the -red-skinned maiden whispered: - -"Quick! Quick! Get um paleface. Dew Drop take um back Kaw-Kaw cave -while um 'way." - -Springing to her feet, the maid seized the hand of the bandit-chieftain -and dragged him back into the pall of blackness that enveloped the -witch's den. - -Seeing their leader rise, his pals had followed suit, even before he -commanded in a low voice: - -"Get up, boys. Take hold of one another. Follow me quickly!" - -Had Kaw-Kaw returned to her den just then, she would have been filled -with amazement at the file of men, who threaded their way through -the maze of pots, tripods and implements dear to the heart of the -sorceress, led by the lithe, slim maiden. - -But her amazement would have turned to alarm had she seen them enter -a second cave, which led from the first, the existence of which she -thought she herself alone knew. - -So low was the opening into the inner den that the bandits were forced -to drop to their hands and knees. - -"This is a fool's stunt, getting in farther instead of--" began Frank. - -But his words were frozen in his mouth by a terrible, hair-raising -growl that sounded from the recesses of the cave. - -"No 'fraid, no 'fraid!" gasped Dew Drop hurriedly. "Um Wa-Wa, Kaw-Kaw -bear. Um no hurt." - -"Sure not, his growl doesn't sound fierce, I don't think!" ejaculated -Wild Bill. - -But the Indian maiden, laughing softly, quickly allayed their fears by -adding: - -"Wa-Wa no got claw, no got teeth.'" - -"Well, the growl's the real thing, all right, all right," exclaimed -Jesse. "The old hag hasn't removed his hug, too, has she?" - -"No-o," replied the maiden, doubtfully. "But Dew Drop know Wa-Wa. Um -play, Dew Drop an' Wa-Wa. - -"Dew Drop come cave any day. Kaw-Kaw deaf no hear. - -"Wa-Wa know Dew Drop. No hurt." - -"That may be all right for you," snarled Frank, "but Wa-Wa may not take -so kindly to our coming." - -The series of growls, growing in intensity and volume with each -successive outburst, that came from the monster, lent a force to the -outlaw's words that even the Indian maiden could not disregard. - -"Wa-Wa!" she called, soothingly, adding something in her native tongue. - -But the pet of the witch, Kaw-Kaw, as though he recognized among the -strangers, whose presence he scented, the man who had grievously -wronged his mistress by killing her son, refused to be pacified. - -Each moment, his growls announced that he was getting nearer and nearer -to the bandits. - -Of a sudden, two little balls of seeming phosphorous glowered at them, -as the brute came from behind a boulder. - -"You can stand there like dummies, if you want to," snapped the elder -of the James boys. "_I'm going to shoot him!_" - -"No! No! No shoot!" protested Dew Drop, in alarm. - -"Why not?" - -"Kaw-Kaw smell powder when um came back. Know some one in um cave. Make -heap cuss. Fin' um paleface. Call um Injun. Devil to pay!" - -"I reckon the girl's right, Frank," declared his brother, smiling at -the words of his saviour. "It wouldn't take long for the old hag to -notice the odour of the saltpetre and when she called the bucks it -would be all over but the shouting. - -"And I've no intention of adorning an Indian triumph." - -"All right," grudgingly acquiesced the elder of the James boys. "I -won't shoot, but something's got to be done. - -"I don't propose to stay in here with a bear walking round loose, if it -hasn't any teeth or claws." - -This announcement expressed the feelings of the rest of the bandits, -yet what to do, they did not know. - -And as they stood, in helpless perplexity, the brute itself solved -their dilemma. - -As its wicked little eyes beheld the figures of the intruders in -its retreat, the monster reared on its hind legs, and with a roar, -deafening because of the narrow confines of the cave, charged at them, -laying about it viciously with its herculean paws. - -In panic, the outlaws fled before it. - -But the rock side of the den checked them. - -Came a mighty swish and Comanche Tony fell, dropped by the clawless -paws of the monster. - -And, in a trice, the bear stood over its unconscious victim, snarling -ominously. - -The peril of their pal broke the spell of terror in which the outlaws -stood. - -"Stab the brute! Tackle him, boys!" snapped Jesse, leaping toward the -monster as he spoke. - -Instantly his comrades obeyed. - -Drawing their keen-edged bowie-knives, they buried them to the hilts in -any part of the bear's body they could reach. - -Stung by the sharp pains, the monster reared on its hind legs again, -lashing about viciously with its paws, emitting savage growls, awful in -their fury. - -But its raising up was the beast's doom. - -Crouching low, dodging the terrible lunges as a prize-fighter dodges -the blows of his adversary in the ring, the world-famous desperado -watched his chance. - -Suddenly he saw the monster's breast unprotected. - -With a lightning movement, the bandit-chieftain leaped forward. - -In his right hand he clasped his bowie-knife. - -His arm, bent close to his body, shot out. - -And the force of his spring drove the keen-egded blade to the hilt, -straight through the bear's heart. - -But so great was the power of resistance of the monster that, despite -the steel in its most vital organ, it seized Jesse in a mighty -embrace, holding him helpless as it staggered. - -"T-trip it!" gasped the leader of the outlaws frantically, "I--I've -st-tabbed it." - -Again his men sprang forward. - -Yet before they could carry out their master's instructions, the bear -fell, its embrace unbroken. - -Not long did it take the bandits to extricate their chief from his -uncomfortable position. - -But as they raised him to his feet, they heard the sound of hoarse, -excited voices in the outer cave. - -"The bucks have come back!" hissed Texas Jack. - -"No, no Injun! Um paleface sojers!" gasped Dew Drop in consternation. -"No Injun come Kaw-Kaw cave." - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -A DESPERATE CHARGE. - - -In dismay, the bandits gazed at one another, as they heard the -portentous words of the Indian maiden. - -And in a moment more their own ears confirmed their truth. - -No mistaking the identity of the men in the outer cave was there, as a -sharp command, in plain English, rang out: - -"Search every nook and cranny in the den, men. It's just the place for -Jesse James and his pack of cutthroats to hide." - -"That pet name'll cost the life of many a soldier, young fellow, if I -ever get out of here!" hissed Comanche Tony in a low, harsh voice. - -But his pals were too taken up with the peril of their position to make -any comment on the blood-thirsty announcement. - -No need was there to tell them it was one thing to have the Indians -search the cave and quite another to have the cavalrymen. - -The superstitious reverence and fear of the bent and bowed sorceress -would not sway the troopers or cause them to consider the intrusion of -the abode of the witch a sacrilege. - -Rather would their contempt for the customs and beliefs of the redmen -incite them to unusual effort. - -Should they chance to espy the hole leading into the second cave, every -one of the six men knew that they would lose no time in exploring it. - -And it was to what they should do, in such event, that each man devoted -his thoughts. - -"Can't we block up the hole?" hazarded Texas Jack, grasping at the most -obvious expedient. - -"No," returned Dew Drop. "Kaw-Kaw see, Kaw-Kaw get wise. Hole always -open for Wa-Wa. - -"Dew Drop no see why Kaw-Kaw let sojers come um cave." - -"Probably they didn't ask her permission," returned the -bandit-chieftain. - -But the explanation did not satisfy the Indian maiden. - -From her earliest memory, she had been taught reverence for the -aged sorceress and she knew the fear her fellow-tribesmen held of -the terrible curse that would be visited upon any Indian who dared -penetrate the recesses of the cave. - -Indeed, not unless she had been invited to enter, as an honour that -would influence her to accept Dog Face as her brave, would she ever -have had the temerity to enter and as she thought of being discovered -in the "holy of holies" with the men she was trying to save, she -trembled like a leaf, silently rocking too and fro as she wrung her -hands in an agony of despair. - -Plainly the outlaws heard the troopers draw nearer and nearer as they -proceeded with their fruitless hunt. - -"I reckon there's nothing for it but to stab the first trooper who -pokes his head through the opening," whispered the world-famous -desperado. - -"I'll take that job for mine. The rest of you line up about me. As soon -as I've knifed the first, some of you pull him out of the way and the -others be ready for the next. - -"If we can kill 'em without an outcry, we may be able to get em all." - -The fiendish plan of slaying one man after another as fast as they -appeared showed clearly how desperate Jesse believed their position to -be. - -It proved that in order to save his own life he had no hesitancy in -killing any number of men. - -And, as they heard the shocking proposition, even his pals, steeped -in the gore of innocent men as their hands were, recoiled at the task -imposed on them. - -Yet they dared not disobey and silently took their places, kneeling, at -the entrance to the cave, opposite their inhuman chief who waited, with -bowie-knife upraised to plunge it into the heart of the first soldier -that appeared. - -But before the awful scheme could be put to the test, the old witch -herself took a hand in the proceedings. - -As the bandits kneeled, the beats of their hearts alone breaking the -silence of the den in which they were, their ears strained for the -first sound that should announce the discovery of the hole, they -suddenly heard a shrill snarl in good English: - -"Dogs of palefaces! What are you doing in my cave? How dare you profane -the temple of a Navajo medicine? Curses on your palefaced heads! May -you perish on the plains, riddled with wounds, mad for water! May the -coyotes feed on your carcasses! May no grave hold your bones and may -they be scattered to the winds! Curse you! Curse you! Curse you!" - -So furious, so terrible was the wrath of the aged sorceress that the -troopers stopped in their search, staring at the wizened, bent figure, -abashed. - -Not slow was the shrewd old hag to note the impression her bitter -invective had made upon the cavalrymen and, without delay, she followed -it up. - -"If the dogs of palefaces have wives, may they rot with child; if they -have sweethearts, may they play with them and jilt them; if they have -children, may they grow up deformed and idiotic! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" - -And she croaked in diabolical glee. - -Of a sudden her manner changed. - -"What do the palefaces want, more curses? Haven't they had enough?" -she shrieked, angered that, though the soldiers trembled beneath her -imprecations, they made no move to leave the cave. - -"May--" - -But before another word could leave her lips, the lieutenant commanding -the troopers, having recovered from the first shock of surprise, -bellowed: - -"Seize her! Bind her! Gag the old vixen!" - -Eagerly the cavalrymen sprang forward, their faces bespeaking with what -relish they would obey the commands. - -Yet before they could lay hands on her, Kaw-Kaw began to back away, -swinging her crooked staff in front of her to hold off the troopers, -while she screamed in the language of her tribe. - -"Kaw-Kaw call um Great Bear an' um braves," gasped Dew Drop, excitedly, -close to Jesse's ear. "Paleface dogs must fight for coming Kaw-Kaw -cave." - -So unexpected and so startling had been the intervention of the old -witch that Jesse forgot his own peril in his interest to learn the -effect of the awful curses on the soldiers. - -But the words of the Indian maiden recalled him to himself. - -Whoops and yells resounded in the outer cave in answer to Kaw-Kaw's -appeal to her tribesmen. - -Suddenly a flare of light shone through the hole leading into the -cavern in which the outlaws were. - -"The bucks have thrown in lighted faggots," grunted Comanche Tony. -"There'll be suthin' doin', now." - -Ere he had more than spoken, the barks of pistols rang out, like the -explosion of gigantic fire-crackers. - -The deeper toned army revolvers answered. - -In a trice the din was deafening. - -"Here's our chance!" declared the world-famous desperado. "We'll crawl -into the other cave and attack the troopers from the rear. - -"Judging by their guns, there are only a dozen or so. - -"Our charge'll rattle 'em so we can rush through 'em and get outside. - -"The Indians won't stop us. - -"When we get clear, we'll strike for the place the bucks are grazing -their ponies, Dew Drop'll tell us where it is." - -"Jus' other side trees, straight from cave," responded the red-skinned -maiden. - -"Good. All ready, boys! I'll go first. Don't begin shooting till we're -all in the other cave. - -"Dew Drop, you stay here." - -Desperate was the scheme. - -If the braves or troopers recognized Jesse, they might forget their -fight in the desire to capture their common enemy. - -And then the outlaws' shrift would be short. - -But no word of protest did the others offer. - -In deciding upon the sortie, the bandit-chieftain had counted on the -cavalrymen mistaking him and his pals for Indians while he hoped the -savages would think them troopers. - -Furiously was the battle raging as Jesse finished the announcement of -his plans. - -From the yells and shouts, he decided that the soldiers were driving -back the redskins. - -And, with hope high, he began to crawl through the hole onto the field -of strife. - -Rapidly his five pals followed. - -As they gained the larger cave, they saw that the troopers had, indeed, -forced the braves back. - -"Don't shoot till we get on top of 'em," breathed Jesse. "I'll give the -word. Ready! Charge!" - -Like deers the outlaws sped toward the cavalrymen, their presence -unsuspected. - -But as they got within twenty feet of them, a voice suddenly shrilled: - -"There he is! There's Jesse James!" - -In their reckoning, the desperadoes had forgotten the old witch whose -son they had killed. - -The cause of the fight between soldiers and Indians, Kaw-Kaw, had -ducked into a niche out of range of the bullets, from which she watched -the conflict. - -And as the bandits rushed past, she recognized them. - -Yet before her warning had rung out, the bandit-chieftain thundered: - -"Fire! Rake 'em, boys! Drop 'em!" - -But while his men poured their murderous fire into the troopers, Jesse -turned and sent a shot crashing into the brain of the old hag and she -toppled from her hiding place, a blood-curdling shriek coming from her -lips as she fell. - -Amazed at the warning which was followed on the instant by the fusilade -from behind, the cavalrymen whirled to face their foes from the new -quarter. - -But the rain of lead from the outlaws' guns was terrible. - -One after another, the troopers fell, mowed down like grass before the -scythe. - -"We've cleaned 'em out! Come on! Charge the Injuns! We've got to shoot -our way through!" bellowed the world-famous desperado. - -Howling, yelling, leaping like Dervishes, the six desperadoes dashed -from the mouth of the cave. - -An instant the braves stood and faced them. - -But the fire from the outlaws' pistols was too galling and they gave -way. - -Intoxicated by the smell of powder, wild with the sight of carnage on -all sides of him, Jesse led his men through the evergreens, coming upon -the Indians' ponies where Dew Drop had said they were. - -Quickly the desperadoes cut out six, leaped on their backs and dashed -southward. - -Behind them, having recovered their nerve, swarmed every buck who could -find a mount, rending the air with fiendish whoops of fury and chagrin. - -"We can get away from them, all right," declared the world-famous -desperado. "What worries me is where the troopers are who signalled -from the south." - -And scarcely had the words left his lips before he caught sight of a -body of horsemen rising from a ravine less than a quarter of a mile in -front of him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE RACE FOR LIFE. - - -In the light from the moon, which bathed the brush-grown plain and -towering cliff in a flood of silver sheen, the figures of the troopers -stood out clearly. - -By common consent, without waiting for the command, the men with the -world-famous desperado checked their ponies and watched the cavalrymen -rise from the ravine. - -Whether or not, the soldiers had caught sight of them they did not -know. But shouts of delirious glee from behind told them that the -pursuing Indians had discovered the troopers. - -Of a verity, the little band of desperadoes were between two fires. - -Apparently the liberty they had achieved by such ruthless slaughter -of soldiers and redmen in the cave of the old witch was to count for -naught. - -And as this thought came to them, the companions of the notorious -outlaw groaned inwardly. - -Not so the notorious Jesse, however. - -Save for the deepening of the lines about his mouth and the compression -of his lips, he sat erect and rigid. - -But his mind was working as it never had worked before. - -Through many a desperate situation had he passed unscathed. Yet none -of the ruses which had stood him in such good stead on those occasions -could he use in his present predicament. - -The brilliancy of the moonlight, the presence of foes in front and -back, the treeless waste all about him prevented. - -Should he make any move, it would be clearly discernable to troopers -and Indians alike. - -And, aware of his seeming helplessness, the bucks were already yelling -in anticipation of his capture. - -Their attention attracted by the howls of the savages, the cavalrymen -quickly discovered the group of horsemen in the bracken. - -Hoarse commands, the sounds of which alone reached the bandits, were -spoken and, in a twinkling, those of the troopers who had mounted the -level from the ravine, set their horses toward them. - -Turning his head, the world-famous desperado looked toward the Indians. - -All of half a mile away were they, though each minute lessened the -distance. - -"Its a chance, but we've got to take it," snapped Jesse, thinking -aloud. "Quick, boys! Whirl your ponies. We'll ride back a way then make -a dash for the ravine! Come on!" - -Even as the words fell from their leader's lips, his men had turned -their mounts and, as he gave the word, buried the rowels of their spurs -in the flanks of the fleet footed Indian ponies. - -Startled by the unwonted pain, the animals leaped away like stones from -catapults. - -The race for life was on. - -Scarcely a minute had it been from the time the outlaws had caught -sight of the cavalrymen till they were in full flight. Yet to them each -second their chief had sat inactive had seemed an hour. - -In amazement, the savages beheld the men they had been pursuing rush -toward them. - -"Kaw-Kaw's bewitched them! They've lost their minds! Her curses live -to destroy the men who killed her!" shouted Great Bear in his native -tongue, transported with joy. "At them! At them! Jesse James is the -Navajos' prey. The paleface dogs must not get him first!" - -Goaded to frenzy by the words of their chief, the bucks fell to lashing -their ponies, riding like fiends in their effort to prevent the -troopers from snatching their quarry from their very grasp. - -But the cavalrymen viewed the course of the desperately pressed little -band with different feelings. - -"Jesse's in the bunch, all right. That move shows it," growled one of -them, the stars and chevrons on whose uniform proclaimed him a captain. -"No one but that murdering daredevil would have chosen to ride back -toward that pack of howling savages rather than toward us. - -"Curse the luck! Why couldn't we have struck the ravine half a mile -farther east? Then we'd been right on top of him and could have shot -him down." - -"But the bucks 'll drop him," asserted a lieutenant who rode at his -side. "So long as he's shot, I don't see what difference it makes -whether we get him or they." - -"_But they won't get him!_" bellowed the captain, his disappointment at -losing his chance to capture the most famous desperado the world has -ever known and anger at the ill-disguised rebuke of his subordinate -getting the better of him. - -"Won't get him?" repeated the lieutenant, as though he seemed to doubt -his ears. - -"_Yes, won't get him!_" returned the man in command of the troops. -"You've got a lot to learn, young man, about hunting bad-men. - -"But if you never learn any thing else, remember this--Indians, when -they're howling and whooping and all excited, are the worst shots in -the world. - -"Jesse James knows it. And he'd rather take the chance of riding by the -whole pack of 'em than to give the few of us a shot at him." - -Such, indeed, was the reason that the world-famous desperado had chosen -the course he did. Yet his decision had been strengthened by the -further knowledge that the redmen feared him and his marvelous prowess -with his shooting-irons. - -All the while, the little group of outlaws and the two bodies of men -bent on their death or capture, were drawing closer together. - -Never was there stranger chase. - -In full view of one another, each party was riding like mad to gain its -own end. - -Yet never a shot was fired. - -The distance that separated them was too great. - -Nearer and nearer drew the bandits and the Indians and farther and -farther were the cavalrymen getting from the ravine. - -Less than two hundred yards separated the former. - -With eyes now in front, now turned behind, Jesse watched the approach -of his enemies. - -"Damme! I believe they're mad! Why don't they open fire?" snarled the -captain. - -To which of the two groups the words referred, the lieutenant did not -know and his recent, caustic reprimand prevented him from asking. - -His mind, however, was instantly diverted by his superior. - -"Ha! What's that mean?" cried the latter, then added instantly "Jesse's -turning. I see. He's making for the ravine. I've been fooled!" - -Almost choking with rage at the thought that he had allowed himself to -be out-generaled by the notorious cutthroat, the captain rose in his -stirrups, jerked his sabre from its scabbard and, pointing toward the -ravine, turned to his troopers, bellowing: - -"Fours oblique _and ride like Hell_!" - -Chuckling inwardly at the choler of their commander, the cavalrymen -executed the orders. - -As Jesse and his pals heard the frantic command, they yelled in -defiance, waving mocking goodbyes at the discomfited troopers as, -leaning forward along the necks of their ponies, they raced past the -head of the column of cavalrymen. - -Better than he had dared hope had the bandit-chieftain's ruse worked. - -But the end of the race for life was not yet. - -Though the world-famous desperado had held his course straight toward -the whooping Indians, his mind and eyes had been almost entirely upon -the troopers. - -When he had caught sight of the first troopers rising from the ravine -and realized the desperateness of the position of himself and his -companions, with that instinct which had made him so valuable an -asset to the old guerilla chieftain, Quantrell, in the days of the -Civil War, he had realized that the one chance of escape open, lay in -reaching the ravine. - -Yet his eyes, calculating the distance nicely, told him that, should he -make a dash for it, the troopers could head him off by riding along the -edge of the gorge. - -A moment he had been puzzled as to what to do. Then, in a flash, it had -come to him that by retracing his course and riding straight at the -howling savages he might be able to entice the soldiers to follow him, -abandoning their strategic advantages of the position along the ravine. - -With elation, he had seen the troopers fall into his snare. - -This accomplished, he had kept watch of their pursuit, waiting for the -instant when they should be so far away from the ravine that he could -beat them to it. - -At last the time came. - -With a whispered command, he had bidden his pals wheel and rush for the -gorge. - -Skilled horsemen all, they had accomplished the turn which was so -sudden that it would have unseated less expert riders. - -But so absorbed were they in watching the troopers that they had not -noticed five bucks who had broken away from their fellows and were -bearing down upon them with the speed of whirlwinds. - -Riding with marvelous ease and grace, the redmen closed upon them with -incredible rapidity. - -No whoop or yell did they utter. - -Their success in getting near enough to the men who had killed their -brother warriors and outraged their race by shooting their medicine -woman lay in their silence. - -Breathlessly the rest of the braves watched them. - -As the echoes of the outlaws' derisive shouts, when they dashed past -the head of the cavalry, died away, one of the bucks straightened and -raised his arm. - -Bang! went the pistol in his hand. - -The report of the gun was the first intimation Jesse and his pals had -of the proximity of the braves. - -And as the bullet whistled over their heads, they whirled on the backs -of their ponies to see who it was that had been able to get within -shooting distance of them, undiscovered. - -"Drop em! Drop 'em!" roared the world-famous desperado, adding a -terrible oath. - -Crash! went the dozen six shooters. - -The six outlaws were firing with a gun in each hand. - -But only one Indian toppled from his pony. - -"Again!" bellowed Jesse. "Get 'em this time!" - -Once more the twelve pistols barked. - -And once more only one brave fell. - -"What's the matter with you?" snarled the notorious outlaw. "_If we -don't get them, they'll get us!_" - -But the task imposed on the bandits was no easy one. - -Keeping their seats on the backs of their madly galloping mounts only -by the grips of their knees, the desperadoes were obliged to shoot with -their bodies twisted round to face behind them. - -And small wonder was it that their aim was bad. - -But on the three remaining redskins rushed, firing frantically and -behind them thundered the rest of the savages and the troopers, yelling -encouragement. - -No chance was there for the little band to throw off the pursuit when -they reached the ravine unless the trio of braves was killed. - -Cursing furiously as he saw the second volley had accomplished no more -than the first, Jesse forebore to call for another. - -Well he knew that it had been the bullets from the gun in his right -hand that had toppled the two Indians from the horses and he made up -his mind that upon him devolved the killing of the others. - -With the marvelous rapidity that had won him his reputation, he snapped -his trusty "Colts" in quick succession. - -Two more of the savages pitched from their ponies. - -Again his guns spoke. - -Yet before he could see the result of his last attempt to drop the lone -buck, Homely Harry shrieked: - -"Watch out, boys! We're right on to the ravine!" - -The warning came too late. - -Even as the cry rang out, the bandits felt their ponies sink beneath -them as the animals rushed over the edge of the gorge. - -Never was such horsemanship as Jesse and his pals displayed. - -To the average man, the plunge taken at the whirl-wind speed of the -ponies would have meant death. - -Turning the instant their pal's voice had sounded, the bandits steadied -themselves by bracing their hands, still holding their revolvers, -against the necks of their mounts, leaning back to offset the shock -when the ponies should strike the brush-covered bottom of the ravine -that yawned beneath them. - -To any one in the gorge, they would have seemed like huge, ungainly -birds sailing through the air. - -For so terrific was the pace at which the animals had approached the -ravine that their momentum carried them far out over the brush ere they -began to drop. - -"Be ready to slide when the pintos strikes!" yelled Comanche Tony, -quickly realizing the danger. "If you tries to set your horses it will -mean your death!" - -Quickly his pals relaxed their muscles. - -And well was it that the old Indian fighter had given the advice. - -With feet braced stiff, the ponies struck the ground. - -There was a snapping and cracking and the poor beasts sank down, their -legs broken by the awful force of the impact. - -Yet even as they fell, the outlaws, prepared by the warning of Comanche -Tony, shot over their heads, landing in the bushes unscathed save for -scratches and the jolting they received as they struck. - -And as they picked themselves up, they heard the captain of the -troopers roar: - -"Find the horses! Jesse and the bunch'll be near 'em. No man could take -that plunge and come out whole." - -"That's where your wrong, old top," grinned the world-world famous -desperado. "Quick boys! drop on your hands and knees! We'll work up -the ravine a couple of rods from the ponies and then strike for the -side from which they jumped. Careful, now, we won the race. But if the -troopers or Injuns get their peepers on one of us, its death to the -whole bunch!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -DEW DROP AGAIN TO THE RESCUE. - - -Hurriedly the outlaws dropped to all fours and resumed their hazardous -attempt at escape. - -The bushes that grew in the ravine, fortunately for them, were of -sufficient height to conceal their bodies as they advanced. Yet mere -concealment, they knew, was not sufficient to insure their safety. - -Should the keen eyes of soldiers or savages detect a suspicious -movement among the brushwood, the hue and cry would instantly be raised. - -And, aware of this full well, the six sorely pressed bandits crawled -with infinite stealth. - -So near were the troopers that the creaking of their saddle leathers -was audible, followed almost instantly by the snapping and cracking of -twigs and bushes as the horses picked their way gingerly down the steep -side of the ravine. - -Eagerly the eyes of the cavalrymen searched the bottom of the gorge, -bent on discovering the forms of the horses, as their captain had -commanded. - -So thick was the tangle of brushwood, however, that it was several -minutes after the desperadoes had heard them crashing into the ravine -ere their hearts were set a flutter by excited cries, breaking from -several mouths at the same time: - -"There they are! On the farther side!" - -The announcement of the discovery was received with wild cheers. - -"Where? Which direction?" yelled those of the troopers whose sight -was unable to discern the dark forms of the ponies writhing in their -suffering. - -"To the East! To the East!" answered the ones who saw them. "Come on! -Come on! We've got 'em." - -Wild with the excitement of the soldiers at the prospect of capturing -the desperate cutthroats who had defied all efforts of an army -of man-hunters either to kill or to take them into custody, so -successfully. - -Yet scarce had the cries of the exuberant troopers rung out than their -commander bellowed: - -"Give 'em a volley before you ride at 'em. They're tricky devils!" - -In the exigencies of the moment all thought of military discipline was -forgotten. - -The captain knew his men and the men knew their captain. Many a -punitive expedition had they ridden on before, against outlaws and -renegade redskins alike and no need was there to waste time in giving -book-rule commands. - -No sooner had the words of caution left the officer's lips than the -troopers threw their carbines to their shoulders, sighted them on the -dark, struggling forms in the brushwood and pulled the triggers. - -With deafening roar the guns spoke. - -Straight and true sped the bullets. - -But instead of stopping the heart beats of any of the James gang they -simply put an end to the miseries of the maimed ponies. - -As the report of the broadside rang out over the plains, the cavalrymen -urged their mounts forward, eager to be in at the death. - -In the stress of their emotions, they had not noticed that no shots had -been fired at them. - -Had they been more calm, this fact alone would have told them the -outlaws were not by the ponies. - -And it was not till they had reached the bodies of the beasts, -dismounted and searched the nearby bushes that they found that Jesse -and his band had again outwitted them. - -But when the fact dawned on them, loud and forceful were their curses. - -"Beat up and down the gorge!" shouted the lieutenant, believing that -the mistake of his superior gave him a license to issue commands. - -"Shut up, you dunderhead!" roared the captain, his face livid with -rage. "I was chasing men when you were in swaddling clothes. I know how -they act. - -"_The bandits have crossed the ravine and struck into the brush beyond! -After them!_" - -In a wild scramble, the troopers mounted the farther side of the -ravine, gained the edge and were soon lost to view. - -And as the world-famous desperado, peering cautiously from the -brushwood, saw they had vanished, he heaved a mighty sigh of relief. - -Terrible, indeed, had been the suspense of the six men crawling on -hands and knees under cover of the bushes. - -On their ears alone had they been obliged to rely to tell them what was -transpiring about them, for they dared not raise their heads to look, -lest the eyes of the troopers decry them. - -When they had heard the crash of the volley, Jesse had turned toward -the very bank from which it was fired. - -And as the soldiers descended to learn the result of their shots, the -outlaws had crept up the steep incline. - -Of necessity, their progress was slow and not more than half way to the -top were they when the words of the captain, expressing his belief that -his quarry was on the farther plain, had reached them. - -Still crawling, the bandit-chieftain had waited till he thought -sufficient time had elapsed for all to have gained the plains before he -ventured to look to make sure. - -And when he found that the cavalrymen had, indeed, disappeared over the -opposite bank, he quickly apprised his companions. - -"I'll bet my hair's turned white," ejaculated Wild Bill. "I ain't never -been through no such tryout before an' I don't want to agin." - -"Don't crow too soon," admonished Comanche Tony. "We ain't clear -yet--by a long shot." - -"Right you are, pard," declared Jesse, "And it doesn't look as though -we'd get clear," he added. "Duck, boys, duck! Here comes the Injuns! -Skirt the edge of the bank!" - -Luckily for themselves, none of the outlaws had risen from the -brushwood so that their chief's exhortation was unnecessary and, with -agility born of desperation, they struck westward along the crest of -the gorge. - -When they had seen the troopers change their direction and rush madly -after the fleeing bandits, the savages had checked their pursuit, all -but the five whom Jesse had sent to the Happy Hunting Ground. - -No love did they bear for the soldiers and they were not eager to -mingle with them, even though they were engaged in the chase of a -common foe. - -Hurriedly Great Bear had passed the word for silence and, sitting on -their ponies like statues, they had advanced at a walk. - -Not even the roar of the carbines had induced the chieftain to increase -the pace. - -But when he saw the forms of the cavalrymen mounting the farther edge -of the ravine, he became interested. - -"Jess Jame fool um paleface!" he grunted, his eyes twinkling with -delight. "Sojers no get Jess. Injun got chance." - -If the bandits had, indeed, taken to the plains across the gorge, -Great Bear knew that he and his braves were as likely to find them as -the troopers. But because he was wise in his generation, the wily old -warrior again enjoined his braves to silence that they might surprise -the little band had they doubled on their tracks as he more than half -suspected. - -The shoeless hoofs of their ponies making scarcely no sound because -of the thunderous charge of the cavalry on the farther plains, the -redskins bore down on the ravine. - -But, as the reader knows, Jesse had seen them and, with his pals, was -scurrying from their path. - -The Indians slowed up as they reached the edge of the ravine, then -descended, crossed, mounted the other side, and swept on in the trail -of the soldiers. - -Pausing as he heard the bucks plunge into the gorge, Jesse parted the -bushes at his side, peering at the dark, tossing forms. - -Cautiously his pals followed his example. - -Never had men seemed to move so slowly as did the Indians in crossing -the gulch. - -But at last only a few stragglers had not mounted to the plains. - -"Quick, boys! Crawl to the top of the bank, only keep under cover!" -whispered the world-famous desperado. - -With alacrity his companions obeyed. - -A rod he led them, still on their hands and knees, after they had -gained the level. - -"There's no danger of our being seen now, I reckon," he declared, -rising to his feet. "But we won't run any risk by showing too much of -ourselves. - -"Come on! While the Injuns and troopers are searching the other side of -the ravine, we'll get back to the cliffs on this." - -Overjoyed at their escape from the foes, which seemed little short -of miraculous, the bandits broke into a swift, steady jog trot that -carried them rapidly over the ground. - -Nearer and nearer they approached the rocks that towered majestically -ahead of them. - -But just as safety seemed within their grasp, Frank gasped: - -"I'm all in! The--wo--wound--in--my--leg." - -And he sank to the ground, in collapse. - -Muttering an oath under his breath at this misfortune when all was -going so well, Jesse hurried to the side of his brother and the others -joined him. - -"Take an arm, Texas," snapped the bandit-chieftain, as he put his own -hand under Frank's left shoulder and lifted him to his feet. - -Quickly the other obeyed and, supporting their exhausted comrade -between them, they resumed their progress toward the cliffs. - -"I reckon we might as well go back into the canyon," asserted the -world-famous desperado. - -"We'll climb up to the table land where we rescued Tony and rest for a -few days. We can see all about us. No one can surprise us and the bucks -and troopers would never think we'd go back. - -"We'll be able to find something we can eat." - -This suggestion met with the approval of the others and the little band -bent their steps toward the black cleft that marked the entrance into -the rocky defile. - -Occasional glances behind them told them that none of the pursuers had -returned from the chase. - -Indeed, no moving object could they discover in any direction and, with -hearts beating light at their successful escape from the blood-thirsty, -revenge-craving savages and the cavalrymen whose ire had been roused by -their strategic errors, they were just about to enter the canyon when a -lithe figure darted toward them from behind a boulder. - -"It's more of the red devils," snarled Wild Bill, whipping out his -guns. "We _are_ smart--I don't think. While we've been patting -ourselves on the back, they've been lying here, waiting for us." - -Yet the alarm of the outlaws was short-lived. - -Ere any of them could draw their weapons, a voice cooed, softly: - -"Don' shoot! Don' shoot! Me Dew Drop!" - -The relief the words brought to the bandits, who feared the fruits of -their desperate escape and retreat were to be snatched from them, was -inexpressible and it was turned to outright joy as the Indian maiden -continued: - -"Dew Drop take um Jess Jame to safe cave. Heap food. Heap water in -pool. Then Dew Drop leave. Injun move camp, Dew Drop got go." - -"Then if they're going to take you along, they haven't got wise to your -hiding us in Kaw-Kaw's cave, I judge," exclaimed the bandit-chieftain, -glad to know the assistance which had been so opportune to his little -band had brought no trouble to the girl. - -"Squaws no know. Bucks forget 'fore get back. Um go on raid. Sojers no -be in forts now," returned Dew Drop. - -"Sorry I didn't pot more of 'em if that's what they're up to," grunted -the world-famous desperado. - -But his good fairy did not understand what he meant and prattled -artlessly. - -Skirting the base of the precipice, Dew Drop passed the mouth of the -canyon and led them more than a mile beyond, stopping when she reached -a fissure that ran from top to base. - -Squeezing into it, the bandits were plunged in darkness. - -Putting his hand on his guide's shoulder, Jesse bade his men hold onto -the one in front of him and in single file they advanced till they -could feel from the change in the air that they had reached the cave. - -"Dew Drop no stay," declared the maid, slipping from the -bandit-chieftain's hand. "Mus' join um squaw. Paleface fin' grub, -water. So long." - -And, ere any of the outlaws had the time to protest, the Indian maiden -sped from them, leaving them in the unknown cave in pitch darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -IN THE FATAL CIRCLE. - - -But Jesse had plans other than to permit the soft-voiced Indian maiden -to desert them thus suddenly. - -Without a word, with the quickness of a panther he sprang after her -leaving the others helpless and surprised at the unexpected action of -their chief. - -"Has Jess gone plumb bug house?" breathed Tony, scarcely daring to -trust his voice. - -"Everybody's got wheels in this devil's neighborhood," averred Texas. - -"And if he ain't he will have in the hole we're in now," added Homely -Harry. - -Frank groaned weakly. - -"Hey, pard," interrupted Tony, suddenly bethinking himself of their -wounded companion, "How you comin' along?" - -"Give me a drink," returned the elder James brother in a voice scarcely -above a whisper. "I feel as if I was dying." - -"Bosh," retorted Tony. "I know them symptoms. You're been loosin' some -red juice. Here, take a pull at the flask. It'll put you right in a -jiffy." - -Frank James gulped down the liquor greedily, so much so that for the -instant it nearly strangled him. - -"How's that," grinned Tony in the darkness, fetching the flask away and -restoring it to his ample hip pocket. - -"B--b--better," coughed Frank. "But I'll be bad again in a minute. -Where's Jess?" - -"Dunno. He vamoosed like a lightning bug. Sloped after the Indian -maiden I guess." - -"Call him back quick," demanded Frank. "You, Texas. Hurry or I'll bleed -to death. I'm bad hurt, I tell you fellows." - -Without an instant's hesitation Texas sprang away to do the wounded -man's bidding, regardless of any personal danger to himself. - -But Texas did not have far to go. - -Just without the cave he was grasped in a grip of iron. His hand flew -to his belt. - -"Stop, you fool! Where are you going!" hissed Jesse in his ear. - -"Gad, what a fright you gave me," gasped Texas. "I was going for you. -Frank's bad and said you'd got to come right away. Oh there's the girl, -eh." - -"Bad? Come along Dew Drop," and without further parley Jesse led the -way into the cave, keeping tight hold on the Indian girl, who though -reluctant, made no protest at being dragged back by the man she had -just saved. - -"Somebody strike a light," demanded the great bandit. - -"No, no," protested Dew Drop with a quick pressure on the outlaw's arm. -"Injun smell smoke. Stop um hole up an catch pale face. Jess Jame and -other pale faces come with Dew Drop." - -"All right go ahead and we'll follow," decided Jesse. "Frank can you -walk?" - -Frank groaned. - -"Pick him up, two of you and follow. Be careful." - -Not a word was spoken as the strange procession moved silently on, -deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mountain. - -The silence was, after what had seemed an age to the men whose nerves -were tensed by the strangeness of the cave, broken by the voice of the -Indian girl. - -"Pale faces git down um bellies," she directed tersely. "Me go first." - -Suiting the action to the word Dew Drop threw herself down and crawled -through a hole in the rock. But Jesse, who followed, did not succeed in -passing the narrow opening with the same ease that Dew Drop had, but -he finally accomplished the feat with sundry exclamations of disgust -beneath his breath. - -Texas, more ample of girth, got stuck in the hole, which he had -attempted to get through feet first, and he could not move either way. -Jesse solved the difficulty quickly by grabbing the unfortunate outlaw -by the feet and jerking him in beside him. - -But with Frank the task was still more difficult. - -"Easy there," commanded the bandit-chieftain. "Put him through head -first and I will draw him in." - -This they did, and though Frank groaned and begged piteously the move -was quickly executed. - -Dew Drop now led the way again, which Jesse observed led slowly upward -and that the air was freshening as they proceeded. - -At last the Indian maiden came to a quick stop. - -"Light um fire," she directed tersely. - -It was the work of a moment for Jesse to strike a match and to his -intense satisfaction he discovered a pile of dry limbs in one corner -of the chamber where they had halted, and a blazing fire was burning -quickly. - -The men uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -What they saw challenged the admiration of every man present. - -Millions of brilliant stalactites hung suspended from the domed arch -above them, and gave back scintillating flashes from the light of the -flames. For the moment they forgot the real purpose of their presence -there. - -"Diamonds, by Judas," exclaimed Homely Harry in open mouthed wonder. - -"Diamonds, your eye," returned Texas. "Them ain't no diamonds. I know -the kind, I've seen them before." - -But Jesse had given no heed to their expressions of admiration. - -Instantly the fire was started, he dropped down by the side of his -wounded brother, making a hurried examination of his wounds. - -"Give me a piece of lariat," he commanded. - -Tony passed over a strip of tough leather. With this the -outlaw-chieftain bound the leg just above the wound, administering a -drink from his own flask, and turned to Dew Drop. - -"Got any saw bones around here?" he demanded sharply. "That's what I -brought you back for." - -The Indian girl looked at him blankly. - -"Pale face medicine man," he explained. - -Dew Drop smiled understandingly, but shook her head. - -"Two suns journey," she explained, pointing to the north. - -"Got a medicine man in your village, then? We've got to have some one -here quick and I guess a medicine man of one color is about as good as -another." - -"Great Bear him got medicine man," explained the girl. "No get medicine -man. Great Bear kill white man; Great Bear kill me." - -"We'll kill Great Bear; so, that'll be a toss up. You go get the -medicine man. Tell him your Indian beau is down in the canyon so badly -wounded that he will die and fetch him here." - -"Dew Drop fraid," she protested. - -"Don't worry, we'll fix him so he won't hurt you. I will follow along -behind you to see that no harm comes to you. Two of you men go outside -the cave after a while and hide there and when Dew Drop brings the man -you jump on him, and carry him in--" - -"No, no," answered the maiden hurriedly, "me put out um medicine man -eyes." - -"Put out his eyes?" demanded Jesse in surprise. - -"So," drawing her hand across her eyes and to the back of her head. - -"Oh, I see: you mean to blindfold him? But how are you going to do it?" - -"Me tell um take um cave of Great Spirit and must not see." - -The others gazed at the girl blankly. Jesse haw-hawed loudly. - -"Well, you are a wise little savage. I guess Jesse James and his band -had better hang around here a while and take some lessons from you. -What do you say, boys? Dew Drop ain't near so soft as her name, is she -now?" - -"She ain't that," they chorused. - -"Oh hurry up," urged Frank. - -With that, Jesse and the girl quickly made their way out of the cave. -Once outside he gave the girl explicit directions, and without further -delay she sped away, quickly disappearing amid the foliage without so -much as betraying her movements by the snapping of a dry twig. - -"A snake couldn't get away any quieter than that," nodded Jesse -approvingly, and after a keen survey of rock and wood he too slipped -away in the direction that Dew Drop had taken. - -Not quite sure of his way, Jesse cautiously mounted a rock and, shading -his eyes from the setting sun, peered off to the north. - -He found what he was looking for, and, dropping from his perch once -more took up his cautious way toward the Indian village. That he was -going toward what would prove certain death, should any watchful, -sneaking redskin chance to discover him or even come upon his trail, -did not trouble the great bandit in the least. - -His brother's life was at stake and that there might be no slip up he -would follow clear to the Indian village, if necessary. - -"I'll bring back the medicine man dead or alive," he swore under his -breath. - -Twilight was deepening and Jesse went more boldly on. But he had made -a fatal move. He had done a thing that he would not have done had -his band of hardy outlaws been with him, for then Jesse's sense of -responsibility would have been doubly heavy. - -He might expose his own life to peril unnecessarily. But for his -companions, no. He took no more chances than was necessary where they -were concerned. - -During the brief moment that he had stood poised on the rock, however, -the field glass of a United States Cavalry officer chanced to be -trained on that very spot. More than that the pair of eyes behind the -glass, also chanced to belong to the very officer with whom the band -had mixed it up earlier. - -The Captain uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -"Quick! mount!" he commanded. "Not a word as you value your lives." - -Trained to instant obedience, the troopers sprang into their saddles. -They did not know what the order portended, nor did they care. The -Captains manner meant that there was excitement ahead and that a brush -with the red skins was more than likely at no distant moment. - -"Red skins?" asked the young Lieutenant, in a low voice, riding up -beside his superior officer. - -"Worse," was his laconic reply. "James, and he was alone when I saw -him. I think he is out reconnoitering. We'll bag him this time I hope." - -"That ought to be easy if he is alone," returned the Lieutenant. - -"Humph," snorted the Captain. "You'll learn more as you grow older. -I'd rather hunt savages than those Missouri outlaws, for when it -comes to devilish tricks, the Missourians can give the Indians points -blindfolded. - -"Halt! Dismount! - -"Tether your ponies." - -"Where away?" asked the Lieutenant softly. - -"To the north. He should be near us providing he has not changed his -course and I don't think he has, for very good reasons too." - -"Why, Captain." - -"Because, young man, on one side is an Indian village full of savages -thirsting for his blood, and on the other a sheer precipice dropping -down a few hundred feet only. We are on the third side, and, unless he -turns back there is only one course open for him--to run into us. - -"Throw your men out into a circle. Conceal them behind boulders. We -should get him in the circle that way, and once there I don't think he -will get away. - -"Catch him alive if you can. Kill him if you have to." - -Silence again fell over the night. - -The troopers trained to tread on velvet feet, slipped along like so -many silent shadows. - -But every first right finger trembled on a trigger. - -They knew the man they had to deal with, and the mere click of a -gunlock on their part might mean instant death at the hand of the great -bandit. - -They lay down. - -Each tree and rock beyond seemed to hold a lurking shadow, so tensely -strained were their nerves and vivid their imaginations. - -A twig snapped among the trees in the dense shadows. But not a man -stirred. For long minutes they waited there, scarcely drawing a free -breath. - -The men needed no orders from their captain, no imposition for silent -caution. They were trained too finely in Indian warfare to need such -injunctions. - -If indeed it were the great outlaw himself who stood under the -spreading trees whence had come the warning sound, they knew he would -not move for some time. Not until he had waited the effect of his -incautious step would he move a muscle of his body, and perhaps he -would be standing with one foot poised in the air, every sense keenly -alert, his eyes piercing the shadows with almost superhuman vision. - -To such extremes are men's senses trained, who live in momentary -expectation of the blinding crash and the bullet between the eyes. - -The troopers heard no further sound. - -Their eyes suddenly began to blink. They could scarcely credit what -they saw. - -Right in the middle of the moonlit space, as if he had risen from the -ground, stood the great outlaw himself. - -How he had come there without their observing him, was beyond their -understanding. - -He was standing behind a large boulder, hat tipped back, his features -plainly outlined in the brilliant moonlight, nose and face tipped -upward as if scenting danger in the air. - -Twenty trigger fingers twitched nervously, and as many Winchesters -swung silently until they focused on the figure no more than twenty -paces distant. - -The great desperado poised there like a statue, hands and arms hanging -listlessly at his sides, guns in their holsters as if there was no -expectation of their being needed for instant use. - -But this did not deceive Uncle Sam's Indian fighters. They were too -familiar with Jesse James' reputation for quickness on the trigger not -to understand that the mere glint of a moonbeam along a rifle barrel -would mean death to the soldier behind it almost before he could pull -his own trigger. - -Like a blow in the face came the sudden command: - -"Put up your hands, Jesse James!" - -"Crash!" - -Both the desperadoe's "Colts" spoke in a single explosion, and the -Captain yelled with pain as a bullet tore through one arm. - -"Give it to him!" he roared. - -"Fire in a volley." - -The roar of the heavy Winchesters sent the leaves of the trees a -rustling and even the rocks and earth catching up the note, responded -with a tremor. - -Dimly they could see the figure of the outlaw stretched out on the -ground in the shadow of the boulder after the smoke had drifted away. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -WHEN THE EARTH FELL APART. - - -Just before leaving the cave the great desperado had whispered a word -of command to Tony and Texas. - -But the nature of the orders so secretly conveyed the others did not -know, and none save Frank felt licensed to make inquiry, for Jesse was -apt to administer a sharp rebuke that the inquisitive one would not -soon forget. - -Being the interested party the elder James brother glared suspiciously -at the two bandits. - -"See here, you mutts," he exploded with all his remaining strength, "I -know what you are up to. You think my leg has got to come off and Jess -didn't want me to know about it cause I'd make a ruction. - -"Take it from me, you've got another guess coming. The leg is mine -and it's on to stay. Time enough to plant it when I'm put away. Nice -looking chump I'd be hopping around on one peg, eh?" he laughed -maliciously. - -"You're wrong, Frank," corrected Texas. "You ain't so bad off either. -I'll gamble my spurs on it, that it's only a flesh wound and there -ain't no bullet in there at all. But them gunshot wounds is nasty -things, and what the chief wants is for that redskin sawbones to put on -a lotion that will draw out the poison and--" - -"Then what did he want to be so danged secret like with you duffers -for? That's what gets me. You tell me right now or I'll give you a dose -of the same medicine I got!" he growled menacingly. - -Tony laughed good-naturedly. - -"Jest a little job Jess had put up to save the girl's skin. What do you -s'pose would have happened to her if she brought the medicine man here. -Sure as you're alive, she'd a been in a bad way if the redskins got -wise to what she's doin' with the medicine man. Do you get it?" - -Frank nodded and emitted a sigh of relief. - -"I just wanted to give you all a tip that I've got a gun or two in my -belt, and what's more, they are liable to go off if any of you dubs -monkey with this peg of mine. See?" - -But Tony and Texas, grinning broadly, had slipped away, their -moccasined feet giving no intimation of their departure on the mission -of the chief. - -The time seemed interminable to Frank and the wounded leg gave him -much pain, as he twisted and swore at intervals over the long delay in -bringing help. - -Night had fallen by the time the two bandits reached the opening of the -cave. They had proceeded only a short distance beyond when their keen -ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps. - -Quickly secreting themselves and crouching low the men awaited the -nearer approach of the strangers, eyes keenly bent in the direction of -the faint sound they had heard beyond. - -They had only a moment to wait. - -Tony nudged his companion and nodded his head. - -"Them's them," he ejaculated sententiously. - -"And by my spurs he's a giant," added Texas. - -"Yes, and there the gal behind him, Tex. She's a wonder." - -"There's some things worse'n some squaws," replied Texas. - -"S--h--h--h," cautioned Tony. - -"I'll take the big one and you get the girl, but don't hurt her. Give -her a hunch as to what we're up to as soon as you get your clamps on -her. Now." - -Silently and with bated breaths, the two desperadoes waited until the -medicine man, who indeed did loom up a veritable giant in stature, had -passed Texas. - -He was right beside Tony now, and so close that the bandit could easily -have reached out and touched him. But Tony did not propose to adopt the -ordinary methods of catching an Indian and for the very good reason -that he had no ordinary man to deal with. - -His plans had been quickly matured. And what he did was successful from -the very novelty of the proceeding. - -What Tony did was to shove a stout stick squarely between the medicine -man's shins, at the same time giving a quick, sharp twist. - -The effect was magical. - -The Indian plunged head foremost to the ground, his feet waving wildly -in the air for a moment. But before he could gain equilibrium or cry -out, the same stout stick came down on his head with crushing force. - -The copper-hued sawbones lay still. - -"Holy snakes!" exclaimed Texas with genuine admiration. "Ef that ain't -the all-firedest way to catch a doctor that I ever seen. Here, my -pretty squaw, you're my prisoner too. Now come along like a good little -papoose." - -Dew Drop, with a surprised look in her eyes, turned to flee. Texas -caught her. - -"Keep yer head plumb. We're just makin' believe capturin' you and when -old sawbones wakes up we'll have you tied so he don't get wise to your -little game. See?" - -A smile slowly rippled over the face of the little red girl. - -"Pale face smart like Indian," she answered, nodding her head -vigorously. "Um hurry. Big Bear and braves up yonder. Come for Jess -Jame pretty soon." - -"Jess?" questioned Tony rising from the medicine man whose arms and -hands he had been pinioning. "By the way, where's the chief. He went -with you, didn't he?" - -Dew Drop shook her head. - -"Dew Drop no see um." - -"That's funny. Lend a hand here, Texas and let's get this red devil -into the cave. No need to blindfold him now--" - -"Didn't put out his light, did you Tony?" asked Texas a bit anxiously. - -"Kill him? N--a--w. Head's too thick to break if a log fell on it." - -It was no easy task to get the inanimate form of the giant to the cave. -At first they essayed to carry him, one at the head, the other at the -feet. - -Tony dropped his burden in disgust. - -"Say, Texas, come here. This is too much like work. Jest get hold of -his feet with me and we'll drag him the rest of the way--" - -"But it will hurt him," protested Texas. - -"What, hurt a redskin? G'wan. It'll wake him up, that's all, and he'll -be fit as a fiddle when we git him into the cave. Come along." - -The way was rough and the sacred medicine man got the roughest voyage -of his life for the next few moments. And as Tony had predicted, by the -time they had reached the entrance to the cave, his eyes were open -and he was glaring at his captors with malignant eyes. He could speak -no word because Tony with rare forethought had twisted a gag into his -mouth, fearing that should the man come to he might give the alarm and -bring down some lurking savages on them. - -Just before reaching the mouth of the cave Texas, at his companion's -bidding, bound a handkerchief over the prisoner's eyes. Then with great -caution, they hauled him into the hole in the rocks. - -Being a large man the savage went through the smaller hole opening into -the large chamber, with much less ease than had the bandits. In fact -they had pulled him only half way through when he stuck there fast. - -"Can't make it. He's too fat," decided Texas. - -"Can't? Wait. I know the breed. He's making himself fat--swelling -himself out. Here you savage," roared Tony, "we're going to give a good -long pull and if you don't come through we'll fix you so you do." - -The medicine man grunted. - -"That's right, grunt. But you'll grunt harder when I get through with -you. And understand me, and if you don't get through this time, Harry -here will slice off a few slabs of flesh so you'll fit. Harry'll do a -good job too, and don't you forget it, for he used to slaughter cattle -on a range out in Missouri. Now draw in your belly unless you want to -lose some skin. Heave away boys." - -The bandits counting, "one, two, three," gave a mighty pull. - -This time the medicine man came through, but little rivulets of blood -trickled down his sides as they pulled him into the brilliantly lighted -room. There they removed his blindfold and released his arms, after -first taking possession of his knife. - -The redskin's glance swept the room, then rested on Dew Drop. - -But the little Indian maiden was acting her part to perfection. Tied -hand and foot, she had been stood against one side of the chamber, -where she rested, her eyes blazing with well-assumed hate at her -captors. - -"Big Bear kill um pale faces," she gritted. - -"Never you mind about Big Bear," retorted Tony. "If there's any killing -going on we will take a hand in it ourselves. We shall not hurt you if -you keep quiet--" - -"Indian girl no fraid white man. She stick um knife some day, maybe." - -"Ho, ho," roared Texas. - -"Our little pussey has sharp claws," interjected Homely Harry. - -Frank had been taken into the next chamber, an apartment somewhat -smaller than the one they were in, and there they carried the Indian -medicine man after having instructed him as to what was expected of him. - -They planked him down beside the wounded man. - -Frank's right hand slipped down to his trusty "Colt." - -But the Indian made no move. - -Tony's face grew stony. - -"You red devil," he cried, "don't get stubborn. Do as we demand and no -harm will come to you, but if you don't fix this man up inside of ten -minutes--by the watch, remember--you're a dead Indian. Get busy!" - -The Indian bent a keen glance on Tony, then looked sharply from one to -the other of the assemblage as if to satisfy himself that he was not -being tricked. - -But there was no trickery lurking at the corners of the stern mouths of -the desperate men. - -"Kill um pale face," urged Dew Drop with a vicious snap of the jaws. - -"Ugh," grunted the medicine man with a shake of his head, as he slowly -began drawing a variety of herbs from his belt. These he quickly meshed -together with a stone, and, forming them into a poultice applied it to -the wounds of Frank James. - -The latter let out a yell and tugged at his gun. - -But Tony anticipating just such a move, closed over his wrist in a -vice-like grip. - -"Easy pard," he cautioned. "The poultice is drawing out the pizen. It -won't hurt but a minute, will it old sawbones?" peering up into the -savage face before him for confirmation of his words. - -"White man cry out, then hurt go way," grunted the savage. - -"There, what did I tell you," chortled Tony. "Poultice goes on, you -yell like--like--like you did, and pain goes away. That's it." - -"Oh, shut up," snarled Frank, the lines of his face drawing sharply -under the excruciating pain he was enduring. - -"How--how long is this going to keep up?" he demanded. - -"Yes, when can the captain get out again?" chimed in Homely Harry. - -"White man walk byemby," returned the man of herbs. "Before sun up he -go out. Then mebbe Indian kill um." - -"That's alright, Reddy; we'll be there for the killing. But we don't -'low we've got any hard feelings again you. Hey, boys?" - -"Sure not," chorused the others. - -Crossing the medicine man's palm with a gold piece, to his intense -surprise and satisfaction, they again led him into the vaulted chamber -and releasing Dew Drop bade her bind the cloth about his eyes once more. - -Tony seeing that his orders were being obeyed, had stepped back to -speak to Frank as to the best means of disposing of their prisoners. As -he turned he observed that the Indian girl was feeding embers to the -fire the better to light their way out. - -But the desperado had no more than turned his back on the savage and -the girl ere the rocks beneath him were shaken by a mighty tremor. - -A sudden and awful roar smote his ears. - -A fearful blow seemed to have been struck across his eyes. - -The air was full of hurling rocks and debris. - -Tony and his companions were tumbled together in a confused heap, -yelling in terror at the awful thing that had happened, though they -knew not what it meant. - -Rocks and particles rained down upon their bodies with sickening force. - -But the desperate men neither heard nor felt now. - -A sudden darkness had settled over them and they lay motionless and -lifeless. - -A mighty explosion had rent the cave from end to end. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -IN A LIVING TOMB. - - -It might have been hours for aught they knew that they had lain there. - -Frank was the first to regain consciousness. He heard someone groan and -called out demanding whose voice it was. - -"It's Tony, or what little is left of him," was the answer. - -"Are you hurt?" - -"Donno. Feel as if the roof had caved in on me. Where's the rest of the -gang?" - -"If they only have got out of it as easily as we have we can count -ourselves the luckiest men on earth," returned the elder James boy with -emphasis. - -Forgetting his recent wound, which the herbs of the medicine man had -most miraculously put to sleep so that he felt no pain at all, Frank -struggled to his feet and struck a match. Texas and Harry he espied -lying in a heap in one corner half hidden by the debris which had -fallen upon them. - -Out of the wreck he gathered some sticks and rekindled the fire which -in a moment brightly illuminated the chamber. The scene that met his -gaze was one of wreck and ruin. - -But to this the bandit gave no heed. His first care was for the other -members of the band. - -"They're alive, Tony," he cried, "every man of them. Come help me get -them out--" - -"You'll have to get Tony out first, I'm thinkin'. I'm wedged in here -under this heap of stuff tighter'n a sardine in a box." - -It was but the work of a moment for Frank to release the imprisoned -desperado, and after taking careful inventory of his anatomy and -learning to his delight that no bones had been broken, both men turned -to with a will and began digging out their companions. - -"Thank Providence, or whatever or whoever did it, that my flask was not -broken," exclaimed Frank. - -"Here, hold Texas's head while I pour a few fingers down his throat. -That'll bring him around if anything will." - -And it did. Texas gasped, strangled, sat up and swore roundly. - -The others were quickly restored to consciousness and the men were -overjoyed that all had escaped. - -"Say," spoke up Tony suddenly. "That explosion come from that other -room there. What do you s'pose did it--" - -"And the medicine man and the squaw were in there alone, weren't they?" -asked Frank. - -"By the gods you're right," exclaimed Texas. - -With one accord each man grabbed up a burning brand and climbing over -the obstructions that the explosion had placed in their way, dashed -into the adjoining chamber. - -If anything the disaster had been greater here than in the other room. - -"There's the redskin all shot to pieces," cried Harry. - -"Yes, deader'n a tick," agreed Texas. "But where is the gal?" - -"Yes, where is the girl?" demanded Frank suddenly aroused to action. - -"Blown into little pieces. She's too tender to stand a racket that -would put out a giant like the medicine man," opined Tony. "But where -the devil is she? There ain't no pieces of her layin' about here as I -sees. It makes a feller shivery--like--kinder weak under the belt." - -"Dig! Dig like hell every man of you!" roared Frank in a frenzy of -haste at thought that the girl who had proved such a friend in need -might be dying within a few feet of them for want of a willing hand to -give her succor. - -They set to with a will. - -"Dew Drop here," piped a voice that seemed to come out of the air, but -from just what direction none could say. - -They looked about; peered into every corner and crevice, then faced -each other questioningly. - -"Hello!" shouted Frank, but only the echoes of his own voice came back -to him. - -"Mebby it's the Great Spirit she was tellin' us about," suggested Texas -with a hoarseness in his throat that he tried vainly to down. "She's a -dead one that's sure--" - -"Dew Drop no go Happy Hunting Ground; Medicine man he go Happy Hunting -Ground. Mebby Jesse Jame he happy Hunting Ground," came in the -plaintive tone of the Indian maiden. - -It was maddening. - -In a moment these hardy desperadoes who had faced death in a thousand -forms, would feel their courage oozing from their finger tips and would -make a run for the outer air. - -"Where are you?" roared Frank. "Are you dead or alive?" - -"Me here; me no with Great Spirit." - -"Where?" bellowed Tony. "Where in the humping pizen snakes be you -anyhow? You sound as if you was over my head, but if you be you're a -dead one, and that goes." - -Frank with a sudden thought in his mind was shading his eyes from the -flaming torches and peering up into the shadows. There, more than ten -feet above their heads, he saw the form of the little Indian maiden -wedged in a crevice of rocks where she had evidently been hurled by the -sudden explosion. - -The men shouted for pure joy. - -"Jump, you little devil," shouted Texas, "we'll catch you." - -"Paleface say well. Dew Drop no jump." - -"Not jump? Don't be afraid," reassured Frank. - -"Dew Drop um no jump. Um fast," she wailed. - -"She's wedged in between the rocks," yelled Tony. "Git a ladder -somebody quick." - -Everybody laughed but it was evident that Tony in his excitement was in -dead earnest. - -"Yes, how we going to git the gal down?" demanded Texas. - -"Can't one of you take a running jump and reach her?" cried Frank. "If -my leg wasn't game I'd do it myself." - -"Yes, you would," sneered Tony. "You ain't no bird and neither be I. -That's twelve feet if its one up there." - -"I've got an idee," interrupted Homely Harry. "I'll stand agin the wall -and you fellers climb up on top of me, one top of tother. I've seen 'em -do that in a circus once. We kin git her down that way." - -Frank shot an approving glance at him. - -"You're the only one in the bunch that's got a head on his shoulders -about now I reckon. I ain't much on the climb, but try it and if you -don't get her, I'll go to the top of the pile myself." - -The agile mountaineers formed a human pyramid in a moment with Texas as -the top-mounter, Tony groaning beneath his weight and threatening every -moment to give way sending the pyramid a bruised and broken wreck to -the hard stone floor of the cave. - -It was with no little effort that they finally accomplished the feat of -releasing the girl from her rocky prison. - -But once free she slid down the pyramid with the grace of a lofty -tumbler. - -Tony and Texas came down rather less easily. - -"Now I want to know what this is all about?" demanded Frank when they -once more had recovered themselves. - -"Yes, what devil's prank put this joint on the blink?" added Tony. -"I've had some jars in my time, but I never did have such an all-fired -bump as this one." - -"Me not know," answered Dew Drop hanging her head. - -"What were you and the bones doing when it happened?" urged Frank, -pointing to the mangled remains of the medicine man. - -Dew Drop gazed at the horrid sight with emotionless eyes, then turned -toward them. - -"Me make fire burn one--two times--" - -"Yes, yes," they chorused. - -"You put wood on the fire to make it bright," added Frank. - -The Indian girl nodded. - -"What then?" - -"Make fire more. - -"Then heap fire like sun. Dew Drop go sleep. Great Spirit get um. Dew -Drop open eyes--see pale faces and um want see Dew Drop." - -Harry scratched his head. - -"Clear as the big Muddy in a spring freshet," agreed Tony. - -"Wait a minute," commanded Frank, raising a restraining hand. - -"You put one, two, three sticks on fire, then you put another?" - -Dew Drop nodded vigorously. - -"But when you put on the fourth one, hey?" - -"Um pale face he know." - -"Then the whole business went up?" - -Dew Drop puffed out her cheeks and said "Pouf! So." - -"Well I'll be damned!" exclaimed Frank. - -"What is it?" demanded Texas. - -"What was it?" urged Tony. - -"Dynamite!" snapped the desperado holding the girl with a wondering -gaze. "And you near put us all out of business at the same time. - -"Yes, dynamite. I understand it all now. _Jess must have left those -sticks here and the girl used one of them to build the fire with._ -It's a wonder it didn't blow us all to kingdom come." - -A loud guffaw greeted Frank's explanation. - -All danger past they could afford to look on the humorous side of the -disaster now. - -"Well, we got rid of old saw bones quicker'n we thought," chuckled -Tony. "Good thing Jesse wasn't here. It might have got him too, for -he'd a been right on top of it likely as not." - -"Jess. I had forgotten," cried Frank. "What has become of him? He's got -into trouble, I'll bet my spurs on it. It must have been hours since he -went away. - -"Say Dew Drop, did he go with you?" - -The girl shook her head. - -The men looked into each other's faces in dismay. - -"Come, we must find him," cried Frank, his face narrowing down until -the lines of it laid up in projecting, stern wrinkles. - -"Mebbe Big Bear git um Jess Jame," vouchsafed the girl stoically. - -"What's that?" demanded Frank suddenly turning on her. - -"Mebbe sojers git um Jess Jame." - -"Soldiers. No, they're miles away to the north of us by now. We headed -them toward the fort hours ago." - -"Sojers come back," averred the girl. - -"Came back? How do you know?" - -"Me see um, Me see injuns. Injuns he look for Jess Jame." - -"The girl is right," roared Frank. "Out of this devilish hole. They've -got him. What can one man do against a company of infantry and a whole -village of redskins. Come!" - -The bandit strode toward the opening whence they had first entered, -then stopped short. - -"Trapped!" he cried hoarsely. - -"The explosion has blocked our entrance. We're caught like rats in a -trap." - -The outlaws groaned. - -Hoarse curses and muttered imprecations were passed from lip to lip as -the enraged desperadoes ran from point to point seeking in vain for -some means of egress from their rocky tomb. - -"We're done for," snarled Tony, his hand slipping instinctively to his -pistol holster. - -"Jess will get us out somehow," soothed Harry. - -"No. Jess is probably in a worse fix than we are at this very minute," -exploded Frank, "and--" - -A timid pressure on his arm caused him to look suddenly down. - -"Well, what is it?" he demanded shortly. "Haven't you got us into -enough trouble already? What do you want now? Say it and say it quick." - -"Pale face um want go way?" - -"Want to? Holy snakes, hear the girl," laughed Tony harshly. "I -calkerlate it don't make a mighty sight of difference whether we want -to or not. We don't." - -"Silence!" commanded Frank. - -"Well, what is it, girl?" - -"Pale face want go--Dew Drop want go. Um show pale face." - -So astounded were the outlaws at her amazing confidence in her ability -to pilot them to freedom, that for a moment no one answered, and by -the time they had gathered their wits again, Dew Drop was tripping on -velvet feet to the chamber they had just left. - -They sprang after her eagerly, but just in time to see the girl -disappear behind a pyramid of rock and which they now discovered for -the first time, led into another passage. - -"Hold on," called Tony, "you're taking us further into this infernal -hole." - -But Dew Drop made no reply. - -Her confident manner brought hope to the bandit's hearts almost in -spite of their determination not to be trapped at any cost. - -"Bring lights," commanded Frank. - -They did so. - -As they progressed they noticed that their course was leading them up -and up, further and further, and with each rise of the trail their -spirits ascended proportionately. - -"Hooray! I see moonlight," cried Texas. "By gad we're getting out as -sure as you're alive." - -Dew Drop turned and laid a warning finger on her lips, and bent her -head in a listening attitude. - -"What is it?" they demanded in bated breaths. - -"Injuns," breathed the Indian maiden. - -Each right slipped to pistol holster. - -"Indians," muttered the desperadoes, and "Colts" were quickly -unsheathed. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -JESSE JAMES' DESPERATE LEAP. - - -Not a man moved. - -Every rifle was turned on the prostrate man. - -The captain peered suspiciously at the form of the great desperado for -a moment, then nodded his satisfaction. - -"Cease firing!" he commanded. - -Placing a whistle to his lips the officer blew a short, shrill blast. -Two troopers in response, came dashing up on their ponies, saluted and -sat at attention awaiting their leader's commands. - -"Boys, we have got him at last," he said, addressing the two troopers. -"That's Jesse James over there on his back. Sorry we had to kill him. -But it's my opinion he's safer that way. I knew we should get him -in time. Outlaws may fool posses indefinitely, but when it comes to -beating the United States Cavalry, that's different. Young man," he -continued, "let this be an object lesson to you in persistance. Four -times within the past twenty-four hours I am free to confess we have -been outwitted by the world's greatest desperado, but each time we came -back stronger than ever and as full of fight. You see the result. We -have done our full duty." - -"Yes, but what shall we do with the body, bury it or roll it into the -gully somewhere hereabouts?" asked the Lieutenant, stepping over toward -the body of the outlaw, then turning back. - -"Neither. Have some saplings cut and make a litter between two ponies. -We must get him to the fort immediately before it is too late. No one -would ever believe we had killed the world's greatest bandit unless we -had something better to show for it than our mere word. It is not that -they would doubt our word, but the rub is they know Jesse James," he -grinned. "And so do we," he added grimly. - -"Make haste now. We'll surely have the redskins down on us after all -this racket, and we've made a lot of it, I reckon." - -"I'll attend to it at once, sir," responded the Lieutenant. - -"Throw out pickets!" ordered the commander. "We are in a dangerous -strategical position here." - -"But what about the rest of the gang--do we go after them?" asked the -Lieutenant after executing his superior officer's commands. - -"Yes, we might as well clean house thoroughly while we are about it. -Let two men ride in with the body. They should reach the fort by -daybreak. We will remain here with the rest of the troop and finish -up the job. It should be easy to at least disperse the gang, now that -their leader has turned up his toes for the last time. It has been a -good job, Lieutenant, eh?" - -The young officer nodded and smiled, for his share in the great -achievement had been no small one and in all probability would bring -him much nearer to having a command of his own at no distant day. - -With the others, the army officer's words were accepted as final. -Meantime the troopers had constructed a litter and were now engaged -in dragging it to the spot where Jesse lay face up on the rocks, the -moonbeams lighting up his face with a ghastly pallor, to the strained -imagination of the soldiers. - -At a motion from the Lieutenant, the two mounted men rode their ponies -to the scene and sprang from their saddles to lift the inanimate form -of the fallen desperado to the litter to be conveyed to the fort some -thirty miles away. - -The men's Winchesters reposed safely in their saddle holsters, and -the ponies, unmindful of the tragic scene before them, calmly began -browsing on the tender underbrush. - -The two troopers bent over to lift the body to the litter that the -others were bringing up. - -At that instant a strange and unexpected thing happened. - -The supposed dead man moved. - -Both arms shot out and the moon beams caught and reflected a steely -glint in each hand. - -With lightning-like quickness the bandit's hands shot into the shadows -formed by the bodies of the two troopers. The movement was so slight as -to have been almost indistinguishable two paces away. - -The soldiers with a groan settled down in a heap. - -Yet nothing of the tragedy being enacted before their very eyes, -conveyed itself to the troopers just beyond, and the Captain was -calling out some order to the men that the bandit had laid low. They -did not know that two of their companions lay dying there, their life -blood staining the virgin rocks. - -"Hey, what is going on over there?" shouted the Captain, his keen eyes -noting something unusual in the attitude of his men. - -There was no response. - -"Lieutenant, you had better straighten out those men." - -With one movement, the great bandit had driven his bowies straight into -the hearts of the unsuspecting soldiers. In bending over him to raise -his body to the litter, they had presented a mark that the veriest -novice at man-killing, could not have missed by any chance. - -Their blood in crimson stream spurted into the face and eyes of the -blood-thirsty desperado, but the only emotion it stirred in him was to -arouse him to deepest anger. - -Not a bullet of the death-dealing volley had reached Jesse. With that -marvelous instinct that had saved his life on so many occasions in the -past, the outlaw had sensed the danger that confronted him, he knew -that the eyes of enemies were upon him, but whether of white men or -redskins, he did not know. - -Instantly his quick mind evolved a plan. He knew that death yawned in -the shadows there, which one false move would precipitate upon him. -With Jesse James, to think was to act. - -He dropped at the instant when twenty Winchesters hurled their death -missiles at him. But the leaden pellets sped harmlessly over his head. - -Instead of leaping to his feet and making a desperate dash for liberty, -as a less experienced man in the art of guerilla warfare might have -done, the great bandit stiffened out and lay motionless in well-feigned -emulation of death. - -His ruse was successful. - -But now the moment for action had arrived. Yet he did not move a -muscle and respiration seemed to have ceased utterly. - -One of the ponies moved a step forward, having sighted a fresh bit of -tender verdure. Its body was thus projected between the main arm of the -troop and the prostrate outlaw, hiding his movements from them. - -With a blood-curdling yell that sent terror to the hearts of the -soldiers for an instant, Jesse leaped to the startled pony's back. He -seemed to spring from the ground as if impelled by some giant spring. - -So unexpected had been the move that the troops stood paralyzed--unable -to move hand or foot. In fact, no comprehension of the real meaning of -the scene--of the terrible tragedy that had taken place before their -very eyes--had forced itself into their minds. - -The outlaw's yell of defiance had accomplished the exact result that he -had intended it should. - -"It's James!" roared the Captain in a fearful rage. - -"Take aim! - -"Fire!" - -Twenty Winchesters crashed, a dull flash of flame lighted up the -scene and was instantly lost in a pall of suffocating smoke, the -reverberations from the explosion, thundering from peak to peak of the -surrounding mountains. - -The command was repeated and again the guns of the troopers spoke -hoarsely. - -Coincident with the first volley the outlaw had thrown himself down on -the horse's side, away from the attacking force, Indian fashion. He was -a master of every trick known to savage warfare, learned in the school -of Quantrell years before. - -So suddenly had he gone down that at first they thought he had fallen. -But the world's greatest outlaw was not thus easily to be disposed of. - -"It's a trick," yelled the Captain. - -He was goaded to desperation. - -"Fire at will!" he commanded. - -"Give it to him! Shoot low and fast!" - -Still another heavy volley broke the stillness. - -"Mount and pursue!" came the stern command. - -Jesse rose in his saddle and swung the Winchester that he had drawn -from the saddle holster, on his enemies. - -Two soldiers bit the dust. - -The troopers sprang to saddle. The death of their companions had filled -them with mad lust for the blood of the desperado. Now they were -yelling like a band of Indians who had discovered that their coveted -prey was almost within their grasp. - -The fleeing bandit made a sudden discovery. The opposite side of the -circle of troops was drawing in on him. But instead of taking alarm, -Jesse was quick to note the advantage that their manoeuvre gave him. -The newcomers fired a volley into the air to warn the Captain of their -location that he might not fire into the ranks of his own men. - -Jesse shouted a jeer, and rising in his saddle again, pumped his -Winchester first into the ranks of one body of troops and then into the -other side, continuing to yell like a Comanche Indian on the warpath. - -It was maddening. Not a shot was fired in answer by the enemy. - -A blast of the bugle had commanded the troops to "cease firing." - -"Charge!" - -The notes of the command rippled musically from the bugler's horn and -the troops, swinging to saddle as one man, swept down in pursuit. - -They were moving in a half circle formation, now. - -"We've got him this time, sure," exulted the Captain. - -"Depends on whether our horses are faster than his, which I very much -doubt," objected the Lieutenant. - -"You've still got a few things to learn, young man," retorted his -superior officer. "When you have been in the service longer you'll find -out an officer has to use his eyes and every other sense that nature -has given him, if he expects to save his hide, letting alone catching -the enemy." - -"I don't catch you," shouted the Lieutenant above the sound of the -fleet-footed rushing ponies. - -"He is headed for the canyon. That's what I mean." - -"The canyon! Good God!" gasped the young officer. - -"Surrender!" roared the Captain. - -"It's sure death to go on." - -The desperado rose in his stirrups. He again emptied his Winchester -into the ranks of the pounding troop on his flanks. - -The feel of the swift-moving little Indian pony beneath him, filled -him with unholy joy. On a fleet-footed animal the great outlaw feared -neither man nor beast, and in very truth, few of the wild men or -savages of the turbulent west, were his equals in the saddle any more -than they were when it came to quickness on the trigger. - -Three ponies fell as the result of his deadly fire, and as many riders -were hurled into the air, an instant later to fall with a sickening -thud as they struck the hard ground. - -But the outlaw did not turn to note the result of his fusilade. He had -other momentous things to occupy his mind at that moment. - -Casting his Winchester aside he threw his full weight on his toes in -the stirrups and sat crouching like some wild animal about to spring -upon its unsuspecting prey. - -The desperado's eyes were fixed and staring. - -Ahead of him yawned the black and awful abyss. - -Driving in the rowels of his spurs until the pinto snorted with pain, -Jesse fairly threw the hardy little Indian pony at the rocky canyon. - -"My God, he is going over!" cried the Lieutenant, aghast at the awful -leap the great bandit was about to take. - -"He don't see it! He don't see it! - -"Halt! The canyon!" roared the young officer in the stress of his -excitement. For the moment he had forgotten that the man he was warning -was he for whose death half a continent was clamoring. - -"He knows it, you fool!" snarled the Captain. "Don't you see he's going -to jump it?" - -"But its certain death." - -"So is this," gritted the commander of the troop. "It's death either -way he takes it, back or front. - -"Call the halt or we'll be going over with him, the whole pack and -parcel of us." - -The bugle sounded its warning short and sharp. - -On the very brink of the precipice stood a giant spreading oak, and -into it's broad shadow the world-famous desperado drove his mount, a -veritable living projectile in its undeviating flight. - -The notes of the bugle trilled again and the horses of the troopers -slid to their haunches perilously near the brink. - -"Fire!" rang the stern command. - -Once more the heavy Winchesters crashed. - -A wild yell greeted the volley. - -But whether of pain or triumph they did not know. - -With a scream of awful fright, the pony leaped high in the air and -plunged far out and over the terrible precipice. They heard his body -buffeted from rock to rock in its descent. And finally as they listened -they caught the sound of the impact when it struck for the last time on -the rocks far below. - -Not a man spoke. They were too full of wonder and horror for speech. - -A heavy silence had fallen over the scene of death. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -IN THE HANDS OF THE REDSKINS. - - -"Well, I guess that will be about all--that settles the career of the -world's greatest bandit," averred the Captain. - -Both officers and men stood on the brink of the black chasm, gazing -down fearsomely into the apparently bottomless pit. The thought of the -fearful plunge that they had just witnessed, had a sobering effect on -all of them. It had stirred within the men an emotion almost akin to -fear, and each trooper as he turned away, felt a little chill trickle -up and down his spinal column, all in spite of his stern effort to -repress it. Hated as was the great outlaw, the soldiers rated him as a -brave man, a quality that touches a responsive chord in every soldier's -breast. - -The Captain broke the silence, his words falling on them almost like a -blow. - -"No living man could come out of that fall alive," he continued. "It is -a sheer drop of more than two hundred feet to the bottom of the gulch, -and there isn't a ghost of a show for anything human or inhuman that -goes over it. - -"Lieutenant, take a squad of men and ride north until you strike the -entrance to the gorge. The water is low at this time of the year and -you can easily get up to the point where the bandit and the pinto -struck. This time there won't be any question about it. He won't look -very pretty, but we've got to get him to the fort as soon as possible, -for the weather is warm." - -"Right, sir; but I should like to know how he played that scurvy trick -on us?" demanded the Lieutenant. "I can't get it through my head how -our men ever missed him." - -"That is elemental. He lay down before the volley was fired!" - -"That's all right, Captain, but I still don't understand how he knew -we were going to shoot," persisted the Lieutenant. - -"Because he was Jesse James. That's the only answer I can give you. I -made my mistake when I failed to order a volley fired into him after -he was down. That's the trouble when troops are opposed to savages and -outlaws. We fight according to the rules of civilized warfare while -they--well, they are just common murderers. Warfare to them is only -assassination. - -"Have the recall sounded, then start for the gulch. Jesse James is dead -for the last time." - -But once more the army officer had been tricked. - -In a pure game of wits, he with all his military training and his -experience in fighting savages, had been outwitted. When it came to -pitting one man in a battle of wits against another, Jesse James had no -known peer. He never seemed to come to the end of his resources, and -the most desperate situations, the moments of the gravest peril, gave -him not the slightest apprehension as to the ultimate outcome. He was -able to cope with them all, come when and how they might. - -As he lay, back down, on the rocks, after the first volley had been -fired by the troops, the great desperado formed his plans concisely -and definitely, and these plans, as it proved, he followed without the -slightest deviation. - -Jesse had heard the command of the Captain to prepare a litter and it -brought a sardonic grin to his hardy face. - -"They sure will need that litter themselves before I get through with -them," he muttered. - -The outlaw reasoned with marvelous precision, just what the soldiers -would do, and, therefore, his quickly laid plans worked out without the -slightest slip or miscarriage. - -The great oak tree on the brink of the precipice proved Jesse's -salvation, as he proposed that it should. Had it not been there, -another and different ending to his escapade, might have resulted. - -But the officers did not attach any special significance to the -fact that the outlaw had driven his pony straight for the tree in -his mad flight from them, seeing only in the act a desire to put an -end to himself rather than fall into the hands of the United States -Government. Still the tree was the key note to the situation--the -one factor that enabled him to elude his pursuers, and at the same -time save himself from being dashed to certain death on the rocks two -hundred feet below. - -As his pony shot into the shadow, Jesse raised himself in his stirrups -and caught a low-lying limb. With the agility of a trapeeze performer -he drew his body up and free of the horse just at the instant when the -bullets of the troops sang by beneath him and the screaming pinto went -dashing to its death. - -Like a squirrel, Jesse ran up the trunk of the tree, and there he -perched, his body convulsed with fiendish glee at the neat trick he had -turned on the cavalry troop for the second time that night. And it was -with intense interest that he listened to the comments of the officers -down below. - -"So, Jesse James is dead, eh?" he chuckled. - -Yet at that moment the supposed dead man held with steady hand, a heavy -"Colt," trained on the redoubtable captain. The officer was nearer to -death than he ever knew, and Jesse himself, was not so far from it as -he thought. - -It was a relief, however, that he noted the final departure of the -troops. Jesse was anxious to get back to the cave. He wondered that -none of the band had been out in search of him. This augured trouble -of some sort. And he wondered too, how successful Dew Drop had been -in corralling Great Bear's medicine man, for he felt that the need of -the herb doctor's services, was urgent. Perhaps that was where the rub -lay--perhaps his whole outfit had been picked up by the redskins. - -It suddenly occurred to the desperado too, that no redskin had shown -himself during the melee. Certainly they had not been so deaf as not to -have heard the bombardment of the cavalrymen. - -"There's sure something doing," he muttered. "Things look kinder -ticklish." - -Jesse decided that it would be wise to get away while the coast was -clear. The troops were now well out of the way. - -But his cogitations were rudely interrupted by a guttural grunt at the -foot of the tree. - -Jesse started. - -He recognized the sound. No other than a redskin could give vent to an -exclamation like that. - -The desperado's gun came out in a flash. He peered down through the -foliage, dimly making out the figure of a savage. Perhaps the Indian -was alone, but more than likely there were others nearby. - -The outlaw, adopting the policy of the savages, waited patiently for -further developments. But all hope of the redskin not being aware of -his presence in the tree, was shattered a moment later. - -"Ugh," said the Indian. - -"Great snakes," muttered Jesse. - -"Jesse James, um up tree," announced the Indian stoically. - -"That I am for certain," growled the great bandit chieftain, under his -breath. - -"Jesse James um in a fix." - -"Great Bear, as I'm alive," whispered Jesse, slipping down the tree -trunk a few feet. - -"Pale face um fool sojers. Um no fool Great Bear. Great Bear um see -many things. Um see sojers shoot Jess Jame. Great Bear know um not -shoot Jess Jame. Jess Jame he play possum. Ugh. Great Bear um wait. Um -want pale face for umself. Huh." - -"Well, you've got another guess coming," retorted the outlaw. - -Jesse began parleying to gain time. He first wanted to know if the -chief was alone, which fact was all-important to him in his present -predicament. - -"Great Bear go away," he called down gently. "Great Spirit up here in -tree," he crooned with subtle cunning. - -"No, no!" protested the chief, "Great Spirit not for pale face. Great -Spirit stay Indian." - -The great desperado fingered his guns nervously. It required all the -self control he could impose upon himself to refrain from shooting the -redskin, where he stood in plain view of the man up the tree. It was a -terrible temptation, but the bandit-chieftain resented it manfully. - -"All right, old moccasin foot, we'll see about that later!" - -Great Bear, he realized had been a witness to his brush with the -cavalry troops; but with a cunning characteristic of the savage that he -was, had viewed it with keener eyes than had the officers of the troop. - -"Um Jess Jame come down," grunted the chief. - -"Jesse James will come down when he gets good and ready, you greasy -old cutthroat," he jeered. "Great Bear had better look out or my men -will shoot him in the back. Do you think I'd let you stand there making -threats at me all this time without killing you, if I hadn't known my -men had you covered. You are not half so smart as you think you are, -eh?" - -The old chief did not change his position in the least. - -But meanwhile Jesse was cautiously making his way down the trunk of the -tree, yet in doing so not so much as displacing the smallest particle -of dry bark whose falling would warn the savage of his approach. - -"Ugh," grunted the chief. - -"Ugh it yourself," threw back the desperado. - -"Um lie. Great Bear um know Jess Jame. No paleface get Great Bear. -Paleface all gone. Indians here--Great Spirit here. Indian in -bush--many Indian in bush there," indicating a half circle by a sweep -of his hand. - -"Ah," exclaimed the desperado. - -Jesse had drawn from the big chief the very information he was seeking. -He knew now that the savage was alone. "When an Indian tells you a -thing is so, you know it isn't," was Jesse's motto and it was the one -he applied to the present case. - -Still, he dared not use his guns. - -Great Bear, perhaps, following the same process of reasoning, stood -confidently awaiting the moment when the desperado should find it -convenient to move. - -"Pale face no jump. Um fall down big hole like pinto," he warned. - -"Don't worry, my sweet papoose," jeered the outlaw. "Jesse James don't -jump down holes, nor does he run away. But he's going to kill an Indian -bye and bye, when he gets down. But paleface going to stay up here -till Big chief gets sore feet waiting for him. Good night, you old -dog-eater." - -The great desperado laughed and chuckled, all with a purpose, but not -so loudly at any time that his voice could easily be heard beyond the -circle of shadow thrown by the great tree. - -"Ugh. Pale face, dog--" retorted the savage. - -But he got no further. - -Like a flying projectile, a dark object was hurled from the tree. -Straight did it speed at the copper-hued savage below, and as true as -if it had been from a mountain battery. - -The projectile was none other, however, than the great desperado -himself. With rare cunning, Jesse had step by step, drawn the chief's -attention from his real purpose, the while occupying the time in -getting into the most advantageous position for the carrying out of his -plans. - -The outlaw's flying body with unerring aim, hit the savage fair and -square and both men went down in a heap. - -Great Bear uttered a grunt of terrible rage, but could not speak. The -terrific impact of Jesse's heavy body striking him, knocked all the -wind out of his savage body. - -But the Indian's arms suddenly closed over the desperado in a crushing -grip. Jesse, tough and muscular as he was, felt that his ribs were -being slowly, but relentlessly crushed in. - -Neither man spoke a word at first, each playing for an advantage that -would enable him to reach his knife. - -One of Jesse's bowies that he held in his teeth, when he jumped, was -lost at the moment his body struck that of Great Bear. - -The desperado now discovered that his antagonist was working slowly -toward the precipice. But whether he thought to frighten the outlaw or -whatever his motive, Jesse checkmated it. - -"S-s-o--that's y-o-u-r g-g-a-m-e is it?" he gritted, "you black hearted -savage. All right, if you want to go over, come on." - -Great Bear changed his mind instantly. - -"Jess Jame um brave man. But Injun kill um," he hissed between breaths. - -Over and over the combatants rolled, first one gaining a slight -advantage which would be quickly lost to the other. Great Bear on his -side possessed one advantage that Jesse did not--he was stripped to -the waist while the outlaw was fully clothed. This gave the Indian -something to hold to, while Jesse's grip on the perspiring skin of his -antagonist was an uncertain thing. - -But the bandit king was working his hands upward as frequently and as -rapidly as he dared. Once when he had succeeded in forcing Great Bear -to his side, with the left hand pinioned under him, Jesse's right shot -up and his fingers closed over the savage's right ear. With a grunt of -rage Jesse's hand came away covered with blood. - -The hand held the ear of his savage antagonist. But the stoical Indian -gave no sign that he had been injured. If anything the terrible wound -gave him added strength. - -A sudden upward expansion of his muscles, chest and abdomen, fairly -lifted Jesse into the air. - -When the two came down, Jesse was underneath. In a moment more their -positions were reversed. - -Great Bear's fingers closed over the outlaw's throat, while the -desperado's knee forced itself into his adversary's abdomen with -terrible force. - -The Indian emitted a grunt, which was followed by another as the -desperate outlaw bored in and in with the bony knee until it seemed as -if the flesh of the other's body must give way and let the knee find an -easy path. - -The Indian's grasp slackened and Jesse's terrible fist smote him -squarely in the face until the blood of the savage spurted into his own -eyes. - -Again and again the outlaw rained sledge hammer blows on his opponent's -face until it was reduced to a bloody pulp. But still the desperate -battle waged. - -Now and then both men would lay still for a moment, clasped in a -desperate embrace, gasping for breath, but speaking no word. - -The time for vituperation had passed. - -It was now a battle to the death. - -They were wonderfully matched. And though Jesse's hands and face were -smeared with red blood that showed ghastly in the moonlight, he had -sustained no wounds. - -In a moment of relaxation he jabbed a thumb with all his force into the -savage's eye. - -The pain must have been excruciating. But the redskin gave no sign that -he sensed its pain. - -Great Bear had succeeded in unsheathing his knife, but his hand -instantly was pinioned to the ground where the great outlaw held it in -a vice-like grip. - -All at once Jesse released his hold on the knife hand. The hand with -lightning-like quickness shot up to make the fatal thrust. - -It got no further. - -With a movement equally quick, the desperado caught the hand and with -an unexpected movement bent it backward. - -"Snap!" - -Great Bear cried out, and the hand hung limp. - -"Ha, ha! Reached you, did I?" gasped Jesse in triumphant tones. - -Great Bear snarled like a wounded animal. - -The hand though useless, slipped about the outlaw's neck and the -savage's arm pinioned it in a grip of iron, while with his free hand he -showered blows on the bandit's side. - -Jesse fastened his teeth in the redskin's cheek and when he pulled away -there was left a great gaping wound, and the bandit spat out his toll -of human flesh. - -The Indian's grip on Jesse's neck was released and Great Bear with his -free hand dealt his antagonist a frightful blow on the side of his head. - -Jesse sunk down and all grew black about him. - -With a muffled yell of fiendish joy Great Bear sprang free of his -antagonist, throwing Jesse with crushing force to the ground where he -lay for a brief moment on his back. - -The redskin scrambled for his knife. - -It was but the work of an instant for him to secure it. - -He made a mighty leap for his desperate, fallen antagonist, his face -contorted with the awful passion that was raging within him. - -But the brief respite had given Jesse's wonderful recuperative powers, -time to act. Yet he lay perfectly still calmly awaiting the onslaught. - -The Indian sprang clear of the ground, projecting his body at his -fallen antagonist and with gleaming knife held aloft for the fatal -blow, was descending upon him with crushing force. - -In his rage he did not pause to think or to consider. The lust for -human blood overcame all other emotions and blinded the savage's -judgment. - -The outlaw's eyes were upon him, but this, Great Bear did not know, nor -would he have heeded had he seen. - -Quicker than the human eye could follow, the desperado's knees doubled -up, his legs were drawn back. - -The feet shot out with terrific force, catching the savage redskin full -in the abdomen. - -Great Bear doubled up like a jack knife and catapulted in the air, -turning a complete somersault, ending up by landing on his head on the -hard rocks some distance away. - -The Indian toppled over and lay still. - -It was now Jesse's moment to act. - -He too sprang into the air. - -His heavy boots landed full on the Indian's face, mangling and -mutilating it almost beyond human semblance. - -But the uncertain footing threw the outlaw from his feet and he fell -sprawling over the body of his antagonist. - -In an instant he had whirled over. - -Again the combatants were locked in a deadly embrace. - -It seemed as if human flesh and blood could not stand the terrible -gruelling that each desperate man had sustained. - -Still the battle waged on as sanguinary as before. - -Never had such a desperate fight to the death been known in all that -wild, barbarous country, and the story of it has been handed down--told -in tepee and at firesides to this day. You can hear it any day should -you chance to come across some old trapper or Indian chief when either -is in a communicative mood. - -But neither man of iron could conquer the other. - -Jesse while holding his antagonist down, had pinioned both arms to -the ground and with hands in the redskin's hair, was beating his head -against the rocks, with an impact that might have been heard for many -rods around. - -He hoped to wear out his antagonist in this way. Both men's knives had -now been lost beyond recovery, and nothing but pure muscular prowess -could decide the equal battle. - -All at once Jesse sensed that some one was approaching him from the -rear, but whether friend or foe, he could not tell, for all behind him -was in a deep shadow now. - -His guns were still in their holsters, but the sudden strain that the -desperado put upon himself to draw them, was futile. The Indian's grasp -of iron could not be broken for the infinitesimal space of time that -was necessary to give Jesse an opportunity to jerk his "Colts" from -their resting place. - -With a mighty effort he twisted his antagonist about so that he could -partially look behind him. - -The discovery that he made was enough to shake the stoutest nerves. - -Over him towered the savage, malignant face of a giant Indian. - -He held in his hands a club which was descending on Jesse's head with -fearful force. - -Like a flash the outlaw dodged and the blow fell upon Great Bear's arm, -crushing it, and bringing from the warrior a groan of agony. - -Jesse sought to free himself from the killing embrace. - -He was a second too late. - -Again the mighty club was swung on high. - -It landed fair on the bandit's head. - -The world's greatest desperado toppled over the form of his antagonist, -with a subdued moan. - -Jesse did not move. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -UNDER THE BRANDING IRON. - - -"Take that rock off my head," Jesse caught himself mumbling as he -slowly returned to consciousness. - -Two factors had served to save the outlaw's life: One that the Indian -behind him had struck him a glancing blow, and the other that Jesse -James' skull was too thick to break by any ordinary means. - -But the blow had been a terrific one and the outlaw's head throbbed -like a locomotive under full headway. - -He emitted a subdued groan and tried to move. To his surprise he found -he could not. - -He was now conscious of shooting pains through his whole body. His arms -were stretched above his head, and when he sought to draw them down by -his side, he found he could not move them. - -Jesse cautiously tried to move his feet, but like the arms, these also -refused to respond to his will. - -"That's queer," he thought. "I wonder if I'm dead." - -He tried to recall the incidents that had preceded his present -condition, but his mind was sluggish and just as he would almost come -upon a solution of his strange condition, memory would elude him again. - -He tried to open his eyes, but the eyelids seemed held down by some -irresistible weight. - -For a time the desperado sought to gratify the sensation of drowsiness -that seemed to steal over him. Then he would suddenly awake with a -start, the pain in his body more intense than before. - -At last with a mighty effort of will he dragged his heavy eyelids open. -At first he could see nothing for the darkness, then little by little -he made out his surroundings. - -He was in an Indian tepee. - -"How did I get here?" he wondered. - -He tried and tried to think. - -Suddenly memory returned like a blow. - -He remembered it all. The desperate battle on the ground--the club that -finally had laid him low. But beyond that all was dark. - -For a moment he could not make up his mind whether it was night or day, -but glancing up he noted that the flap that covered the entrance to the -wigwam showed a tiny ray of light through a fine slit that its owner -had made for secret observations when within. Jesse wished he might be -able to pull himself together sufficiently to get up and peek out. - -But the effort to raise only gave him pain. - -He sensed that his holsters were still at his sides and by their weight -against his leg he judged that his guns must be in their places. - -The thought gave him comfort. The outlaw's guns had become as much a -part of himself as were his hands or his feet. - -As his mind by slow process began to clear, he set about finding out -why it was that he could not move--whether he had been seriously -wounded or what mysterious force was holding him down. - -The discovery came as a distinct shock and roused all the rage that his -savage nature was capable of. - -He was bound hand and foot. - -Jesse's inclination was to give voice to his passions--to hurl -invective at his unseen captors, to taunt them, to goad them, but not -to plead. Jesse James had pleaded with no man in his eventful life. It -was not in his nature to do so, nor would he begin now. - -Yet he did not quite understand what manner of torture they had -inflicted upon him to put him in such pain. But it was a matter of only -a moment or so before he was made acquainted with his exact situation. - -The great desperado had been subjected to the humiliation of being -bound hand and foot. And more than that, his manacled hands had been -triced up to a stake protruding from the ground some eighteen inches, -and the feet had been treated similarly. His position was such that the -weight of his body was a constant strain upon the thongs that bound -him, a strain that extended through his entire body. - -Jesse swore a terrible oath. - -"I hope I killed the cursed savage," he gritted. - -But his fond hopes were dashed almost at the moment of the utterance of -them. - -The flap was slowly pulled aside and an evil, ghastly face peered in--a -face so torn and mutilated that Jesse observed nothing familiar in it. - -He stared at it without speaking. - -All at once he noticed that an ear was missing from the place where it -should have been. - -Then Jesse understood. - -The face was that of his late antagonist, Great Bear. - -The desperado laughed mockingly. - -Great Bear jerked aside the flap so viciously that he tore it from its -fastenings, allowing it to drop slowly from his lingering grasp as he -surveyed his captive with malignant eyes. - -"Welcome to our home, old scarred-face," jeered Jesse. - -Great Bear made no reply, standing with head erect, searching keenly -for some sign of fear or weakening in the face of his captive. - -After a time, the redskin squatted on the turf and with chin in hands -sat holding the outlaw with a steady gaze. For an hour he sat thus, -Jesse glaring back at him with menacing, challenging eyes. - -"Ugh! Paleface brave man," he grunted. - -"Ugh! Big Chief a dirty cutthroat," retorted Jesse. - -"Huh!" said Great Bear. - -"I can lick you with one arm tied behind my back, old pizen snake," -leered the desperado. "Let me up and I'll show you." - -Great Bear rose, and stepping to the door gave a terse, guttural -command to some one without. Returning to the wigwam, he squatted down -at the great bandit's feet again and resumed his intent gaze into the -other's face. - -"Well," questioned Jesse, "Am I so purty that you can't keep your eyes -off'n me? Think you'll know me when you see me again? I'd know you -among a million with that face. I certainly did lam it to you, didn't -I? I ought to have killed you when I had the chance up the tree there, -but I hated to take an unfair advantage, even of such an old murderer -as you are." - -While the outlaw was now suffering terrible tortures from his strained -position, he gave no sign to the waiting Indian chief. - -A silent-footed savage appeared in the doorway, placing before the -chief an earthen jar from which a thin curl of smoke ascended. - -But even then Jesse did not catch the full significance of the chief's -intentions. - -From the receptacle the Indian removed a short iron rod. It's end was -at white heat. - -Great Bear moistened a finger at his lips and touched it. The rod -hissed angrily. - -Jesse understood now. - -It was a branding iron. But still he did not quail, though his passions -rose in a perfect storm. - -"Paleface like um?" grinned Great Bear once more causing the hot iron -to hiss. - -"Never ate any," retorted the desperado with a grin that was even more -expansive than that of the chief. "Going to brand some stock that you -have stolen, eh?" - -"Huh! Indian no brand cows. Um brand men. Um burn you." - -"Oh, so that's the game is it? You're going to brand me like you would -a critter on the range? Well, what do you think my men will do to you -if I don't get away from here before you do it? Think they will do -anything to you, you black-hearted cur?" - -"Paleface no hurt Indian. Paleface all dead." - -"That's a lie. One of them is here now watching you. He'll carry the -word to the men and if there is not enough of them left he'll go to the -fort for help. Guess the soldiers wouldn't do much to you." - -Great Bear cast a glance that was almost apprehensive, out through the -opening. With an expression that was half snarl, half grunt he drew the -branding iron from the pot and squatted down beside the great outlaw, -leering down into his face, gloating over the joy that was to be his. - -Roughly he tore apart his prisoner's shirt and drove the blunt, white -hot iron against his chest. - -The iron hissed again. But this time a little thin line of blue smoke -curled upward. - -Great Bear inhaled a deep breath of heavenly satisfaction as the odour -of burning flesh permeated his nostrils. - -Jesse steeling himself, glared back at his tormentor. He gave no sign -that he sensed the excruciating torture. But the lines of his mouth -drew tense and hard. - -The redskin replaced the iron in its heating pot and sat gloating over -his victim as it burned again to a white heat. - -Next he bared the left side of the outlaw and carefully selected his -spot with the eyes of an expert, he applied the torture rod, holding it -in place with steady, resistless pressure. - -The agony that the victim suffered was almost more than human being -could endure. - -But still the man of iron there at the stake made no outcry, gave no -sign, still smiling up at his tormentor. But the eyes were not in -sympathy with the smile on the lips. They were cold and steely--they -were the eyes of the gun-expert at the moment when he is about to take -the life of a human being. - -"Great Bear," began Jesse in an even, emotionless voice. "I shall be -going away from here pretty soon. You will be dead then. I shall kill -you. But before I go I am going to cut out your tongue and feed it to -the dogs. Then I shall cut off your other ear and give it to the first -drove of hogs that I meet. You'll be up in the Happy Hunting grounds -then and you can't help yourself." - -Once more the fiendish redskin tuned his branding iron to a sizzling -white heat. - -Great Bear felt the outlaw's cheek apparently with the intention of -applying the iron there next. But for some reason, he evidently changed -his mind. Carefully slitting the shoulders of Jesse's shirt, he burned -a deep, livid impression on each, holding the iron for what, to the -tortured bandit, seemed ages. - -The great desperado was faint and dizzy, and tepee and savage danced -before his eyes in a most outlandish fashion. Jesse wondered vaguely -if all had gone suddenly crazy. But he had borne the ordeal without so -much as a groan. - -Great Bear scrutinized the outlaw's face keenly, and what he saw filled -his soul with savage glee. - -The Indian grunted a long-drawn grunt of satisfaction and laid aside -his instrument of torture. - -"Injun come again," he informed as Jesse opened his eyes once more. -"Come tomorrow sun up. Take eyes out. Jesse Jame no fool Injun this -time. No fool sojer. Byemby Jesse Jame Indian kill um. Injun get heap -money for kill um Jesse Jame. Sojers no get um paleface. No get um -money. Huh!" - -"Jesse James will beat you yet," gasped the desperado weakly, mastering -his faintness by a supreme effort. "He'll kill you!" - -"Ugh!" breathed the savage, picking up his fire pot and departing from -the wigwam without another word, nor once looking back at his miserable -victim. - -His fiendish torture had only just begun, and the anticipation in the -mind of the savage was the keenest of all his inhuman emotions. He -could afford to wait and he would yet see his victim writhe in agony -and scream out as the awful pain was inflicted upon him. - -Jesse emitted a long-drawn pent up sigh of relief, and a slight moan of -agony escaped him as he closed his eyes wearily. - -Great Bear had been gone but a moment when an Indian whom Jesse had -never seen before, stalked in and made a careful examination of the -tortured captive and his wounds. - -From the savage's actions Jesse judged that he must be a medicine man. -The outlaw grinned sardonically. - -"Want to find out how much more I can stand, eh?" he jeered. "I'll take -all you blood-thirsty devils can give me, don't you forget that." - -His suspicions were confirmed when shortly after the medicine man had -departed, three other Indians accompanied by Great Bear entered the -wigwam, the chief giving them some terse directions in his own tongue -that Jesse could not understand. - -He did, however, understand the purport of it when the thongs that -bound him to the stake, were severed by the strike of a keen-edged -knife. - -The desperado was roughly turned over on his face, and while two -stalwart savages sat on him to hold him down, his arms were brought -down to their normal position, then securely tied behind his back. - -It was not much to be thankful for, but the change brought to Jesse the -most heavenly sensation he ever had known. - -His inclination was to draw a deep, long breath, but he resisted and -shut his lips tight. - -He would not give them that satisfaction. - -The thongs that held his feet were now made doubly secure, so that in -reality he was more helpless than before. But he was not inclined to -complain, though the desperado never had been in such sore straits -before. - -His tormentors left him. - -Jesse had been left lying on his face, the Indians not taking the -trouble to turn him over. But after satisfying himself that he was -alone, the outlaw cautiously rolled over on his back and rested for a -few minutes. But his new position enabled him to see out through the -opening, only the upper part of the flap having been put back in place -by the savages when they left him. - -He discovered that two stolid Indians had been left on guard. They -were squatting on the ground in front of the wigwam. And now the -desperado's mind began to work like a piece of well-oiled machinery, -planning an escape. But just how he expected to accomplish this, was -not clear to himself. Yet to his resourceful mind, no situation was -impossible. Therefore the outlaw took cheer and set about the task in -hand, regardless of the stinging pain from his burns, that he was now -beginning to sense more keenly. - -The desperado pricked up his ears at the sound of voices outside. He -recognized the tones of Dew Drop, the Indian maiden. She was speaking -loudly in her broken English, and Jesse understood instantly that she -intended he should hear what she was saying. - -Somewhere within her words there lay a message for him. - -Dew Drop had launched into a perfect tirade of invective against the -helpless desperado there in the wigwam, and with straining ears he -listened for the words that would give him a clue to her motives. He -observed too, that the shadows of night were falling. Between these two -incidents the desperado believed there was a connection that augured -well for his plans. - -Once during her conversation with the Indians, he caught the words, -"fire-water." Then Dew Drop's voice was heard no more, and he -understood that she had gone away. - -His heart sank. Perhaps he was wrong in his surmise, after all. - -But Jesse's spirits revived a moment later when he heard her returning. -He was at a loss at first to account for her movements. That something -of interest to himself was occurring, Jesse was firmly convinced. But -wriggle about as he would, he could not get a glimpse of the group -outside. - -However, the desperado's curiosity was soon rewarded. - -"Firewater. That's it," he exclaimed. "By the great humping snakes. -Sure as I am alive, the little savage is filling them up. I wonder what -she's got up her sleeve now? If I only was able to get hold of my guns. -I'd help her clean 'em out." - -The sky was heavily overcast and black night had settled down over the -scene, when finally labored breathing and guttural snores from without -told the desperado that little Dew Drop's medicine had done its work -well. Heap big Injun had gone to the happy hunting ground of dreamland. - -But the bandit's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice beside -him. - -"Jesse Jame," breathed the soft, purring voice of the Indian maid. - -"Right you are, my little Dew Drop--" - -"S-h-h-h!" cautioned the girl laying a soft, warm palm over his lips. - -The sensation was peculiarly pleasant to the great bandit. - -"Me cut um lariats. Um Jesse Jame go back by paleface brothers--" - -"Where are they?" interrupted Jesse. "Do you know where they are now?" - -"Dew Drop know. Dew Drop um know too bad chief kill um Jesse Jame -morning." - -"Hurry, little one," he begged, "let me get my guns. I must get out of -here now." - -He heard the girl utter a little startled exclamation as if she had -been suddenly surprised by some one from without, then she sped away as -silently as she had come, much to Jesse's surprise. - -"Well, that gets me." - -He could not understand her peculiar actions. - -At least the desperado did not propose to remain quiescent when the way -to freedom had been laid open to him. Dew Drop too, must have ere this, -told the members of his band of his predicament, but by the time they -were able to reach him, it might and probably would be too late. - -Seconds were precious. - -"I'd be a fool to stay here any longer," muttered Jesse. "The kid -fluttered away like a frightened bird. Guess I'll go to." - -Going, for the great desperado, however, was a far different matter. He -could not walk nor could he crawl, and there seemed only one way left -open to him, and this he adopted. He rolled. - -It was not a dignified exit that he made from the wigwam, but it was -better than being bound and guarded there with the prospect of further -tortures in the morning. - -He found his first difficulty was in getting out of the wigwam without -pulling it down about him. This might attract attention and defeat his -plan of escape. But Jesse finally accomplished it by going out head -first, wriggling along like a clumsy snake on a frosty morning. His -burns tortured him excruciatingly, but the great desperado shut his -teeth together savagely and began to roll. - -His two Indian guards lay directly in his path. Jesse with some -misgivings and a greater effort, rolled over them as the quickest way -to get on. - -The Indians grunted but did not wake up, which he was positive would be -the case in their condition. But the feel of their bodies against his -had stirred the blood lust within him and suggested a new idea to the -great desperado. - -"If my hands only were free," he growled. "Ah, I have it. I'll try it," -he gritted, with blazing eyes. - -Quickly the outlaw rolled back to them. Now he was bent on a terrible -revenge. And he forgot for the moment his own deadly peril in his -ferocious desire to be revenged on Great Bear. - -With as much speed as his manacled condition would permit, the great -outlaw worked his head along the body of the Indian nearest to him. -Not finding what he sought at first, he braced his feet with great -difficulty and putting forth an almost superhuman effort, pushed and -pushed against the redskin with his head, until the savage had been -rolled over. The deed, however, had required a supreme effort. - -The Indian squirmed and muttered surlily, but to the desperado's -intense relief, did not awake. - -Jesse searched at the side he had just turned up, and with a savage -exclamation of delight, bit hard at the Indian's waist. - -The desperado's face came away with the redskin's bowie between his -teeth. - -The outlaw could have shouted, so great was his joy. After laborious -effort he succeeded in setting the keen-edged blade more firmly between -his teeth, so that only the hilt was held by them. - -Cautiously he squirmed and wriggled until his head and shoulders were -over the body of the redskin whom he had again rolled over on his back. - -The great desperado, still holding the knife in a vice-like grip -between his teeth, twisted his head at right angles to his body and set -the needle-like point of the blade, on the Indian's abdomen. - -The cruel blood-thirstiness of what he was about to do made no -impression on him, for Jesse was bent on a terrible vengeance. And it -was a moment of supreme ecstasy for the bandit-chieftain, bound and -manacled and helpless as he was. - -Suddenly throwing the weight of his body on his toes and neck, the -deadly bowie, by the sheer force of the outlaw's own weight, was driven -into the Indian's bowels while the blood in a sudden red sheet, spurted -into his mouth and eyes. - -The redskin sprang almost clear of the ground, then settled back with -a heavy groan, his stupor too heavy to resist the work of the vengeful -blade. - -With a fiendish light in his eyes the desperado gloated over the death -throes of the unconscious savage, whose writhings, whose agonized -twistings and muscular contractions, sent the outlaw into an ecstasy of -delirious joy. - -After a little, the Indian stiffened out and lay still. - -"One!" snarled the desperado. - -Once more the avenging outlaw crawled laboriously to his victim. And -that despite the fact that every moment's delay placed his own life -more and more in jeopardy. - -Now came the most difficult part of his task. The bowie, driven in to -its keen-edged limit, was tightly wedged in the body of the dead savage. - -With feverish haste, the world's greatest desperado again buried his -face in the awful pool of blood. - -His teeth closed over the slippery hilt of the blade. - -But it stubbornly resisted all his efforts. - -The knife was too firmly embedded in its human sheath, to come away at -his command. - -The cords of the outlaw's neck swelled to enormous proportions from the -fearful strain he was subjecting them to. - -He sought to accomplish his ends, in another way. Biting the hilt as if -he would sever it in twain, Jesse pushed against it with all the weight -of his body. The keen edge, under his irresistable pressure, cut its -way into the Indian's flesh at right angles to his body, thus widening -the wound and making its sheath less binding. - -Back and forth did the blood-thirsty outlaw work the blade. - -He pushed and he pulled like a dog wrestling with a bone. He shook it -like a rat. Then he gave it a long, vicious tug. - -The bloody blade came away with a sickening sound. - -And the desperado fell backward with a terrible curse. Yet, withal, his -grip on the bloody hilt did not relax. - -Now came the most arduous task of all, that of crawling over the body -of his victim and rolling to the remaining savage, without losing the -knife from his teeth. The feat was not so easy as it would seem, and he -could accomplish it only by keeping his head from touching the ground -over every inch of the way. - -He struggled desperately. - -Minutes elapsed. - -But the second redskin died more speedily than had the first, Jesse -having given him a terrible thrust with the deadly blade. And with -eager, fascinated eyes he watched the death agonies of his victim. In a -moment all movement ceased. The man was dead. - -Jesse's work of vengeance, for the time, was ended. And now to roll for -safety, if that were possible. Should he be caught, he knew that this -time his punishment would be swift and sure. Great Bear would take no -chances with him after this. - -But just as the outlaw was about to start on his unequal journey, he -suddenly espied the figure of an Indian standing a few paces away, in -the gloom, gazing intently in his direction. - -The desperado fairly held his breath. He wished now that he had -brought away the bowie from his second victim. But it was too late to -rectify his mistake. - -Still, defenceless as he was, the great bandit devoutly hoped the -savage redskin would throw himself upon him. Jesse believed that, with -a well directed kick he could silence the fellow and put an end to him -afterwards, for his thirst for blood had not yet been satisfied. - -Though it would be a desperate chance he was willing and anxious to -take it. But he was not given a chance to put his foolhardy plan into -operation. The redskin emitted a sudden grunt, and dropping into a long -lope, sped noiselessly toward the main part of the village, that lay -some twenty rods to the west. - -Jesse was off like a flash. - -His one supreme object now was to put as much distance as possible -between himself and his savage enemies. - -But the laborious rolling process was too slow for him. - -He had rolled himself clear of the bodies of his victims, when all at -once, acting upon sudden impulse, he adopted a new and unique method of -facilitating his progress. With a tremendous effort he raised himself -on his manacled feet. - -Despite the fact that his hands were tied behind him, the desperate man -threw himself head first to the ground. None but the toughest skull -could have survived the impact when his head struck the hard ground. - -Jesse's object was now obvious. - -The instant he sensed the feel of the ground under his head, by a -sudden twist of the body, using his head as a pivot, the desperado -threw himself to his feet again, thus finishing as pretty a head spring -as ever a trained performer in a circus had done. - -With movements so lightning-like that the eye, in the uncertain light, -would scarcely have been able to follow them, the great bandit hurled -himself into a mad whirl of somersaults that carried him away from the -scene of his recent exploits almost as fast as his legs could have done -had they been free. - -He heard a loud commotion in the Indian village behind him. But whether -the savages had learned of the death of the two men or that they simply -had been told by the Indian who came upon him so suddenly, that the -sentinels were asleep, he neither knew nor cared. - -Jesse reasoned shrewdly that in any event the Indians would be delayed -a few moments in their surprise at finding their companions murdered, -and then the search for him in the wigwam and its immediate vicinity -following, all of which would give him a fair start. - -Still he knew his trail was as plainly marked as if it had been made -by a log-rolling gang, a trail which they would have no difficulty in -following at top speed. Therefore haste was all imperative if he hoped -to keep his scalp fitted in its proper place. And the world's greatest -bandit was not ready to part with that portion of his anatomy just yet. - -On dashed the desperado, his movements resembling the evolutions of a -cart wheel down a mountain road. And so rapid was his flight that he -was unable to take note of either direction or location. - -The savages were now hot on his trail. - -He could hear their shouts as they discovered it. Like the bay of the -hounds when close upon their prey they came rushing down upon him. - -Jesse redoubled his efforts. Bending every nerve to the tremendous task -before him, the terrible outlaw sprang far up into the air to increase -the reach of his next leap. - -He stiffened his nerves to meet the impact when his feet should next -touch the ground. - -But to his intense surprise, the feet did not touch at all. They were -kicking wildly in empty space. - -All at once the great desperado realized that he was falling through -space. - -Like a rock, hurled with terrific force, he had thrown himself over a -sheer precipice whose rocky bottom lay two hundred feet below him. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -JESSE TAKES A TERRIBLE REVENGE. - - -"Danged queer about Jess," declared Comanche Tony. - -"Something sure has happened to him and I for one am going to look for -him," returned Frank. - -The bandits were gathered on a broad, shelving rock looking down into -the canyon, where they had remained when Dew Drop left them after -conveying them to safety after the explosion in the cave. - -Acting upon her advice they had remained there until she should have -gone to the village to learn if Jesse had been taken prisoner or -killed, perhaps, by the savages. She had promised them a speedy return, -but hours had elapsed since her departure and the men were getting -restive. Little had been said by them, they being too full of the -thoughts of the lively incidents that had happened since they first set -foot in the mountains of Southern Colorado. - -"Better not try it till the moon comes up," advised Wild Bill who knew -the treacherous nature of the country where they were. "I calkerlate -you'd break yer danged neck tryin' to git out of here in the dark -without a guide. When it gits lighter we'd better all vamoose. We'll -find Jesse if we can, and if not we'll mosey over to tother side of the -gulch and make camp in a place I know of. From there we kin scout for -him. The gal said we was to stay here--" - -"Sure, she did," added Texas. "I reckon she knew what she was doing. -We'd better bide here a bit I reckon." - -Under their urging, Frank gave a reluctant consent, for he knew that -Jesse would expect him--would expect every one of them to come to him -at once, had they reason to believe he was in trouble. - -So they waited. One hour, two hours, and three passed, and the men had -finally decided to make an investigation, provided they could discover -the trail that led up the mountain side. They had only a general idea -of where the Indian village lay, but reasoned that they could easily -locate it by the camp fires that surely would be burning. They decided -that it would be safest to start in single file, the leader holding to -the hand of the next to him, and so on, making a human chain, the last -man to at all times make sure that he had firm hold of a tree or rock. - -"Hark," warned Frank after they had decided upon the direction in which -they would make their first attempt. - -"What is it?" asked Tony. - -"I didn't hear anything," returned Texas. - -"Keep still," commanded the elder of the James boys, listening -intently. "I am sure I heard a yell." - -"Mebby 'twas a cat," suggested Bill. "There's a lot of them in these -hills, and they're a danged tough proposition to run into when a -fellow's afoot." - -"There it is again," cried Frank in a suppressed voice. - -They all heard the cry this time and it seemed to be drawing near them. - -"Indians agin," breathed Tony. - -"By the great jumpin' cats," exclaimed Texas. "What do you suppose -they're up to?" - -"They are chasing somebody," declared Wild Bill confidently, knowing -the ways of the savages thereabouts as he did. "The question is, who or -what is it." - -"Dew Drop, mebby," suggested Harry. - -"Yes, mebby the skunks have got wise to her," added Texas. "But if the -cutthroats do her dirt they'll have to reckon with me. She's been the -squarest little pard that a bunch ever come up with. She's got some -white blood in her, I'll bet my spurs on that." - -The outlaws listened in awed silence as the yells grew louder, -increasing steadily in volume. - -"More of 'em joined in the chase," nodded Bill. "Guess the whole -village is out on the warpath." - -"And they're coming this way," asserted Frank. - -"Mebby we'd a better git back in the cave," urged Texas. "We can watch -out from there." - -"No, we'll stay right here," returned Frank, savagely. "We may have to -take a hand in this. Perhaps they are after Jess." - -"After Jess?" replied Comanche Tony laughing sardonically. "You haven't -heard any shooting going on, have you? You don't suppose Jesse James -would let a lot of dirty Indians chase him out of their village without -potting a few of them in the meantime, do you?" he demanded. - -His reasoning appealed to them. - -"I guess you are right," agreed Frank. "But squeeze up closer to the -rocks. They may take it into their heads to roll a few more boulders -down on us. Bowling with hard-heads seems to be a favorite occupation -with these copper-colored curs." - -"Yes, it's a heap o' fun for the chap on top, but it's hell for the -feller down below," agreed Homely Harry humorously. "Excuse me from the -job of settin' up the pins in this alley." - -"Silence," commanded their leader. "We may have to do some shooting -pretty soon." - -Not a word was spoken and for several minutes they waited with bated -breaths. - -Every man sensed danger and every man felt instinctively that they were -on the verge of a sudden and unexpected explosion. - -And, indeed, it did come, but in a manner totally unexpected by them. - -There occurred a sudden rattle of fine stone from above that pelted -down on the rocks like a volley from a gatling gun. - -"Crash!" - -A heavy body landed in a broad-topped tree that grew out of a deep -fissure in the rocks some twenty paces to the south of them. Then -sudden silence in the tree. - -Up above them they could hear the Indians chattering volubly, but so -far away were they that the outlaws could make nothing of what they -were saying, nor could any of the men have understood them if they had -heard them. - -"What the--" began Texas. - -Frank pushed his elbow viciously into the outlaw's ribs, to silence him. - -"What do you make of that?" whispered Tony. - -"Somebody's gone over the cliff. Or something has--I don't know." - -"In that tree?" - -"Yes. Wait till they go away up there." - -For several minutes the savages continued their talking, then their -receding voices told the anxious outlaws on the ledge far below, that -they were retracing their steps. - -"We must find out what's in that tree," spoke up Frank with emphasis, -after assuring himself that all the savages had left. - -"Hadn't we better wait till daylight," suggested Comanche. "We'll break -our necks or worse in this blackness." - -"No. That's what the redskins are going to do. At the first touch of -dawn the whole pack and parcel of them will be up on the edge of the -cliff there peering down. We've got to act now and quickly for it's -near morning." - -"Yes, the dawn breaks all of a sudden up here," added Wild Bill. - -But how to reach the tree was another matter. A wall of smooth -perpendicular rock lay between them and the tree whose outlines they -could only faintly make out in the darkness. - -"A fly couldn't walk that," averred Harry with his usual facetiousness. - -"No, we must find another way," agreed Frank. - -"Anybody got any suggestions to make?" - -"Not bein' a bird I don't know how I'd git over there," replied Harry. - -"We might cast a lariat and the lightest of us go over," suggested -Texas. - -"No, it is too far, and besides no lariat would hold us that way. -You've got to think of something better. Perhaps we can--" - -"I say, I've got an idee," interrupted Wild Bill. "I remember that when -we first came out, it being lighter, I seen a shelf of rock right above -that tree. It was twenty feet wide I opine. Now if we can manage to git -up on the rock we can turn the trick." - -"Now you are talking," commented their leader. "Bill supposing you make -the try for it. Be careful, and don't send any rocks rolling down or -you'll have the Indians back on us. Give the owl call if you make it -and then we'll try to follow you. Or better still, come back here and -show us the way. It will be safer." - -Anxious to be off, Bill threw off his coat, tightened his belt and -disappeared in the shadows silently. With cat-like movements he -scaled the jagged side of the mountain without a sound or so much -as disturbing a particle of shale from the rocks over which he was -creeping. - -To the waiting bandits down below him it seemed an age, as they stood -with strained ears to catch the signal agreed upon. - -Suddenly Wild Bill appeared before them. So quietly had he approached -that not a man of them had heard or seen him. They clutched their guns -instinctively. - -"It goes," was Bill's succinct summing up of the result of his trip. -"You've got to crawl. A snake couldn't get over that trail without -falling off," he concluded. - -"Could you make out anything in the tree?" demanded Frank impatiently. - -"Nary a thing. Blacker'n an Alabamy coon down there. And about as -slippery along the trail," he added. - -"How we going to work it, Cap'n?" asked Comanche as the outlaws, with -Wild Bill in the lead, began their perilous climb over the side of the -mountain, a single misstep in which would precipitate them to the rocks -more than a hundred feet below. - -"We will see when we get there. Be careful there Harry. Do you want -to pull the whole bunch of us down? Your feet are as clumsy as an -elephant's." - -At last the hardy outlaws stood upon the shelving rock peering down -curiously into the dark abyss below them. It was not an inviting -outlook, but Frank was determined to learn who or what it was down -there in the tree top. After looking over the ground with a critical -eye, he told the men to braid their lariats into one single rope. This -done he tested its length by letting it down over the edge of the -cliff. It reached the tree as nearly as he could make out, then he made -an end fast around a projecting arm of rock on the ledge where they -were standing. - -"Well," he demanded, "who is going down? I am not going to ask any of -you to take the risk. I would do it myself only I am afraid I shouldn't -be much good with my game leg." - -"Let me take a chance at this game, Captain," urged Comanche Tony. - -"No, you're too heavy," objected Frank. - -"I'll try it," said Texas. - -"Very well, you will do." - -They bound the rope tightly about his waist. All hands took strong hold -of it and Texas sitting down on the edge of the cliff, boldly slipped -off into space. - -The end of the rope had nearly been reached when a short sharp whistle -from below and a slacking off of the weight told them that he had -gained the goal and found for himself a foothold. - -"Hey, up there," he called softly after several minutes of aggravating -silence. - -"Yes," answered Frank quickly, lying down on his stomach and peering -over the edge. "What is it?" - -"I've made the lariat fast around his waist. Pull him up then send the -rope down for me. He can't help himself--" - -"Who can't--who is it--do you know him?" - -"It's Jess," came the answer faintly from the dark pit below. - -"Pull boys, it is Jesse," exclaimed Frank springing up more excited -than they ever had seen him before. - -"Is--is he dead?" asked Comanche apprehensively. - -"I don't know. Don't stop to ask questions now, but pull." - -Their new burden was a dead weight and it was all the outlaws could do -to get him up to the edge, where the body awkwardly caught under the -shelf of the ledge. - -"Make it fast around the rock!" commanded Frank, sharply. "Bill, you -get your arm around the rock and all join hands. All lie down." - -Quickly was the human chain forged, and with Harry holding him by the -feet, Frank leaned far out over the dizzy height and exerting every -ounce of strength that he possessed pulled the body of the great bandit -over onto the rock. - -"He's bound!" hissed Frank. - -It was but the work of a moment to sever the thongs that held him. -The elder brother already had slipped his hand over Jesse's heart and -learned that he still lived. - -"Bill where's that flask?" he demanded. - -Wild Bill passed it over and a large draught was quickly forced down -the throat of the great bandit. - -The result was gratifying. He began to choke and at a signal from Frank -they picked him up and carried him just within the mouth of the cave. - -"Hey," hailed a voice from below. "Going to leave me down here all -night? This tree's liable to give way and send me to kingdom come." - -"Pull him up," directed Frank, redoubling his efforts to bring his -brother back to consciousness. - -In this he was aided by the wonderful recuperative power of his outlaw -brother. And in a few moments Jesse sat up and rubbed his eyes, -blinking in the light of the fire they had started in the cave. - -"Hello, boys," he greeted. "What's happened?" - -"That is what we want to know," responded Frank without the suspicion -of a smile, though the others were grinning broadly. "You fell off the -mountain, that's all we know about it. We heard the redskins hitting -the trail of some one, and the next thing you did a high dive and -landed in the tree." - -At the mention of the word "redskin" Jesse's face suddenly was filled -with an expression of terrible, malignant rage. He swore a fearful -oath, and rising, rather unsteadily paced back and forth in the narrow -cave while he related all that had befallen him. Black were the faces -of the hardy band and many were the curses that the men uttered under -their breaths as they listened in strained silence. - -"And I'm going back there and wipe the curs off the face of the -mountain," concluded Jesse. - -Frank objected emphatically, to any such proceeding. He argued that -they all were worn out with the hardships they had been subjected to, -and to such good purpose that Jesse began to lean toward the point of -view of his men. - -"Well," he began when a sudden thud outside the entrance caused him to -wheel sharply, whipping out both his "Colts" as he turned. "What in--" - -The desperado chieftain sprang out and was down on his knees in a -flash. And the others followed just in time to hear him swear a -blood-thirsty oath of revenge. - -Without another word he picked up the object that had fallen in front -of their hiding place and carried it into the cave. There he laid it -down, kneeling beside it with his head bent low. - -"Who--," began Texas drawing near. - -"Why it's--" interrupted Harry. - -"By the great pizen snakes, it is." - -"It's a girl," marveled Frank, bending over the inanimate body. - -"Dew Drop," answered Jesse, in a strange voice of constraint. - -He opened the child's mouth gently and peered within. - -"The little Indian maiden's tongue has been cut out. She was then -thrown over the precipice after me," announced Jesse in a voice that -brought a chill to every human being within hearing of it. - -All the great outlaw's bodily ills were forgotten now, and in the -stress of the moment his strength had come back. He was the man of iron -once more and vengeance was written in the stern lines of his face. - -"What are you going to do?" demanded Frank. - -Jesse pointed to the body of the child. - -"There is your answer," he retorted. - -"But," began his elder brother. - -"Am I the master here or are you?" he demanded, an ugly glitter -flashing into his eyes. - -"I'll take it back; you are right, Jess," apologized Frank. - -"Any of you got any dynamite? I left some in the cave, where is it?" - -"I reckon we can't git that now," grinned Tony sheepishly, "But I 'low -we can scare up a few sticks." - -From various receptacles in their clothing, the desperadoes drew little -white sticks of the harmless-looking, but deadly explosive, all of -which they handed over to their chief. Next came a coil of fine copper -wire and a small compact battery. - -Jesse took the collection and examined it closely. - -"Good," he exclaimed. - -"Are we with you in this?" asked Wild Bill. "I allow the boys would -like to pay off a little of your score," pointing to the livid marks on -his shoulders, discernible through the bandit chieftain's torn shirt. - -"I reckon we would," added Comanche Tony. - -Jesse looked at them steadily for a moment, the lines of his face -softening almost imperceptibly. - -"No boys. This is my kettle of fish. And I'm going to fry them alone. -If I should fail to get back in an hour and you don't hear anything -doing, send Bill up to the Indian village to size things up. You will -know what to do after he gets back." - -"Be careful, Jess." - -"Put the little one in a hole in the rocks some where hereabouts and -block it up with stone so she can rest easy. We don't want any buzzards -nosing around her tender little body," was the great desperado's -parting injunction as he passed out from the circle of light and strode -away on his mission of death. - -Very tenderly they bore the body of Dew Drop, deeper into the cave. -Finding a suitable place they laid her away, blocking the opening -as directed by their chief. Then these hardy men--these men to whom -murder was merely an incident in following their vocation of rapine and -plunder, with one accord clutched their hats from their heads and stood -bowed before the shrine of the child who had given her life to save -them. - -"I reckon she war no less'n twenty-four carat fine," opined Tony, -turning away slowly. - -"She war that," chorused the others solemnly, nervously crushing their -sombreros in their awkward hands, and following slowly after him. - -Just within the entrance they paused and with one accord squatted down -on the hard rocks where they lighted their pipes. - -Few words, were spoken, for the thought that was in the minds of all -was not one to be lightly discussed, nor could they form the sentences -to frame the thought itself. - -"I reckon it's about time we heard something from Jess," suggested Tony -after a long silence. - -Frank consulted his watch anxiously. - -The men relapsed into silence again. But somehow the deadly stillness -seemed to get on their nerves and one by one they rose and began pacing -back and forth on the narrow platform of rock that hung over the great -canyon. - -Suddenly the earth began to tremble beneath their feet. - -They grasped the projecting rocks fearful that they would be thrown -over the precipice. - -A great sheet of flame lighted up the sky. And a report that seemed -as if earth and sky had suddenly been rent asunder crashed on their -expectant ears, and went thundering off from mountain peak to mountain -peak. - -"Get inside!" commanded Frank sharply. - -They obeyed the summons in the nick of time, for in a few seconds more -a rain of rocks and debris began to shower down on the ledge in front -of them. - -Comanche stepped out again, once the shower had ceased and curiously -picked up an object that had caught his eye. - -He brought it within the circle of light, holding it at arm's length -and gazed at it with fascinated eyes. - -What he held was a battered human head. The cruel, blood-thirsty, -malignant eyes of a savage redskin were gazing out at him from the -tangle of hair and lacerated flesh that he held in his hand. - -"Bah!" exclaimed Tony in a tone of disgust as he threw the horrible -object far from him over the precipice. - -Tony wiped his hand gingerly on his trousers, holding the hand up to -the light to see that no traces of his recent burden remained. - -"Ugh! It makes me feel hollow under the belt," averred Harry, turning -away and knocking the ashes from his pipe. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE BATTLE OF THE BLADES. - - -"Well, boys," greeted Jesse suddenly appearing among them. - -"That was a clean up for sartin," answered Texas, grinning. "One of 'em -come down here and Tony here picked him up. He was going to kiss the -fellow, but we wouldn't let him. Ha, ha." - -Tony went outside for a breath of fresh air. - -"Tell us about it, Jess," urged Frank. - -"There isn't much to tell," informed Jesse. - -"The fools didn't even have pickets out. I managed to shove a stick of -the stuff under the chief's wigwam--" - -"Who, Great Bear?" interrupted Wild Bill. - -"Yes. The rest of the stuff I distributed around where it would do the -most good and crawling under a rock back of the village I let 'er rip." - -"I should say you did," interjected Frank. "How many of them do you -think you blew up?" - -"I'll gamble my pistols that there isn't enough of that community left, -if patched together, to make six whole men--maybe even less than that. -It rained Indians and pieces of Indians for ten minutes steady. And you -know a lot of redskins could rain down in ten minutes. What's left of -them will never trouble Jesse James again. Eh, boys?" - -The gang nodded their approval of the sentiment. - -"What are your plans now?" asked Frank. - -"That's what I was coming to," answered Jesse. "First of all I want to -corral a side of beef or a leg of mutton. It has been so long since I -had anything to eat that my pipes have nearly growed shut. How is your -appetite, Harry?" - -"Me?" replied the homely one. "I could eat a sheep, from hoof to wool. -I've drawed my belt so tight already that the end of it trips me up -every time I try to walk. I'--I'm ready to be one of them fellers--what -do they call them fellers that eat men?" - -"Cannibals?" suggested Jesse. - -"That's the breed. That's what I'd be if I had half a chance." - -Jesse laughed good-naturedly. - -"I move we get out of this place as soon as possible. We shall probably -not be able to get a meal before morning, but as soon as we decide -on what direction we shall take, we can be on our way and out of the -canyon before morning. The first thing for us to do, it seems to me, is -to get some horses. Ours have gone. Either the soldiers or the Indians -got them. Most of the Indian ponies went up in my little explosion, and -those that did not, ran away. - -"I know where there was some ponies yesterday," spoke up Comanche. "I -saw a whole bunch of them grazing on the mountain on the other side of -the canyon over there." - -"We'll see about that later," replied Jesse. "The question is, what -direction shall we take? It won't do to go north, for we are liable to -run into more of the troops. The fort is off in that direction, and -they would be glad to see us. - -"How about it, Bill? You know this country. Is there any place near -here where we can lay up for a while and not get sold out--a good safe -hang-out where the grub is plenty and not too many babblers around?" - -Wild Bill considered the question carefully for a moment. - -"I opine I could find such a shack," he answered with a grin. "I know a -fellow who would take us in and be danged glad of the chance--" - -"Is he all right?" demanded the desperado. - -"Well, they'll all bear watchin', I reckon. He makes his living out -of a stage coach now and then. When business is poor he catches a -prospector or something of the sort. Guess he'll do though." - -After long and laborious effort the outlaws succeeded in picking their -way down the steep mountain side. Instead, however, of following on -down the canyon toward its foot, they turned abruptly south, and the -dawn was appearing in the eastern sky, when, foot-sore and weary, as -well as ill-tempered, they finally ascended to the broad plateau to the -west of the canyon, but as they looked across, nothing was to be seen -of the Indian village where the stirring incidents of the previous day -had occurred. - -"Any almost-food places hereabouts, that you know of?" demanded Jesse -of Wild Bill. - -"No, but there's a ranch about two miles west of here. And the fellow -used to have a fine bunch of Kentucky thoroughbreds. Probably stole -them at that, but they were dandies--" - -"Good. Me for the ranch," exclaimed the great desperado as the men -settled down in a long lope with anticipations of a steaming breakfast -at the end of their journey. - -It was just sun-up when the bandits finally approached the ranch, and -Jesse announced his intention of going to the rancher's cabin alone, -while the others remained in the background. But upon second thought, -he told Wild Bill to accompany him. - -No sign of life was observable about the place, and the outlaws were of -the opinion that the household had not yet awakened. - -The great desperado struck the door of the cabin, several thunderous -blows with the butt of his revolver. But there was no response to his -noisy summons. Stepping back a few paces he gave vent to a roar that -should have awakened the soundest sleeper. - -"Hullo the house!" he shouted several times, but without result. - -Having failed to bring any response at all, the outlaw adopted a more -drastic method of arousing the inmates of the place. He heaved a rock -through an upper window, then set to with a will kicking the door with -his heavy boots. - -Then a most surprising thing happened. - -The door suddenly flew open. A brawny hand grasped the outlaw by the -collar and jerked him violently inside. Then the door was slammed to -behind him. - -At the instant of the occurrence, Bill's attention was directed in -another direction. He had observed a bunch of likely looking horses -grazing in a large corral on beyond the cabin. He was watching them -with envious eyes. And his surprise was therefore great, when, upon -turning he found that Jesse had suddenly disappeared. Not twenty -seconds had elapsed since he first turned his attention to the horses, -and he had heard no sound of voices nor the opening and closing of -doors. - -Bill did not like the look of things, and dodged behind a tree to wait -further developments, though just what he expected might occur, he was -unable to define to himself. There had been no commotion within the -cabin so far as he had been able to observe. He could not relieve his -mind of the feeling, however, that his chief was inside and that he -was in difficulty of some sort. But what to do under the circumstance, -he did not know. Perhaps the bandit-chieftain was working out some -suddenly laid plan of his own, and to interfere with which would be -fully as serious for Bill as would be the leaving of his chief in -danger. - -Wild Bill finally made up his mind to hurry back for consultation with -his companions. Acting upon this impulse he turned and ran swiftly -back, dodging in among the trees to screen his movements as much as -possible, from any prying eyes that might be about. Seeking out the men -he quickly made known to them the strange situation. - -Frank's keen perception reached a solution of the problem instantly. - -"Of course Jess is inside. They opened the door and pulled him in. -That's what there is to it. You heard no shots?" - -"Nary a shot." - -"Then there is a bunch of them in there," he emphasized conclusively. -"Can we get near the place without being seen from the cabin?" - -"Yes, the trees run down pretty close to it on one side. At the back -they are further away. The corral is in back and there is a bunch of -fine nags there too." - -"Ah," exclaimed Frank, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Come on -boys, we have got some more work on hand." - -"And danged little grub," added Homely Harry ruefully. - -"I calkerlate we'll corral some of that too," grinned Comanche Tony. - -"Yes, but we will be lucky if we don't get a belly full of lead," -warned Frank with his customary pessimism. - -By this time they had come within sight of the cabin, but still, no -sign of life was discoverable to their keen eyes. The place might have -been deserted for aught they could observe. - -The leader decided to wait, and, placing a man on either side of the -clearing so that no one could leave the place without being seen by one -of them, the bandits settled down as patiently as their empty stomachs -would permit. They were well supplied with rifles and ammunition, -provided for them by Dew Drop, and so far as fire arms were concerned -were in position to do effective work. - -"Why not give 'em a volley?" suggested Comanche Tony. - -"Yes, and probably kill Jess," growled Frank. "That would be a fool -thing to do for sure." - -"I've got a plan," suggested Wild Bill. "If there's any duffers inside, -it'll smoke 'em out sure enough, I reckon." - -"Quick, out with it," commanded their leader. "We must do something." - -"It's this. Supposing one of us goes over to the corral there and cuts -out a hoss. Let him bring the critter along and tether him out here -somewhere in the bushes. I reckon they'll show their hand about that -time if there's anybody there," grinned Bill. - -Frank appreciated the force of the argument. - -"I should imagine they would," he agreed. "Better leave your rifle -here, but see to it that your side arms are in working order. We will -support you from the bushes with our rifles if necessary." - -Wild Bill, skirting the clearing, kept well within the line of trees -until he had arrived opposite the corral. The latter now being between -him and the cabin, effectually screened his approach to the horses. - -There still was no movement about the place, and the bandit, crouching -low, roped a fine, rangy thorough-bred and led it out through the rear -of the corral where saddles and bridles were hanging in a row on the -fence. - -"This is like gittin' money from home," muttered Bill as he saddled and -bridled the supple-limbed animal. - -All being in readiness, the hardy desperado swung himself into the -saddle. But instead of adopting the safer course and cutting into the -forest at his right, Bill dug the rowels of his spurs into the sleek -sides of his mount, and with a wild whoop dashed straight across the -clearing to where his companions were waiting with guns trained on the -cabin. - -To their surprise and mystification, however, not a word nor protest -was raised from the mysterious cabin. - -"Well, I'll be--" began Bill, pulling up and surveying the clearing in -perplexity. - -"Try it again," suggested Frank. - -"We have got a good horse, anyhow. Go back the way you went before, -don't hurry. If they see the performance is not to be repeated they -will turn their attention this way." - -The desperado's plans had been laid with savage cunning, but the -fruition of them seemed as far away as when they began. - -Again had the clever outlaw reached the corral without being detected. -And as before, he made a choice of the best animal in it, which he -quickly roped, led out and mounted. But before setting out on his -journey to the other side of the clearing, he drew one of his trusty -"Colts," grasped the reins firmly and dug in the spurs. - -This time, however, the outlaw rough rider adopted a different plan -acting on his own initiative. He drove the animal first straight over -the course previously followed, but when almost opposite the cabin, -suddenly whirled toward it, passing within a rod of it at express train -speed. - -As the desperado swept by a rifle crashed from an upper window, but -Wild Bill's sudden and unexpected change of course had destroyed the -marksman's aim and his bullet flew harmlessly over the rider's head. - -Like a flash, Bill threw down his gun on his assailant who stood in -plain view up there in the window, with rifle poised for another shot. - -Rising in his stirrups the outlaw took a quick pot shot back at his -adversary, uttering a savage yell of triumph and challenge as the man -lunged head first from the window with a bullet through his heart. - -Still, the outlaws off under the trees, divining his purpose, held -their fire, and Wild Bill made safe cover with his second capture. - -A shout of triumph from the assembled outlaws was quickly suppressed by -Frank's stern command. - -It was his purpose to leave those in the cabin, if persons there were -there, in ignorance of their presence until the moment for action -should have arrived. - -It came too, unexpectedly. Two men, who somehow had managed to leave -the place unobserved, were driving toward them on fleet horses that -they had quickly taken from the corral. - -"Well, of all the tarnation fools," exclaimed Wild Bill as he observed -them coming. - -"This simplifies matters," breathed Frank. - -"Halt!" he commanded stepping to the edge of the clearing. - -A fusilade of revolver shots greeted his order. - -"Then take your medicine," he snarled. - -The desperado's Winchester crashed twice. The two foolhardy horsemen -toppled from their mounts dead. And to complete the coup, Wild Bill -dashed from cover and skillfully roped the two animals, leading them in -triumph to the outlaws' hiding place. - -"If we wait long enough things will come right to us," he laughed -tethering the horses in the bushes. - -"Know that bunch?" demanded the leader. - -"Never sot eyes on 'em before. They don't belong in these parts. I -shouldn't be surprised if they was in here on a raid of some sort. And -I'll gamble too that the fellow what own's the place ain't there. If -he is he ain't takin' any part in this ruction." - -"Well, what do we do next? Want some more nags?" - -"Yes, better go back. We'll draw the rest of them out, if there are -any more in the place. I would charge it, but it would be sure death -to Jess and suicide for the rest of us. We must draw them out without -showing our hand if possible. Failing in that we shall have to wait -until night. Jesse is a captive and--" - -"But what's the game?" asked Texas. "I never see such a queer one in my -time." - -"We will find that out later. Mebby the answer won't please us and -mebby it will," was Frank's enigmatic reply. - -Suddenly Wild Bill held up his hand for silence, his head extended -forward in front of his body in an intense listening attitude. - -"By heavens they're shooting!" he cried. - -"To horse, all that have them!" roared the leader. "The rest jump on -behind. Unsling your rifles as you go. - -"Half go to the rear and the other half to the front. Smash the door in -and shoot quick and fast." - -By this time they were half way down the clearing. But those within -were too busily engaged with their own affairs now to notice the -bandits sweeping down upon them. - -"You fellows in the rear duck and look out for our bullets if we get -in first. If you break in before we do, we'll lay low!" was Frank's -parting injunction to his men as they separated. - -Leaping from their saddles the outlaws rushed on the door which went -crashing in under their combined weight. - -The room was so full of powder smoke that at first they were unable to -distinguish a single object. - -"Here I am over in this corner," roared Jesse. "Shoot the other way!" - -And they did. - -A volley of rifle shots rang out from both sides, but the bandits had -dropped to their knees and fired up at their adversaries, whose bullets -had whistled over the newcomers' heads and buried themselves in the -logs of the cabin. - -"Once more!" thundered Jesse. - -Again the outlaws poured their deadly fire into the ranks of their -enemy. And just then the door of the cabin at the rear crashed in and -Wild Bill and the rest of the bandits rushed in. - -With them came the sunshine and the gentle morning breeze that swept -away the smoke. - -Seven men lay dead and groaning on the floor. - -"Jess, where are you?" cried Frank, peering over the ghastly array of -faces. - -"Here," answered Jesse. "Come and release me." And sure enough the -notorious outlaw lay over in one corner. His hands were free, but his -feet were securely bound, and in this condition he had been holding his -desperate adversaries at bay, after surreptitiously freeing his hands. - -Wild Bill's revolver cracked spitefully, and one of the fellows who had -scrambled to his feet and sought to sneak away, went down with a bullet -in his leg. - -"Get him Bill!" roared the desperado chief. "He's the leader of this -gang. But don't kill him." - -And while Frank was releasing his brother, the others turned their -attention to the men on the floor, all of whom were dead save two, -besides the fellow Bill had winged in his attempt to escape. - -Jesse's face was stern and those of his followers who chanced to -observe the expression knew that the blood lust was once more strong -upon their leader. - -"Bring that fellow here! He seems to be the leader of this gang." - -Tony jerked the cowering wretch to his feet and turned his face so the -full morning light shone upon it. - -"Hello, Sam," greeted Wild Bill with a grin. - -"Know him, do you?" questioned Jesse. - -"Know him? I should say yes. He's Sagebrush Sam, one of the orneriest -coyotes that ever pulled a trigger." - -"He is the fellow that laid me out with an iron bar when they jerked me -into this place," announced Jesse grimly. "Now Mr. Sam, I reckon you'll -answer a few questions." - -"I ain't answerin' questions for the likes of you," snarled the captive. - -"There is a ring up there in the joist boys, trice him up by his -thumbs." - -They did so, so that only the fellow's toes touched the floor. In a few -moments he was writhing in agony. - -"Did you know me when you saw me coming up to the cabin?" demanded -Jesse. - -No answer. - -"Trice him up higher!" commanded the great desperado. "He'll come -around in a minute or two." - -Great beads of perspiration were rolling from the victim's face and -signs of weakening were already noticeable in his agonized features. -Jesse grinned appreciatively. - -"Let me down! Kill me! I can't stand this!" groaned the unhappy wretch, -his head dropping forward listlessly. - -"Let him down. He's fainted," announced Jesse. - -They forced a draught of whiskey down the man's throat after having -laid him on the floor. - -"Now get up!" commanded Jesse administering a vicious kick as Sam came -back to consciousness. "Where is the man who owns this joint?" was his -first question. - -Sam pointed to the floor. "Down cellar." - -"Dead?" - -"No. We tied him up and left him there yesterday." - -"What for?" - -"We allowed we'd take his money and his horses. He sorter didn't take -to the notion, so we put him away--" - -"Wait a minute. Texas, go down cellar. Now go on. What next?" - -"That's all." - -"You lie!" roared Jesse striding forward and pressing his bowie against -the fellow's throat. "You wanted those horses--what did you want them -for? Quick!" - -Jesse's keen mind had instinctively divined that the fellow had -possessed some motive that he did not want to make known to them, and -therefore, the desperado reasoned that this self-same information -might prove useful to Jesse James. - -"For to go to Silver City." - -"Silver City? What for?" - -"We 'lowed we'd stake out a claim thereabouts." - -"String him up again boys," commanded the bandit chieftain. "He can't -tell the truth any other way." - -"I'll tell, I'll tell," cried Sam. "Kill me, for God's sake don't do -that again." - -"I am waiting. Go on." - -"It was this way," began the captive hesitatingly. "They's been some -big strikes in the mountains there and the bank we'd heard was keeping -a lot of the dust and like, for a big shipment east in about a week." - -"So, you were going to soar high--you were planning to rob a bank, eh?" -sneered Jesse. - -Sam nodded wearily. - -"Where is this bank?" - -"It's in the half of the building where they has the postoffice. It's -an easy job if a fellow's got the nerve to go in in the daytime when -the safe is open--" - -"So you got a gang of cutthroats together and were going to steal the -horses to go down there and try it, hey?" - -"I could do it as well as Jesse James--" - -"That will do," warned the notorious outlaw. "How many banks are there -in Silver City?" - -"Two. But I reckon the other one don't amount to much. It's in the back -of a store about two streets down." - -"What is the name of the first one?" - -"The Silver City National. It's run by a man named Kemp from the east. -But they do say he's stole more money by giving the miners underweight, -than the whole pack of 'em has got out of it. I reckon it wouldn't do -no harm to trim up that kind of a skunk." - -"No, one skunk is as bad as another," returned Jesse significantly. -"How much money or how much gold did you figure old man Kemp would have -in his money bags?" - -"We figured there'd be close onto fifty thousand," was the startling -reply. - -The bandits pricked up their ears and evinced a sudden interest in the -conversation, but Jesse continued with his examination as carelessly as -if the matter were of no moment to him at all. - -"How do you happen to know all about this, Sagebrush Sam?" - -"I wuz over there last week--" - -"And of course you blabbed your plans to your cronies. Oh, you make me -sick." - -"No, no, honest to God, I didn't. I never told a living soul -except--except a fellow that helps around the post office. He was to -meet us when we got there and tell us how the wind blew--" - -"And he was to get--how much?" - -"We 'lowed we'd give him ten per cent of the rake off." - -"H'm," mused Jesse. "What is the fellow's name?" - -"Jake Fowler." - -"Well, what next?" - -"There ain't no next. I've told you all there is." - -"I'll tend to you in a minute. Where's that rancher?" - -"Here," answered Texas, leading in a very much bedraggled and sullen -individual. - -The notorious desperado related to him what Sam had just told them in -so far as it concerned the rancher himself and asked the man if it were -true. The latter said that it was. - -"Then you haven't got any particular love for Sam here, eh?" chortled -the desperado. - -His men knew that their leader had some scheme in mind, but what it was -they could not imagine. - -The rancher's face suddenly filled with murderous hate. - -"I'd like the chance to show you--and him," replied the other, turning -a malignant look on their prisoner. - -"Mebby we'll give you the chance. But first I want to make a little -bargain with you. We want some horses. We're prospecting through here, -and the Indians attacked us on the other side of the gulch, stampeding -our ponies, and we barely got away with our lives." - -The rancher nodded. - -"I hearn them tell there was doings across the gulch." - -"We will give you a thousand dollars for six, our own pick." - -The owner started to protest. - -"And here's your money," continued Jesse, without giving the fellow -an opportunity to object. "Not a cent more. You've had one experience -today and you'd better take the offer." - -The rancher looked from one to the other of the stern faces about him. - -"And besides we have saved your life, eh?" - -"I'll take it," was the terse reply, as he reached for the roll of -bills that the desperado extended in his open palm. "What about the pup -over there?" - -"Got a gun?" asked Jesse. - -"They took 'em away from me." - -"Here's mine. Use it if you want to," replied the outlaw carelessly. - -"You, you mean--" - -"Oh hurry up, or give me back the gun," retorted Jesse. - -"You ain't goin' ter kill me be yer?" begged the miserable captive. - -The rancher was fingering the gun at his side with convulsive fingers, -his face growing more malignant with deadly hate from moment to moment. - -"Bang!" - -Sagebrush Sam wavered and plunged forward on his face, dead. - -"Good job," commented the desperado. - -The rancher had fired the fatal shot without so much as raising the -revolver from his hip. - -"You ain't no slouch on the trigger," commended the bandit chieftain. -"There are two more fellows over there who haven't had enough medicine -yet. I observe they are trying to crawl away now. Wait, don't shoot. -Bill, straighten them up. Can they stand?" - -"I reckon they can," grinned Wild Bill. - -Jesse strode over to them and handed each a keen-edged bowie. - -"Fight," he commanded tersely. - -The horror of it sent a shiver down the spine of every man in the room. - -The men were friends, and the hands bearing the knives settled slowly -to their sides as they looked into each other's eyes. - -Two guns in the notorious outlaw's hands barked viciously at the same -instant and each of the unwilling combatants lost a portion of one ear. - -"By Judas that was a shot," exulted the rancher. "Mine ain't in it with -that. Fight, you measly spalpeens!" he roared and Jesse smiled as he -noted that the blood lust had taken supreme possession of the man. - -"Yes, fight," added Jesse, notching the ends of the arses of both men -with another of his wonderful shots as if to emphasize his command. - -In blind despair the unhappy wretches raised their knives and with -tightly closed eyes struck blindly out into the air. - -"Close in," commanded Jesse sternly, sending a bullet ploughing through -the upper lip of either man. - -And now in blind consuming rage the victims began to strike. Their eyes -were wide and in the desperateness of the moment, friendship turned to -un-dying hate. - -Each proved an expert with the knife. Their blades flashed in the -sunlight whose rays slanted down through window and door. - -It was thrust and parry as they leaped from side to side, forgetful of -the wounds that the bandits had inflicted on them in the earlier battle. - -Now and then a bowie would come away stained half way to its hilt. - -Not a word was spoken. - -The labored breathing of the combatants and the chilling clash of -blades, were the only sounds that broke in upon the sweet-scented -stillness of the mountain morning. - -The scene held the spectators breathless. Even the great outlaw found -himself interested in the desperate battle. - -Blood was over everything, but the desperadoes heeded it not. The -rancher's eyes were strained and the eyelids, drawn far up against the -forehead, never once closed in a wink. - -The blade of one antagonist went through the other's scalp, and a -crimson stream spurted half way across the room. The faces of each were -scarred with crimson rivulets that were constantly fed from the blood -springs above. - -The blade of the other sheathed itself in the shoulder of his -antagonist, and in the next second each was tugging at the hilt of a -knife in his opponent's shoulder. - -The shirts of the desperate combatants were hanging in ribbons where -the keen blades had been drawn in hopes of finding a human path and -through the rents livid streaks showed in strong relief against the -white flesh. - -Weak from exertion and loss of blood, the fighters staggered together -and with arms thrown about each other's necks, hung resting each upon -the other. - -"Break away!" thundered Jesse. - -His voice seemed to rouse them suddenly--to renew the hate that for the -moment had been allowed to slip like a mantle from the hearts of the -two friends. - -Their movements were slower now and less certain. - -Finally each with a hand upon the other's shoulder began swinging the -free arm to give it momentum and even then their blades did not reach. - -"Thrust!" roared the blood-thirsty bandit chieftain. - -Exerting a supreme effort a hand swung away from each body and -returning empty hung listlessly at its owner's side. - -Each had buried his blade in the abdomen of the other. - -For a full moment the antagonists stood with hand on each other's -shoulders. - -At last their bodies began to sway. - -They toppled and fell. - -The body of one lay sprawling upon that of his friend. - -And neither man moved again. - -"I guess that will be about all," said the notorious outlaw in a harsh -rasping tone that chilled them through and through. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE FIGHT IN THE "GOLDEN ARROW." - - -Silver City lay at the base of two great mountain ranges. - -It was, like most mining towns of that time, filled with a floating -population of gamblers, prospectors, miners and bad men. However, a -semblance of law and order had been established by the new sheriff, -Ben Teall, whose courage and quickness on the trigger had gained for -him no little respect among the gun-toters of that rough country. Some -who had doubted both these qualities, were now occupying six-foot -claims in Silver City's graveyard. - -Ben never pulled a trigger unless convinced that his own life was -in danger, and then he shot to kill. The fact that he still lived -was evidence that he had never yet failed of accomplishing that much -desired result. - -Bill was standing back to the bar in the Golden Arrow saloon one -evening two days after Jesse and his companions had departed from the -cabin of the rancher, headed for Silver City. - -The green baize door that was the pride of the Golden Arrow, swung in -and two strangers entered, who attracted Ben's attention instantly. -They were well set up, sharp-featured and clear-eyed fellows, and -though there was nothing about their dress to distinguish them from -the other habitues of the place, Ben mentally put them down as secret -service men; but what mission they could possibly be bent on there, he -could not understand. - -The two sat down at a table and ordered whiskey with "rain water" on -the side, and the keen-eyed sheriff noted that while they only took one -sip of the fire-water, they took down the "rain water" with evident -satisfaction. The rest of the whisky was dumped onto the floor. All -this he noted under half-closed eyelids. - -"If they ain't service men, they'll bear watching," was his comment. - -After a little the newcomers and the sheriff's eyes met, and each saw -in the other something of interest. - -"That's the sheriff over there sizing us up, or I'm a goat," mumbled -Jesse to his companion, who was none other than his elder brother. - -"Is he next, do you think?" asked Frank. - -"No, he don't know us. He's looking for somebody and he ain't sure -whether we are the ones or not." - -"Hadn't we better make believe we have finished and walk out? I don't -like the idea of hanging around and letting the whole town spot us, -anyway," growled Frank. - -"You can go. You ain't tied," sneered Jesse. "But come on, let's be -good-natured. There ain't no call for you and I being sore on each -other." - -"No, that's so," agreed Frank swallowing his resentment toward his -brother for the time being. But try as he honestly did, not to hate -his brother, at times the old feeling would come out. Yet on the other -hand, between the two was a strong bond, perhaps due more to the -strenuous scenes through which they had passed together, than to any -tie of brotherly love. - -"That man and I are going to mix it up some day," mused the sheriff. - -"Say," said Jesse to his companion, "if that fellow don't quit boring -into me with his eyes I'm going over and hand him something hotter than -the fire-water he gits over the bar of the Golden Arrow. It's beginning -to get on my nerves. - -"But watch out. He's got something else on his mind now I reckon," -warned Jesse suddenly. - -The green baize door had swung in and the man who was entering let -it close to behind him with a snap, as he quickly stepped inside. -His hands fell to his holsters as he swept the room in one quick -comprehensive glance. - -"One of Silver City's bullies," decided Jesse under his breath. - -"I know the breed. I believe the pup is going to shoot." - -At that moment Jesse's glance alighted appreciatively on the sheriff. -He was standing with folded arms gazing at the bad man with a challenge -in his eyes. - -"Steve," said the sheriff in a quiet voice, "I've told you to get out -of town before sun-up tomorrow; I've told you to keep out of the gin -mills tonight. If you're here five minutes from now I'll kill you." - -With that the sheriff turned away. - -"Jim," he said to the bartender, "give me a cigar." - -But the move came near to being a fatal one for the little officer of -the law. - -The instant his back was turned, one of the bad man's guns came out -with a flash and his eyes blazing with terrible rage he was throwing it -down on the man who had given him his final notice to quit. - -But he was not quick enough. - -"Bang!" - -The notorious outlaw's trusty "Colt" had spoken first, and the bad -man's gun fell to the floor, as its owner uttered a howl of mingled -rage and pain. - -He reached for his other gun with the left. - -"Hands up!" commanded the desperado in an even voice. "I reckon we -don't 'low curs like you to shoot men in the back." - -Instantly the room was in an uproar. There were those present who, -though they had not deemed it wise to express their sentiments in the -presence of the sheriff, were Steve's cronies on the side. - -Their hands flew to their guns. - -"Hands up, every mother's son of you!" roared the desperado in a -terrible voice that thrilled every man in the room. "Come over here," -he said jerking his head to one side for the sheriff to join them, and -while Jesse's eyes swept the evil faces about them the sheriff calmly -walked over to where the two outlaws were standing, and took his place -beside them. - -"Thanks, pard," he breathed. "You winged him. He won't use that hand -again right away." - -A gun flashed at the far end of the room. - -Jesse's 44 barked viciously and the other's bullet buried itself in the -wall behind him. But his assailant fared not so well. He sank to the -floor with a dull red mark placed fairly between his eyes. - -Now guns crashed everywhere. The sheriff worked his weapons with the -rapidity of a gatling gun. But Jesse and Frank fired now slowly. They -were at a disadvantage. They were unable to distinguish friend from -foe, while the sheriff knew every man there. So the two outlaws kept -their sharp eyes dancing from face to face and at the least sign of -treachery, the man went down with a bullet well placed somewhere in his -anatomy. - -By now the battle was getting too hot for most of the miners and bad -men and they took to the windows like a flock of frightened sheep. The -temptation was too great for the notorious outlaw to resist. He was in -a devil-may-care mood this night, and his recent exploits had whetted -his appetite for more desperate deeds. - -He discharged a quick volley after the fleeing men, and though not -once shooting to kill, inflicted wounds from which many an unfortunate -fellow never recovered. - -The firing ceased. - -Jesse laughed harshly. - -The bar tender poked his head above the bar cautiously. - -"Gentlemen all finished?" he asked, peering suspiciously at the three -men on the other side of the room. - -"That depends," answered the desperado easily, "upon whether there are -any other gentlemen in need of pills around here. If you know of any -more would-be bad men go out and get them. We might as well clean out -the whole danged town while we are at it, eh, sheriff?" - -Suddenly Jesse wheeled and sent a bullet crashing through the green -baize door. - -This was followed instantly by a yell of pain and one of the bad man's -friends, plunged headlong into the room dead. He had been taking -careful aim at the great desperado, who suddenly sensing that danger -lurked beyond the door, had fired. - -"Say pard," glowed the sheriff, "I've seen some pretty tall shooting in -my time and I'm something on the trigger myself, but you fellows have -got anything in Silver City backed clear off into the gulch. Shake." - -Jesse extended his hand and bowed with mock gentility. - -"There's only one man that I ever heard of who could handle a gun like -you do," continued the officer of the law. - -"And he?" smiled the outlaw. - -"And he is Jesse James." - -"_And it is Jesse James who stands before you_," was the outlaw's -startling and unexpected reply, one of those devil-may-care impulses -that now and then stirred him on to acts that from their very daring, -overcame all obstacles and brought him out victorious. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE DOUBLE BANK ROBBERY. - - -For a moment the sheriff stood like a man stricken suddenly dumb. Jesse -faced him with a mocking smile on his face. - -"You--you are--Get out of here! Vamoose quicker'n a streak of greased -lightning. Don't you know I'm an officer of the law?" exclaimed the -gamey little sheriff suddenly turning his back on Jesse and Frank. -And the latter two with a laugh walked from the scene of carnage and -disappeared in the night. - -"Well," snarled Frank, "you have put your foot in it this time -everlastingly." - -"Oh, I don't know. We'll see," was his laconic answer. - -The two men walked across a vacant lot, picked up their horses, -mounted and rode out to a mountain gulch nearby, where they joined -their fellows. It was no unusual thing for horsemen to be seen on the -streets of Silver City, and therefore it excited no comment when seven -men rode in from different directions on the following morning. The -uniform quality of their horseflesh, however, did attract the attention -of the mountaineers, but though each carried a Winchester in his saddle -holster, the men excited no more than ordinary interest. - -So changed in appearance were the notorious outlaw and his brother -that it would have been a keen eye indeed, that would have been able -to discover, under their disguises, the men whose guns had done such -deadly work in the Golden Arrow on the previous evening. - -None of the newcomers appeared to be traveling together. Now and then -one would drop from his horse and visit a saloon, two visited the -postoffice and others took in a general store below in which was the -second bank. - -But had one been suspicious he might have noted a certain method in the -actions of these newcomers who seemed to be everywhere at once, and yet -acting without any apparent motive. - -After a time the band seemed to have formed in two sections--one at the -north end of the main street and the other at the south, the latter -section consisting of fewer men than the northern group. - -On the north might have been found the great outlaw, his brother having -cast his lot with the band to the south. - -Jesse sauntered carelessly into the postoffice and asked if there was -any mail for Jim Howard. - -While the postmaster was looking over his letters Wild Bill slipped -behind the case and dealt the postmaster a terrific blow with the butt -of his revolver. - -While the act was in plain view of the street through the large front -window, there chanced to be no one passing at the moment, and neither -was the brutal assault observable to those in the bank on the other -side of the partition. - -"Who are you?" demanded Jesse as a fellow, hideous in his hunchbacked -deformity leered up into his face. - -"I reckon I don't know you either?" was the enigmatical reply. - -"You're Jake Fowler. I know you." - -"But you ain't Sagebrush Sam. What do you want here?" - -"S-h-h," whispered Jesse. "He sent me here. How many men are over there -behind the counter of the bank?" - -"Two, the owner and the cashier," informed the other, his eye twinkling -with intelligence. - -"Call them over here. Tell them the postmaster has been hurt. They -won't see me, but my pard here will cover them the minute they get -behind the case, and we'll hold you in here till we get through. No -tricks or I'll shoot you full of holes," hissed the desperado, dropping -behind a barrel and motioning to Bill to make himself scarce, as Jake -ran to the bank counter in great excitement. - -"Come quick!" cried Jake. "The postmaster has been hurt or else he's -fallen in a fit." - -"What--where?" cried the two bankers excitedly. - -"Over here. Hurry." - -Jake was playing his part as if he had been studying it for months and -Jesse grinned approvingly. - -The three had stooped to raise the body of the prostrate man when they -were startled by the sudden command: - -"Move an inch and you're both dead men." - -The owner of the bank started to utter an exclamation, but the words -froze in his mouth as looking sideways he found himself gazing along -the black, menacing barrel of a heavy "Colt's." - -Jesse, not wasting the time to go around into the enclosure, had leaped -the counter and was down on his knees in front of the large open safe -whose doors were swung wide, displaying their glittering contents to -his avaricious gaze. - -Gold, bills, little sacks of precious dust were swept with ruthless -hand into the yawning gunny sack like meal from a miller's hopper. - -Meanwhile two mounted men in front had dismounted and were busily -engaged in tightening their saddle girths, apparently oblivious to -anything that was going on around them. - -Not a soul save those directly connected with the daring robbery had -been disturbed. - -With a sweeping glance around him, Jesse, observed with a grin that the -coast was clear, and came around the counter with the bag of precious -loot in his hand. - -Not a word was spoken as he passed around to the rear of the Postoffice -case. - -Raising his gun by the barrel he brought it down with terrific force, -first on the head of one and then on the other of the bankers. They -fell forward groaning. - -"Follow me and guard the rear," announced Jesse to Wild Bill. "Here's -a drunk for you baby," he added, tossing a thousand dollar bill to the -hunch-back. "Better mosey or they'll be stringing you up before the sun -is over the gulch. You'll get drunk and that'll be the end of you." - -"Can't I go with you?" leered the outlaw. "I ain't no tenderfoot." - -"Not unless you are ready to die," retorted Jesse - -"Then I'll peach," was the sudden and unexpected reply. - -A sudden rage leaped into the eyes of the outlaw. - -Throwing his gun down on the horrible dwarf he pulled the trigger. "I -guess that'll hold him a while," decided the outlaw with a cruel smile, -as the dwarf fell over dead. - -"Shall I get the money you gave 'im?" asked Bill - -"No," snapped the desperado. "Jesse James does not rob dead men's -pockets. It's his. Let him have it." - -Strangely enough to the outlaws the shot had attracted no attention. -And mounting they rode leisurely up the street toward the store where -the second bank was located. He could see the remaining members of the -band lounging recklessly about in the street in front of the place, and -wondering at the delay. - -"Something must have gone wrong," he muttered, urging his horse along a -little faster. - -Just then the ground under them was shaken by a dull heavy explosion. -People came flocking from shop and saloon and curious scared faces -appeared at the open windows of upper stories. - -"Dynamite," he growled. - -"It's the bank!" was the startling cry, taken up from mouth to mouth -and passed along down the village street, as a shouting, gesticulating, -yelling mob rushed to the store where the second bank was located. - -The desperado saw his men coolly swing themselves into their saddles -and face the mob with leveled Winchesters. - -A rain of scattered shots began to patter about those in front of the -bank. But the men held their fire, ordering the people back on the pain -of instant death. - -A thirty-two stung Comanche Tony in the cheek. - -Throwing his Winchester to his shoulder he shot the man who had wounded -him, dead. - -The citizens answered with a volley. At that the desperadoes pumped -their magazines, into the crowd, until they were emptied and then -released their revolvers from their holsters began fanning the mad mob -with deadly effect. - -Jesse, having secured the gunny sack firmly to his saddle, and so that -it might not impede his movements, rode still leisurely along. - -Suddenly he espied Frank running down the steps of the store. Like -his younger brother, Frank also bore a gunny sack and from the manner -in which Frank was carrying it, Jesse understood that his brother had -succeeded in his mission of plunder. - -Frank swung into his saddle under a perfect storm of bullets. - -With a wild whoop and a savage yell the great desperado and his -immediate companions dug the rowels of their spurs into their horses -and charged down on the crowd. - -The mob taken suddenly by surprise at this attack on their flank, -ceased firing and fell swiftly back. - -"Forward!" roared the great desperado. - -Frank and his men heard and understood. - -Their horses sprang away under the pressure of the cruel spurs. - -Now Jesse and his companions thundered down on the crowd in the wake of -the first line of fleeing desperadoes. - -All at once a slight, wiry figure sprang out into the middle of the -street. - -"Halt! I know you, Jesse James." - -But the desperado threw himself suddenly forward on the neck of his -horse as the sheriff's bullets sang over him so close to his head that -he could feel the hair on the top of his head, slightly pulled back by -the sudden suction of air from the leaden pellets. - -Both his revolvers flashed up on either side of the horse's neck. They -barked in unison and the sheriff fell dead. - -The outlaw's horse leaping over the body of the fallen officer of the -law, sped away. - -Jesse rose in his saddle and sent a volley of shots from his Winchester -into the crowd in his rear. Then he was obliged to cease firing because -of the fear of hitting one of his own men, whose bodies were now -between him and the mob. The men had swung half way round in their -saddles, reins on their horses' necks, and were pumping lead into the -mad mob with deadly effect. - -Jesse fired a signal shot high into the air. - -Their fusilade suddenly ceased. - -With a wild, blood-curdling yell, the desperadoes dug their spurs deep -into the sleek sides of the sensitive thoroughbreds and sped off like -the wind headed for the protection of the mountain fastness. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -CONCLUSION. - - -Not until the shadows of night were falling did the desperate band halt -to make camp. - -So far as they had been able to observe there had been no organized -pursuit of them attempted. But they knew full well that they would not -be permitted to escape without some effort being made to apprehend them. - -But instead of following on south as they had started, Jesse after an -hour or so changed his course and turned due east, thus carrying them -away at right angles to the scene of their late operations. This, he -reasoned shrewdly would send any posse that might follow them, off on a -blind trail for a long distance before they discovered their mistake. -To accomplish this the men had to dismount and lead their horses up a -steep mountain side where the least misstep would have precipitated -them to certain death on the rocks below. - -But the hard rocky sides of the mountain left no trail for the -mountaineers to follow. - -It was with intense relief that the men dismounted after their trying -ride, and their appetites, whetted by the day's strenuous doings, were -soon satisfied with a hearty meal of bacon and potatoes, sizzling hot -from their improvised stone stove. - -And by the light of the camp fire, Jesse and Frank spread out their -ill-gotten gains on a slab of rock. - -The eyes of the bandits glowed avariciously as package after package of -bills was thrown out, to be followed by many bags of rich, yellow gold -dust. - -A careful count of the money and a rough estimate of the gold dust was -made, Jesse figuring the total by marking on the slab of rock with a -sharp stone. - -"How much?" asked Frank. - -"It'll run better than a hundred thousand, I reckon," answered Jesse, -calmly. - -The desperadoes gave a long, low whistle of surprise. - -"I calkerlate I'd be willing to go hungry for three days any time -for such a bunch of the long green as that," averred Homely Harry -facetiously. - - -THE END. - - -Be sure to read the next story, JESSE JAMES MIDNIGHT ATTACK, or THE -BANDIT'S REVENGE ON THE VIGILANTES. In this story will be chronicled -a series of startling adventures in which the noted outlaw turns the -tables on the man-hunters who are on his trail, to their complete -undoing. It is No. 32 in the Adventure Series. - -_TO THE READER._ - - -Only in the _Adventure Series_ can you get the absolutely true and -authentic history of the lives and exploits of the - - JAMES BOYS, - YOUNGER BROTHERS, - HARRY TRACY, - THE DALTON GANG, - RUBE BURROW, - -and the other Notorious Outlaws of the Far West. - - * * * * * - -We are the authorized and exclusive publishers for Jesse James' only -son, - - JESSE JAMES, JR. - - and are the publishers of his great book, - - JESSE JAMES, MY FATHER, - -which is for sale everywhere. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Jesse James' Bold Stroke - The Double Bank Robbery - -Author: William Ward - -Release Date: May 26, 2020 [EBook #62236] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE JAMES' BOLD STROKE *** - - - - -Produced by Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="pic" /> -</p> - - - - - - - -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="ph1">JESSE JAMES' BOLD<br /> -STROKE</p> - -<p class="ph4">OR</p> - -<p class="ph2">The Double Bank Robbery</p> - -<p class="ph3">BY WILLIAM WARD</p> - - - -<p>Jesse and his band while passing through Colorado on their way east -have many exciting adventures. The great desperado is captured by the -Indians, after a battle with United States Cavalry and is rescued by an -Indian maiden. He blows up an Indian village with dynamite and performs -other of the daring feats for which he was so noted during his career. -In a mining city in Colorado, he saves the life of a sheriff and robs -two banks, from which he and his men carry away more than a hundred -thousand dollars.</p> - - - -<p class="ph4">ADVENTURE SERIES No. 31</p> - -<p class="ph5"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1909, by The Arthur Westbrook Company</span></p> - -<p class="ph5">Published by</p> -<p class="ph4">THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY,</p> -<p class="ph4">CLEVELAND, U.S.A.</p> -</div> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="pic" /> -</p> -<p class="caption">"<span class="smcap">He pushed out beyond the shadows of the -trees.</span>"</p> - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 10em;">CONTENTS.</p> - - - - - -<table summary="toc" width="55%"> -<tr><td>Chapter</td><td></td> <td align="right">Page</td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">I.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_I">Indians</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">II.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_II">Tied to the Stake</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">III.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_III">The Flight from the Cliff</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_IV">The Strange Battle in the Witch's Cave</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">V.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_V">A Desperate Charge</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">VI.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_VI">The Race for Life</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">VII.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_VII">Dew Drop Again to the Rescue</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_VIII">In the Fatal Circle</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">IX.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_I">When the Earth Fell Apart</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">X.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_X">In a Living Tomb</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XI.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XI">Jesse James' Desperate Leap</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XII.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XII">In the Hands of the Redskins</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XIII">Under the Branding Iron</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XIV">Jesse Takes a Terrible Revenge</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XV.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XV">The Battle of the Blades</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XVI">The Fight in the Golden Arrow</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XVII">The Double Bank Robbery</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td> <td><a href="#Chapter_XVIII">Conclusion</a></td> <td align="right"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td></tr> -</table> - - - - - - - - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 10em;">Jesse James' Bold Stroke<br /> - -OR<br /> - -The Double Bank Robbery.</p> - - - - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 10em;"><a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center" ><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>INDIANS!</p> - - -<p>"Look! Look!"</p> - -<p>The cry was uttered by the foremost of a little band of horsemen riding -slowly in single file over the rocky bed of what had once been a raging -torrent.</p> - -<p>Darkness was descending over the canyon-traversed wilds of Southern -Colorado and the air was hot and still.</p> - -<p>Towering high above them, sinister and awesome in the half light rose -solid walls of rock.</p> - -<p>And as the leader of the little band had rounded a jutting crag, he -beheld a sight that had brought the startled cry to his lips.</p> - -<p>Far down the canyon, two fires glowed, seeming, in the darkness, like -the luminous eyes of some wild monster.</p> - -<p>Roused by the exclamation of their companion, the others drew rein, -peering intently ahead of them.</p> - -<p>Footsore and weary, for they had travelled fast and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> far during the day -that was just drawing to a close, the jaded horses stood, with heads -hanging low, while their riders stared ahead of them.</p> - -<p>"Them's either signal fires or camp fires," grunted one of the men, -after a careful study of the brilliant lights.</p> - -<p>"Ain't you the wise lad, though," snorted another. "You talk as though -we were tenderfeet. Any fool knows they're camp or signal fires.</p> - -<p>"It's which of the two they are that counts. Tell us that and you'll be -saying something."</p> - -<p>"Well, Comanche Tony's the laddy buck who can find out," snapped the -man who had first espied the glaring fires, slipping from his saddle.</p> - -<p>And without heeding the protests of the others, he glided away, soon -being lost to sight among the rocks.</p> - -<p>The little band of horsemen were none other than Jesse James' notorious -gang of outlaws.</p> - -<p>After their sensational hold-ups of the Overland Stages in the Devil's -Burying Ground, the last one of which had been done under the very -noses of a troop of United States cavalrymen, the outlaws had headed -for Arizona.</p> - -<p>Hiding in caves and riding by night they had eluded the troopers and, -at last, in the belief that they had outdistanced their pursuers, they -had relaxed their caution, continuing their flight by day instead of -under cover of darkness.</p> - -<p>Consequently, when the member of the desperate gang of cut throats who -was in the lead had caught sight of the fires, they were struck with -consternation.</p> - -<p>"It doesn't seem possible them sojers could have rid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>den round us," -exclaimed Bob Moore, as Comanche Tony disappeared on his reconnaissance.</p> - -<p>And this statement voiced the opinion of the others.</p> - -<p>"No, it doesn't," returned the bandit-chieftain. "But you can't tell. -Maybe they've sent word to one of the forts to the south of us and -they've sent out a searching party."</p> - -<p>"Phew! That would be tough!" gasped Sam Dirks. "We'd be between two -fires, sojers in front of us and sojers behind us. It would take some -figurin' on your part, Jess, to get us out."</p> - -<p>The fact was so patent that the leader of the outlaws made no comment.</p> - -<p>Well he realized the danger such a contingency would mean, yet till his -trusted pal had returned from his scouting expedition, he could make no -plans.</p> - -<p>Finding that they could not draw their chief out, the others whispered -among themselves for a while, finally lapsing into silence.</p> - -<p>Steadily the two fires, that had so startled them, burned.</p> - -<p>Once or twice, some of the bandits thought they beheld figures moving -about them.</p> - -<p>But the fancied forms disappeared so suddenly that they could not be -sure.</p> - -<p>"Seems as though it was taking Tony an all-fired long time," growled -Wild Bill, glancing about him, uneasily.</p> - -<p>But scarcely had the words left his lips than a piercing shriek rent -the air.</p> - -<p>"That's Tony!" "Suthin's happened to him!" "He's caught!" ejaculated -the startled bandits.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> - -<p>With a burst of sulphurous profanity, Jesse slid from his horse.</p> - -<p>"Whatever has happened, we must go to him," he snapped. "Frank, you and -Sam stay here with the horses. The rest of you come with me. Be lively -now!"</p> - -<p>Yet before the desperadoes were out of their saddles, they received -still another surprise.</p> - -<p>The fires vanished.</p> - -<p>With a suddenness that savoured of the magician's art, the two balls of -flame disappeared before their very eyes.</p> - -<p>"It's the Devil's work," gasped Bud Noble.</p> - -<p>"Devil nothing!" snarled the world-famous desperado. "Come on! <i>We must -rescue Comanche!</i>"</p> - -<p>Little relishing the task of advancing down the canyon whose jagged -sides seemed alive with men, so excited were the imaginations of the -outlaws, they hastened on, stumbling and tripping over the rock-strewn -trail.</p> - -<p>With Wild Bill beside him, Jesse led the way.</p> - -<p>Every few yards they stopped to listen.</p> - -<p>But all was as silent as the tomb.</p> - -<p>"I reckon we're purty close to whar the fires were," whispered Wild -Bill, at last. "I can smell the smoke from 'em."</p> - -<p>"Guess you're right. Boys, get your shooting irons ready. We're liable -to run into an ambush any time. Keep to the rocks as much as you can."</p> - -<p>But his warning was of no avail.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden, the still, hot air was rent with whoops and yells.</p> - -<p>"Injuns, or I'm a nigger!" gasped Wild Bill. "Poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> Tony! He's in for -it bad—unless we get to him!"</p> - -<p>Jesse, however, had made a more important discovery.</p> - -<p>The shouts of defiance had come from above.</p> - -<p>And as the last warwhoop rolled back and forth between the towering -cliffs, he raised his pistols, pointing them at random.</p> - -<p>Crack! Crack!</p> - -<p>Sharp and loud their report rang out.</p> - -<p>Sounded a shriek of mingled pain and terror and the next instant a dark -mass came hurtling down upon the little group of men standing huddled -together on the rocky bottom of the canyon.</p> - -<p>The smell of powder broke the spell that had fallen upon Jesse's -comrades.</p> - -<p>With rousing cheers, they greeted the falling form.</p> - -<p>Viciously their pistols barked as they emptied them at the towering -cliff.</p> - -<p>But their exultation was short lived.</p> - -<p>Yells, hoarse with rage, broke from the Indians.</p> - -<p>High above them rang some commands in the native tongue.</p> - -<p>And the next instant a deluge of rocks and stones was launched from the -cliff above.</p> - -<p>Fortunately for the little band of outlaws, the Indians had misjudged -their position and the avalanche of missiles fell to the south of them.</p> - -<p>Some of the scattering stones, however, struck the bandits, inflicting -flesh and scalp wounds.</p> - -<p>Walled in between the two sides of the canyon, the din was deafening.</p> - -<p>All at once, as there came a momentary lull while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the redskins awaited -the result of their broadside, a voice bellowed:</p> - -<p>"Back, boys! Run for your lives! The bucks have tons of rocks!"</p> - -<p>It was Comanche Tony, who, despite the danger he ran of having a knife -jabbed into him as he spoke, had braved death to warn his pals.</p> - -<p>A moment Jesse hesitated.</p> - -<p>Loath was he to leave his intrepid pal in the hands of the Indians. But -he realized that should they tarry longer where they were, in the face -of Tony's warning, the lives of all of them might be crushed out in a -death more horrible than by bullets or torture—their bodies mashed to -a pulp between the boulders hurled from the cliff and the rocky bottom -of the canyon.</p> - -<p>"Stop firing! Back to the horses!" he roared.</p> - -<p>Amazed at this desertion of their comrade, the outlaws, nevertheless, -obeyed.</p> - -<p>And scarcely had they moved from where they had been standing before -another broadside of boulders was launched.</p> - -<p>"That was a close call," gasped Bud Noble. "It's a good thing we -started when we did. But it don't seem right to leave Tony."</p> - -<p>"We're not going to leave him," snapped the world-famous desperado. -"When we get back to the horses, I'm going to take Wild Bill and Texas -and go after him."</p> - -<p>Anxious and excited were the two desperadoes who had been left in -charge of the horses as they heard the sounds of conflict down the -canyon.</p> - -<p>Ignorant of how, what they supposed was a battle,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> might have gone, -when they caught sight of the forms running toward them, Frank -challenged:</p> - -<p>"Who's coming? Halt or we'll fire!"</p> - -<p>"It's all right! Don't shoot!" returned Jesse.</p> - -<p>Relieved at finding the approaching figures were their comrades -returning, Sam cried:</p> - -<p>"Have you got Tony?"</p> - -<p>But the world-famous desperado made no answer.</p> - -<p>"The rest of you wait here. Post sentries and keep your eyes and ears -open.</p> - -<p>"Don't move from here till I get back. Come Bill. Come Texas."</p> - -<p>And, his two pals at his heels, Jesse started up the canyon in the -direction from which they were coming when they had first seen the -fires, bound for a break in the wall of rock he had noticed as he -passed.</p> - -<p>But though he found it, because of the darkness, he was unable to make -any headway, ignorant of the lay of the land as he was and, at last, he -was forced to abandon his attempts to rescue Comanche Tony, deciding to -wait till daylight should come.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II"><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> II.</a></p> - -<p class="center">TIED TO THE STAKE.</p> - - -<p>When Comanche Tony had glided from his companions at the bend of the -canyon, little did he think what was in store for him.</p> - -<p>Stung to the quick by the unjustified slur of the brother of the -bandit-chieftain, he was fiercely resent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>ful, muttering to himself as -he dodged from rock to rock.</p> - -<p>Silently, stealthily, the wily old bandit drew nearer and nearer to the -fire.</p> - -<p>But he was labouring under a disadvantage that was to be his undoing.</p> - -<p>Constantly was he looking at the two fires as he advanced and their -glare so blinded him that he was unable to see aught at either side of -them.</p> - -<p>But the crouching forms that lurked in the shadows of the cliffs were -not so handicapped because their backs were toward the flames.</p> - -<p>Warned by the echo of hoofbeats, as the outlaws rode down the canyon, -the Indians had ample time to arrange their ambush.</p> - -<p>Who the travellers were, it mattered not to them.</p> - -<p>They were on the warpath and redskin or paleface was equally welcome.</p> - -<p>Yet so craftily did Comanche Tony approach that he was almost upon them -ere the keen eyes of the expectant bucks had detected his stooping form -as he glided from one rock to another with absolute noiselessness.</p> - -<p>Startled to think that any one could get so near to them and -disappointed that they were to capture only one prisoner, the bucks -watched the bandit steal nearer and nearer.</p> - -<p>Bodies crouched, muscles tense, the savages waited till their victim -was close to the fire.</p> - -<p>Scenting a trick, since he had been allowed to approach unchallenged -and could discern no sleeping forms about the fire, Comanche Tony had -turned, determined to get back to his pals without delay.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> - -<p>But he was too late.</p> - -<p>No sooner had he faced about than the air was full of leaping forms -which the glare from the fires showed to be streaked with gaudy-hued -paints.</p> - -<p>Instantly the outlaw realized that they were Indians.</p> - -<p>Yet so sudden had been their appearance that they were upon him, -encircling him with their powerful arms, ere he could draw his six -shooters.</p> - -<p>For the moment, it maddened him to think that he, old Indian fighter -that he was, had walked unsuspectingly into the snare of the cunning -redmen, but only for a moment.</p> - -<p>If he had been caught, his pals should not be.</p> - -<p>And, utterly heedless of what the consequences might be to himself, the -intrepid old bandit let out a yell.</p> - -<p>Startled, the bucks gazed at their captive an instant, then their -amazement gave way to snarls as a dozen hands sought Tony's throat, to -choke off his outcry.</p> - -<p>And it was the terrific pressure exerted by the steel-like fingers that -had given to the shout of warning, the peculiar half wail, half roar, -which Jesse and his men had heard.</p> - -<p>Maddened by such defiance, the redskins uttered a few hoarse commands -and the next instant Tony felt himself lifted from his feet and -carried, in sturdy arms, up a path in the cliff.</p> - -<p>But even then, desperate as his predicament was, the fearless outlaw's -thoughts were of his fellows rather than of himself and he muttered:</p> - -<p>"I've warned the boys, anyhow, no matter if I did get caught in -springing the trap."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> - -<p>Yet he was quickly recalled to his surroundings by feeling his feet set -on a rock.</p> - -<p>Accustomed by this time to the darkness, Comanche Tony was able to make -out that he and his captors were on a ledge in the cliff along the edge -of which was a black, irregular mass.</p> - -<p>Forgetting, in his eagerness to discover what this was, that he was a -prisoner, the intrepid bandit stepped forward.</p> - -<p>Uttering vicious grunts, two bucks grabbed him and threw him roughly -against the wall of rock behind them.</p> - -<p>"Paleface heap fool," snarled one of his guards. "Get too fresh, fall -over ledge, spoil Injun's fun!"</p> - -<p>"By my scalp, but I must have suthin' pleasant ahead of me if fallin' -to my death will spoil these devil's fun!" thought Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>But again the contemplation of the perilousness of his own plight was -forgotten in the realization that his reckless attempt to warn his pals -had been of no avail.</p> - -<p>For, in the brief interval that he had gazed on the edge of the ledge, -he had seen several bucks frantically beating out the two fires with -their blankets, and he knew that whatever their game, the world-famous -desperado and his men would be in grave danger, forced, as they would -be, to advance in the darkness.</p> - -<p>Yet had he been an instant later, he would have seen the same braves -hurriedly scoop handfuls of dirt onto the glowing coals, after which -they covered the piles with their blankets and bounded up the path to -the ledge.</p> - -<p>On their arrival, a hasty pow-wow was held and the next minute Comanche -Tony had learned the purpose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> of the irregular mass of black along the -edge of the ledge.</p> - -<p>Lying flat on their bellies, the Indians braced their feet against the -wall of rock and threw out their hands in front of them.</p> - -<p>A sickening fear gripped the heart of the bandit as he divined that the -objects were stones to be hurled from the ledge.</p> - -<p>Wondering if he could warn his pals of the terrible fate awaiting them, -Tony's eyes were drawn to the figure of an Indian standing clear of the -others.</p> - -<p>Like a statue he loomed.</p> - -<p>All at once, he uttered an ear splitting yell.</p> - -<p>He had caught sight of a black line of objects moving in the canyon -below.</p> - -<p>Immediately his braves joined in and as the strident warwhoops rent the -air, the prostrate bucks exerted their strength and the first avalanche -of stones was started on its mission of death.</p> - -<p>But that it was launched too soon, the reader already knows.</p> - -<p>The suspense to Tony, however, was awful as he strained his ears for -the sound of his pals' voices.</p> - -<p>And as he heard their yells of defiance he heaved a mighty sigh of -relief which ended in a grunt of delight as he saw the figure of the -Indian lookout topple and pitch to the bottom even while the report of -a pistol rang out.</p> - -<p>"That was Jesse's shot, I'll bet!" he chuckled.</p> - -<p>But his exultation vanished as he saw the bucks stretched out on the -ledge move along to more stones.</p> - -<p>And then it was that, tempting Fate for the second<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> time, he had -shouted his warning to his pals to flee for their lives.</p> - -<p>Too late was it for the redskins to save their missiles as his cry rang -out.</p> - -<p>But even as the boulders were hurtling to the bottom of the canyon, the -braves leaped to their feet and charged him.</p> - -<p>So terrible was their anger, that they almost crushed the bandit as -they pressed about him.</p> - -<p>"Have your fun if you want," grunted Comanche Tony. "I can't die but -once. But it'll be the sorriest work you devils ever did if you do kill -me!"</p> - -<p>The tone in which the fearless old Indian fighter uttered this defiance -was as calm and cool as though he were talking to a group of children -instead of to a pack of blood-thirsty savages.</p> - -<p>His gameness amazed his captors, though it only made them crush him -against the rocks the more furiously.</p> - -<p>But as he closed his eyes to keep out the sight of the hideous, -passion-distorted faces before him, a deep-lunged voice uttered some -sharp commands.</p> - -<p>In a trice, the terrible pressure relaxed and the next moment the -outlaw felt himself again raised from his feet and borne rapidly upward.</p> - -<p>Ere many minutes he could tell that he was again on a level and -instantly his mind sought some scheme by which he could kill time.</p> - -<p>For he felt that the world-famous desperado would not leave him to the -anything but tender mercies of the savages.</p> - -<p>Yet had he known that his beloved chief was even then returning to his -pals, having failed to find a way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> to scale the wall of rock, he would -have been sad, indeed.</p> - -<p>But he did not know and his ignorance was bliss, in truth.</p> - -<p>As Comanche Tony racked his brain for some manner to delay his captors, -more commands rang out and the Indians who were carrying him set him -down.</p> - -<p>The moon had just risen above the peaks of the mountains to the east -and, in its light, the bandit saw that he was on a plateau sparsely -covered with stunted trees.</p> - -<p>To one of these his captors guided him.</p> - -<p>As he reached it, a couple of the braves lopped off the lower branches.</p> - -<p>Whirling him roughly, his guards backed him against the tree trunk and -while they held him, others deftly bound him to the improvised stake -with lariats they had brought with them from the bottom of the canyon.</p> - -<p>Grave, indeed, was his situation.</p> - -<p>And it needed no one to tell the captive bandit that the redmen -proposed to burn him at the stake when they should tire of their -preliminary tortures.</p> - -<p>But as his plight became more desperate, Comanche Tony became the more -determined to gain time.</p> - -<p>Only one expedient was there of which he could think that was adequate -in his dire extremity.</p> - -<p>He must scare the painted bucks.</p> - -<p>And while he was considering whether he could do this the most readily -by threatening them with vengeance at the hands of the world-famous -desperado, or by telling them a squad of United States cavalry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> were on -their trail, the Indians made what was, to them, a fatal move.</p> - -<p>They kindled a fire about two rods from where Comanche Tony stood tied -to the stake.</p> - -<p>As the tongues of flame leaped in the air, their reflection was seen by -Jesse James and his men in the canyon.</p> - -<p>"By thunder! Do you suppose that's from the Injuns or the sojers?" -asked Wild Bill, as his chief sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p>"I don't know. <i>But I'm going to find out!</i></p> - -<p>"There's no need of waiting till morning.</p> - -<p>"Come on, everybody. We'll go down to where the first fires were."</p> - -<p>Quickly the desperadoes started, for they had ill liked the thought of -leaving their pal to his fate.</p> - -<p>With Texas Jack and Wild Bill at his side, the bandit chieftain -advanced till he reached the heaps of broken boulders that had come so -near to being their death a short time before.</p> - -<p>As the bandits gazed up at the top of the wall of rock, Texas remarked:</p> - -<p>"It's a cinch, Jess, those bucks have some trail up the cliff. We -didn't find any place to scale it, back where we come from, and by the -looks of the wall ahead, there isn't any break, so they couldn't have -got to the end of the canyon and back on top in such a short time.</p> - -<p>"That being so, it means there's some path near here."</p> - -<p>"Then we'll look for it. Get busy, boys. Comanche Tony's life may -depend on our haste."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> - -<p>With a will, the outlaws set about examining the side of the canyon.</p> - -<p>And while they searched, their pal was sparring for time with his -infuriated captives.</p> - -<p>"See here, my buckos," he said, his voice as cool as when he had -addressed them before, "I reckon you're making a mistake. I haven't -done you any harm.</p> - -<p>"<i>But if you touch a hair on my head thar's not one of you who won't be -shot to pay for it!</i>"</p> - -<p>The redskin warriors, to the number of a score, had been standing about -the fire, now and then turning toward their captive as they jabbered -excitedly, evidently arguing over some part of their contemplated -torture.</p> - -<p>But as the calm words fell on their ears, they all faced about, while -one of them, whose peculiar head-dress proclaimed him to be a chief, -grunted:</p> - -<p>"Paleface talk heap big. Navajos fool paleface frien's. How um know -Navajos kill paleface. Heap Injun in country."</p> - -<p>"That may be. But my friends are not ordinary men. <i>They're smarter -than any palefaces you ever saw.</i>"</p> - -<p>"You got caught. Heap smart, huh," and the chieftain grunted in disgust.</p> - -<p>"True enough. I did. <i>But my pals didn't.</i> They were smart enough not -to get under the cliff where you shoved the rocks over."</p> - -<p>Guttural grunts came from several of the Indians and quickly the chief -demanded:</p> - -<p>"Who you?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know that it's any of your business."</p> - -<p>"Me know. Great Bear know. Paleface army scout."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<p>Instantly the bandit realized that the braves had decided he was -connected with the soldiers of the Great Father in Washington.</p> - -<p>And quickly was he to see his advantage.</p> - -<p>"You're wrong there, Great Bear," he declared. "I told you you were -making a mistake.</p> - -<p>"I don't belong to the sojers any more'n you do.</p> - -<p>"<i>My chief's greater'n any sojers!</i> He's got two battalions chasin' him -now!"</p> - -<p>This announcement produced a profound sensation among the braves and -excitedly they jabbered.</p> - -<p>But whatever his warriors were urging, their chief refused, again -turning toward his prisoner:</p> - -<p>"Paleface talk heap big. No fool Great Bear. Great Bear burn paleface -at stake. Paleface frien's cum, Injun fight um, scalp um. Ugh! Ugh!"</p> - -<p>And he sucked in his breath, making a gruesome sound.</p> - -<p>But Comanche Tony refused to be frightened.</p> - -<p>He knew that the Navajos were a peaceful tribe, as Indian tribes went, -and he wondered what had sent them on the warpath, till suddenly he -remembered the attack on the cabin Jesse had repulsed just before he -had made his race for life from the Vigilantes, and it occurred to him -that perhaps these were some of the same bucks seeking revenge.</p> - -<p>If such should be the case, it would never do for him to disclose his -identity.</p> - -<p>Their words had told him that they had no fear of the cavalrymen, so -that reference to them would stand him in no stead, and as minute after -minute went by without any sound or sign of Jesse, his hope began to -fail him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p>Yet no trace was there in his face of what was passing in his mind.</p> - -<p>Indeed, his wonderful coolness puzzled the redskins.</p> - -<p>They had been accustomed to see white men cringe and tremble before -them, and the words of Great Bear had doubtless been intended to strike -terror to his heart.</p> - -<p>But the fact that he was cool and indifferent made them think they had -captured a man who knew no fear.</p> - -<p>One more attempt they made, however, to break their captive's spirit.</p> - -<p>After a consultation with two or three of his warriors, Great Bear -spoke a few words in a low voice.</p> - -<p>Immediately four bucks stepped from the circle about the fire, their -scalping knives in their hands.</p> - -<p>Came a sharp command from the chief.</p> - -<p>As with one movement, the braves raised their arms and lowered them, -sending the wicked blades straight at their helpless victim.</p> - -<p>Shrilly the knives whistled as they sailed through the air.</p> - -<p>Fascinated, Comanche Tony watched the flashes of steel as they sped -toward him.</p> - -<p>Could any strain have been more nerve-destroying?</p> - -<p>Any one of the four blades, should it strike a vital spot, would kill -him.</p> - -<p>But all four were speeding toward him together, so nicely had the bucks -gauged their throws.</p> - -<p>Yet the bandit was too familiar with the nature of the redman not to -know that instead of striking him where death would result, the blades -would simply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> inflict painful flesh wounds, that the red devils might -gloat in the sight of his blood and agony.</p> - -<p>Every nerve in his body was atingle as he waited for the impact.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden, however, he made a terrible discovery.</p> - -<p>The knives were coming for his head.</p> - -<p>Like a flash, it occurred to him that his eyes and ears were the -targets.</p> - -<p>A trice he contemplated the possibility of dodging them, for his head -was not bound.</p> - -<p>But the realization came to him that while he might avoid one of the -whistling blades, he could not escape all four, and he decided to make -no move.</p> - -<p>Fortunate, indeed, was it that he did so.</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer came the knives.</p> - -<p>Yet it seemed to Comanche Tony that years had elapsed since they had -left the hands of the savages.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden, he felt a cool draught against his cheeks, and then he -could no longer see the awful blades.</p> - -<p>Scarce able to believe his senses, he could feel no pain.</p> - -<p>Then it dawned on him that the bucks had been testing his courage by -aiming the scalping knives so they would just miss him, if he remained -motionless—and he thanked his lucky stars that he had not tried to -dodge them.</p> - -<p>It was the very refinement of torture to which he had been subjected.</p> - -<p>And well the redmen knew it.</p> - -<p>To see the wicked blades coming for his head and not to move it when he -was free to do so was an ordeal such as only one man in a million could -survive.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - -<p>But Comanche Tony was that one man.</p> - -<p>Eagerly the bucks had watched him.</p> - -<p>When they saw he had faced death unflinchingly, they grunted in -grudging admiration.</p> - -<p>"Paleface heap brave," exclaimed Great Bear. "Me know um now. Only one -paleface got nerve like that. Him Jess Jame. You Jess Jame.</p> - -<p>"Injun hate Jess Jame!</p> - -<p>"You got die!"</p> - -<p>The logic of the chief was crude. But it answered his purpose and again -he repeated:</p> - -<p>"Injun hate Jess Jame! Um got die! Burn um at stake!"</p> - -<p>Turning to his warriors, Great Bear addressed them in the Navajos -language earnestly.</p> - -<p>And so engrossed were the bucks in listening to the words of their -chief that they failed to see three faces rise cautiously above the -edge of the cliff and gaze at the strange scene.</p> - -<p>Jesse had found the trail and was soon to make his presence known.</p> - -<p>When the bandit-chieftain and his men had reached the ledge whence the -rocks had been hurled at them, he had ordered all but Wild Bill and -Texas Jack to wait there while he and his chosen pals climbed to the -top, fearing that the approach of all might be heard by the redmen.</p> - -<p>Sweeping the top of the cliff with a hurried glance the world-famous -desperado had seen, with joy, that he was in time to save the life of -his chum.</p> - -<p>Yet because he was aware that to act too soon would be as bad as to act -too late, he dropped back behind the cliff again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Texas, go down and bring the others up," he whispered, putting his -mouth close to his pal's ear. "Don't make a sound going down. But it -won't matter coming back.</p> - -<p>"<i>I reckon the fun'll be on before you get here!</i></p> - -<p>"But hurry. We'll have our hands full."</p> - -<p>Hastily the bandit descended and again Jesse straightened up and peered -over the edge of the precipice.</p> - -<p>And what he saw made his face grow hard as he raised his six shooters.</p> - -<p>Bearing burning brands in their hands, two bucks were advancing toward -their victim tied to the stake, while two more carried armsful of dried -twigs and leaves.</p> - -<p>Less than ten feet were they from Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>Squatting about the campfire, prepared to enjoy the writhings of their -captive, sat the rest of the Indians.</p> - -<p>The distance from the edge of the cliff to the stake was too great for -a pistol shot.</p> - -<p>Yet Jesse realized that he must act at once were he to spare his chum -awful suffering.</p> - -<p>Bending toward Wild Bill, he breathed:</p> - -<p>"We've got to rush 'em! Come on! Nail the devil's with the firebrands -first!"</p> - -<p>With a stillness marvelous in the rapidity of their actions, the two -desperadoes gained the top of the precipice and dashed forward.</p> - -<p>So engrossed were the bucks in watching their fellows that they had not -seen the bandits.</p> - -<p>"Give 'em a yell, then shoot!" whispered Jesse.</p> - -<p>With a will the two outlaws gave the old guerrilla<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> battle cry that had -made Quantrell's men known and feared.</p> - -<p>Panic-stricken, the redskins leaped to their feet.</p> - -<p>Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack went the four six-shooters in the -desperadoes' hands.</p> - -<p>And with each bark of a pistol one of the Indians advancing toward -Comanche Tony, pitched forward, a bullet hole in his heart.</p> - -<p>But only for a minute did the braves lose their heads.</p> - -<p>Thundering at his warriors, Great Bear commanded:</p> - -<p>"Charge them! They are only two, we are twenty! We can push them off -the precipice!"</p> - -<p>Inspired by the words of their chief, which had been uttered in their -native tongue, the braves drew their revolvers, opening fire on Jesse -and Wild Bill as they advanced.</p> - -<p>Never had the guerrilla battle cry sounded so sweet as it did to the -ears of Comanche Tony as he stood, bound fast to the stake, watching -the bucks approach with the firebrands and twigs with which to kindle a -blaze about his feet.</p> - -<p>But, when turning his head, he saw only Wild Bill and Jesse and a -moment later beheld the warriors rally to the charge, he was filled -with fear.</p> - -<p>Two men, no matter how brave, would have little chance against the -overwhelming numbers of the redskins.</p> - -<p>Then he remembered that his six-shooters had not been taken from him -and he bellowed:</p> - -<p>"Jess! Jess! Cut me loose! I've got my guns! I can help you!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Keep pumping at the devils, Bill," commanded the world-famous -desperado. "We've got to stand 'em off till the others get here!"</p> - -<p>And, discharging his own shooting irons the while, Jesse ran to -Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>But though the shots of the Indians had been wild at first, they were -so close to the outlaws now that many a bullet ploughed through their -flesh.</p> - -<p>Seeing Jesse's purpose, Great Bear ordered the fire to be trained on -him.</p> - -<p>And so furiously did the bucks respond that the bandit-chieftain was -forced to give ground.</p> - -<p>Delirious were the yells of the braves as they saw this move.</p> - -<p>But their rejoicing was short lived.</p> - -<p>Aware, from the shots and shouts, that the fight was on, Texas and the -rest of the bandits hastened up the trail, reaching the top just as -their leader and Wild Bill were retreating toward the edge of the cliff.</p> - -<p>"Hold your ground! We're coming!" yelled Frank.</p> - -<p>Never were words more welcome than these as they rang in the ears of -the sorely pressed outlaws.</p> - -<p>And even as they heard them, a volley crashed from the guns of their -fellows.</p> - -<p>Surprised at the unlooked for re-enforcements, the bucks, however, held -their own.</p> - -<p>But only for a few minutes.</p> - -<p>The fusilade of lead poured into them was too galling.</p> - -<p>Though they outnumbered the bandits almost two to one, for death had -thinned their ranks, Jesse and his men fired three times as rapidly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - -<p>Fast and furious raged the battle.</p> - -<p>Then, of a sudden, Great Bear shouted a command.</p> - -<p>With one accord, the bucks whirled and ran for the farther side of the -cliff.</p> - -<p>And, while some of his men pursued them, Jesse hurried to Comanche Tony -and slashed the bonds with his bowie-knife.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III"><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> III.</a></p> - -<p class="center">THE FLIGHT FROM THE CLIFF.</p> - - -<p>As the severed cords of rawhide dropped about his feet, Comanche Tony -leaped from the tree to which he had been tied, swinging his arms like -a flail.</p> - -<p>"By my scalp! it feels good to be able to move 'em," he declared. "I -begun to think I'd never git the chance to use 'em again. I ain't never -been bound afore.</p> - -<p>"You come jest in the nick of time, Jess. An' perhaps the old battle -cry didn't sound good to my ears."</p> - -<p>"I reckon it did," assented the bandit-chieftain.</p> - -<p>All the while the two outlaws had been walking toward where the rest of -the notorious band were standing, making an examination of their wounds.</p> - -<p>"Any of the bucks' shots get you fellows bad?" asked the -bandit-chieftain, anxiously, as he swept the little group with his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Sam's got it the worst," returned Frank.</p> - -<p>Muttering an imprecation, Jesse strode to where Dirks was standing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Where'd they hit you, Sam?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"In the shoulder, the right one."</p> - -<p>With tender fingers, the world-famous desperado cut away the -blood-soaked clothes, while his men gathered about to learn the extent -of their pal's injuries.</p> - -<p>As the red, angry looking flesh was exposed to view, they uttered -various exclamations.</p> - -<p>One and all of them had seen enough wounds to know that this was -serious. But to learn just how bad it was they awaited their leader's -announcement.</p> - -<p>"That sure is a nasty one," declared Jesse in a few moments. "The -shoulder blade's shattered."</p> - -<p>"It's too much for me to attempt to fix up. I'll just put a bandage -round it and then you'll have to go to some town where there's a -sawbones.</p> - -<p>"He'll probably say you'll have to lose your arm."</p> - -<p>The words evoked groans from the others as Sam wailed:</p> - -<p>"And it's me best arm, too. What good'll I be with only one fin left? I -wish the devils had a killed me."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense, man! Buck up! You can shoot with your left hand and when you -get into a fight there won't be so much of you to hit."</p> - -<p>This lugubrious consolation did not reconcile Sam to the prospective -loss of his good right arm, however, and all through the time his -leader was dressing the injury he lamented his fate.</p> - -<p>The wounds of the others, though painful, were not serious.</p> - -<p>Bud, Bob and Frank had all been hit in their legs.</p> - -<p>"I reckon you three," said Jesse, addressing the last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> named, "had -better be the ones to take Sam to the Sawbones.</p> - -<p>"He can't go alone, and if we should be obliged to make any hard rides, -it wouldn't help the holes in your legs any."</p> - -<p>Loudly the trio protested.</p> - -<p>"But suppose we run into the soldiers?" queried Bob. "Four of us, with -Sam worse than useless won't be able to do anything against 'em and -we'll get pinched and run to the nearest fort. And you know what that -means," he added significantly.</p> - -<p>"For my part I'd rather stay with you-all and take my chances on my -legs mortifying."</p> - -<p>But the bandit-chieftain was not to be moved.</p> - -<p>"I know it's a chance," he replied. "You've got to take it, though. -Sam's got to be taken to a sawbones and somebody's got to go with him.</p> - -<p>"If you do meet the cavalrymen, you can tell 'em you-all had a run in -with a bunch of men.</p> - -<p>"That'll make 'em think it's me you met and they'll swallow the bait.</p> - -<p>"You can describe us exactly and give 'em a steer as to where you met -us, only be sure you send them in the wrong direction.</p> - -<p>"If you only work it right, you'll be able to put the soldiers on the -wrong track and get yourselves clear.</p> - -<p>"Why, it's a cinch."</p> - -<p>"If it's so mighty easy, why don't you go with the boys and let me -stay?" demanded Frank.</p> - -<p>"Because they have my description too close," returned his brother. -"It's dollars to a piece of hard tack they'd recognize me the minute -they got their eyes on me.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> - -<p>"And then it would be all up with little Willie."</p> - -<p>Jesse's argument was too cogent to admit of further dispute and, much -against their will, the quartette of wounded outlaws accepted the -decree of separation.</p> - -<p>But it was not ordained that the plan should be put into effect.</p> - -<p>The last of the wounds inflicted upon the bandits by the bullets of the -redskins was being dressed when Comanche Tony came up to Jesse.</p> - -<p>The old Indian fighter who, alone of all, had not been injured for the -reason that he had been tied to the stake and was therefore prevented -from taking any part in the furious encounter, had taken advantage of -the pre-occupation of his pals to make a little reconnaisance on his -own account.</p> - -<p>Familiar with the habits of the redmen, he believed from the fact that -he had seen no ponies in the canyon that the bucks were not far from -some of the villages of their tribe.</p> - -<p>Convinced of this, the bandit reasoned that the braves would return for -re-enforcements with which to avenge the slaughter, and it was to learn -if there were any campfires to be seen below, over the farther side of -the top of the cliff, that he had left his companions.</p> - -<p>To the east, as he peered through the bushes that lined the edge of the -cliff, he caught sight of a flickering light that came and went like -the spasmodic radiance of a fire-fly.</p> - -<p>For a few minutes he had stood staring at the curious sight, in -bewilderment.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden, its meaning came to him.</p> - -<p>When it did, he turned on his heel and made his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> way to his chief, -eager to tell him of his discovery.</p> - -<p>"What is it, Tony?" asked the world-famous desperado, as he caught -sight of the excited countenance of his chum. "You look like a woman -who's just heard a choice bit of scandal!</p> - -<p>"What did you discover? I saw you sneaking into the brush."</p> - -<p>The fact that his scouting expedition had been known to his master -caused the old Indian fighter's face to fall, for he had thought that -his going had been unnoticed.</p> - -<p>"Poke fun at me if you want to," he retorted. "You may not git the -chance to laugh again for some time."</p> - -<p>The seriousness of their pal's tone hushed the hilarity on the outlaws' -lips.</p> - -<p>Yet before he had the opportunity to explain his words, Wild Bill cried:</p> - -<p>"Look! Look! To the north! Quick!"</p> - -<p>Believing their fellow had caught sight of the redskins coming back, -the desperadoes wheeled like a flash, whipping out their shooting irons -at the same time.</p> - -<p>But it was not Indians they saw.</p> - -<p>Hastily raising their eyes, when they found that it was no skulking -figures that had called forth Wild Bill's excited exclamation, they -were just in time to see a shower of seeming stars dropping through the -air.</p> - -<p>"It's a falling meteor!" ejaculated Bob Moore.</p> - -<p>Believing it was, indeed, some of those phenomena so common on the -plains, the outlaws gazed at the spectacular sight.</p> - -<p>But the bandit-chieftain did not share their opinion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Dropping meteor nothing," he exclaimed. "Have you fellows all gone -nutty that you can't recognize a falling rocket?</p> - -<p>"You've seen enough of them, I should think."</p> - -<p>"That's just what I was goin' to say," declared the bandit who had been -the one to call the attention of his fellows. "When I first saw it, -them white stars was a green ball."</p> - -<p>"Then it's a signal," ejaculated Bud.</p> - -<p>"My eye! but you're the wise guys," grunted Jesse.</p> - -<p>"Of course it's a signal. You didn't think it was old Great Bear giving -a fireworks display in our honour, did you?</p> - -<p>"It's a signal, all right, all right, and it's from those cavalry -fellows, too.</p> - -<p>"Injuns don't go round carrying a stock of rockets in their belts.</p> - -<p>"Now the thing to do is to find out what point of the compass they're -signalling to."</p> - -<p>With alacrity, the outlaws faced about, some gazing in one direction -and some in another.</p> - -<p>Not long were they obliged to wait to learn the answer to their -leader's question, however.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had the shower of sparks vanished than one of them sang out: -"Here she comes, from the East, boys!"</p> - -<p>But the words had no more than left his lips than another shouted:</p> - -<p>"They're answering from the south, too!"</p> - -<p>Rapidly Jesse and his men whirled, viewing first the rocket to the east -and then to the south.</p> - -<p>"Jumpin' snakes! They've got us surrounded!" gasped Texas Jack.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You're wrong, pard," interposed Bob. "They haven't quite surrounded us -yet. There's been no rocket from the West."</p> - -<p>"And that's the side of the canyon where our horses are. Were sure in -luck. I reckon it's a good thing we had this brush with the redskins. -It's showed us where the sojers are," chimed in Homely Harry, not -wishing to let the others get ahead of him.</p> - -<p>"After them rockets, we kin ride dead West an' git away. If it hadn't -been for the Injuns we might a rid right into some of the sojers."</p> - -<p>"Come on! We'll go down and get the ponies while we have the chance," -cried Frank, moving toward the edge of the cliff.</p> - -<p>Ere he had taken more than a few strides in the carrying out of his -purpose, Jesse's voice rang out:</p> - -<p>"Hold on; don't be in such a hurry!</p> - -<p>"<i>If any of you show yourself on the edge of the cliff, I'll drop you -in your tracks!</i>"</p> - -<p>In amazement those of the outlaws who had started after Frank, stopped -and turned toward their leader, their surprise evident in their faces.</p> - -<p>"What's the reason we can't get the horses?" snapped the elder of the -James boys. "Speak lively! You're wasting valuable time!"</p> - -<p>"It's better to waste time than our lives, isn't it?" returned his -brother, with a deliberation that was exasperating to the highly -wrought bandits.</p> - -<p>"You ought to know better, Frank.</p> - -<p>"I reckon Texas hit it right when he said we were surrounded!"</p> - -<p>"Then why didn't the men in the West send up a rocket?" demanded the -elder of the James boys.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> - -<p>"<i>Because they're on our trail!</i>"</p> - -<p>This statement produced a profound sensation among the bandits and -quickly they plied Jesse with questions as to his reasons for making -it, that is, all but Frank, who, with a sneer started toward the edge -of the cliff to find out for himself, though it was eloquent testimony -for his secret regard for his brother's intuition that he dropped to -his belly and approached the precipice with all the caution of which he -was master.</p> - -<p>Smiling as he saw this indication of alarm, Jesse addressed the others:</p> - -<p>"It's an old trick among troopers, one that will be well for you to -remember in the future, when they are on a search, for the squad that's -hit the trail not to answer the rocket signals of the others.</p> - -<p>"If the men they're hunting happen to see the rockets in every -direction but one, they'll naturally make the move Homely -suggested—ride away in the direction from which there was no -signal—and fall right into the trap!</p> - -<p>"I had a close call once—before I got wise. That's how I happen to -know.</p> - -<p>"How near the troopers on the west are to us, of course I can't tell.</p> - -<p>"But they're not very far off. They've hit our trail in the canyon -and—"</p> - -<p>"They're right down at the foot of the cliff examining the dead -campfires the Injuns left," interrupted Frank.</p> - -<p>"You doped it right, Jess, I'll have to admit."</p> - -<p>So engrossed had the others been in listening to the bandit-chieftain -that they had not seen Frank as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> returned from his reconnaisance, -and the effect of his words, melodramatic as was the manner in which -they fitted in, struck consternation to their hearts.</p> - -<p>Enjoying the sensation he had caused, the elder of the James Boys -continued:</p> - -<p>"They've corralled our ponies, I could see one of the sojers leading -'em.</p> - -<p>"The moon against the walls of the cliff makes it pretty near as light -as day down at the bottom."</p> - -<p>"We <i>are</i> in a mess," grunted Bob. "Injuns on one side of us and sojers -on all the others. Looks as though this top of the cliff was going to -be our burying ground."</p> - -<p>"Between the two, the way things is, I reckon I'd ruther tackle the -Injuns, eh, Jess?" interposed Comanche Tony, hurriedly, ere his chief -could say another thing.</p> - -<p>"When I was peerin' through the bush on tother side of this table of -rocks, I see'd a campfire with a lot of Injuns cuttin' up round it.</p> - -<p>"At fust, I couldn't git on to wot it meant, then I tumbled that it's a -war dance.</p> - -<p>"I'll bet my scalp, them bucks wot got away from us ull hipper over to -the pow-wow to bring 'em back here, thinkin' we'll either be on top, as -we be, or down in the canyon, as we was."</p> - -<p>"But they'd see the rockets," protested Bud.</p> - -<p>"Wot of it? They ain't got no Jess James with 'em to put 'em next to -the signal trick an' they'll think there ain't no one to the West."</p> - -<p>"Findin' we ain't on top, they'll start down into the canyon.</p> - -<p>"Then, if we has <i>any</i> luck at all, the sojers ull jump<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> 'em and -they'll have a fine old set-to while we're doin' the sneak act."</p> - -<p>"Good boy, Tony. You've got the right dope. Come on, boys! It's time -for us to be lighting out," cried the world-famous desperado.</p> - -<p>"Can you walk, Sam, or do you want us to make a sling for you?"</p> - -<p>"I cal'late I can walk, for awhile anyhow."</p> - -<p>"All right. If we stay here too long the soldiers may find the trail -and climb up here.</p> - -<p>"They heard the shooting, of course, and I reckon they'll be curious to -find out what it was about.</p> - -<p>"If they only do, and Tony has it right about the bucks going for -re-enforcements, when they see the redskins coming from the brush, -they'll start shooting. So we'll win out, which ever way it happens."</p> - -<p>Quickly and silently the outlaws entered the fringe of bushes along the -top at the opposite side of the cliff, descending by the trail which -Wild Bill and Texas Jack had found while the bandit-chieftain had been -talking.</p> - -<p>With every sense alert, the outlaws proceeded, increasing their caution -as they approached nearer and nearer to the bottom.</p> - -<p>To their delight, they beheld a heavy patch of fir trees at the foot.</p> - -<p>But just as they were within a rod of it, they were startled to hear a -voice cry, faintly:</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame! Jess Jame!"</p> - -<p>In consternation, the desperadoes looked at one another.</p> - -<p>Whether the calling of the name was a lure of the Indians, who, -returning, had seen the men filing down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> the cliff and planned another -ambush or what it betoken they could not tell.</p> - -<p>"We're in for it now, for fair," growled Frank.</p> - -<p>And as though to give emphasis to his words, a shout of triumph sounded -from above them, and looking up, they beheld the forms of a score of -cavalrymen silhouetted against the sky.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">THE STRANGE BATTLE IN THE WITCH'S CAVE.</p> - - -<p>"Quick! Into the woods, boys!" snapped the world-famous desperado.</p> - -<p>Instantly the bandits sprang to obey.</p> - -<p>Fully ten feet away were the evergreens.</p> - -<p>Desperately the men sought to gain their cover.</p> - -<p>But less than half the distance had they traversed when from above -there rang out in stentorian command:</p> - -<p>"Fire!"</p> - -<p>R-r-rip! crashed the sharp, staccato volley of carbines.</p> - -<p>The aim of the cavalrymen was deadly.</p> - -<p>With shrieks of pain, three of the outlaws threw up their hands and -pitched forward.</p> - -<p>Convulsively their bodies twitched for a few moments and then lay -still, while their life blood oozed from wounds in their backs, -saturating their clothes and making soggy the ground on which they lay.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> - -<p>With a terrible oath, the world-famous desperado hissed:</p> - -<p>"Don't try to return the fire. Our pistols won't carry up the cliff. -Into the woods! Leave the bodies!"</p> - -<p>As they saw the desperadoes continue their flight without stopping to -take their dead pals with them, a mighty cheer broke from the soldiers.</p> - -<p>And, while it echoed, again the deep-lunged voice bellowed:</p> - -<p>"Fire!"</p> - -<p>Once more the rattle of the musketry rang out.</p> - -<p>But this time no men fell.</p> - -<p>The outlaws had gained the protection of the evergreens.</p> - -<p>"Who's here?" demanded Jesse, a strange tremor in his voice. "Answer to -your names as I call them."</p> - -<p>So sudden had been their dash from the unprotected trail of the cliff -to the woods that none of the outlaws knew who of their number had -fallen victims to the terrible rain of lead that had been literally -poured down on them from the edge of the precipice above.</p> - -<p>And it was with bated breath that they heard their leader say:</p> - -<p>"Comanche Tony!"</p> - -<p>"O.K."</p> - -<p>"Wild Bill?"</p> - -<p>"Here."</p> - -<p>"Texas Jack?"</p> - -<p>"Here."</p> - -<p>"Sam Dirks?"</p> - -<p>Heavily the others drew in their breath as no one answered.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Sam Dirks?" repeated Jesse, in hushed tone. "Poor Sam."</p> - -<p>"Frank?"</p> - -<p>"Here."</p> - -<p>"Homely Harry?"</p> - -<p>"O.K."</p> - -<p>"Bud Noble?"</p> - -<p>Again there was no answer.</p> - -<p>"Bob Moore?"</p> - -<p>Silence greeted this name also.</p> - -<p>A moment later the bandits stood.</p> - -<p>The calling of the roll in the sombre setting of the overhanging -branches of the evergreen trees, through which, here and there, the -moonlight filtered, amid the crash of the carbines and the whistle of -the bullets, as they searched out the possible hiding place of the -little band of fugitives, was dramatic in the extreme.</p> - -<p>And the outlaws, rough and desperate men as they were, were cowed -as they realized that the same death they had visited upon so many -helpless mortals, had thinned their own ranks.</p> - -<p>And the shock was all the greater for the reason that they had -practised their nefarious pastime with such seeming immunity that they -had come to look upon themselves as bearing charmed lives.</p> - -<p>Not long, however, were they left to their thoughts.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden, above the cheering of the troopers, above the rattle -of the musketry, above the shrilling of the bullets rang the wild, -blood-curdling war whoops of infuriated redskins.</p> - -<p>"Quick, on your bellies under the trees!" whispered Jesse. "We'll let -the devils charge the soldiers and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> may they battle till every one, -Injun and trooper, falls dead!"</p> - -<p>But just as the bandits were obeying their leader, there sounded from -close beside them a plaintive:</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame! Jess Jame! Don' lie down. Injun see um dead paleface, hunt -um wood. Injun no care sojer, want Jess Jame.</p> - -<p>"Come Dew Drop. Dew Drop show um place hide."</p> - -<p>As she uttered the last words, the amazed desperadoes saw a slender -creature, clad in what seemed an old wrapper, part the branches of the -tree near which they stood.</p> - -<p>An instant the world-famous desperado hesitated.</p> - -<p>"If the bucks see the corpses and don't find us in the woods won't they -search the place you're going to take us?" he asked, anxiously.</p> - -<p>"No. Dew Drop take um cave Kaw-Kaw, Injun witch. Injun fraid go in -Kaw-Kaw cave."</p> - -<p>"Well, we won't be any worse off than we will here, that's sure. But -why you want to help us I don't see. However, we'll take the chance. -Come on, boys."</p> - -<p>And, following the Indian maiden, the outlaws wound in and out among -the evergreens till they reached a black hole, like a cavernous maw, in -the cliff from which was exhaled a curiously intoxicating aroma.</p> - -<p>"Paleface no make noise. Kaw-Kaw deaf, no hear. Lie down, no see. Dew -Drop lie nex' Jess Jame so can talk."</p> - -<p>Wondering what adventure was in store for them, the bandits quickly did -as the Indian maiden told them, their chief choosing a place near the -mouth of the cave with his chum at his side.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> - -<p>Scarcely had the world-famous desperado squatted down, with Dew Drop -on his left and Comanche Tony on his right, than howls and yells of -exultation reached them, telling them that the savages had discovered -the three dead bodies at the foot of the cliff.</p> - -<p>"By my scalp! we didn't git hyar any too soon, I reckon, jedgin' by -them whoops," whispered the old Indian fighter.</p> - -<p>But his master paid him no heed.</p> - -<p>The action of the red-hued maiden in coming to him when he was in such -sore need puzzled him, and he was racking his brain to remember whether -or not he had ever seen her before.</p> - -<p>Unable to place her, his mind once more reverted to the thought that -her opportune appearance might have been but a part of a plot conceived -by Great Bear to lure him and his men to the cave of the witch that -they might be slaughtered without chance of escape.</p> - -<p>If such were, in truth, the case, he and his companions were wasting -precious moments.</p> - -<p>Determined to end his suspense, Jesse clutched the maiden in a -vice-like grip with his left hand, raising his bowie knife in his -right, ready to plunge it into her heart, as he whispered in a tense, -hoarse voice:</p> - -<p>"Tell me why you brought me here! Was it at Great Bear's order? Tell -the truth, as you hope to carry your scalp to the Happy Hunting Ground!"</p> - -<p>Startled by the suddenness of the move and frightened by the stern face -peering into hers, her eyes rivetted on the keen edged blade, Dew Drop -blinked.</p> - -<p>But a rough shake recalled her to the necessity of replying.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> - -<p>"No, no!" she gasped. "Great Bear no know Dew Drop left tepee. He kill -um if knew."</p> - -<p>"Then what made you?"</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop want save um Jess Jame."</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame save um Dew Drop."</p> - -<p>"<i>I</i> save <i>you</i>?" repeated the bandit-chieftain, surprised in his turn. -"When? What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Kaw-Kaw say Great Spirit want Dew Drop be squaw um son Dog Face. Dew -Drop no want. No like Dog Face. Dog Face bad Injun. Kaw-Kaw say must. -Have heap pow-wow.</p> - -<p>"Little Wolf come tepee say um hunting um see paleface burned -Silverstock cabin, Jess Jame.</p> - -<p>"Great Bear ask where.</p> - -<p>"Little Wolf say canyon.</p> - -<p>"Dog Face say get um Jess Jame scalp give squaw.</p> - -<p>"Great Bear take Dog Face, Little Wolf twenty Injun leave um pow-wow go -git Jess Jame.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop no know what happen."</p> - -<p>"Great Bear five Injun come run tepee say Jess Jame on cliff, kill um -Injun, kill um Dog Face.</p> - -<p>"Kaw-Kaw say must scalp um Jess Jame or cuss um Great Bear.</p> - -<p>"Great Bear make heap talk. Call um brave go back get Jess Jame.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop no wait hear more.</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame save Dew Drop from Dog Face. Dew Drop save Jess Jame from -Great Bear.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop git cliff see um paleface come down. Dew Drop call. Sojer -shoot.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop 'fraid Jess Jame get um lead. When see no dead, hear um Great -Bear.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Dew Drop think where hide.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop think um cave Kaw-Kaw.</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame in Kaw-Kaw cave."</p> - -<p>Like a torrent the Indian maiden poured forth her story and as the -world-famous desperado learned the strange reason for her friendship, -he exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll be jiggered! So my men killed Dog Face, eh? I guess we can -trust you, if that's the way things are.</p> - -<p>"I'm sure mighty glad we put an end to your prospective husband."</p> - -<p>"But she said Kaw-Kaw was in the cave when we got here, and just now -she tells us she's at the pow-wow," breathed Comanche Tony, who had -heard the remarkable tale.</p> - -<p>"How about that?" demanded Jess sharply, his suspicions rekindled by -the seeming discrepancy in Dew Drop's statement.</p> - -<p>"Kaw-Kaw in um cave," returned the maiden with positiveness. "When um -hear Great Bear say go back git um Jess Jame, Kaw-Kaw say go um cave -get um cuss ready case Great Bear no get um Jess Jame."</p> - -<p>"So that smell's the old hag's curses, a brewin', eh?" chuckled Tony. -"I'm glad they're for Great Bear and his bucks and not me, if they're -that strong."</p> - -<p>But further speech was stopped by the sudden appearance of three tall -forms, looming in the entrance of the cave.</p> - -<p>Crouching low, the bandit-chieftain watched them, stealthily drawing -his shooting-irons.</p> - -<p>Yet before he could extract them from his holsters, he felt Dew Drop's -hand on his arm, restrainingly.</p> - -<p>Turning toward her, wondering what she meant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> he saw her shake her -head vigorously, at the same time pressing upon his arm.</p> - -<p>"Evidently doesn't want me to shoot," reasoned Jesse. "I reckon she -knows more about what's best in this witch-den than I do."</p> - -<p>And he silently dropped his guns back into their holsters.</p> - -<p>The old Indian fighter had been a spectator of the pantomime and as he -saw his chief relinquish his weapons, he did likewise.</p> - -<p>All this had taken but a few seconds, and even while it was -transpiring, one of the bucks was jabbering excitedly.</p> - -<p>What he was saying, the bandits did not know, for the redmen spoke in -their own language.</p> - -<p>Yet from the jumble of guttural sounds, they occasionally distinguished -the words "Jess Jame" and "Kaw-Kaw."</p> - -<p>But if they could not understand what was said they could see what was -happening.</p> - -<p>The jabberings of the excited bucks had been carried on in loud tones.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had they begun than the outlaws beheld a bent and bowed figure -hobble into the light at the mouth of the cave, leaning on a crooked -staff.</p> - -<p>At her approach, the warriors drew back.</p> - -<p>In shrill tones the figure, whom they realized must be the witch, -Kaw-Kaw, harangued them, waving her staff as her excitement got the -better of her.</p> - -<p>Soon she paused and the bucks replied.</p> - -<p>Again the piping voice answered.</p> - -<p>And, as she heard the words, Jesse could feel Dew Drop tremble, so -close was she to him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> - -<p>Deciding because of this that whatever the gibberish meant it spelled -danger for himself and his men, the world-famous desperado again -whipped his hands to his pistol holsters.</p> - -<p>And this time there was no objection from the Indian maiden by his side.</p> - -<p>Yet before he could draw them, Kaw-Kaw hobbled from the cave, joining -the three braves and vanished from sight with them.</p> - -<p>As they disappeared, Dew Drop breathed a sigh of intense relief.</p> - -<p>Ere Jesse could utter the question that was on his lips, the -red-skinned maiden whispered:</p> - -<p>"Quick! Quick! Get um paleface. Dew Drop take um back Kaw-Kaw cave -while um 'way."</p> - -<p>Springing to her feet, the maid seized the hand of the bandit-chieftain -and dragged him back into the pall of blackness that enveloped the -witch's den.</p> - -<p>Seeing their leader rise, his pals had followed suit, even before he -commanded in a low voice:</p> - -<p>"Get up, boys. Take hold of one another. Follow me quickly!"</p> - -<p>Had Kaw-Kaw returned to her den just then, she would have been filled -with amazement at the file of men, who threaded their way through -the maze of pots, tripods and implements dear to the heart of the -sorceress, led by the lithe, slim maiden.</p> - -<p>But her amazement would have turned to alarm had she seen them enter -a second cave, which led from the first, the existence of which she -thought she herself alone knew.</p> - -<p>So low was the opening into the inner den that the bandits were forced -to drop to their hands and knees.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> - -<p>"This is a fool's stunt, getting in farther instead of—" began Frank.</p> - -<p>But his words were frozen in his mouth by a terrible, hair-raising -growl that sounded from the recesses of the cave.</p> - -<p>"No 'fraid, no 'fraid!" gasped Dew Drop hurriedly. "Um Wa-Wa, Kaw-Kaw -bear. Um no hurt."</p> - -<p>"Sure not, his growl doesn't sound fierce, I don't think!" ejaculated -Wild Bill.</p> - -<p>But the Indian maiden, laughing softly, quickly allayed their fears by -adding:</p> - -<p>"Wa-Wa no got claw, no got teeth.'"</p> - -<p>"Well, the growl's the real thing, all right, all right," exclaimed -Jesse. "The old hag hasn't removed his hug, too, has she?"</p> - -<p>"No-o," replied the maiden, doubtfully. "But Dew Drop know Wa-Wa. Um -play, Dew Drop an' Wa-Wa.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop come cave any day. Kaw-Kaw deaf no hear.</p> - -<p>"Wa-Wa know Dew Drop. No hurt."</p> - -<p>"That may be all right for you," snarled Frank, "but Wa-Wa may not take -so kindly to our coming."</p> - -<p>The series of growls, growing in intensity and volume with each -successive outburst, that came from the monster, lent a force to the -outlaw's words that even the Indian maiden could not disregard.</p> - -<p>"Wa-Wa!" she called, soothingly, adding something in her native tongue.</p> - -<p>But the pet of the witch, Kaw-Kaw, as though he recognized among the -strangers, whose presence he scented, the man who had grievously -wronged his mistress by killing her son, refused to be pacified.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> - -<p>Each moment, his growls announced that he was getting nearer and nearer -to the bandits.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden, two little balls of seeming phosphorous glowered at them, -as the brute came from behind a boulder.</p> - -<p>"You can stand there like dummies, if you want to," snapped the elder -of the James boys. "<i>I'm going to shoot him!</i>"</p> - -<p>"No! No! No shoot!" protested Dew Drop, in alarm.</p> - -<p>"Why not?"</p> - -<p>"Kaw-Kaw smell powder when um came back. Know some one in um cave. Make -heap cuss. Fin' um paleface. Call um Injun. Devil to pay!"</p> - -<p>"I reckon the girl's right, Frank," declared his brother, smiling at -the words of his saviour. "It wouldn't take long for the old hag to -notice the odour of the saltpetre and when she called the bucks it -would be all over but the shouting.</p> - -<p>"And I've no intention of adorning an Indian triumph."</p> - -<p>"All right," grudgingly acquiesced the elder of the James boys. "I -won't shoot, but something's got to be done.</p> - -<p>"I don't propose to stay in here with a bear walking round loose, if it -hasn't any teeth or claws."</p> - -<p>This announcement expressed the feelings of the rest of the bandits, -yet what to do, they did not know.</p> - -<p>And as they stood, in helpless perplexity, the brute itself solved -their dilemma.</p> - -<p>As its wicked little eyes beheld the figures of the intruders in -its retreat, the monster reared on its hind legs, and with a roar, -deafening because of the narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> confines of the cave, charged at them, -laying about it viciously with its herculean paws.</p> - -<p>In panic, the outlaws fled before it.</p> - -<p>But the rock side of the den checked them.</p> - -<p>Came a mighty swish and Comanche Tony fell, dropped by the clawless -paws of the monster.</p> - -<p>And, in a trice, the bear stood over its unconscious victim, snarling -ominously.</p> - -<p>The peril of their pal broke the spell of terror in which the outlaws -stood.</p> - -<p>"Stab the brute! Tackle him, boys!" snapped Jesse, leaping toward the -monster as he spoke.</p> - -<p>Instantly his comrades obeyed.</p> - -<p>Drawing their keen-edged bowie-knives, they buried them to the hilts in -any part of the bear's body they could reach.</p> - -<p>Stung by the sharp pains, the monster reared on its hind legs again, -lashing about viciously with its paws, emitting savage growls, awful in -their fury.</p> - -<p>But its raising up was the beast's doom.</p> - -<p>Crouching low, dodging the terrible lunges as a prize-fighter dodges -the blows of his adversary in the ring, the world-famous desperado -watched his chance.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he saw the monster's breast unprotected.</p> - -<p>With a lightning movement, the bandit-chieftain leaped forward.</p> - -<p>In his right hand he clasped his bowie-knife.</p> - -<p>His arm, bent close to his body, shot out.</p> - -<p>And the force of his spring drove the keen-egded blade to the hilt, -straight through the bear's heart.</p> - -<p>But so great was the power of resistance of the monster that, despite -the steel in its most vital organ,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> it seized Jesse in a mighty -embrace, holding him helpless as it staggered.</p> - -<p>"T-trip it!" gasped the leader of the outlaws frantically, "I—I've -st-tabbed it."</p> - -<p>Again his men sprang forward.</p> - -<p>Yet before they could carry out their master's instructions, the bear -fell, its embrace unbroken.</p> - -<p>Not long did it take the bandits to extricate their chief from his -uncomfortable position.</p> - -<p>But as they raised him to his feet, they heard the sound of hoarse, -excited voices in the outer cave.</p> - -<p>"The bucks have come back!" hissed Texas Jack.</p> - -<p>"No, no Injun! Um paleface sojers!" gasped Dew Drop in consternation. -"No Injun come Kaw-Kaw cave."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">A DESPERATE CHARGE.</p> - - -<p>In dismay, the bandits gazed at one another, as they heard the -portentous words of the Indian maiden.</p> - -<p>And in a moment more their own ears confirmed their truth.</p> - -<p>No mistaking the identity of the men in the outer cave was there, as a -sharp command, in plain English, rang out:</p> - -<p>"Search every nook and cranny in the den, men. It's just the place for -Jesse James and his pack of cutthroats to hide."</p> - -<p>"That pet name'll cost the life of many a soldier,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> young fellow, if I -ever get out of here!" hissed Comanche Tony in a low, harsh voice.</p> - -<p>But his pals were too taken up with the peril of their position to make -any comment on the blood-thirsty announcement.</p> - -<p>No need was there to tell them it was one thing to have the Indians -search the cave and quite another to have the cavalrymen.</p> - -<p>The superstitious reverence and fear of the bent and bowed sorceress -would not sway the troopers or cause them to consider the intrusion of -the abode of the witch a sacrilege.</p> - -<p>Rather would their contempt for the customs and beliefs of the redmen -incite them to unusual effort.</p> - -<p>Should they chance to espy the hole leading into the second cave, every -one of the six men knew that they would lose no time in exploring it.</p> - -<p>And it was to what they should do, in such event, that each man devoted -his thoughts.</p> - -<p>"Can't we block up the hole?" hazarded Texas Jack, grasping at the most -obvious expedient.</p> - -<p>"No," returned Dew Drop. "Kaw-Kaw see, Kaw-Kaw get wise. Hole always -open for Wa-Wa.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop no see why Kaw-Kaw let sojers come um cave."</p> - -<p>"Probably they didn't ask her permission," returned the -bandit-chieftain.</p> - -<p>But the explanation did not satisfy the Indian maiden.</p> - -<p>From her earliest memory, she had been taught reverence for the -aged sorceress and she knew the fear her fellow-tribesmen held of -the terrible curse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> that would be visited upon any Indian who dared -penetrate the recesses of the cave.</p> - -<p>Indeed, not unless she had been invited to enter, as an honour that -would influence her to accept Dog Face as her brave, would she ever -have had the temerity to enter and as she thought of being discovered -in the "holy of holies" with the men she was trying to save, she -trembled like a leaf, silently rocking too and fro as she wrung her -hands in an agony of despair.</p> - -<p>Plainly the outlaws heard the troopers draw nearer and nearer as they -proceeded with their fruitless hunt.</p> - -<p>"I reckon there's nothing for it but to stab the first trooper who -pokes his head through the opening," whispered the world-famous -desperado.</p> - -<p>"I'll take that job for mine. The rest of you line up about me. As soon -as I've knifed the first, some of you pull him out of the way and the -others be ready for the next.</p> - -<p>"If we can kill 'em without an outcry, we may be able to get em all."</p> - -<p>The fiendish plan of slaying one man after another as fast as they -appeared showed clearly how desperate Jesse believed their position to -be.</p> - -<p>It proved that in order to save his own life he had no hesitancy in -killing any number of men.</p> - -<p>And, as they heard the shocking proposition, even his pals, steeped -in the gore of innocent men as their hands were, recoiled at the task -imposed on them.</p> - -<p>Yet they dared not disobey and silently took their places, kneeling, at -the entrance to the cave, opposite their inhuman chief who waited, with -bowie-knife up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>raised to plunge it into the heart of the first soldier -that appeared.</p> - -<p>But before the awful scheme could be put to the test, the old witch -herself took a hand in the proceedings.</p> - -<p>As the bandits kneeled, the beats of their hearts alone breaking the -silence of the den in which they were, their ears strained for the -first sound that should announce the discovery of the hole, they -suddenly heard a shrill snarl in good English:</p> - -<p>"Dogs of palefaces! What are you doing in my cave? How dare you profane -the temple of a Navajo medicine? Curses on your palefaced heads! May -you perish on the plains, riddled with wounds, mad for water! May the -coyotes feed on your carcasses! May no grave hold your bones and may -they be scattered to the winds! Curse you! Curse you! Curse you!"</p> - -<p>So furious, so terrible was the wrath of the aged sorceress that the -troopers stopped in their search, staring at the wizened, bent figure, -abashed.</p> - -<p>Not slow was the shrewd old hag to note the impression her bitter -invective had made upon the cavalrymen and, without delay, she followed -it up.</p> - -<p>"If the dogs of palefaces have wives, may they rot with child; if they -have sweethearts, may they play with them and jilt them; if they have -children, may they grow up deformed and idiotic! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"</p> - -<p>And she croaked in diabolical glee.</p> - -<p>Of a sudden her manner changed.</p> - -<p>"What do the palefaces want, more curses? Haven't they had enough?" -she shrieked, angered that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> though the soldiers trembled beneath her -imprecations, they made no move to leave the cave.</p> - -<p>"May—"</p> - -<p>But before another word could leave her lips, the lieutenant commanding -the troopers, having recovered from the first shock of surprise, -bellowed:</p> - -<p>"Seize her! Bind her! Gag the old vixen!"</p> - -<p>Eagerly the cavalrymen sprang forward, their faces bespeaking with what -relish they would obey the commands.</p> - -<p>Yet before they could lay hands on her, Kaw-Kaw began to back away, -swinging her crooked staff in front of her to hold off the troopers, -while she screamed in the language of her tribe.</p> - -<p>"Kaw-Kaw call um Great Bear an' um braves," gasped Dew Drop, excitedly, -close to Jesse's ear. "Paleface dogs must fight for coming Kaw-Kaw -cave."</p> - -<p>So unexpected and so startling had been the intervention of the old -witch that Jesse forgot his own peril in his interest to learn the -effect of the awful curses on the soldiers.</p> - -<p>But the words of the Indian maiden recalled him to himself.</p> - -<p>Whoops and yells resounded in the outer cave in answer to Kaw-Kaw's -appeal to her tribesmen.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a flare of light shone through the hole leading into the -cavern in which the outlaws were.</p> - -<p>"The bucks have thrown in lighted faggots," grunted Comanche Tony. -"There'll be suthin' doin', now."</p> - -<p>Ere he had more than spoken, the barks of pistols rang out, like the -explosion of gigantic fire-crackers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<p>The deeper toned army revolvers answered.</p> - -<p>In a trice the din was deafening.</p> - -<p>"Here's our chance!" declared the world-famous desperado. "We'll crawl -into the other cave and attack the troopers from the rear.</p> - -<p>"Judging by their guns, there are only a dozen or so.</p> - -<p>"Our charge'll rattle 'em so we can rush through 'em and get outside.</p> - -<p>"The Indians won't stop us.</p> - -<p>"When we get clear, we'll strike for the place the bucks are grazing -their ponies, Dew Drop'll tell us where it is."</p> - -<p>"Jus' other side trees, straight from cave," responded the red-skinned -maiden.</p> - -<p>"Good. All ready, boys! I'll go first. Don't begin shooting till we're -all in the other cave.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop, you stay here."</p> - -<p>Desperate was the scheme.</p> - -<p>If the braves or troopers recognized Jesse, they might forget their -fight in the desire to capture their common enemy.</p> - -<p>And then the outlaws' shrift would be short.</p> - -<p>But no word of protest did the others offer.</p> - -<p>In deciding upon the sortie, the bandit-chieftain had counted on the -cavalrymen mistaking him and his pals for Indians while he hoped the -savages would think them troopers.</p> - -<p>Furiously was the battle raging as Jesse finished the announcement of -his plans.</p> - -<p>From the yells and shouts, he decided that the soldiers were driving -back the redskins.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> - -<p>And, with hope high, he began to crawl through the hole onto the field -of strife.</p> - -<p>Rapidly his five pals followed.</p> - -<p>As they gained the larger cave, they saw that the troopers had, indeed, -forced the braves back.</p> - -<p>"Don't shoot till we get on top of 'em," breathed Jesse. "I'll give the -word. Ready! Charge!"</p> - -<p>Like deers the outlaws sped toward the cavalrymen, their presence -unsuspected.</p> - -<p>But as they got within twenty feet of them, a voice suddenly shrilled:</p> - -<p>"There he is! There's Jesse James!"</p> - -<p>In their reckoning, the desperadoes had forgotten the old witch whose -son they had killed.</p> - -<p>The cause of the fight between soldiers and Indians, Kaw-Kaw, had -ducked into a niche out of range of the bullets, from which she watched -the conflict.</p> - -<p>And as the bandits rushed past, she recognized them.</p> - -<p>Yet before her warning had rung out, the bandit-chieftain thundered:</p> - -<p>"Fire! Rake 'em, boys! Drop 'em!"</p> - -<p>But while his men poured their murderous fire into the troopers, Jesse -turned and sent a shot crashing into the brain of the old hag and she -toppled from her hiding place, a blood-curdling shriek coming from her -lips as she fell.</p> - -<p>Amazed at the warning which was followed on the instant by the fusilade -from behind, the cavalrymen whirled to face their foes from the new -quarter.</p> - -<p>But the rain of lead from the outlaws' guns was terrible.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> - -<p>One after another, the troopers fell, mowed down like grass before the -scythe.</p> - -<p>"We've cleaned 'em out! Come on! Charge the Injuns! We've got to shoot -our way through!" bellowed the world-famous desperado.</p> - -<p>Howling, yelling, leaping like Dervishes, the six desperadoes dashed -from the mouth of the cave.</p> - -<p>An instant the braves stood and faced them.</p> - -<p>But the fire from the outlaws' pistols was too galling and they gave -way.</p> - -<p>Intoxicated by the smell of powder, wild with the sight of carnage on -all sides of him, Jesse led his men through the evergreens, coming upon -the Indians' ponies where Dew Drop had said they were.</p> - -<p>Quickly the desperadoes cut out six, leaped on their backs and dashed -southward.</p> - -<p>Behind them, having recovered their nerve, swarmed every buck who could -find a mount, rending the air with fiendish whoops of fury and chagrin.</p> - -<p>"We can get away from them, all right," declared the world-famous -desperado. "What worries me is where the troopers are who signalled -from the south."</p> - -<p>And scarcely had the words left his lips before he caught sight of a -body of horsemen rising from a ravine less than a quarter of a mile in -front of him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">THE RACE FOR LIFE.</p> - - -<p>In the light from the moon, which bathed the brush-grown plain and -towering cliff in a flood of silver sheen, the figures of the troopers -stood out clearly.</p> - -<p>By common consent, without waiting for the command, the men with the -world-famous desperado checked their ponies and watched the cavalrymen -rise from the ravine.</p> - -<p>Whether or not, the soldiers had caught sight of them they did not -know. But shouts of delirious glee from behind told them that the -pursuing Indians had discovered the troopers.</p> - -<p>Of a verity, the little band of desperadoes were between two fires.</p> - -<p>Apparently the liberty they had achieved by such ruthless slaughter -of soldiers and redmen in the cave of the old witch was to count for -naught.</p> - -<p>And as this thought came to them, the companions of the notorious -outlaw groaned inwardly.</p> - -<p>Not so the notorious Jesse, however.</p> - -<p>Save for the deepening of the lines about his mouth and the compression -of his lips, he sat erect and rigid.</p> - -<p>But his mind was working as it never had worked before.</p> - -<p>Through many a desperate situation had he passed unscathed. Yet none -of the ruses which had stood him in such good stead on those occasions -could he use in his present predicament.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> - -<p>The brilliancy of the moonlight, the presence of foes in front and -back, the treeless waste all about him prevented.</p> - -<p>Should he make any move, it would be clearly discernable to troopers -and Indians alike.</p> - -<p>And, aware of his seeming helplessness, the bucks were already yelling -in anticipation of his capture.</p> - -<p>Their attention attracted by the howls of the savages, the cavalrymen -quickly discovered the group of horsemen in the bracken.</p> - -<p>Hoarse commands, the sounds of which alone reached the bandits, were -spoken and, in a twinkling, those of the troopers who had mounted the -level from the ravine, set their horses toward them.</p> - -<p>Turning his head, the world-famous desperado looked toward the Indians.</p> - -<p>All of half a mile away were they, though each minute lessened the -distance.</p> - -<p>"Its a chance, but we've got to take it," snapped Jesse, thinking -aloud. "Quick, boys! Whirl your ponies. We'll ride back a way then make -a dash for the ravine! Come on!"</p> - -<p>Even as the words fell from their leader's lips, his men had turned -their mounts and, as he gave the word, buried the rowels of their spurs -in the flanks of the fleet footed Indian ponies.</p> - -<p>Startled by the unwonted pain, the animals leaped away like stones from -catapults.</p> - -<p>The race for life was on.</p> - -<p>Scarcely a minute had it been from the time the outlaws had caught -sight of the cavalrymen till they were in full flight. Yet to them each -second their chief had sat inactive had seemed an hour.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> - -<p>In amazement, the savages beheld the men they had been pursuing rush -toward them.</p> - -<p>"Kaw-Kaw's bewitched them! They've lost their minds! Her curses live -to destroy the men who killed her!" shouted Great Bear in his native -tongue, transported with joy. "At them! At them! Jesse James is the -Navajos' prey. The paleface dogs must not get him first!"</p> - -<p>Goaded to frenzy by the words of their chief, the bucks fell to lashing -their ponies, riding like fiends in their effort to prevent the -troopers from snatching their quarry from their very grasp.</p> - -<p>But the cavalrymen viewed the course of the desperately pressed little -band with different feelings.</p> - -<p>"Jesse's in the bunch, all right. That move shows it," growled one of -them, the stars and chevrons on whose uniform proclaimed him a captain. -"No one but that murdering daredevil would have chosen to ride back -toward that pack of howling savages rather than toward us.</p> - -<p>"Curse the luck! Why couldn't we have struck the ravine half a mile -farther east? Then we'd been right on top of him and could have shot -him down."</p> - -<p>"But the bucks 'll drop him," asserted a lieutenant who rode at his -side. "So long as he's shot, I don't see what difference it makes -whether we get him or they."</p> - -<p>"<i>But they won't get him!</i>" bellowed the captain, his disappointment at -losing his chance to capture the most famous desperado the world has -ever known and anger at the ill-disguised rebuke of his subordinate -getting the better of him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Won't get him?" repeated the lieutenant, as though he seemed to doubt -his ears.</p> - -<p>"<i>Yes, won't get him!</i>" returned the man in command of the troops. -"You've got a lot to learn, young man, about hunting bad-men.</p> - -<p>"But if you never learn any thing else, remember this—Indians, when -they're howling and whooping and all excited, are the worst shots in -the world.</p> - -<p>"Jesse James knows it. And he'd rather take the chance of riding by the -whole pack of 'em than to give the few of us a shot at him."</p> - -<p>Such, indeed, was the reason that the world-famous desperado had chosen -the course he did. Yet his decision had been strengthened by the -further knowledge that the redmen feared him and his marvelous prowess -with his shooting-irons.</p> - -<p>All the while, the little group of outlaws and the two bodies of men -bent on their death or capture, were drawing closer together.</p> - -<p>Never was there stranger chase.</p> - -<p>In full view of one another, each party was riding like mad to gain its -own end.</p> - -<p>Yet never a shot was fired.</p> - -<p>The distance that separated them was too great.</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer drew the bandits and the Indians and farther and -farther were the cavalrymen getting from the ravine.</p> - -<p>Less than two hundred yards separated the former.</p> - -<p>With eyes now in front, now turned behind, Jesse watched the approach -of his enemies.</p> - -<p>"Damme! I believe they're mad! Why don't they open fire?" snarled the -captain.</p> - -<p>To which of the two groups the words referred, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> lieutenant did not -know and his recent, caustic reprimand prevented him from asking.</p> - -<p>His mind, however, was instantly diverted by his superior.</p> - -<p>"Ha! What's that mean?" cried the latter, then added instantly "Jesse's -turning. I see. He's making for the ravine. I've been fooled!"</p> - -<p>Almost choking with rage at the thought that he had allowed himself to -be out-generaled by the notorious cutthroat, the captain rose in his -stirrups, jerked his sabre from its scabbard and, pointing toward the -ravine, turned to his troopers, bellowing:</p> - -<p>"Fours oblique <i>and ride like Hell</i>!"</p> - -<p>Chuckling inwardly at the choler of their commander, the cavalrymen -executed the orders.</p> - -<p>As Jesse and his pals heard the frantic command, they yelled in -defiance, waving mocking goodbyes at the discomfited troopers as, -leaning forward along the necks of their ponies, they raced past the -head of the column of cavalrymen.</p> - -<p>Better than he had dared hope had the bandit-chieftain's ruse worked.</p> - -<p>But the end of the race for life was not yet.</p> - -<p>Though the world-famous desperado had held his course straight toward -the whooping Indians, his mind and eyes had been almost entirely upon -the troopers.</p> - -<p>When he had caught sight of the first troopers rising from the ravine -and realized the desperateness of the position of himself and his -companions, with that instinct which had made him so valuable an -asset to the old guerilla chieftain, Quantrell, in the days of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> the -Civil War, he had realized that the one chance of escape open, lay in -reaching the ravine.</p> - -<p>Yet his eyes, calculating the distance nicely, told him that, should he -make a dash for it, the troopers could head him off by riding along the -edge of the gorge.</p> - -<p>A moment he had been puzzled as to what to do. Then, in a flash, it had -come to him that by retracing his course and riding straight at the -howling savages he might be able to entice the soldiers to follow him, -abandoning their strategic advantages of the position along the ravine.</p> - -<p>With elation, he had seen the troopers fall into his snare.</p> - -<p>This accomplished, he had kept watch of their pursuit, waiting for the -instant when they should be so far away from the ravine that he could -beat them to it.</p> - -<p>At last the time came.</p> - -<p>With a whispered command, he had bidden his pals wheel and rush for the -gorge.</p> - -<p>Skilled horsemen all, they had accomplished the turn which was so -sudden that it would have unseated less expert riders.</p> - -<p>But so absorbed were they in watching the troopers that they had not -noticed five bucks who had broken away from their fellows and were -bearing down upon them with the speed of whirlwinds.</p> - -<p>Riding with marvelous ease and grace, the redmen closed upon them with -incredible rapidity.</p> - -<p>No whoop or yell did they utter.</p> - -<p>Their success in getting near enough to the men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> who had killed their -brother warriors and outraged their race by shooting their medicine -woman lay in their silence.</p> - -<p>Breathlessly the rest of the braves watched them.</p> - -<p>As the echoes of the outlaws' derisive shouts, when they dashed past -the head of the cavalry, died away, one of the bucks straightened and -raised his arm.</p> - -<p>Bang! went the pistol in his hand.</p> - -<p>The report of the gun was the first intimation Jesse and his pals had -of the proximity of the braves.</p> - -<p>And as the bullet whistled over their heads, they whirled on the backs -of their ponies to see who it was that had been able to get within -shooting distance of them, undiscovered.</p> - -<p>"Drop em! Drop 'em!" roared the world-famous desperado, adding a -terrible oath.</p> - -<p>Crash! went the dozen six shooters.</p> - -<p>The six outlaws were firing with a gun in each hand.</p> - -<p>But only one Indian toppled from his pony.</p> - -<p>"Again!" bellowed Jesse. "Get 'em this time!"</p> - -<p>Once more the twelve pistols barked.</p> - -<p>And once more only one brave fell.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter with you?" snarled the notorious outlaw. "<i>If we -don't get them, they'll get us!</i>"</p> - -<p>But the task imposed on the bandits was no easy one.</p> - -<p>Keeping their seats on the backs of their madly galloping mounts only -by the grips of their knees, the desperadoes were obliged to shoot with -their bodies twisted round to face behind them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> - -<p>And small wonder was it that their aim was bad.</p> - -<p>But on the three remaining redskins rushed, firing frantically and -behind them thundered the rest of the savages and the troopers, yelling -encouragement.</p> - -<p>No chance was there for the little band to throw off the pursuit when -they reached the ravine unless the trio of braves was killed.</p> - -<p>Cursing furiously as he saw the second volley had accomplished no more -than the first, Jesse forebore to call for another.</p> - -<p>Well he knew that it had been the bullets from the gun in his right -hand that had toppled the two Indians from the horses and he made up -his mind that upon him devolved the killing of the others.</p> - -<p>With the marvelous rapidity that had won him his reputation, he snapped -his trusty "Colts" in quick succession.</p> - -<p>Two more of the savages pitched from their ponies.</p> - -<p>Again his guns spoke.</p> - -<p>Yet before he could see the result of his last attempt to drop the lone -buck, Homely Harry shrieked:</p> - -<p>"Watch out, boys! We're right on to the ravine!"</p> - -<p>The warning came too late.</p> - -<p>Even as the cry rang out, the bandits felt their ponies sink beneath -them as the animals rushed over the edge of the gorge.</p> - -<p>Never was such horsemanship as Jesse and his pals displayed.</p> - -<p>To the average man, the plunge taken at the whirl-wind speed of the -ponies would have meant death.</p> - -<p>Turning the instant their pal's voice had sounded, the bandits steadied -themselves by bracing their hands,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> still holding their revolvers, -against the necks of their mounts, leaning back to offset the shock -when the ponies should strike the brush-covered bottom of the ravine -that yawned beneath them.</p> - -<p>To any one in the gorge, they would have seemed like huge, ungainly -birds sailing through the air.</p> - -<p>For so terrific was the pace at which the animals had approached the -ravine that their momentum carried them far out over the brush ere they -began to drop.</p> - -<p>"Be ready to slide when the pintos strikes!" yelled Comanche Tony, -quickly realizing the danger. "If you tries to set your horses it will -mean your death!"</p> - -<p>Quickly his pals relaxed their muscles.</p> - -<p>And well was it that the old Indian fighter had given the advice.</p> - -<p>With feet braced stiff, the ponies struck the ground.</p> - -<p>There was a snapping and cracking and the poor beasts sank down, their -legs broken by the awful force of the impact.</p> - -<p>Yet even as they fell, the outlaws, prepared by the warning of Comanche -Tony, shot over their heads, landing in the bushes unscathed save for -scratches and the jolting they received as they struck.</p> - -<p>And as they picked themselves up, they heard the captain of the -troopers roar:</p> - -<p>"Find the horses! Jesse and the bunch'll be near 'em. No man could take -that plunge and come out whole."</p> - -<p>"That's where your wrong, old top," grinned the world-world famous -desperado. "Quick boys! drop on your hands and knees! We'll work up -the ravine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> a couple of rods from the ponies and then strike for the -side from which they jumped. Careful, now, we won the race. But if the -troopers or Injuns get their peepers on one of us, its death to the -whole bunch!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_VII" id="Chapter_VII"><span class="smcap">Chapter VII.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">DEW DROP AGAIN TO THE RESCUE.</p> - - -<p>Hurriedly the outlaws dropped to all fours and resumed their hazardous -attempt at escape.</p> - -<p>The bushes that grew in the ravine, fortunately for them, were of -sufficient height to conceal their bodies as they advanced. Yet mere -concealment, they knew, was not sufficient to insure their safety.</p> - -<p>Should the keen eyes of soldiers or savages detect a suspicious -movement among the brushwood, the hue and cry would instantly be raised.</p> - -<p>And, aware of this full well, the six sorely pressed bandits crawled -with infinite stealth.</p> - -<p>So near were the troopers that the creaking of their saddle leathers -was audible, followed almost instantly by the snapping and cracking of -twigs and bushes as the horses picked their way gingerly down the steep -side of the ravine.</p> - -<p>Eagerly the eyes of the cavalrymen searched the bottom of the gorge, -bent on discovering the forms of the horses, as their captain had -commanded.</p> - -<p>So thick was the tangle of brushwood, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> that it was several -minutes after the desperadoes had heard them crashing into the ravine -ere their hearts were set a flutter by excited cries, breaking from -several mouths at the same time:</p> - -<p>"There they are! On the farther side!"</p> - -<p>The announcement of the discovery was received with wild cheers.</p> - -<p>"Where? Which direction?" yelled those of the troopers whose sight -was unable to discern the dark forms of the ponies writhing in their -suffering.</p> - -<p>"To the East! To the East!" answered the ones who saw them. "Come on! -Come on! We've got 'em."</p> - -<p>Wild with the excitement of the soldiers at the prospect of capturing -the desperate cutthroats who had defied all efforts of an army -of man-hunters either to kill or to take them into custody, so -successfully.</p> - -<p>Yet scarce had the cries of the exuberant troopers rung out than their -commander bellowed:</p> - -<p>"Give 'em a volley before you ride at 'em. They're tricky devils!"</p> - -<p>In the exigencies of the moment all thought of military discipline was -forgotten.</p> - -<p>The captain knew his men and the men knew their captain. Many a -punitive expedition had they ridden on before, against outlaws and -renegade redskins alike and no need was there to waste time in giving -book-rule commands.</p> - -<p>No sooner had the words of caution left the officer's lips than the -troopers threw their carbines to their shoulders, sighted them on the -dark, struggling forms in the brushwood and pulled the triggers.</p> - -<p>With deafening roar the guns spoke.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> - -<p>Straight and true sped the bullets.</p> - -<p>But instead of stopping the heart beats of any of the James gang they -simply put an end to the miseries of the maimed ponies.</p> - -<p>As the report of the broadside rang out over the plains, the cavalrymen -urged their mounts forward, eager to be in at the death.</p> - -<p>In the stress of their emotions, they had not noticed that no shots had -been fired at them.</p> - -<p>Had they been more calm, this fact alone would have told them the -outlaws were not by the ponies.</p> - -<p>And it was not till they had reached the bodies of the beasts, -dismounted and searched the nearby bushes that they found that Jesse -and his band had again outwitted them.</p> - -<p>But when the fact dawned on them, loud and forceful were their curses.</p> - -<p>"Beat up and down the gorge!" shouted the lieutenant, believing that -the mistake of his superior gave him a license to issue commands.</p> - -<p>"Shut up, you dunderhead!" roared the captain, his face livid with -rage. "I was chasing men when you were in swaddling clothes. I know how -they act.</p> - -<p>"<i>The bandits have crossed the ravine and struck into the brush beyond! -After them!</i>"</p> - -<p>In a wild scramble, the troopers mounted the farther side of the -ravine, gained the edge and were soon lost to view.</p> - -<p>And as the world-famous desperado, peering cautiously from the -brushwood, saw they had vanished, he heaved a mighty sigh of relief.</p> - -<p>Terrible, indeed, had been the suspense of the six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> men crawling on -hands and knees under cover of the bushes.</p> - -<p>On their ears alone had they been obliged to rely to tell them what was -transpiring about them, for they dared not raise their heads to look, -lest the eyes of the troopers decry them.</p> - -<p>When they had heard the crash of the volley, Jesse had turned toward -the very bank from which it was fired.</p> - -<p>And as the soldiers descended to learn the result of their shots, the -outlaws had crept up the steep incline.</p> - -<p>Of necessity, their progress was slow and not more than half way to the -top were they when the words of the captain, expressing his belief that -his quarry was on the farther plain, had reached them.</p> - -<p>Still crawling, the bandit-chieftain had waited till he thought -sufficient time had elapsed for all to have gained the plains before he -ventured to look to make sure.</p> - -<p>And when he found that the cavalrymen had, indeed, disappeared over the -opposite bank, he quickly apprised his companions.</p> - -<p>"I'll bet my hair's turned white," ejaculated Wild Bill. "I ain't never -been through no such tryout before an' I don't want to agin."</p> - -<p>"Don't crow too soon," admonished Comanche Tony. "We ain't clear -yet—by a long shot."</p> - -<p>"Right you are, pard," declared Jesse, "And it doesn't look as though -we'd get clear," he added. "Duck, boys, duck! Here comes the Injuns! -Skirt the edge of the bank!"</p> - -<p>Luckily for themselves, none of the outlaws had risen from the -brushwood so that their chief's exhor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>tation was unnecessary and, with -agility born of desperation, they struck westward along the crest of -the gorge.</p> - -<p>When they had seen the troopers change their direction and rush madly -after the fleeing bandits, the savages had checked their pursuit, all -but the five whom Jesse had sent to the Happy Hunting Ground.</p> - -<p>No love did they bear for the soldiers and they were not eager to -mingle with them, even though they were engaged in the chase of a -common foe.</p> - -<p>Hurriedly Great Bear had passed the word for silence and, sitting on -their ponies like statues, they had advanced at a walk.</p> - -<p>Not even the roar of the carbines had induced the chieftain to increase -the pace.</p> - -<p>But when he saw the forms of the cavalrymen mounting the farther edge -of the ravine, he became interested.</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame fool um paleface!" he grunted, his eyes twinkling with -delight. "Sojers no get Jess. Injun got chance."</p> - -<p>If the bandits had, indeed, taken to the plains across the gorge, -Great Bear knew that he and his braves were as likely to find them as -the troopers. But because he was wise in his generation, the wily old -warrior again enjoined his braves to silence that they might surprise -the little band had they doubled on their tracks as he more than half -suspected.</p> - -<p>The shoeless hoofs of their ponies making scarcely no sound because -of the thunderous charge of the cavalry on the farther plains, the -redskins bore down on the ravine.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> - -<p>But, as the reader knows, Jesse had seen them and, with his pals, was -scurrying from their path.</p> - -<p>The Indians slowed up as they reached the edge of the ravine, then -descended, crossed, mounted the other side, and swept on in the trail -of the soldiers.</p> - -<p>Pausing as he heard the bucks plunge into the gorge, Jesse parted the -bushes at his side, peering at the dark, tossing forms.</p> - -<p>Cautiously his pals followed his example.</p> - -<p>Never had men seemed to move so slowly as did the Indians in crossing -the gulch.</p> - -<p>But at last only a few stragglers had not mounted to the plains.</p> - -<p>"Quick, boys! Crawl to the top of the bank, only keep under cover!" -whispered the world-famous desperado.</p> - -<p>With alacrity his companions obeyed.</p> - -<p>A rod he led them, still on their hands and knees, after they had -gained the level.</p> - -<p>"There's no danger of our being seen now, I reckon," he declared, -rising to his feet. "But we won't run any risk by showing too much of -ourselves.</p> - -<p>"Come on! While the Injuns and troopers are searching the other side of -the ravine, we'll get back to the cliffs on this."</p> - -<p>Overjoyed at their escape from the foes, which seemed little short -of miraculous, the bandits broke into a swift, steady jog trot that -carried them rapidly over the ground.</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer they approached the rocks that towered majestically -ahead of them.</p> - -<p>But just as safety seemed within their grasp, Frank gasped:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'm all in! The—wo—wound—in—my—leg."</p> - -<p>And he sank to the ground, in collapse.</p> - -<p>Muttering an oath under his breath at this misfortune when all was -going so well, Jesse hurried to the side of his brother and the others -joined him.</p> - -<p>"Take an arm, Texas," snapped the bandit-chieftain, as he put his own -hand under Frank's left shoulder and lifted him to his feet.</p> - -<p>Quickly the other obeyed and, supporting their exhausted comrade -between them, they resumed their progress toward the cliffs.</p> - -<p>"I reckon we might as well go back into the canyon," asserted the -world-famous desperado.</p> - -<p>"We'll climb up to the table land where we rescued Tony and rest for a -few days. We can see all about us. No one can surprise us and the bucks -and troopers would never think we'd go back.</p> - -<p>"We'll be able to find something we can eat."</p> - -<p>This suggestion met with the approval of the others and the little band -bent their steps toward the black cleft that marked the entrance into -the rocky defile.</p> - -<p>Occasional glances behind them told them that none of the pursuers had -returned from the chase.</p> - -<p>Indeed, no moving object could they discover in any direction and, with -hearts beating light at their successful escape from the blood-thirsty, -revenge-craving savages and the cavalrymen whose ire had been roused by -their strategic errors, they were just about to enter the canyon when a -lithe figure darted toward them from behind a boulder.</p> - -<p>"It's more of the red devils," snarled Wild Bill, whipping out his -guns. "We <i>are</i> smart—I don't think. While we've been patting -ourselves on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> back, they've been lying here, waiting for us."</p> - -<p>Yet the alarm of the outlaws was short-lived.</p> - -<p>Ere any of them could draw their weapons, a voice cooed, softly:</p> - -<p>"Don' shoot! Don' shoot! Me Dew Drop!"</p> - -<p>The relief the words brought to the bandits, who feared the fruits of -their desperate escape and retreat were to be snatched from them, was -inexpressible and it was turned to outright joy as the Indian maiden -continued:</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop take um Jess Jame to safe cave. Heap food. Heap water in -pool. Then Dew Drop leave. Injun move camp, Dew Drop got go."</p> - -<p>"Then if they're going to take you along, they haven't got wise to your -hiding us in Kaw-Kaw's cave, I judge," exclaimed the bandit-chieftain, -glad to know the assistance which had been so opportune to his little -band had brought no trouble to the girl.</p> - -<p>"Squaws no know. Bucks forget 'fore get back. Um go on raid. Sojers no -be in forts now," returned Dew Drop.</p> - -<p>"Sorry I didn't pot more of 'em if that's what they're up to," grunted -the world-famous desperado.</p> - -<p>But his good fairy did not understand what he meant and prattled -artlessly.</p> - -<p>Skirting the base of the precipice, Dew Drop passed the mouth of the -canyon and led them more than a mile beyond, stopping when she reached -a fissure that ran from top to base.</p> - -<p>Squeezing into it, the bandits were plunged in darkness.</p> - -<p>Putting his hand on his guide's shoulder, Jesse bade his men hold onto -the one in front of him and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> in single file they advanced till they -could feel from the change in the air that they had reached the cave.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop no stay," declared the maid, slipping from the -bandit-chieftain's hand. "Mus' join um squaw. Paleface fin' grub, -water. So long."</p> - -<p>And, ere any of the outlaws had the time to protest, the Indian maiden -sped from them, leaving them in the unknown cave in pitch darkness.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_VIII" id="Chapter_VIII"><span class="smcap">Chapter VIII.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">IN THE FATAL CIRCLE.</p> - - -<p>But Jesse had plans other than to permit the soft-voiced Indian maiden -to desert them thus suddenly.</p> - -<p>Without a word, with the quickness of a panther he sprang after her -leaving the others helpless and surprised at the unexpected action of -their chief.</p> - -<p>"Has Jess gone plumb bug house?" breathed Tony, scarcely daring to -trust his voice.</p> - -<p>"Everybody's got wheels in this devil's neighborhood," averred Texas.</p> - -<p>"And if he ain't he will have in the hole we're in now," added Homely -Harry.</p> - -<p>Frank groaned weakly.</p> - -<p>"Hey, pard," interrupted Tony, suddenly bethinking himself of their -wounded companion, "How you comin' along?"</p> - -<p>"Give me a drink," returned the elder James brother in a voice scarcely -above a whisper. "I feel as if I was dying."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Bosh," retorted Tony. "I know them symptoms. You're been loosin' some -red juice. Here, take a pull at the flask. It'll put you right in a -jiffy."</p> - -<p>Frank James gulped down the liquor greedily, so much so that for the -instant it nearly strangled him.</p> - -<p>"How's that," grinned Tony in the darkness, fetching the flask away and -restoring it to his ample hip pocket.</p> - -<p>"B—b—better," coughed Frank. "But I'll be bad again in a minute. -Where's Jess?"</p> - -<p>"Dunno. He vamoosed like a lightning bug. Sloped after the Indian -maiden I guess."</p> - -<p>"Call him back quick," demanded Frank. "You, Texas. Hurry or I'll bleed -to death. I'm bad hurt, I tell you fellows."</p> - -<p>Without an instant's hesitation Texas sprang away to do the wounded -man's bidding, regardless of any personal danger to himself.</p> - -<p>But Texas did not have far to go.</p> - -<p>Just without the cave he was grasped in a grip of iron. His hand flew -to his belt.</p> - -<p>"Stop, you fool! Where are you going!" hissed Jesse in his ear.</p> - -<p>"Gad, what a fright you gave me," gasped Texas. "I was going for you. -Frank's bad and said you'd got to come right away. Oh there's the girl, -eh."</p> - -<p>"Bad? Come along Dew Drop," and without further parley Jesse led the -way into the cave, keeping tight hold on the Indian girl, who though -reluctant, made no protest at being dragged back by the man she had -just saved.</p> - -<p>"Somebody strike a light," demanded the great bandit.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> - -<p>"No, no," protested Dew Drop with a quick pressure on the outlaw's arm. -"Injun smell smoke. Stop um hole up an catch pale face. Jess Jame and -other pale faces come with Dew Drop."</p> - -<p>"All right go ahead and we'll follow," decided Jesse. "Frank can you -walk?"</p> - -<p>Frank groaned.</p> - -<p>"Pick him up, two of you and follow. Be careful."</p> - -<p>Not a word was spoken as the strange procession moved silently on, -deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mountain.</p> - -<p>The silence was, after what had seemed an age to the men whose nerves -were tensed by the strangeness of the cave, broken by the voice of the -Indian girl.</p> - -<p>"Pale faces git down um bellies," she directed tersely. "Me go first."</p> - -<p>Suiting the action to the word Dew Drop threw herself down and crawled -through a hole in the rock. But Jesse, who followed, did not succeed in -passing the narrow opening with the same ease that Dew Drop had, but -he finally accomplished the feat with sundry exclamations of disgust -beneath his breath.</p> - -<p>Texas, more ample of girth, got stuck in the hole, which he had -attempted to get through feet first, and he could not move either way. -Jesse solved the difficulty quickly by grabbing the unfortunate outlaw -by the feet and jerking him in beside him.</p> - -<p>But with Frank the task was still more difficult.</p> - -<p>"Easy there," commanded the bandit-chieftain. "Put him through head -first and I will draw him in."</p> - -<p>This they did, and though Frank groaned and begged piteously the move -was quickly executed.</p> - -<p>Dew Drop now led the way again, which Jesse ob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>served led slowly upward -and that the air was freshening as they proceeded.</p> - -<p>At last the Indian maiden came to a quick stop.</p> - -<p>"Light um fire," she directed tersely.</p> - -<p>It was the work of a moment for Jesse to strike a match and to his -intense satisfaction he discovered a pile of dry limbs in one corner -of the chamber where they had halted, and a blazing fire was burning -quickly.</p> - -<p>The men uttered an exclamation of surprise.</p> - -<p>What they saw challenged the admiration of every man present.</p> - -<p>Millions of brilliant stalactites hung suspended from the domed arch -above them, and gave back scintillating flashes from the light of the -flames. For the moment they forgot the real purpose of their presence -there.</p> - -<p>"Diamonds, by Judas," exclaimed Homely Harry in open mouthed wonder.</p> - -<p>"Diamonds, your eye," returned Texas. "Them ain't no diamonds. I know -the kind, I've seen them before."</p> - -<p>But Jesse had given no heed to their expressions of admiration.</p> - -<p>Instantly the fire was started, he dropped down by the side of his -wounded brother, making a hurried examination of his wounds.</p> - -<p>"Give me a piece of lariat," he commanded.</p> - -<p>Tony passed over a strip of tough leather. With this the -outlaw-chieftain bound the leg just above the wound, administering a -drink from his own flask, and turned to Dew Drop.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Got any saw bones around here?" he demanded sharply. "That's what I -brought you back for."</p> - -<p>The Indian girl looked at him blankly.</p> - -<p>"Pale face medicine man," he explained.</p> - -<p>Dew Drop smiled understandingly, but shook her head.</p> - -<p>"Two suns journey," she explained, pointing to the north.</p> - -<p>"Got a medicine man in your village, then? We've got to have some one -here quick and I guess a medicine man of one color is about as good as -another."</p> - -<p>"Great Bear him got medicine man," explained the girl. "No get medicine -man. Great Bear kill white man; Great Bear kill me."</p> - -<p>"We'll kill Great Bear; so, that'll be a toss up. You go get the -medicine man. Tell him your Indian beau is down in the canyon so badly -wounded that he will die and fetch him here."</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop fraid," she protested.</p> - -<p>"Don't worry, we'll fix him so he won't hurt you. I will follow along -behind you to see that no harm comes to you. Two of you men go outside -the cave after a while and hide there and when Dew Drop brings the man -you jump on him, and carry him in—"</p> - -<p>"No, no," answered the maiden hurriedly, "me put out um medicine man -eyes."</p> - -<p>"Put out his eyes?" demanded Jesse in surprise.</p> - -<p>"So," drawing her hand across her eyes and to the back of her head.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I see: you mean to blindfold him? But how are you going to do it?"</p> - -<p>"Me tell um take um cave of Great Spirit and must not see."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> - -<p>The others gazed at the girl blankly. Jesse haw-hawed loudly.</p> - -<p>"Well, you are a wise little savage. I guess Jesse James and his band -had better hang around here a while and take some lessons from you. -What do you say, boys? Dew Drop ain't near so soft as her name, is she -now?"</p> - -<p>"She ain't that," they chorused.</p> - -<p>"Oh hurry up," urged Frank.</p> - -<p>With that, Jesse and the girl quickly made their way out of the cave. -Once outside he gave the girl explicit directions, and without further -delay she sped away, quickly disappearing amid the foliage without so -much as betraying her movements by the snapping of a dry twig.</p> - -<p>"A snake couldn't get away any quieter than that," nodded Jesse -approvingly, and after a keen survey of rock and wood he too slipped -away in the direction that Dew Drop had taken.</p> - -<p>Not quite sure of his way, Jesse cautiously mounted a rock and, shading -his eyes from the setting sun, peered off to the north.</p> - -<p>He found what he was looking for, and, dropping from his perch once -more took up his cautious way toward the Indian village. That he was -going toward what would prove certain death, should any watchful, -sneaking redskin chance to discover him or even come upon his trail, -did not trouble the great bandit in the least.</p> - -<p>His brother's life was at stake and that there might be no slip up he -would follow clear to the Indian village, if necessary.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'll bring back the medicine man dead or alive," he swore under his -breath.</p> - -<p>Twilight was deepening and Jesse went more boldly on. But he had made -a fatal move. He had done a thing that he would not have done had -his band of hardy outlaws been with him, for then Jesse's sense of -responsibility would have been doubly heavy.</p> - -<p>He might expose his own life to peril unnecessarily. But for his -companions, no. He took no more chances than was necessary where they -were concerned.</p> - -<p>During the brief moment that he had stood poised on the rock, however, -the field glass of a United States Cavalry officer chanced to be -trained on that very spot. More than that the pair of eyes behind the -glass, also chanced to belong to the very officer with whom the band -had mixed it up earlier.</p> - -<p>The Captain uttered an exclamation of surprise.</p> - -<p>"Quick! mount!" he commanded. "Not a word as you value your lives."</p> - -<p>Trained to instant obedience, the troopers sprang into their saddles. -They did not know what the order portended, nor did they care. The -Captains manner meant that there was excitement ahead and that a brush -with the red skins was more than likely at no distant moment.</p> - -<p>"Red skins?" asked the young Lieutenant, in a low voice, riding up -beside his superior officer.</p> - -<p>"Worse," was his laconic reply. "James, and he was alone when I saw -him. I think he is out reconnoitering. We'll bag him this time I hope."</p> - -<p>"That ought to be easy if he is alone," returned the Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"Humph," snorted the Captain. "You'll learn more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> as you grow older. -I'd rather hunt savages than those Missouri outlaws, for when it -comes to devilish tricks, the Missourians can give the Indians points -blindfolded.</p> - -<p>"Halt! Dismount!</p> - -<p>"Tether your ponies."</p> - -<p>"Where away?" asked the Lieutenant softly.</p> - -<p>"To the north. He should be near us providing he has not changed his -course and I don't think he has, for very good reasons too."</p> - -<p>"Why, Captain."</p> - -<p>"Because, young man, on one side is an Indian village full of savages -thirsting for his blood, and on the other a sheer precipice dropping -down a few hundred feet only. We are on the third side, and, unless he -turns back there is only one course open for him—to run into us.</p> - -<p>"Throw your men out into a circle. Conceal them behind boulders. We -should get him in the circle that way, and once there I don't think he -will get away.</p> - -<p>"Catch him alive if you can. Kill him if you have to."</p> - -<p>Silence again fell over the night.</p> - -<p>The troopers trained to tread on velvet feet, slipped along like so -many silent shadows.</p> - -<p>But every first right finger trembled on a trigger.</p> - -<p>They knew the man they had to deal with, and the mere click of a -gunlock on their part might mean instant death at the hand of the great -bandit.</p> - -<p>They lay down.</p> - -<p>Each tree and rock beyond seemed to hold a lurking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> shadow, so tensely -strained were their nerves and vivid their imaginations.</p> - -<p>A twig snapped among the trees in the dense shadows. But not a man -stirred. For long minutes they waited there, scarcely drawing a free -breath.</p> - -<p>The men needed no orders from their captain, no imposition for silent -caution. They were trained too finely in Indian warfare to need such -injunctions.</p> - -<p>If indeed it were the great outlaw himself who stood under the -spreading trees whence had come the warning sound, they knew he would -not move for some time. Not until he had waited the effect of his -incautious step would he move a muscle of his body, and perhaps he -would be standing with one foot poised in the air, every sense keenly -alert, his eyes piercing the shadows with almost superhuman vision.</p> - -<p>To such extremes are men's senses trained, who live in momentary -expectation of the blinding crash and the bullet between the eyes.</p> - -<p>The troopers heard no further sound.</p> - -<p>Their eyes suddenly began to blink. They could scarcely credit what -they saw.</p> - -<p>Right in the middle of the moonlit space, as if he had risen from the -ground, stood the great outlaw himself.</p> - -<p>How he had come there without their observing him, was beyond their -understanding.</p> - -<p>He was standing behind a large boulder, hat tipped back, his features -plainly outlined in the brilliant moonlight, nose and face tipped -upward as if scenting danger in the air.</p> - -<p>Twenty trigger fingers twitched nervously, and as many Winchesters -swung silently until they focused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> on the figure no more than twenty -paces distant.</p> - -<p>The great desperado poised there like a statue, hands and arms hanging -listlessly at his sides, guns in their holsters as if there was no -expectation of their being needed for instant use.</p> - -<p>But this did not deceive Uncle Sam's Indian fighters. They were too -familiar with Jesse James' reputation for quickness on the trigger not -to understand that the mere glint of a moonbeam along a rifle barrel -would mean death to the soldier behind it almost before he could pull -his own trigger.</p> - -<p>Like a blow in the face came the sudden command:</p> - -<p>"Put up your hands, Jesse James!"</p> - -<p>"Crash!"</p> - -<p>Both the desperadoe's "Colts" spoke in a single explosion, and the -Captain yelled with pain as a bullet tore through one arm.</p> - -<p>"Give it to him!" he roared.</p> - -<p>"Fire in a volley."</p> - -<p>The roar of the heavy Winchesters sent the leaves of the trees a -rustling and even the rocks and earth catching up the note, responded -with a tremor.</p> - -<p>Dimly they could see the figure of the outlaw stretched out on the -ground in the shadow of the boulder after the smoke had drifted away.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_IX" id="Chapter_IX"><span class="smcap">Chapter IX.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">WHEN THE EARTH FELL APART.</p> - - -<p>Just before leaving the cave the great desperado<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> had whispered a word -of command to Tony and Texas.</p> - -<p>But the nature of the orders so secretly conveyed the others did not -know, and none save Frank felt licensed to make inquiry, for Jesse was -apt to administer a sharp rebuke that the inquisitive one would not -soon forget.</p> - -<p>Being the interested party the elder James brother glared suspiciously -at the two bandits.</p> - -<p>"See here, you mutts," he exploded with all his remaining strength, "I -know what you are up to. You think my leg has got to come off and Jess -didn't want me to know about it cause I'd make a ruction.</p> - -<p>"Take it from me, you've got another guess coming. The leg is mine -and it's on to stay. Time enough to plant it when I'm put away. Nice -looking chump I'd be hopping around on one peg, eh?" he laughed -maliciously.</p> - -<p>"You're wrong, Frank," corrected Texas. "You ain't so bad off either. -I'll gamble my spurs on it, that it's only a flesh wound and there -ain't no bullet in there at all. But them gunshot wounds is nasty -things, and what the chief wants is for that redskin sawbones to put on -a lotion that will draw out the poison and—"</p> - -<p>"Then what did he want to be so danged secret like with you duffers -for? That's what gets me. You tell me right now or I'll give you a dose -of the same medicine I got!" he growled menacingly.</p> - -<p>Tony laughed good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>"Jest a little job Jess had put up to save the girl's skin. What do you -s'pose would have happened to her if she brought the medicine man here. -Sure as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> you're alive, she'd a been in a bad way if the redskins got -wise to what she's doin' with the medicine man. Do you get it?"</p> - -<p>Frank nodded and emitted a sigh of relief.</p> - -<p>"I just wanted to give you all a tip that I've got a gun or two in my -belt, and what's more, they are liable to go off if any of you dubs -monkey with this peg of mine. See?"</p> - -<p>But Tony and Texas, grinning broadly, had slipped away, their -moccasined feet giving no intimation of their departure on the mission -of the chief.</p> - -<p>The time seemed interminable to Frank and the wounded leg gave him -much pain, as he twisted and swore at intervals over the long delay in -bringing help.</p> - -<p>Night had fallen by the time the two bandits reached the opening of the -cave. They had proceeded only a short distance beyond when their keen -ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps.</p> - -<p>Quickly secreting themselves and crouching low the men awaited the -nearer approach of the strangers, eyes keenly bent in the direction of -the faint sound they had heard beyond.</p> - -<p>They had only a moment to wait.</p> - -<p>Tony nudged his companion and nodded his head.</p> - -<p>"Them's them," he ejaculated sententiously.</p> - -<p>"And by my spurs he's a giant," added Texas.</p> - -<p>"Yes, and there the gal behind him, Tex. She's a wonder."</p> - -<p>"There's some things worse'n some squaws," replied Texas.</p> - -<p>"S—h—h—h," cautioned Tony.</p> - -<p>"I'll take the big one and you get the girl, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> don't hurt her. Give -her a hunch as to what we're up to as soon as you get your clamps on -her. Now."</p> - -<p>Silently and with bated breaths, the two desperadoes waited until the -medicine man, who indeed did loom up a veritable giant in stature, had -passed Texas.</p> - -<p>He was right beside Tony now, and so close that the bandit could easily -have reached out and touched him. But Tony did not propose to adopt the -ordinary methods of catching an Indian and for the very good reason -that he had no ordinary man to deal with.</p> - -<p>His plans had been quickly matured. And what he did was successful from -the very novelty of the proceeding.</p> - -<p>What Tony did was to shove a stout stick squarely between the medicine -man's shins, at the same time giving a quick, sharp twist.</p> - -<p>The effect was magical.</p> - -<p>The Indian plunged head foremost to the ground, his feet waving wildly -in the air for a moment. But before he could gain equilibrium or cry -out, the same stout stick came down on his head with crushing force.</p> - -<p>The copper-hued sawbones lay still.</p> - -<p>"Holy snakes!" exclaimed Texas with genuine admiration. "Ef that ain't -the all-firedest way to catch a doctor that I ever seen. Here, my -pretty squaw, you're my prisoner too. Now come along like a good little -papoose."</p> - -<p>Dew Drop, with a surprised look in her eyes, turned to flee. Texas -caught her.</p> - -<p>"Keep yer head plumb. We're just makin' believe capturin' you and when -old sawbones wakes up we'll have you tied so he don't get wise to your -little game. See?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> - -<p>A smile slowly rippled over the face of the little red girl.</p> - -<p>"Pale face smart like Indian," she answered, nodding her head -vigorously. "Um hurry. Big Bear and braves up yonder. Come for Jess -Jame pretty soon."</p> - -<p>"Jess?" questioned Tony rising from the medicine man whose arms and -hands he had been pinioning. "By the way, where's the chief. He went -with you, didn't he?"</p> - -<p>Dew Drop shook her head.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop no see um."</p> - -<p>"That's funny. Lend a hand here, Texas and let's get this red devil -into the cave. No need to blindfold him now—"</p> - -<p>"Didn't put out his light, did you Tony?" asked Texas a bit anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Kill him? N—a—w. Head's too thick to break if a log fell on it."</p> - -<p>It was no easy task to get the inanimate form of the giant to the cave. -At first they essayed to carry him, one at the head, the other at the -feet.</p> - -<p>Tony dropped his burden in disgust.</p> - -<p>"Say, Texas, come here. This is too much like work. Jest get hold of -his feet with me and we'll drag him the rest of the way—"</p> - -<p>"But it will hurt him," protested Texas.</p> - -<p>"What, hurt a redskin? G'wan. It'll wake him up, that's all, and he'll -be fit as a fiddle when we git him into the cave. Come along."</p> - -<p>The way was rough and the sacred medicine man got the roughest voyage -of his life for the next few moments. And as Tony had predicted, by the -time they had reached the entrance to the cave, his eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> were open -and he was glaring at his captors with malignant eyes. He could speak -no word because Tony with rare forethought had twisted a gag into his -mouth, fearing that should the man come to he might give the alarm and -bring down some lurking savages on them.</p> - -<p>Just before reaching the mouth of the cave Texas, at his companion's -bidding, bound a handkerchief over the prisoner's eyes. Then with great -caution, they hauled him into the hole in the rocks.</p> - -<p>Being a large man the savage went through the smaller hole opening into -the large chamber, with much less ease than had the bandits. In fact -they had pulled him only half way through when he stuck there fast.</p> - -<p>"Can't make it. He's too fat," decided Texas.</p> - -<p>"Can't? Wait. I know the breed. He's making himself fat—swelling -himself out. Here you savage," roared Tony, "we're going to give a good -long pull and if you don't come through we'll fix you so you do."</p> - -<p>The medicine man grunted.</p> - -<p>"That's right, grunt. But you'll grunt harder when I get through with -you. And understand me, and if you don't get through this time, Harry -here will slice off a few slabs of flesh so you'll fit. Harry'll do a -good job too, and don't you forget it, for he used to slaughter cattle -on a range out in Missouri. Now draw in your belly unless you want to -lose some skin. Heave away boys."</p> - -<p>The bandits counting, "one, two, three," gave a mighty pull.</p> - -<p>This time the medicine man came through, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> little rivulets of blood -trickled down his sides as they pulled him into the brilliantly lighted -room. There they removed his blindfold and released his arms, after -first taking possession of his knife.</p> - -<p>The redskin's glance swept the room, then rested on Dew Drop.</p> - -<p>But the little Indian maiden was acting her part to perfection. Tied -hand and foot, she had been stood against one side of the chamber, -where she rested, her eyes blazing with well-assumed hate at her -captors.</p> - -<p>"Big Bear kill um pale faces," she gritted.</p> - -<p>"Never you mind about Big Bear," retorted Tony. "If there's any killing -going on we will take a hand in it ourselves. We shall not hurt you if -you keep quiet—"</p> - -<p>"Indian girl no fraid white man. She stick um knife some day, maybe."</p> - -<p>"Ho, ho," roared Texas.</p> - -<p>"Our little pussey has sharp claws," interjected Homely Harry.</p> - -<p>Frank had been taken into the next chamber, an apartment somewhat -smaller than the one they were in, and there they carried the Indian -medicine man after having instructed him as to what was expected of him.</p> - -<p>They planked him down beside the wounded man.</p> - -<p>Frank's right hand slipped down to his trusty "Colt."</p> - -<p>But the Indian made no move.</p> - -<p>Tony's face grew stony.</p> - -<p>"You red devil," he cried, "don't get stubborn. Do as we demand and no -harm will come to you, but if you don't fix this man up inside of ten -minutes—by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> the watch, remember—you're a dead Indian. Get busy!"</p> - -<p>The Indian bent a keen glance on Tony, then looked sharply from one to -the other of the assemblage as if to satisfy himself that he was not -being tricked.</p> - -<p>But there was no trickery lurking at the corners of the stern mouths of -the desperate men.</p> - -<p>"Kill um pale face," urged Dew Drop with a vicious snap of the jaws.</p> - -<p>"Ugh," grunted the medicine man with a shake of his head, as he slowly -began drawing a variety of herbs from his belt. These he quickly meshed -together with a stone, and, forming them into a poultice applied it to -the wounds of Frank James.</p> - -<p>The latter let out a yell and tugged at his gun.</p> - -<p>But Tony anticipating just such a move, closed over his wrist in a -vice-like grip.</p> - -<p>"Easy pard," he cautioned. "The poultice is drawing out the pizen. It -won't hurt but a minute, will it old sawbones?" peering up into the -savage face before him for confirmation of his words.</p> - -<p>"White man cry out, then hurt go way," grunted the savage.</p> - -<p>"There, what did I tell you," chortled Tony. "Poultice goes on, you -yell like—like—like you did, and pain goes away. That's it."</p> - -<p>"Oh, shut up," snarled Frank, the lines of his face drawing sharply -under the excruciating pain he was enduring.</p> - -<p>"How—how long is this going to keep up?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"Yes, when can the captain get out again?" chimed in Homely Harry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> - -<p>"White man walk byemby," returned the man of herbs. "Before sun up he -go out. Then mebbe Indian kill um."</p> - -<p>"That's alright, Reddy; we'll be there for the killing. But we don't -'low we've got any hard feelings again you. Hey, boys?"</p> - -<p>"Sure not," chorused the others.</p> - -<p>Crossing the medicine man's palm with a gold piece, to his intense -surprise and satisfaction, they again led him into the vaulted chamber -and releasing Dew Drop bade her bind the cloth about his eyes once more.</p> - -<p>Tony seeing that his orders were being obeyed, had stepped back to -speak to Frank as to the best means of disposing of their prisoners. As -he turned he observed that the Indian girl was feeding embers to the -fire the better to light their way out.</p> - -<p>But the desperado had no more than turned his back on the savage and -the girl ere the rocks beneath him were shaken by a mighty tremor.</p> - -<p>A sudden and awful roar smote his ears.</p> - -<p>A fearful blow seemed to have been struck across his eyes.</p> - -<p>The air was full of hurling rocks and debris.</p> - -<p>Tony and his companions were tumbled together in a confused heap, -yelling in terror at the awful thing that had happened, though they -knew not what it meant.</p> - -<p>Rocks and particles rained down upon their bodies with sickening force.</p> - -<p>But the desperate men neither heard nor felt now.</p> - -<p>A sudden darkness had settled over them and they lay motionless and -lifeless.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> - -<p>A mighty explosion had rent the cave from end to end.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_X" id="Chapter_X"><span class="smcap">Chapter X.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">IN A LIVING TOMB.</p> - - -<p>It might have been hours for aught they knew that they had lain there.</p> - -<p>Frank was the first to regain consciousness. He heard someone groan and -called out demanding whose voice it was.</p> - -<p>"It's Tony, or what little is left of him," was the answer.</p> - -<p>"Are you hurt?"</p> - -<p>"Donno. Feel as if the roof had caved in on me. Where's the rest of the -gang?"</p> - -<p>"If they only have got out of it as easily as we have we can count -ourselves the luckiest men on earth," returned the elder James boy with -emphasis.</p> - -<p>Forgetting his recent wound, which the herbs of the medicine man had -most miraculously put to sleep so that he felt no pain at all, Frank -struggled to his feet and struck a match. Texas and Harry he espied -lying in a heap in one corner half hidden by the debris which had -fallen upon them.</p> - -<p>Out of the wreck he gathered some sticks and rekindled the fire which -in a moment brightly illuminated the chamber. The scene that met his -gaze was one of wreck and ruin.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> - -<p>But to this the bandit gave no heed. His first care was for the other -members of the band.</p> - -<p>"They're alive, Tony," he cried, "every man of them. Come help me get -them out—"</p> - -<p>"You'll have to get Tony out first, I'm thinkin'. I'm wedged in here -under this heap of stuff tighter'n a sardine in a box."</p> - -<p>It was but the work of a moment for Frank to release the imprisoned -desperado, and after taking careful inventory of his anatomy and -learning to his delight that no bones had been broken, both men turned -to with a will and began digging out their companions.</p> - -<p>"Thank Providence, or whatever or whoever did it, that my flask was not -broken," exclaimed Frank.</p> - -<p>"Here, hold Texas's head while I pour a few fingers down his throat. -That'll bring him around if anything will."</p> - -<p>And it did. Texas gasped, strangled, sat up and swore roundly.</p> - -<p>The others were quickly restored to consciousness and the men were -overjoyed that all had escaped.</p> - -<p>"Say," spoke up Tony suddenly. "That explosion come from that other -room there. What do you s'pose did it—"</p> - -<p>"And the medicine man and the squaw were in there alone, weren't they?" -asked Frank.</p> - -<p>"By the gods you're right," exclaimed Texas.</p> - -<p>With one accord each man grabbed up a burning brand and climbing over -the obstructions that the explosion had placed in their way, dashed -into the adjoining chamber.</p> - -<p>If anything the disaster had been greater here than in the other room.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> - -<p>"There's the redskin all shot to pieces," cried Harry.</p> - -<p>"Yes, deader'n a tick," agreed Texas. "But where is the gal?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, where is the girl?" demanded Frank suddenly aroused to action.</p> - -<p>"Blown into little pieces. She's too tender to stand a racket that -would put out a giant like the medicine man," opined Tony. "But where -the devil is she? There ain't no pieces of her layin' about here as I -sees. It makes a feller shivery—like—kinder weak under the belt."</p> - -<p>"Dig! Dig like hell every man of you!" roared Frank in a frenzy of -haste at thought that the girl who had proved such a friend in need -might be dying within a few feet of them for want of a willing hand to -give her succor.</p> - -<p>They set to with a will.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop here," piped a voice that seemed to come out of the air, but -from just what direction none could say.</p> - -<p>They looked about; peered into every corner and crevice, then faced -each other questioningly.</p> - -<p>"Hello!" shouted Frank, but only the echoes of his own voice came back -to him.</p> - -<p>"Mebby it's the Great Spirit she was tellin' us about," suggested Texas -with a hoarseness in his throat that he tried vainly to down. "She's a -dead one that's sure—"</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop no go Happy Hunting Ground; Medicine man he go Happy Hunting -Ground. Mebby Jesse Jame he happy Hunting Ground," came in the -plaintive tone of the Indian maiden.</p> - -<p>It was maddening.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> - -<p>In a moment these hardy desperadoes who had faced death in a thousand -forms, would feel their courage oozing from their finger tips and would -make a run for the outer air.</p> - -<p>"Where are you?" roared Frank. "Are you dead or alive?"</p> - -<p>"Me here; me no with Great Spirit."</p> - -<p>"Where?" bellowed Tony. "Where in the humping pizen snakes be you -anyhow? You sound as if you was over my head, but if you be you're a -dead one, and that goes."</p> - -<p>Frank with a sudden thought in his mind was shading his eyes from the -flaming torches and peering up into the shadows. There, more than ten -feet above their heads, he saw the form of the little Indian maiden -wedged in a crevice of rocks where she had evidently been hurled by the -sudden explosion.</p> - -<p>The men shouted for pure joy.</p> - -<p>"Jump, you little devil," shouted Texas, "we'll catch you."</p> - -<p>"Paleface say well. Dew Drop no jump."</p> - -<p>"Not jump? Don't be afraid," reassured Frank.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop um no jump. Um fast," she wailed.</p> - -<p>"She's wedged in between the rocks," yelled Tony. "Git a ladder -somebody quick."</p> - -<p>Everybody laughed but it was evident that Tony in his excitement was in -dead earnest.</p> - -<p>"Yes, how we going to git the gal down?" demanded Texas.</p> - -<p>"Can't one of you take a running jump and reach her?" cried Frank. "If -my leg wasn't game I'd do it myself."</p> - -<p>"Yes, you would," sneered Tony. "You ain't no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> bird and neither be I. -That's twelve feet if its one up there."</p> - -<p>"I've got an idee," interrupted Homely Harry. "I'll stand agin the wall -and you fellers climb up on top of me, one top of tother. I've seen 'em -do that in a circus once. We kin git her down that way."</p> - -<p>Frank shot an approving glance at him.</p> - -<p>"You're the only one in the bunch that's got a head on his shoulders -about now I reckon. I ain't much on the climb, but try it and if you -don't get her, I'll go to the top of the pile myself."</p> - -<p>The agile mountaineers formed a human pyramid in a moment with Texas as -the top-mounter, Tony groaning beneath his weight and threatening every -moment to give way sending the pyramid a bruised and broken wreck to -the hard stone floor of the cave.</p> - -<p>It was with no little effort that they finally accomplished the feat of -releasing the girl from her rocky prison.</p> - -<p>But once free she slid down the pyramid with the grace of a lofty -tumbler.</p> - -<p>Tony and Texas came down rather less easily.</p> - -<p>"Now I want to know what this is all about?" demanded Frank when they -once more had recovered themselves.</p> - -<p>"Yes, what devil's prank put this joint on the blink?" added Tony. -"I've had some jars in my time, but I never did have such an all-fired -bump as this one."</p> - -<p>"Me not know," answered Dew Drop hanging her head.</p> - -<p>"What were you and the bones doing when it happened?" urged Frank, -pointing to the mangled remains of the medicine man.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> - -<p>Dew Drop gazed at the horrid sight with emotionless eyes, then turned -toward them.</p> - -<p>"Me make fire burn one—two times—"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," they chorused.</p> - -<p>"You put wood on the fire to make it bright," added Frank.</p> - -<p>The Indian girl nodded.</p> - -<p>"What then?"</p> - -<p>"Make fire more.</p> - -<p>"Then heap fire like sun. Dew Drop go sleep. Great Spirit get um. Dew -Drop open eyes—see pale faces and um want see Dew Drop."</p> - -<p>Harry scratched his head.</p> - -<p>"Clear as the big Muddy in a spring freshet," agreed Tony.</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute," commanded Frank, raising a restraining hand.</p> - -<p>"You put one, two, three sticks on fire, then you put another?"</p> - -<p>Dew Drop nodded vigorously.</p> - -<p>"But when you put on the fourth one, hey?"</p> - -<p>"Um pale face he know."</p> - -<p>"Then the whole business went up?"</p> - -<p>Dew Drop puffed out her cheeks and said "Pouf! So."</p> - -<p>"Well I'll be damned!" exclaimed Frank.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" demanded Texas.</p> - -<p>"What was it?" urged Tony.</p> - -<p>"Dynamite!" snapped the desperado holding the girl with a wondering -gaze. "And you near put us all out of business at the same time.</p> - -<p>"Yes, dynamite. I understand it all now. <i>Jess must have left those -sticks here and the girl used one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> of them to build the fire with.</i> -It's a wonder it didn't blow us all to kingdom come."</p> - -<p>A loud guffaw greeted Frank's explanation.</p> - -<p>All danger past they could afford to look on the humorous side of the -disaster now.</p> - -<p>"Well, we got rid of old saw bones quicker'n we thought," chuckled -Tony. "Good thing Jesse wasn't here. It might have got him too, for -he'd a been right on top of it likely as not."</p> - -<p>"Jess. I had forgotten," cried Frank. "What has become of him? He's got -into trouble, I'll bet my spurs on it. It must have been hours since he -went away.</p> - -<p>"Say Dew Drop, did he go with you?"</p> - -<p>The girl shook her head.</p> - -<p>The men looked into each other's faces in dismay.</p> - -<p>"Come, we must find him," cried Frank, his face narrowing down until -the lines of it laid up in projecting, stern wrinkles.</p> - -<p>"Mebbe Big Bear git um Jess Jame," vouchsafed the girl stoically.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" demanded Frank suddenly turning on her.</p> - -<p>"Mebbe sojers git um Jess Jame."</p> - -<p>"Soldiers. No, they're miles away to the north of us by now. We headed -them toward the fort hours ago."</p> - -<p>"Sojers come back," averred the girl.</p> - -<p>"Came back? How do you know?"</p> - -<p>"Me see um, Me see injuns. Injuns he look for Jess Jame."</p> - -<p>"The girl is right," roared Frank. "Out of this devilish hole. They've -got him. What can one man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> do against a company of infantry and a whole -village of redskins. Come!"</p> - -<p>The bandit strode toward the opening whence they had first entered, -then stopped short.</p> - -<p>"Trapped!" he cried hoarsely.</p> - -<p>"The explosion has blocked our entrance. We're caught like rats in a -trap."</p> - -<p>The outlaws groaned.</p> - -<p>Hoarse curses and muttered imprecations were passed from lip to lip as -the enraged desperadoes ran from point to point seeking in vain for -some means of egress from their rocky tomb.</p> - -<p>"We're done for," snarled Tony, his hand slipping instinctively to his -pistol holster.</p> - -<p>"Jess will get us out somehow," soothed Harry.</p> - -<p>"No. Jess is probably in a worse fix than we are at this very minute," -exploded Frank, "and—"</p> - -<p>A timid pressure on his arm caused him to look suddenly down.</p> - -<p>"Well, what is it?" he demanded shortly. "Haven't you got us into -enough trouble already? What do you want now? Say it and say it quick."</p> - -<p>"Pale face um want go way?"</p> - -<p>"Want to? Holy snakes, hear the girl," laughed Tony harshly. "I -calkerlate it don't make a mighty sight of difference whether we want -to or not. We don't."</p> - -<p>"Silence!" commanded Frank.</p> - -<p>"Well, what is it, girl?"</p> - -<p>"Pale face want go—Dew Drop want go. Um show pale face."</p> - -<p>So astounded were the outlaws at her amazing confidence in her ability -to pilot them to freedom, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> for a moment no one answered, and by -the time they had gathered their wits again, Dew Drop was tripping on -velvet feet to the chamber they had just left.</p> - -<p>They sprang after her eagerly, but just in time to see the girl -disappear behind a pyramid of rock and which they now discovered for -the first time, led into another passage.</p> - -<p>"Hold on," called Tony, "you're taking us further into this infernal -hole."</p> - -<p>But Dew Drop made no reply.</p> - -<p>Her confident manner brought hope to the bandit's hearts almost in -spite of their determination not to be trapped at any cost.</p> - -<p>"Bring lights," commanded Frank.</p> - -<p>They did so.</p> - -<p>As they progressed they noticed that their course was leading them up -and up, further and further, and with each rise of the trail their -spirits ascended proportionately.</p> - -<p>"Hooray! I see moonlight," cried Texas. "By gad we're getting out as -sure as you're alive."</p> - -<p>Dew Drop turned and laid a warning finger on her lips, and bent her -head in a listening attitude.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" they demanded in bated breaths.</p> - -<p>"Injuns," breathed the Indian maiden.</p> - -<p>Each right slipped to pistol holster.</p> - -<p>"Indians," muttered the desperadoes, and "Colts" were quickly -unsheathed.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XI" id="Chapter_XI"><span class="smcap">Chapter XI.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">JESSE JAMES' DESPERATE LEAP.</p> - - -<p>Not a man moved.</p> - -<p>Every rifle was turned on the prostrate man.</p> - -<p>The captain peered suspiciously at the form of the great desperado for -a moment, then nodded his satisfaction.</p> - -<p>"Cease firing!" he commanded.</p> - -<p>Placing a whistle to his lips the officer blew a short, shrill blast. -Two troopers in response, came dashing up on their ponies, saluted and -sat at attention awaiting their leader's commands.</p> - -<p>"Boys, we have got him at last," he said, addressing the two troopers. -"That's Jesse James over there on his back. Sorry we had to kill him. -But it's my opinion he's safer that way. I knew we should get him -in time. Outlaws may fool posses indefinitely, but when it comes to -beating the United States Cavalry, that's different. Young man," he -continued, "let this be an object lesson to you in persistance. Four -times within the past twenty-four hours I am free to confess we have -been outwitted by the world's greatest desperado, but each time we came -back stronger than ever and as full of fight. You see the result. We -have done our full duty."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but what shall we do with the body, bury it or roll it into the -gully somewhere hereabouts?" asked the Lieutenant, stepping over toward -the body of the outlaw, then turning back.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Neither. Have some saplings cut and make a litter between two ponies. -We must get him to the fort immediately before it is too late. No one -would ever believe we had killed the world's greatest bandit unless we -had something better to show for it than our mere word. It is not that -they would doubt our word, but the rub is they know Jesse James," he -grinned. "And so do we," he added grimly.</p> - -<p>"Make haste now. We'll surely have the redskins down on us after all -this racket, and we've made a lot of it, I reckon."</p> - -<p>"I'll attend to it at once, sir," responded the Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"Throw out pickets!" ordered the commander. "We are in a dangerous -strategical position here."</p> - -<p>"But what about the rest of the gang—do we go after them?" asked the -Lieutenant after executing his superior officer's commands.</p> - -<p>"Yes, we might as well clean house thoroughly while we are about it. -Let two men ride in with the body. They should reach the fort by -daybreak. We will remain here with the rest of the troop and finish -up the job. It should be easy to at least disperse the gang, now that -their leader has turned up his toes for the last time. It has been a -good job, Lieutenant, eh?"</p> - -<p>The young officer nodded and smiled, for his share in the great -achievement had been no small one and in all probability would bring -him much nearer to having a command of his own at no distant day.</p> - -<p>With the others, the army officer's words were accepted as final. -Meantime the troopers had constructed a litter and were now engaged -in dragging it to the spot where Jesse lay face up on the rocks, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> -moonbeams lighting up his face with a ghastly pallor, to the strained -imagination of the soldiers.</p> - -<p>At a motion from the Lieutenant, the two mounted men rode their ponies -to the scene and sprang from their saddles to lift the inanimate form -of the fallen desperado to the litter to be conveyed to the fort some -thirty miles away.</p> - -<p>The men's Winchesters reposed safely in their saddle holsters, and -the ponies, unmindful of the tragic scene before them, calmly began -browsing on the tender underbrush.</p> - -<p>The two troopers bent over to lift the body to the litter that the -others were bringing up.</p> - -<p>At that instant a strange and unexpected thing happened.</p> - -<p>The supposed dead man moved.</p> - -<p>Both arms shot out and the moon beams caught and reflected a steely -glint in each hand.</p> - -<p>With lightning-like quickness the bandit's hands shot into the shadows -formed by the bodies of the two troopers. The movement was so slight as -to have been almost indistinguishable two paces away.</p> - -<p>The soldiers with a groan settled down in a heap.</p> - -<p>Yet nothing of the tragedy being enacted before their very eyes, -conveyed itself to the troopers just beyond, and the Captain was -calling out some order to the men that the bandit had laid low. They -did not know that two of their companions lay dying there, their life -blood staining the virgin rocks.</p> - -<p>"Hey, what is going on over there?" shouted the Captain, his keen eyes -noting something unusual in the attitude of his men.</p> - -<p>There was no response.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Lieutenant, you had better straighten out those men."</p> - -<p>With one movement, the great bandit had driven his bowies straight into -the hearts of the unsuspecting soldiers. In bending over him to raise -his body to the litter, they had presented a mark that the veriest -novice at man-killing, could not have missed by any chance.</p> - -<p>Their blood in crimson stream spurted into the face and eyes of the -blood-thirsty desperado, but the only emotion it stirred in him was to -arouse him to deepest anger.</p> - -<p>Not a bullet of the death-dealing volley had reached Jesse. With that -marvelous instinct that had saved his life on so many occasions in the -past, the outlaw had sensed the danger that confronted him, he knew -that the eyes of enemies were upon him, but whether of white men or -redskins, he did not know.</p> - -<p>Instantly his quick mind evolved a plan. He knew that death yawned in -the shadows there, which one false move would precipitate upon him. -With Jesse James, to think was to act.</p> - -<p>He dropped at the instant when twenty Winchesters hurled their death -missiles at him. But the leaden pellets sped harmlessly over his head.</p> - -<p>Instead of leaping to his feet and making a desperate dash for liberty, -as a less experienced man in the art of guerilla warfare might have -done, the great bandit stiffened out and lay motionless in well-feigned -emulation of death.</p> - -<p>His ruse was successful.</p> - -<p>But now the moment for action had arrived. Yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> he did not move a -muscle and respiration seemed to have ceased utterly.</p> - -<p>One of the ponies moved a step forward, having sighted a fresh bit of -tender verdure. Its body was thus projected between the main arm of the -troop and the prostrate outlaw, hiding his movements from them.</p> - -<p>With a blood-curdling yell that sent terror to the hearts of the -soldiers for an instant, Jesse leaped to the startled pony's back. He -seemed to spring from the ground as if impelled by some giant spring.</p> - -<p>So unexpected had been the move that the troops stood paralyzed—unable -to move hand or foot. In fact, no comprehension of the real meaning of -the scene—of the terrible tragedy that had taken place before their -very eyes—had forced itself into their minds.</p> - -<p>The outlaw's yell of defiance had accomplished the exact result that he -had intended it should.</p> - -<p>"It's James!" roared the Captain in a fearful rage.</p> - -<p>"Take aim!</p> - -<p>"Fire!"</p> - -<p>Twenty Winchesters crashed, a dull flash of flame lighted up the -scene and was instantly lost in a pall of suffocating smoke, the -reverberations from the explosion, thundering from peak to peak of the -surrounding mountains.</p> - -<p>The command was repeated and again the guns of the troopers spoke -hoarsely.</p> - -<p>Coincident with the first volley the outlaw had thrown himself down on -the horse's side, away from the attacking force, Indian fashion. He was -a master<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> of every trick known to savage warfare, learned in the school -of Quantrell years before.</p> - -<p>So suddenly had he gone down that at first they thought he had fallen. -But the world's greatest outlaw was not thus easily to be disposed of.</p> - -<p>"It's a trick," yelled the Captain.</p> - -<p>He was goaded to desperation.</p> - -<p>"Fire at will!" he commanded.</p> - -<p>"Give it to him! Shoot low and fast!"</p> - -<p>Still another heavy volley broke the stillness.</p> - -<p>"Mount and pursue!" came the stern command.</p> - -<p>Jesse rose in his saddle and swung the Winchester that he had drawn -from the saddle holster, on his enemies.</p> - -<p>Two soldiers bit the dust.</p> - -<p>The troopers sprang to saddle. The death of their companions had filled -them with mad lust for the blood of the desperado. Now they were -yelling like a band of Indians who had discovered that their coveted -prey was almost within their grasp.</p> - -<p>The fleeing bandit made a sudden discovery. The opposite side of the -circle of troops was drawing in on him. But instead of taking alarm, -Jesse was quick to note the advantage that their manoeuvre gave him. -The newcomers fired a volley into the air to warn the Captain of their -location that he might not fire into the ranks of his own men.</p> - -<p>Jesse shouted a jeer, and rising in his saddle again, pumped his -Winchester first into the ranks of one body of troops and then into the -other side, continuing to yell like a Comanche Indian on the warpath.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was maddening. Not a shot was fired in answer by the enemy.</p> - -<p>A blast of the bugle had commanded the troops to "cease firing."</p> - -<p>"Charge!"</p> - -<p>The notes of the command rippled musically from the bugler's horn and -the troops, swinging to saddle as one man, swept down in pursuit.</p> - -<p>They were moving in a half circle formation, now.</p> - -<p>"We've got him this time, sure," exulted the Captain.</p> - -<p>"Depends on whether our horses are faster than his, which I very much -doubt," objected the Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"You've still got a few things to learn, young man," retorted his -superior officer. "When you have been in the service longer you'll find -out an officer has to use his eyes and every other sense that nature -has given him, if he expects to save his hide, letting alone catching -the enemy."</p> - -<p>"I don't catch you," shouted the Lieutenant above the sound of the -fleet-footed rushing ponies.</p> - -<p>"He is headed for the canyon. That's what I mean."</p> - -<p>"The canyon! Good God!" gasped the young officer.</p> - -<p>"Surrender!" roared the Captain.</p> - -<p>"It's sure death to go on."</p> - -<p>The desperado rose in his stirrups. He again emptied his Winchester -into the ranks of the pounding troop on his flanks.</p> - -<p>The feel of the swift-moving little Indian pony beneath him, filled -him with unholy joy. On a fleet-footed animal the great outlaw feared -neither man nor beast, and in very truth, few of the wild men or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> -savages of the turbulent west, were his equals in the saddle any more -than they were when it came to quickness on the trigger.</p> - -<p>Three ponies fell as the result of his deadly fire, and as many riders -were hurled into the air, an instant later to fall with a sickening -thud as they struck the hard ground.</p> - -<p>But the outlaw did not turn to note the result of his fusilade. He had -other momentous things to occupy his mind at that moment.</p> - -<p>Casting his Winchester aside he threw his full weight on his toes in -the stirrups and sat crouching like some wild animal about to spring -upon its unsuspecting prey.</p> - -<p>The desperado's eyes were fixed and staring.</p> - -<p>Ahead of him yawned the black and awful abyss.</p> - -<p>Driving in the rowels of his spurs until the pinto snorted with pain, -Jesse fairly threw the hardy little Indian pony at the rocky canyon.</p> - -<p>"My God, he is going over!" cried the Lieutenant, aghast at the awful -leap the great bandit was about to take.</p> - -<p>"He don't see it! He don't see it!</p> - -<p>"Halt! The canyon!" roared the young officer in the stress of his -excitement. For the moment he had forgotten that the man he was warning -was he for whose death half a continent was clamoring.</p> - -<p>"He knows it, you fool!" snarled the Captain. "Don't you see he's going -to jump it?"</p> - -<p>"But its certain death."</p> - -<p>"So is this," gritted the commander of the troop. "It's death either -way he takes it, back or front.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Call the halt or we'll be going over with him, the whole pack and -parcel of us."</p> - -<p>The bugle sounded its warning short and sharp.</p> - -<p>On the very brink of the precipice stood a giant spreading oak, and -into it's broad shadow the world-famous desperado drove his mount, a -veritable living projectile in its undeviating flight.</p> - -<p>The notes of the bugle trilled again and the horses of the troopers -slid to their haunches perilously near the brink.</p> - -<p>"Fire!" rang the stern command.</p> - -<p>Once more the heavy Winchesters crashed.</p> - -<p>A wild yell greeted the volley.</p> - -<p>But whether of pain or triumph they did not know.</p> - -<p>With a scream of awful fright, the pony leaped high in the air and -plunged far out and over the terrible precipice. They heard his body -buffeted from rock to rock in its descent. And finally as they listened -they caught the sound of the impact when it struck for the last time on -the rocks far below.</p> - -<p>Not a man spoke. They were too full of wonder and horror for speech.</p> - -<p>A heavy silence had fallen over the scene of death.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XII" id="Chapter_XII"><span class="smcap">Chapter XII.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">IN THE HANDS OF THE REDSKINS.</p> - - -<p>"Well, I guess that will be about all—that settles the career of the -world's greatest bandit," averred the Captain.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> - -<p>Both officers and men stood on the brink of the black chasm, gazing -down fearsomely into the apparently bottomless pit. The thought of the -fearful plunge that they had just witnessed, had a sobering effect on -all of them. It had stirred within the men an emotion almost akin to -fear, and each trooper as he turned away, felt a little chill trickle -up and down his spinal column, all in spite of his stern effort to -repress it. Hated as was the great outlaw, the soldiers rated him as a -brave man, a quality that touches a responsive chord in every soldier's -breast.</p> - -<p>The Captain broke the silence, his words falling on them almost like a -blow.</p> - -<p>"No living man could come out of that fall alive," he continued. "It is -a sheer drop of more than two hundred feet to the bottom of the gulch, -and there isn't a ghost of a show for anything human or inhuman that -goes over it.</p> - -<p>"Lieutenant, take a squad of men and ride north until you strike the -entrance to the gorge. The water is low at this time of the year and -you can easily get up to the point where the bandit and the pinto -struck. This time there won't be any question about it. He won't look -very pretty, but we've got to get him to the fort as soon as possible, -for the weather is warm."</p> - -<p>"Right, sir; but I should like to know how he played that scurvy trick -on us?" demanded the Lieutenant. "I can't get it through my head how -our men ever missed him."</p> - -<p>"That is elemental. He lay down before the volley was fired!"</p> - -<p>"That's all right, Captain, but I still don't under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>stand how he knew -we were going to shoot," persisted the Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"Because he was Jesse James. That's the only answer I can give you. I -made my mistake when I failed to order a volley fired into him after -he was down. That's the trouble when troops are opposed to savages and -outlaws. We fight according to the rules of civilized warfare while -they—well, they are just common murderers. Warfare to them is only -assassination.</p> - -<p>"Have the recall sounded, then start for the gulch. Jesse James is dead -for the last time."</p> - -<p>But once more the army officer had been tricked.</p> - -<p>In a pure game of wits, he with all his military training and his -experience in fighting savages, had been outwitted. When it came to -pitting one man in a battle of wits against another, Jesse James had no -known peer. He never seemed to come to the end of his resources, and -the most desperate situations, the moments of the gravest peril, gave -him not the slightest apprehension as to the ultimate outcome. He was -able to cope with them all, come when and how they might.</p> - -<p>As he lay, back down, on the rocks, after the first volley had been -fired by the troops, the great desperado formed his plans concisely -and definitely, and these plans, as it proved, he followed without the -slightest deviation.</p> - -<p>Jesse had heard the command of the Captain to prepare a litter and it -brought a sardonic grin to his hardy face.</p> - -<p>"They sure will need that litter themselves before I get through with -them," he muttered.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> - -<p>The outlaw reasoned with marvelous precision, just what the soldiers -would do, and, therefore, his quickly laid plans worked out without the -slightest slip or miscarriage.</p> - -<p>The great oak tree on the brink of the precipice proved Jesse's -salvation, as he proposed that it should. Had it not been there, -another and different ending to his escapade, might have resulted.</p> - -<p>But the officers did not attach any special significance to the -fact that the outlaw had driven his pony straight for the tree in -his mad flight from them, seeing only in the act a desire to put an -end to himself rather than fall into the hands of the United States -Government. Still the tree was the key note to the situation—the -one factor that enabled him to elude his pursuers, and at the same -time save himself from being dashed to certain death on the rocks two -hundred feet below.</p> - -<p>As his pony shot into the shadow, Jesse raised himself in his stirrups -and caught a low-lying limb. With the agility of a trapeeze performer -he drew his body up and free of the horse just at the instant when the -bullets of the troops sang by beneath him and the screaming pinto went -dashing to its death.</p> - -<p>Like a squirrel, Jesse ran up the trunk of the tree, and there he -perched, his body convulsed with fiendish glee at the neat trick he had -turned on the cavalry troop for the second time that night. And it was -with intense interest that he listened to the comments of the officers -down below.</p> - -<p>"So, Jesse James is dead, eh?" he chuckled.</p> - -<p>Yet at that moment the supposed dead man held with steady hand, a heavy -"Colt," trained on the re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>doubtable captain. The officer was nearer to -death than he ever knew, and Jesse himself, was not so far from it as -he thought.</p> - -<p>It was a relief, however, that he noted the final departure of the -troops. Jesse was anxious to get back to the cave. He wondered that -none of the band had been out in search of him. This augured trouble -of some sort. And he wondered too, how successful Dew Drop had been -in corralling Great Bear's medicine man, for he felt that the need of -the herb doctor's services, was urgent. Perhaps that was where the rub -lay—perhaps his whole outfit had been picked up by the redskins.</p> - -<p>It suddenly occurred to the desperado too, that no redskin had shown -himself during the melee. Certainly they had not been so deaf as not to -have heard the bombardment of the cavalrymen.</p> - -<p>"There's sure something doing," he muttered. "Things look kinder -ticklish."</p> - -<p>Jesse decided that it would be wise to get away while the coast was -clear. The troops were now well out of the way.</p> - -<p>But his cogitations were rudely interrupted by a guttural grunt at the -foot of the tree.</p> - -<p>Jesse started.</p> - -<p>He recognized the sound. No other than a redskin could give vent to an -exclamation like that.</p> - -<p>The desperado's gun came out in a flash. He peered down through the -foliage, dimly making out the figure of a savage. Perhaps the Indian -was alone, but more than likely there were others nearby.</p> - -<p>The outlaw, adopting the policy of the savages, waited patiently for -further developments. But all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> hope of the redskin not being aware of -his presence in the tree, was shattered a moment later.</p> - -<p>"Ugh," said the Indian.</p> - -<p>"Great snakes," muttered Jesse.</p> - -<p>"Jesse James, um up tree," announced the Indian stoically.</p> - -<p>"That I am for certain," growled the great bandit chieftain, under his -breath.</p> - -<p>"Jesse James um in a fix."</p> - -<p>"Great Bear, as I'm alive," whispered Jesse, slipping down the tree -trunk a few feet.</p> - -<p>"Pale face um fool sojers. Um no fool Great Bear. Great Bear um see -many things. Um see sojers shoot Jess Jame. Great Bear know um not -shoot Jess Jame. Jess Jame he play possum. Ugh. Great Bear um wait. Um -want pale face for umself. Huh."</p> - -<p>"Well, you've got another guess coming," retorted the outlaw.</p> - -<p>Jesse began parleying to gain time. He first wanted to know if the -chief was alone, which fact was all-important to him in his present -predicament.</p> - -<p>"Great Bear go away," he called down gently. "Great Spirit up here in -tree," he crooned with subtle cunning.</p> - -<p>"No, no!" protested the chief, "Great Spirit not for pale face. Great -Spirit stay Indian."</p> - -<p>The great desperado fingered his guns nervously. It required all the -self control he could impose upon himself to refrain from shooting the -redskin, where he stood in plain view of the man up the tree. It was a -terrible temptation, but the bandit-chieftain resented it manfully.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> - -<p>"All right, old moccasin foot, we'll see about that later!"</p> - -<p>Great Bear, he realized had been a witness to his brush with the -cavalry troops; but with a cunning characteristic of the savage that he -was, had viewed it with keener eyes than had the officers of the troop.</p> - -<p>"Um Jess Jame come down," grunted the chief.</p> - -<p>"Jesse James will come down when he gets good and ready, you greasy -old cutthroat," he jeered. "Great Bear had better look out or my men -will shoot him in the back. Do you think I'd let you stand there making -threats at me all this time without killing you, if I hadn't known my -men had you covered. You are not half so smart as you think you are, -eh?"</p> - -<p>The old chief did not change his position in the least.</p> - -<p>But meanwhile Jesse was cautiously making his way down the trunk of the -tree, yet in doing so not so much as displacing the smallest particle -of dry bark whose falling would warn the savage of his approach.</p> - -<p>"Ugh," grunted the chief.</p> - -<p>"Ugh it yourself," threw back the desperado.</p> - -<p>"Um lie. Great Bear um know Jess Jame. No paleface get Great Bear. -Paleface all gone. Indians here—Great Spirit here. Indian in -bush—many Indian in bush there," indicating a half circle by a sweep -of his hand.</p> - -<p>"Ah," exclaimed the desperado.</p> - -<p>Jesse had drawn from the big chief the very information he was seeking. -He knew now that the savage was alone. "When an Indian tells you a -thing is so, you know it isn't," was Jesse's motto and it was the one -he applied to the present case.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> - -<p>Still, he dared not use his guns.</p> - -<p>Great Bear, perhaps, following the same process of reasoning, stood -confidently awaiting the moment when the desperado should find it -convenient to move.</p> - -<p>"Pale face no jump. Um fall down big hole like pinto," he warned.</p> - -<p>"Don't worry, my sweet papoose," jeered the outlaw. "Jesse James don't -jump down holes, nor does he run away. But he's going to kill an Indian -bye and bye, when he gets down. But paleface going to stay up here -till Big chief gets sore feet waiting for him. Good night, you old -dog-eater."</p> - -<p>The great desperado laughed and chuckled, all with a purpose, but not -so loudly at any time that his voice could easily be heard beyond the -circle of shadow thrown by the great tree.</p> - -<p>"Ugh. Pale face, dog—" retorted the savage.</p> - -<p>But he got no further.</p> - -<p>Like a flying projectile, a dark object was hurled from the tree. -Straight did it speed at the copper-hued savage below, and as true as -if it had been from a mountain battery.</p> - -<p>The projectile was none other, however, than the great desperado -himself. With rare cunning, Jesse had step by step, drawn the chief's -attention from his real purpose, the while occupying the time in -getting into the most advantageous position for the carrying out of his -plans.</p> - -<p>The outlaw's flying body with unerring aim, hit the savage fair and -square and both men went down in a heap.</p> - -<p>Great Bear uttered a grunt of terrible rage, but could not speak. The -terrific impact of Jesse's heavy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> body striking him, knocked all the -wind out of his savage body.</p> - -<p>But the Indian's arms suddenly closed over the desperado in a crushing -grip. Jesse, tough and muscular as he was, felt that his ribs were -being slowly, but relentlessly crushed in.</p> - -<p>Neither man spoke a word at first, each playing for an advantage that -would enable him to reach his knife.</p> - -<p>One of Jesse's bowies that he held in his teeth, when he jumped, was -lost at the moment his body struck that of Great Bear.</p> - -<p>The desperado now discovered that his antagonist was working slowly -toward the precipice. But whether he thought to frighten the outlaw or -whatever his motive, Jesse checkmated it.</p> - -<p>"S-s-o—that's y-o-u-r g-g-a-m-e is it?" he gritted, "you black hearted -savage. All right, if you want to go over, come on."</p> - -<p>Great Bear changed his mind instantly.</p> - -<p>"Jess Jame um brave man. But Injun kill um," he hissed between breaths.</p> - -<p>Over and over the combatants rolled, first one gaining a slight -advantage which would be quickly lost to the other. Great Bear on his -side possessed one advantage that Jesse did not—he was stripped to -the waist while the outlaw was fully clothed. This gave the Indian -something to hold to, while Jesse's grip on the perspiring skin of his -antagonist was an uncertain thing.</p> - -<p>But the bandit king was working his hands upward as frequently and as -rapidly as he dared. Once when he had succeeded in forcing Great Bear -to his side,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> with the left hand pinioned under him, Jesse's right shot -up and his fingers closed over the savage's right ear. With a grunt of -rage Jesse's hand came away covered with blood.</p> - -<p>The hand held the ear of his savage antagonist. But the stoical Indian -gave no sign that he had been injured. If anything the terrible wound -gave him added strength.</p> - -<p>A sudden upward expansion of his muscles, chest and abdomen, fairly -lifted Jesse into the air.</p> - -<p>When the two came down, Jesse was underneath. In a moment more their -positions were reversed.</p> - -<p>Great Bear's fingers closed over the outlaw's throat, while the -desperado's knee forced itself into his adversary's abdomen with -terrible force.</p> - -<p>The Indian emitted a grunt, which was followed by another as the -desperate outlaw bored in and in with the bony knee until it seemed as -if the flesh of the other's body must give way and let the knee find an -easy path.</p> - -<p>The Indian's grasp slackened and Jesse's terrible fist smote him -squarely in the face until the blood of the savage spurted into his own -eyes.</p> - -<p>Again and again the outlaw rained sledge hammer blows on his opponent's -face until it was reduced to a bloody pulp. But still the desperate -battle waged.</p> - -<p>Now and then both men would lay still for a moment, clasped in a -desperate embrace, gasping for breath, but speaking no word.</p> - -<p>The time for vituperation had passed.</p> - -<p>It was now a battle to the death.</p> - -<p>They were wonderfully matched. And though Jesse's hands and face were -smeared with red blood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> that showed ghastly in the moonlight, he had -sustained no wounds.</p> - -<p>In a moment of relaxation he jabbed a thumb with all his force into the -savage's eye.</p> - -<p>The pain must have been excruciating. But the redskin gave no sign that -he sensed its pain.</p> - -<p>Great Bear had succeeded in unsheathing his knife, but his hand -instantly was pinioned to the ground where the great outlaw held it in -a vice-like grip.</p> - -<p>All at once Jesse released his hold on the knife hand. The hand with -lightning-like quickness shot up to make the fatal thrust.</p> - -<p>It got no further.</p> - -<p>With a movement equally quick, the desperado caught the hand and with -an unexpected movement bent it backward.</p> - -<p>"Snap!"</p> - -<p>Great Bear cried out, and the hand hung limp.</p> - -<p>"Ha, ha! Reached you, did I?" gasped Jesse in triumphant tones.</p> - -<p>Great Bear snarled like a wounded animal.</p> - -<p>The hand though useless, slipped about the outlaw's neck and the -savage's arm pinioned it in a grip of iron, while with his free hand he -showered blows on the bandit's side.</p> - -<p>Jesse fastened his teeth in the redskin's cheek and when he pulled away -there was left a great gaping wound, and the bandit spat out his toll -of human flesh.</p> - -<p>The Indian's grip on Jesse's neck was released and Great Bear with his -free hand dealt his antagonist a frightful blow on the side of his head.</p> - -<p>Jesse sunk down and all grew black about him.</p> - -<p>With a muffled yell of fiendish joy Great Bear sprang<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> free of his -antagonist, throwing Jesse with crushing force to the ground where he -lay for a brief moment on his back.</p> - -<p>The redskin scrambled for his knife.</p> - -<p>It was but the work of an instant for him to secure it.</p> - -<p>He made a mighty leap for his desperate, fallen antagonist, his face -contorted with the awful passion that was raging within him.</p> - -<p>But the brief respite had given Jesse's wonderful recuperative powers, -time to act. Yet he lay perfectly still calmly awaiting the onslaught.</p> - -<p>The Indian sprang clear of the ground, projecting his body at his -fallen antagonist and with gleaming knife held aloft for the fatal -blow, was descending upon him with crushing force.</p> - -<p>In his rage he did not pause to think or to consider. The lust for -human blood overcame all other emotions and blinded the savage's -judgment.</p> - -<p>The outlaw's eyes were upon him, but this, Great Bear did not know, nor -would he have heeded had he seen.</p> - -<p>Quicker than the human eye could follow, the desperado's knees doubled -up, his legs were drawn back.</p> - -<p>The feet shot out with terrific force, catching the savage redskin full -in the abdomen.</p> - -<p>Great Bear doubled up like a jack knife and catapulted in the air, -turning a complete somersault, ending up by landing on his head on the -hard rocks some distance away.</p> - -<p>The Indian toppled over and lay still.</p> - -<p>It was now Jesse's moment to act.</p> - -<p>He too sprang into the air.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> - -<p>His heavy boots landed full on the Indian's face, mangling and -mutilating it almost beyond human semblance.</p> - -<p>But the uncertain footing threw the outlaw from his feet and he fell -sprawling over the body of his antagonist.</p> - -<p>In an instant he had whirled over.</p> - -<p>Again the combatants were locked in a deadly embrace.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if human flesh and blood could not stand the terrible -gruelling that each desperate man had sustained.</p> - -<p>Still the battle waged on as sanguinary as before.</p> - -<p>Never had such a desperate fight to the death been known in all that -wild, barbarous country, and the story of it has been handed down—told -in tepee and at firesides to this day. You can hear it any day should -you chance to come across some old trapper or Indian chief when either -is in a communicative mood.</p> - -<p>But neither man of iron could conquer the other.</p> - -<p>Jesse while holding his antagonist down, had pinioned both arms to -the ground and with hands in the redskin's hair, was beating his head -against the rocks, with an impact that might have been heard for many -rods around.</p> - -<p>He hoped to wear out his antagonist in this way. Both men's knives had -now been lost beyond recovery, and nothing but pure muscular prowess -could decide the equal battle.</p> - -<p>All at once Jesse sensed that some one was approaching him from the -rear, but whether friend or foe, he could not tell, for all behind him -was in a deep shadow now.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> - -<p>His guns were still in their holsters, but the sudden strain that the -desperado put upon himself to draw them, was futile. The Indian's grasp -of iron could not be broken for the infinitesimal space of time that -was necessary to give Jesse an opportunity to jerk his "Colts" from -their resting place.</p> - -<p>With a mighty effort he twisted his antagonist about so that he could -partially look behind him.</p> - -<p>The discovery that he made was enough to shake the stoutest nerves.</p> - -<p>Over him towered the savage, malignant face of a giant Indian.</p> - -<p>He held in his hands a club which was descending on Jesse's head with -fearful force.</p> - -<p>Like a flash the outlaw dodged and the blow fell upon Great Bear's arm, -crushing it, and bringing from the warrior a groan of agony.</p> - -<p>Jesse sought to free himself from the killing embrace.</p> - -<p>He was a second too late.</p> - -<p>Again the mighty club was swung on high.</p> - -<p>It landed fair on the bandit's head.</p> - -<p>The world's greatest desperado toppled over the form of his antagonist, -with a subdued moan.</p> - -<p>Jesse did not move.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XIII" id="Chapter_XIII"><span class="smcap">Chapter XIII.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">UNDER THE BRANDING IRON.</p> - - -<p>"Take that rock off my head," Jesse caught himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> mumbling as he -slowly returned to consciousness.</p> - -<p>Two factors had served to save the outlaw's life: One that the Indian -behind him had struck him a glancing blow, and the other that Jesse -James' skull was too thick to break by any ordinary means.</p> - -<p>But the blow had been a terrific one and the outlaw's head throbbed -like a locomotive under full headway.</p> - -<p>He emitted a subdued groan and tried to move. To his surprise he found -he could not.</p> - -<p>He was now conscious of shooting pains through his whole body. His arms -were stretched above his head, and when he sought to draw them down by -his side, he found he could not move them.</p> - -<p>Jesse cautiously tried to move his feet, but like the arms, these also -refused to respond to his will.</p> - -<p>"That's queer," he thought. "I wonder if I'm dead."</p> - -<p>He tried to recall the incidents that had preceded his present -condition, but his mind was sluggish and just as he would almost come -upon a solution of his strange condition, memory would elude him again.</p> - -<p>He tried to open his eyes, but the eyelids seemed held down by some -irresistible weight.</p> - -<p>For a time the desperado sought to gratify the sensation of drowsiness -that seemed to steal over him. Then he would suddenly awake with a -start, the pain in his body more intense than before.</p> - -<p>At last with a mighty effort of will he dragged his heavy eyelids open. -At first he could see nothing for the darkness, then little by little -he made out his surroundings.</p> - -<p>He was in an Indian tepee.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> - -<p>"How did I get here?" he wondered.</p> - -<p>He tried and tried to think.</p> - -<p>Suddenly memory returned like a blow.</p> - -<p>He remembered it all. The desperate battle on the ground—the club that -finally had laid him low. But beyond that all was dark.</p> - -<p>For a moment he could not make up his mind whether it was night or day, -but glancing up he noted that the flap that covered the entrance to the -wigwam showed a tiny ray of light through a fine slit that its owner -had made for secret observations when within. Jesse wished he might be -able to pull himself together sufficiently to get up and peek out.</p> - -<p>But the effort to raise only gave him pain.</p> - -<p>He sensed that his holsters were still at his sides and by their weight -against his leg he judged that his guns must be in their places.</p> - -<p>The thought gave him comfort. The outlaw's guns had become as much a -part of himself as were his hands or his feet.</p> - -<p>As his mind by slow process began to clear, he set about finding out -why it was that he could not move—whether he had been seriously -wounded or what mysterious force was holding him down.</p> - -<p>The discovery came as a distinct shock and roused all the rage that his -savage nature was capable of.</p> - -<p>He was bound hand and foot.</p> - -<p>Jesse's inclination was to give voice to his passions—to hurl -invective at his unseen captors, to taunt them, to goad them, but not -to plead. Jesse James had pleaded with no man in his eventful life. It -was not in his nature to do so, nor would he begin now.</p> - -<p>Yet he did not quite understand what manner of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> torture they had -inflicted upon him to put him in such pain. But it was a matter of only -a moment or so before he was made acquainted with his exact situation.</p> - -<p>The great desperado had been subjected to the humiliation of being -bound hand and foot. And more than that, his manacled hands had been -triced up to a stake protruding from the ground some eighteen inches, -and the feet had been treated similarly. His position was such that the -weight of his body was a constant strain upon the thongs that bound -him, a strain that extended through his entire body.</p> - -<p>Jesse swore a terrible oath.</p> - -<p>"I hope I killed the cursed savage," he gritted.</p> - -<p>But his fond hopes were dashed almost at the moment of the utterance of -them.</p> - -<p>The flap was slowly pulled aside and an evil, ghastly face peered in—a -face so torn and mutilated that Jesse observed nothing familiar in it.</p> - -<p>He stared at it without speaking.</p> - -<p>All at once he noticed that an ear was missing from the place where it -should have been.</p> - -<p>Then Jesse understood.</p> - -<p>The face was that of his late antagonist, Great Bear.</p> - -<p>The desperado laughed mockingly.</p> - -<p>Great Bear jerked aside the flap so viciously that he tore it from its -fastenings, allowing it to drop slowly from his lingering grasp as he -surveyed his captive with malignant eyes.</p> - -<p>"Welcome to our home, old scarred-face," jeered Jesse.</p> - -<p>Great Bear made no reply, standing with head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> erect, searching keenly -for some sign of fear or weakening in the face of his captive.</p> - -<p>After a time, the redskin squatted on the turf and with chin in hands -sat holding the outlaw with a steady gaze. For an hour he sat thus, -Jesse glaring back at him with menacing, challenging eyes.</p> - -<p>"Ugh! Paleface brave man," he grunted.</p> - -<p>"Ugh! Big Chief a dirty cutthroat," retorted Jesse.</p> - -<p>"Huh!" said Great Bear.</p> - -<p>"I can lick you with one arm tied behind my back, old pizen snake," -leered the desperado. "Let me up and I'll show you."</p> - -<p>Great Bear rose, and stepping to the door gave a terse, guttural -command to some one without. Returning to the wigwam, he squatted down -at the great bandit's feet again and resumed his intent gaze into the -other's face.</p> - -<p>"Well," questioned Jesse, "Am I so purty that you can't keep your eyes -off'n me? Think you'll know me when you see me again? I'd know you -among a million with that face. I certainly did lam it to you, didn't -I? I ought to have killed you when I had the chance up the tree there, -but I hated to take an unfair advantage, even of such an old murderer -as you are."</p> - -<p>While the outlaw was now suffering terrible tortures from his strained -position, he gave no sign to the waiting Indian chief.</p> - -<p>A silent-footed savage appeared in the doorway, placing before the -chief an earthen jar from which a thin curl of smoke ascended.</p> - -<p>But even then Jesse did not catch the full significance of the chief's -intentions.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> - -<p>From the receptacle the Indian removed a short iron rod. It's end was -at white heat.</p> - -<p>Great Bear moistened a finger at his lips and touched it. The rod -hissed angrily.</p> - -<p>Jesse understood now.</p> - -<p>It was a branding iron. But still he did not quail, though his passions -rose in a perfect storm.</p> - -<p>"Paleface like um?" grinned Great Bear once more causing the hot iron -to hiss.</p> - -<p>"Never ate any," retorted the desperado with a grin that was even more -expansive than that of the chief. "Going to brand some stock that you -have stolen, eh?"</p> - -<p>"Huh! Indian no brand cows. Um brand men. Um burn you."</p> - -<p>"Oh, so that's the game is it? You're going to brand me like you would -a critter on the range? Well, what do you think my men will do to you -if I don't get away from here before you do it? Think they will do -anything to you, you black-hearted cur?"</p> - -<p>"Paleface no hurt Indian. Paleface all dead."</p> - -<p>"That's a lie. One of them is here now watching you. He'll carry the -word to the men and if there is not enough of them left he'll go to the -fort for help. Guess the soldiers wouldn't do much to you."</p> - -<p>Great Bear cast a glance that was almost apprehensive, out through the -opening. With an expression that was half snarl, half grunt he drew the -branding iron from the pot and squatted down beside the great outlaw, -leering down into his face, gloating over the joy that was to be his.</p> - -<p>Roughly he tore apart his prisoner's shirt and drove the blunt, white -hot iron against his chest.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> - -<p>The iron hissed again. But this time a little thin line of blue smoke -curled upward.</p> - -<p>Great Bear inhaled a deep breath of heavenly satisfaction as the odour -of burning flesh permeated his nostrils.</p> - -<p>Jesse steeling himself, glared back at his tormentor. He gave no sign -that he sensed the excruciating torture. But the lines of his mouth -drew tense and hard.</p> - -<p>The redskin replaced the iron in its heating pot and sat gloating over -his victim as it burned again to a white heat.</p> - -<p>Next he bared the left side of the outlaw and carefully selected his -spot with the eyes of an expert, he applied the torture rod, holding it -in place with steady, resistless pressure.</p> - -<p>The agony that the victim suffered was almost more than human being -could endure.</p> - -<p>But still the man of iron there at the stake made no outcry, gave no -sign, still smiling up at his tormentor. But the eyes were not in -sympathy with the smile on the lips. They were cold and steely—they -were the eyes of the gun-expert at the moment when he is about to take -the life of a human being.</p> - -<p>"Great Bear," began Jesse in an even, emotionless voice. "I shall be -going away from here pretty soon. You will be dead then. I shall kill -you. But before I go I am going to cut out your tongue and feed it to -the dogs. Then I shall cut off your other ear and give it to the first -drove of hogs that I meet. You'll be up in the Happy Hunting grounds -then and you can't help yourself."</p> - -<p>Once more the fiendish redskin tuned his branding iron to a sizzling -white heat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> - -<p>Great Bear felt the outlaw's cheek apparently with the intention of -applying the iron there next. But for some reason, he evidently changed -his mind. Carefully slitting the shoulders of Jesse's shirt, he burned -a deep, livid impression on each, holding the iron for what, to the -tortured bandit, seemed ages.</p> - -<p>The great desperado was faint and dizzy, and tepee and savage danced -before his eyes in a most outlandish fashion. Jesse wondered vaguely -if all had gone suddenly crazy. But he had borne the ordeal without so -much as a groan.</p> - -<p>Great Bear scrutinized the outlaw's face keenly, and what he saw filled -his soul with savage glee.</p> - -<p>The Indian grunted a long-drawn grunt of satisfaction and laid aside -his instrument of torture.</p> - -<p>"Injun come again," he informed as Jesse opened his eyes once more. -"Come tomorrow sun up. Take eyes out. Jesse Jame no fool Injun this -time. No fool sojer. Byemby Jesse Jame Indian kill um. Injun get heap -money for kill um Jesse Jame. Sojers no get um paleface. No get um -money. Huh!"</p> - -<p>"Jesse James will beat you yet," gasped the desperado weakly, mastering -his faintness by a supreme effort. "He'll kill you!"</p> - -<p>"Ugh!" breathed the savage, picking up his fire pot and departing from -the wigwam without another word, nor once looking back at his miserable -victim.</p> - -<p>His fiendish torture had only just begun, and the anticipation in the -mind of the savage was the keenest of all his inhuman emotions. He -could afford to wait and he would yet see his victim writhe in agony -and scream out as the awful pain was inflicted upon him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> - -<p>Jesse emitted a long-drawn pent up sigh of relief, and a slight moan of -agony escaped him as he closed his eyes wearily.</p> - -<p>Great Bear had been gone but a moment when an Indian whom Jesse had -never seen before, stalked in and made a careful examination of the -tortured captive and his wounds.</p> - -<p>From the savage's actions Jesse judged that he must be a medicine man. -The outlaw grinned sardonically.</p> - -<p>"Want to find out how much more I can stand, eh?" he jeered. "I'll take -all you blood-thirsty devils can give me, don't you forget that."</p> - -<p>His suspicions were confirmed when shortly after the medicine man had -departed, three other Indians accompanied by Great Bear entered the -wigwam, the chief giving them some terse directions in his own tongue -that Jesse could not understand.</p> - -<p>He did, however, understand the purport of it when the thongs that -bound him to the stake, were severed by the strike of a keen-edged -knife.</p> - -<p>The desperado was roughly turned over on his face, and while two -stalwart savages sat on him to hold him down, his arms were brought -down to their normal position, then securely tied behind his back.</p> - -<p>It was not much to be thankful for, but the change brought to Jesse the -most heavenly sensation he ever had known.</p> - -<p>His inclination was to draw a deep, long breath, but he resisted and -shut his lips tight.</p> - -<p>He would not give them that satisfaction.</p> - -<p>The thongs that held his feet were now made doubly secure, so that in -reality he was more helpless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> than before. But he was not inclined to -complain, though the desperado never had been in such sore straits -before.</p> - -<p>His tormentors left him.</p> - -<p>Jesse had been left lying on his face, the Indians not taking the -trouble to turn him over. But after satisfying himself that he was -alone, the outlaw cautiously rolled over on his back and rested for a -few minutes. But his new position enabled him to see out through the -opening, only the upper part of the flap having been put back in place -by the savages when they left him.</p> - -<p>He discovered that two stolid Indians had been left on guard. They -were squatting on the ground in front of the wigwam. And now the -desperado's mind began to work like a piece of well-oiled machinery, -planning an escape. But just how he expected to accomplish this, was -not clear to himself. Yet to his resourceful mind, no situation was -impossible. Therefore the outlaw took cheer and set about the task in -hand, regardless of the stinging pain from his burns, that he was now -beginning to sense more keenly.</p> - -<p>The desperado pricked up his ears at the sound of voices outside. He -recognized the tones of Dew Drop, the Indian maiden. She was speaking -loudly in her broken English, and Jesse understood instantly that she -intended he should hear what she was saying.</p> - -<p>Somewhere within her words there lay a message for him.</p> - -<p>Dew Drop had launched into a perfect tirade of invective against the -helpless desperado there in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> wigwam, and with straining ears he -listened for the words that would give him a clue to her motives. He -observed too, that the shadows of night were falling. Between these two -incidents the desperado believed there was a connection that augured -well for his plans.</p> - -<p>Once during her conversation with the Indians, he caught the words, -"fire-water." Then Dew Drop's voice was heard no more, and he -understood that she had gone away.</p> - -<p>His heart sank. Perhaps he was wrong in his surmise, after all.</p> - -<p>But Jesse's spirits revived a moment later when he heard her returning. -He was at a loss at first to account for her movements. That something -of interest to himself was occurring, Jesse was firmly convinced. But -wriggle about as he would, he could not get a glimpse of the group -outside.</p> - -<p>However, the desperado's curiosity was soon rewarded.</p> - -<p>"Firewater. That's it," he exclaimed. "By the great humping snakes. -Sure as I am alive, the little savage is filling them up. I wonder what -she's got up her sleeve now? If I only was able to get hold of my guns. -I'd help her clean 'em out."</p> - -<p>The sky was heavily overcast and black night had settled down over the -scene, when finally labored breathing and guttural snores from without -told the desperado that little Dew Drop's medicine had done its work -well. Heap big Injun had gone to the happy hunting ground of dreamland.</p> - -<p>But the bandit's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice beside -him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Jesse Jame," breathed the soft, purring voice of the Indian maid.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, my little Dew Drop—"</p> - -<p>"S-h-h-h!" cautioned the girl laying a soft, warm palm over his lips.</p> - -<p>The sensation was peculiarly pleasant to the great bandit.</p> - -<p>"Me cut um lariats. Um Jesse Jame go back by paleface brothers—"</p> - -<p>"Where are they?" interrupted Jesse. "Do you know where they are now?"</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop know. Dew Drop um know too bad chief kill um Jesse Jame -morning."</p> - -<p>"Hurry, little one," he begged, "let me get my guns. I must get out of -here now."</p> - -<p>He heard the girl utter a little startled exclamation as if she had -been suddenly surprised by some one from without, then she sped away as -silently as she had come, much to Jesse's surprise.</p> - -<p>"Well, that gets me."</p> - -<p>He could not understand her peculiar actions.</p> - -<p>At least the desperado did not propose to remain quiescent when the way -to freedom had been laid open to him. Dew Drop too, must have ere this, -told the members of his band of his predicament, but by the time they -were able to reach him, it might and probably would be too late.</p> - -<p>Seconds were precious.</p> - -<p>"I'd be a fool to stay here any longer," muttered Jesse. "The kid -fluttered away like a frightened bird. Guess I'll go to."</p> - -<p>Going, for the great desperado, however, was a far different matter. He -could not walk nor could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> he crawl, and there seemed only one way left -open to him, and this he adopted. He rolled.</p> - -<p>It was not a dignified exit that he made from the wigwam, but it was -better than being bound and guarded there with the prospect of further -tortures in the morning.</p> - -<p>He found his first difficulty was in getting out of the wigwam without -pulling it down about him. This might attract attention and defeat his -plan of escape. But Jesse finally accomplished it by going out head -first, wriggling along like a clumsy snake on a frosty morning. His -burns tortured him excruciatingly, but the great desperado shut his -teeth together savagely and began to roll.</p> - -<p>His two Indian guards lay directly in his path. Jesse with some -misgivings and a greater effort, rolled over them as the quickest way -to get on.</p> - -<p>The Indians grunted but did not wake up, which he was positive would be -the case in their condition. But the feel of their bodies against his -had stirred the blood lust within him and suggested a new idea to the -great desperado.</p> - -<p>"If my hands only were free," he growled. "Ah, I have it. I'll try it," -he gritted, with blazing eyes.</p> - -<p>Quickly the outlaw rolled back to them. Now he was bent on a terrible -revenge. And he forgot for the moment his own deadly peril in his -ferocious desire to be revenged on Great Bear.</p> - -<p>With as much speed as his manacled condition would permit, the great -outlaw worked his head along the body of the Indian nearest to him. -Not finding what he sought at first, he braced his feet with great -difficulty and putting forth an almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> superhuman effort, pushed and -pushed against the redskin with his head, until the savage had been -rolled over. The deed, however, had required a supreme effort.</p> - -<p>The Indian squirmed and muttered surlily, but to the desperado's -intense relief, did not awake.</p> - -<p>Jesse searched at the side he had just turned up, and with a savage -exclamation of delight, bit hard at the Indian's waist.</p> - -<p>The desperado's face came away with the redskin's bowie between his -teeth.</p> - -<p>The outlaw could have shouted, so great was his joy. After laborious -effort he succeeded in setting the keen-edged blade more firmly between -his teeth, so that only the hilt was held by them.</p> - -<p>Cautiously he squirmed and wriggled until his head and shoulders were -over the body of the redskin whom he had again rolled over on his back.</p> - -<p>The great desperado, still holding the knife in a vice-like grip -between his teeth, twisted his head at right angles to his body and set -the needle-like point of the blade, on the Indian's abdomen.</p> - -<p>The cruel blood-thirstiness of what he was about to do made no -impression on him, for Jesse was bent on a terrible vengeance. And it -was a moment of supreme ecstasy for the bandit-chieftain, bound and -manacled and helpless as he was.</p> - -<p>Suddenly throwing the weight of his body on his toes and neck, the -deadly bowie, by the sheer force of the outlaw's own weight, was driven -into the Indian's bowels while the blood in a sudden red sheet, spurted -into his mouth and eyes.</p> - -<p>The redskin sprang almost clear of the ground,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> then settled back with -a heavy groan, his stupor too heavy to resist the work of the vengeful -blade.</p> - -<p>With a fiendish light in his eyes the desperado gloated over the death -throes of the unconscious savage, whose writhings, whose agonized -twistings and muscular contractions, sent the outlaw into an ecstasy of -delirious joy.</p> - -<p>After a little, the Indian stiffened out and lay still.</p> - -<p>"One!" snarled the desperado.</p> - -<p>Once more the avenging outlaw crawled laboriously to his victim. And -that despite the fact that every moment's delay placed his own life -more and more in jeopardy.</p> - -<p>Now came the most difficult part of his task. The bowie, driven in to -its keen-edged limit, was tightly wedged in the body of the dead savage.</p> - -<p>With feverish haste, the world's greatest desperado again buried his -face in the awful pool of blood.</p> - -<p>His teeth closed over the slippery hilt of the blade.</p> - -<p>But it stubbornly resisted all his efforts.</p> - -<p>The knife was too firmly embedded in its human sheath, to come away at -his command.</p> - -<p>The cords of the outlaw's neck swelled to enormous proportions from the -fearful strain he was subjecting them to.</p> - -<p>He sought to accomplish his ends, in another way. Biting the hilt as if -he would sever it in twain, Jesse pushed against it with all the weight -of his body. The keen edge, under his irresistable pressure, cut its -way into the Indian's flesh at right angles to his body, thus widening -the wound and making its sheath less binding.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> - -<p>Back and forth did the blood-thirsty outlaw work the blade.</p> - -<p>He pushed and he pulled like a dog wrestling with a bone. He shook it -like a rat. Then he gave it a long, vicious tug.</p> - -<p>The bloody blade came away with a sickening sound.</p> - -<p>And the desperado fell backward with a terrible curse. Yet, withal, his -grip on the bloody hilt did not relax.</p> - -<p>Now came the most arduous task of all, that of crawling over the body -of his victim and rolling to the remaining savage, without losing the -knife from his teeth. The feat was not so easy as it would seem, and he -could accomplish it only by keeping his head from touching the ground -over every inch of the way.</p> - -<p>He struggled desperately.</p> - -<p>Minutes elapsed.</p> - -<p>But the second redskin died more speedily than had the first, Jesse -having given him a terrible thrust with the deadly blade. And with -eager, fascinated eyes he watched the death agonies of his victim. In a -moment all movement ceased. The man was dead.</p> - -<p>Jesse's work of vengeance, for the time, was ended. And now to roll for -safety, if that were possible. Should he be caught, he knew that this -time his punishment would be swift and sure. Great Bear would take no -chances with him after this.</p> - -<p>But just as the outlaw was about to start on his unequal journey, he -suddenly espied the figure of an Indian standing a few paces away, in -the gloom, gazing intently in his direction.</p> - -<p>The desperado fairly held his breath. He wished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> now that he had -brought away the bowie from his second victim. But it was too late to -rectify his mistake.</p> - -<p>Still, defenceless as he was, the great bandit devoutly hoped the -savage redskin would throw himself upon him. Jesse believed that, with -a well directed kick he could silence the fellow and put an end to him -afterwards, for his thirst for blood had not yet been satisfied.</p> - -<p>Though it would be a desperate chance he was willing and anxious to -take it. But he was not given a chance to put his foolhardy plan into -operation. The redskin emitted a sudden grunt, and dropping into a long -lope, sped noiselessly toward the main part of the village, that lay -some twenty rods to the west.</p> - -<p>Jesse was off like a flash.</p> - -<p>His one supreme object now was to put as much distance as possible -between himself and his savage enemies.</p> - -<p>But the laborious rolling process was too slow for him.</p> - -<p>He had rolled himself clear of the bodies of his victims, when all at -once, acting upon sudden impulse, he adopted a new and unique method of -facilitating his progress. With a tremendous effort he raised himself -on his manacled feet.</p> - -<p>Despite the fact that his hands were tied behind him, the desperate man -threw himself head first to the ground. None but the toughest skull -could have survived the impact when his head struck the hard ground.</p> - -<p>Jesse's object was now obvious.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> - -<p>The instant he sensed the feel of the ground under his head, by a -sudden twist of the body, using his head as a pivot, the desperado -threw himself to his feet again, thus finishing as pretty a head spring -as ever a trained performer in a circus had done.</p> - -<p>With movements so lightning-like that the eye, in the uncertain light, -would scarcely have been able to follow them, the great bandit hurled -himself into a mad whirl of somersaults that carried him away from the -scene of his recent exploits almost as fast as his legs could have done -had they been free.</p> - -<p>He heard a loud commotion in the Indian village behind him. But whether -the savages had learned of the death of the two men or that they simply -had been told by the Indian who came upon him so suddenly, that the -sentinels were asleep, he neither knew nor cared.</p> - -<p>Jesse reasoned shrewdly that in any event the Indians would be delayed -a few moments in their surprise at finding their companions murdered, -and then the search for him in the wigwam and its immediate vicinity -following, all of which would give him a fair start.</p> - -<p>Still he knew his trail was as plainly marked as if it had been made -by a log-rolling gang, a trail which they would have no difficulty in -following at top speed. Therefore haste was all imperative if he hoped -to keep his scalp fitted in its proper place. And the world's greatest -bandit was not ready to part with that portion of his anatomy just yet.</p> - -<p>On dashed the desperado, his movements resembling the evolutions of a -cart wheel down a mountain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> road. And so rapid was his flight that he -was unable to take note of either direction or location.</p> - -<p>The savages were now hot on his trail.</p> - -<p>He could hear their shouts as they discovered it. Like the bay of the -hounds when close upon their prey they came rushing down upon him.</p> - -<p>Jesse redoubled his efforts. Bending every nerve to the tremendous task -before him, the terrible outlaw sprang far up into the air to increase -the reach of his next leap.</p> - -<p>He stiffened his nerves to meet the impact when his feet should next -touch the ground.</p> - -<p>But to his intense surprise, the feet did not touch at all. They were -kicking wildly in empty space.</p> - -<p>All at once the great desperado realized that he was falling through -space.</p> - -<p>Like a rock, hurled with terrific force, he had thrown himself over a -sheer precipice whose rocky bottom lay two hundred feet below him.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XIV" id="Chapter_XIV"><span class="smcap">Chapter XIV.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">JESSE TAKES A TERRIBLE REVENGE.</p> - - -<p>"Danged queer about Jess," declared Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>"Something sure has happened to him and I for one am going to look for -him," returned Frank.</p> - -<p>The bandits were gathered on a broad, shelving rock looking down into -the canyon, where they had remained when Dew Drop left them after -conveying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> them to safety after the explosion in the cave.</p> - -<p>Acting upon her advice they had remained there until she should have -gone to the village to learn if Jesse had been taken prisoner or -killed, perhaps, by the savages. She had promised them a speedy return, -but hours had elapsed since her departure and the men were getting -restive. Little had been said by them, they being too full of the -thoughts of the lively incidents that had happened since they first set -foot in the mountains of Southern Colorado.</p> - -<p>"Better not try it till the moon comes up," advised Wild Bill who knew -the treacherous nature of the country where they were. "I calkerlate -you'd break yer danged neck tryin' to git out of here in the dark -without a guide. When it gits lighter we'd better all vamoose. We'll -find Jesse if we can, and if not we'll mosey over to tother side of the -gulch and make camp in a place I know of. From there we kin scout for -him. The gal said we was to stay here—"</p> - -<p>"Sure, she did," added Texas. "I reckon she knew what she was doing. -We'd better bide here a bit I reckon."</p> - -<p>Under their urging, Frank gave a reluctant consent, for he knew that -Jesse would expect him—would expect every one of them to come to him -at once, had they reason to believe he was in trouble.</p> - -<p>So they waited. One hour, two hours, and three passed, and the men had -finally decided to make an investigation, provided they could discover -the trail that led up the mountain side. They had only a general idea -of where the Indian village lay, but reasoned that they could easily -locate it by the camp fires that surely would be burning. They decided -that it would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> be safest to start in single file, the leader holding to -the hand of the next to him, and so on, making a human chain, the last -man to at all times make sure that he had firm hold of a tree or rock.</p> - -<p>"Hark," warned Frank after they had decided upon the direction in which -they would make their first attempt.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" asked Tony.</p> - -<p>"I didn't hear anything," returned Texas.</p> - -<p>"Keep still," commanded the elder of the James boys, listening -intently. "I am sure I heard a yell."</p> - -<p>"Mebby 'twas a cat," suggested Bill. "There's a lot of them in these -hills, and they're a danged tough proposition to run into when a -fellow's afoot."</p> - -<p>"There it is again," cried Frank in a suppressed voice.</p> - -<p>They all heard the cry this time and it seemed to be drawing near them.</p> - -<p>"Indians agin," breathed Tony.</p> - -<p>"By the great jumpin' cats," exclaimed Texas. "What do you suppose -they're up to?"</p> - -<p>"They are chasing somebody," declared Wild Bill confidently, knowing -the ways of the savages thereabouts as he did. "The question is, who or -what is it."</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop, mebby," suggested Harry.</p> - -<p>"Yes, mebby the skunks have got wise to her," added Texas. "But if the -cutthroats do her dirt they'll have to reckon with me. She's been the -squarest little pard that a bunch ever come up with. She's got some -white blood in her, I'll bet my spurs on that."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> - -<p>The outlaws listened in awed silence as the yells grew louder, -increasing steadily in volume.</p> - -<p>"More of 'em joined in the chase," nodded Bill. "Guess the whole -village is out on the warpath."</p> - -<p>"And they're coming this way," asserted Frank.</p> - -<p>"Mebby we'd a better git back in the cave," urged Texas. "We can watch -out from there."</p> - -<p>"No, we'll stay right here," returned Frank, savagely. "We may have to -take a hand in this. Perhaps they are after Jess."</p> - -<p>"After Jess?" replied Comanche Tony laughing sardonically. "You haven't -heard any shooting going on, have you? You don't suppose Jesse James -would let a lot of dirty Indians chase him out of their village without -potting a few of them in the meantime, do you?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>His reasoning appealed to them.</p> - -<p>"I guess you are right," agreed Frank. "But squeeze up closer to the -rocks. They may take it into their heads to roll a few more boulders -down on us. Bowling with hard-heads seems to be a favorite occupation -with these copper-colored curs."</p> - -<p>"Yes, it's a heap o' fun for the chap on top, but it's hell for the -feller down below," agreed Homely Harry humorously. "Excuse me from the -job of settin' up the pins in this alley."</p> - -<p>"Silence," commanded their leader. "We may have to do some shooting -pretty soon."</p> - -<p>Not a word was spoken and for several minutes they waited with bated -breaths.</p> - -<p>Every man sensed danger and every man felt instinctively that they were -on the verge of a sudden and unexpected explosion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> - -<p>And, indeed, it did come, but in a manner totally unexpected by them.</p> - -<p>There occurred a sudden rattle of fine stone from above that pelted -down on the rocks like a volley from a gatling gun.</p> - -<p>"Crash!"</p> - -<p>A heavy body landed in a broad-topped tree that grew out of a deep -fissure in the rocks some twenty paces to the south of them. Then -sudden silence in the tree.</p> - -<p>Up above them they could hear the Indians chattering volubly, but so -far away were they that the outlaws could make nothing of what they -were saying, nor could any of the men have understood them if they had -heard them.</p> - -<p>"What the—" began Texas.</p> - -<p>Frank pushed his elbow viciously into the outlaw's ribs, to silence him.</p> - -<p>"What do you make of that?" whispered Tony.</p> - -<p>"Somebody's gone over the cliff. Or something has—I don't know."</p> - -<p>"In that tree?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Wait till they go away up there."</p> - -<p>For several minutes the savages continued their talking, then their -receding voices told the anxious outlaws on the ledge far below, that -they were retracing their steps.</p> - -<p>"We must find out what's in that tree," spoke up Frank with emphasis, -after assuring himself that all the savages had left.</p> - -<p>"Hadn't we better wait till daylight," suggested Comanche. "We'll break -our necks or worse in this blackness."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> - -<p>"No. That's what the redskins are going to do. At the first touch of -dawn the whole pack and parcel of them will be up on the edge of the -cliff there peering down. We've got to act now and quickly for it's -near morning."</p> - -<p>"Yes, the dawn breaks all of a sudden up here," added Wild Bill.</p> - -<p>But how to reach the tree was another matter. A wall of smooth -perpendicular rock lay between them and the tree whose outlines they -could only faintly make out in the darkness.</p> - -<p>"A fly couldn't walk that," averred Harry with his usual facetiousness.</p> - -<p>"No, we must find another way," agreed Frank.</p> - -<p>"Anybody got any suggestions to make?"</p> - -<p>"Not bein' a bird I don't know how I'd git over there," replied Harry.</p> - -<p>"We might cast a lariat and the lightest of us go over," suggested -Texas.</p> - -<p>"No, it is too far, and besides no lariat would hold us that way. -You've got to think of something better. Perhaps we can—"</p> - -<p>"I say, I've got an idee," interrupted Wild Bill. "I remember that when -we first came out, it being lighter, I seen a shelf of rock right above -that tree. It was twenty feet wide I opine. Now if we can manage to git -up on the rock we can turn the trick."</p> - -<p>"Now you are talking," commented their leader. "Bill supposing you make -the try for it. Be careful, and don't send any rocks rolling down or -you'll have the Indians back on us. Give the owl call if you make it -and then we'll try to follow you. Or better still,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> come back here and -show us the way. It will be safer."</p> - -<p>Anxious to be off, Bill threw off his coat, tightened his belt and -disappeared in the shadows silently. With cat-like movements he -scaled the jagged side of the mountain without a sound or so much -as disturbing a particle of shale from the rocks over which he was -creeping.</p> - -<p>To the waiting bandits down below him it seemed an age, as they stood -with strained ears to catch the signal agreed upon.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Wild Bill appeared before them. So quietly had he approached -that not a man of them had heard or seen him. They clutched their guns -instinctively.</p> - -<p>"It goes," was Bill's succinct summing up of the result of his trip. -"You've got to crawl. A snake couldn't get over that trail without -falling off," he concluded.</p> - -<p>"Could you make out anything in the tree?" demanded Frank impatiently.</p> - -<p>"Nary a thing. Blacker'n an Alabamy coon down there. And about as -slippery along the trail," he added.</p> - -<p>"How we going to work it, Cap'n?" asked Comanche as the outlaws, with -Wild Bill in the lead, began their perilous climb over the side of the -mountain, a single misstep in which would precipitate them to the rocks -more than a hundred feet below.</p> - -<p>"We will see when we get there. Be careful there Harry. Do you want -to pull the whole bunch of us down? Your feet are as clumsy as an -elephant's."</p> - -<p>At last the hardy outlaws stood upon the shelving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> rock peering down -curiously into the dark abyss below them. It was not an inviting -outlook, but Frank was determined to learn who or what it was down -there in the tree top. After looking over the ground with a critical -eye, he told the men to braid their lariats into one single rope. This -done he tested its length by letting it down over the edge of the -cliff. It reached the tree as nearly as he could make out, then he made -an end fast around a projecting arm of rock on the ledge where they -were standing.</p> - -<p>"Well," he demanded, "who is going down? I am not going to ask any of -you to take the risk. I would do it myself only I am afraid I shouldn't -be much good with my game leg."</p> - -<p>"Let me take a chance at this game, Captain," urged Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>"No, you're too heavy," objected Frank.</p> - -<p>"I'll try it," said Texas.</p> - -<p>"Very well, you will do."</p> - -<p>They bound the rope tightly about his waist. All hands took strong hold -of it and Texas sitting down on the edge of the cliff, boldly slipped -off into space.</p> - -<p>The end of the rope had nearly been reached when a short sharp whistle -from below and a slacking off of the weight told them that he had -gained the goal and found for himself a foothold.</p> - -<p>"Hey, up there," he called softly after several minutes of aggravating -silence.</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered Frank quickly, lying down on his stomach and peering -over the edge. "What is it?"</p> - -<p>"I've made the lariat fast around his waist. Pull him up then send the -rope down for me. He can't help himself—"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Who can't—who is it—do you know him?"</p> - -<p>"It's Jess," came the answer faintly from the dark pit below.</p> - -<p>"Pull boys, it is Jesse," exclaimed Frank springing up more excited -than they ever had seen him before.</p> - -<p>"Is—is he dead?" asked Comanche apprehensively.</p> - -<p>"I don't know. Don't stop to ask questions now, but pull."</p> - -<p>Their new burden was a dead weight and it was all the outlaws could do -to get him up to the edge, where the body awkwardly caught under the -shelf of the ledge.</p> - -<p>"Make it fast around the rock!" commanded Frank, sharply. "Bill, you -get your arm around the rock and all join hands. All lie down."</p> - -<p>Quickly was the human chain forged, and with Harry holding him by the -feet, Frank leaned far out over the dizzy height and exerting every -ounce of strength that he possessed pulled the body of the great bandit -over onto the rock.</p> - -<p>"He's bound!" hissed Frank.</p> - -<p>It was but the work of a moment to sever the thongs that held him. -The elder brother already had slipped his hand over Jesse's heart and -learned that he still lived.</p> - -<p>"Bill where's that flask?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>Wild Bill passed it over and a large draught was quickly forced down -the throat of the great bandit.</p> - -<p>The result was gratifying. He began to choke and at a signal from Frank -they picked him up and carried him just within the mouth of the cave.</p> - -<p>"Hey," hailed a voice from below. "Going to leave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> me down here all -night? This tree's liable to give way and send me to kingdom come."</p> - -<p>"Pull him up," directed Frank, redoubling his efforts to bring his -brother back to consciousness.</p> - -<p>In this he was aided by the wonderful recuperative power of his outlaw -brother. And in a few moments Jesse sat up and rubbed his eyes, -blinking in the light of the fire they had started in the cave.</p> - -<p>"Hello, boys," he greeted. "What's happened?"</p> - -<p>"That is what we want to know," responded Frank without the suspicion -of a smile, though the others were grinning broadly. "You fell off the -mountain, that's all we know about it. We heard the redskins hitting -the trail of some one, and the next thing you did a high dive and -landed in the tree."</p> - -<p>At the mention of the word "redskin" Jesse's face suddenly was filled -with an expression of terrible, malignant rage. He swore a fearful -oath, and rising, rather unsteadily paced back and forth in the narrow -cave while he related all that had befallen him. Black were the faces -of the hardy band and many were the curses that the men uttered under -their breaths as they listened in strained silence.</p> - -<p>"And I'm going back there and wipe the curs off the face of the -mountain," concluded Jesse.</p> - -<p>Frank objected emphatically, to any such proceeding. He argued that -they all were worn out with the hardships they had been subjected to, -and to such good purpose that Jesse began to lean toward the point of -view of his men.</p> - -<p>"Well," he began when a sudden thud outside the entrance caused him to -wheel sharply, whipping out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> both his "Colts" as he turned. "What in—"</p> - -<p>The desperado chieftain sprang out and was down on his knees in a -flash. And the others followed just in time to hear him swear a -blood-thirsty oath of revenge.</p> - -<p>Without another word he picked up the object that had fallen in front -of their hiding place and carried it into the cave. There he laid it -down, kneeling beside it with his head bent low.</p> - -<p>"Who—," began Texas drawing near.</p> - -<p>"Why it's—" interrupted Harry.</p> - -<p>"By the great pizen snakes, it is."</p> - -<p>"It's a girl," marveled Frank, bending over the inanimate body.</p> - -<p>"Dew Drop," answered Jesse, in a strange voice of constraint.</p> - -<p>He opened the child's mouth gently and peered within.</p> - -<p>"The little Indian maiden's tongue has been cut out. She was then -thrown over the precipice after me," announced Jesse in a voice that -brought a chill to every human being within hearing of it.</p> - -<p>All the great outlaw's bodily ills were forgotten now, and in the -stress of the moment his strength had come back. He was the man of iron -once more and vengeance was written in the stern lines of his face.</p> - -<p>"What are you going to do?" demanded Frank.</p> - -<p>Jesse pointed to the body of the child.</p> - -<p>"There is your answer," he retorted.</p> - -<p>"But," began his elder brother.</p> - -<p>"Am I the master here or are you?" he demanded, an ugly glitter -flashing into his eyes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'll take it back; you are right, Jess," apologized Frank.</p> - -<p>"Any of you got any dynamite? I left some in the cave, where is it?"</p> - -<p>"I reckon we can't git that now," grinned Tony sheepishly, "But I 'low -we can scare up a few sticks."</p> - -<p>From various receptacles in their clothing, the desperadoes drew little -white sticks of the harmless-looking, but deadly explosive, all of -which they handed over to their chief. Next came a coil of fine copper -wire and a small compact battery.</p> - -<p>Jesse took the collection and examined it closely.</p> - -<p>"Good," he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Are we with you in this?" asked Wild Bill. "I allow the boys would -like to pay off a little of your score," pointing to the livid marks on -his shoulders, discernible through the bandit chieftain's torn shirt.</p> - -<p>"I reckon we would," added Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>Jesse looked at them steadily for a moment, the lines of his face -softening almost imperceptibly.</p> - -<p>"No boys. This is my kettle of fish. And I'm going to fry them alone. -If I should fail to get back in an hour and you don't hear anything -doing, send Bill up to the Indian village to size things up. You will -know what to do after he gets back."</p> - -<p>"Be careful, Jess."</p> - -<p>"Put the little one in a hole in the rocks some where hereabouts and -block it up with stone so she can rest easy. We don't want any buzzards -nosing around her tender little body," was the great desperado's -parting injunction as he passed out from the circle of light and strode -away on his mission of death.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> - -<p>Very tenderly they bore the body of Dew Drop, deeper into the cave. -Finding a suitable place they laid her away, blocking the opening -as directed by their chief. Then these hardy men—these men to whom -murder was merely an incident in following their vocation of rapine and -plunder, with one accord clutched their hats from their heads and stood -bowed before the shrine of the child who had given her life to save -them.</p> - -<p>"I reckon she war no less'n twenty-four carat fine," opined Tony, -turning away slowly.</p> - -<p>"She war that," chorused the others solemnly, nervously crushing their -sombreros in their awkward hands, and following slowly after him.</p> - -<p>Just within the entrance they paused and with one accord squatted down -on the hard rocks where they lighted their pipes.</p> - -<p>Few words, were spoken, for the thought that was in the minds of all -was not one to be lightly discussed, nor could they form the sentences -to frame the thought itself.</p> - -<p>"I reckon it's about time we heard something from Jess," suggested Tony -after a long silence.</p> - -<p>Frank consulted his watch anxiously.</p> - -<p>The men relapsed into silence again. But somehow the deadly stillness -seemed to get on their nerves and one by one they rose and began pacing -back and forth on the narrow platform of rock that hung over the great -canyon.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the earth began to tremble beneath their feet.</p> - -<p>They grasped the projecting rocks fearful that they would be thrown -over the precipice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> - -<p>A great sheet of flame lighted up the sky. And a report that seemed -as if earth and sky had suddenly been rent asunder crashed on their -expectant ears, and went thundering off from mountain peak to mountain -peak.</p> - -<p>"Get inside!" commanded Frank sharply.</p> - -<p>They obeyed the summons in the nick of time, for in a few seconds more -a rain of rocks and debris began to shower down on the ledge in front -of them.</p> - -<p>Comanche stepped out again, once the shower had ceased and curiously -picked up an object that had caught his eye.</p> - -<p>He brought it within the circle of light, holding it at arm's length -and gazed at it with fascinated eyes.</p> - -<p>What he held was a battered human head. The cruel, blood-thirsty, -malignant eyes of a savage redskin were gazing out at him from the -tangle of hair and lacerated flesh that he held in his hand.</p> - -<p>"Bah!" exclaimed Tony in a tone of disgust as he threw the horrible -object far from him over the precipice.</p> - -<p>Tony wiped his hand gingerly on his trousers, holding the hand up to -the light to see that no traces of his recent burden remained.</p> - -<p>"Ugh! It makes me feel hollow under the belt," averred Harry, turning -away and knocking the ashes from his pipe.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XV" id="Chapter_XV"><span class="smcap">Chapter XV.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">THE BATTLE OF THE BLADES.</p> - - -<p>"Well, boys," greeted Jesse suddenly appearing among them.</p> - -<p>"That was a clean up for sartin," answered Texas, grinning. "One of 'em -come down here and Tony here picked him up. He was going to kiss the -fellow, but we wouldn't let him. Ha, ha."</p> - -<p>Tony went outside for a breath of fresh air.</p> - -<p>"Tell us about it, Jess," urged Frank.</p> - -<p>"There isn't much to tell," informed Jesse.</p> - -<p>"The fools didn't even have pickets out. I managed to shove a stick of -the stuff under the chief's wigwam—"</p> - -<p>"Who, Great Bear?" interrupted Wild Bill.</p> - -<p>"Yes. The rest of the stuff I distributed around where it would do the -most good and crawling under a rock back of the village I let 'er rip."</p> - -<p>"I should say you did," interjected Frank. "How many of them do you -think you blew up?"</p> - -<p>"I'll gamble my pistols that there isn't enough of that community left, -if patched together, to make six whole men—maybe even less than that. -It rained Indians and pieces of Indians for ten minutes steady. And you -know a lot of redskins could rain down in ten minutes. What's left of -them will never trouble Jesse James again. Eh, boys?"</p> - -<p>The gang nodded their approval of the sentiment.</p> - -<p>"What are your plans now?" asked Frank.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> - -<p>"That's what I was coming to," answered Jesse. "First of all I want to -corral a side of beef or a leg of mutton. It has been so long since I -had anything to eat that my pipes have nearly growed shut. How is your -appetite, Harry?"</p> - -<p>"Me?" replied the homely one. "I could eat a sheep, from hoof to wool. -I've drawed my belt so tight already that the end of it trips me up -every time I try to walk. I'—I'm ready to be one of them fellers—what -do they call them fellers that eat men?"</p> - -<p>"Cannibals?" suggested Jesse.</p> - -<p>"That's the breed. That's what I'd be if I had half a chance."</p> - -<p>Jesse laughed good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>"I move we get out of this place as soon as possible. We shall probably -not be able to get a meal before morning, but as soon as we decide -on what direction we shall take, we can be on our way and out of the -canyon before morning. The first thing for us to do, it seems to me, is -to get some horses. Ours have gone. Either the soldiers or the Indians -got them. Most of the Indian ponies went up in my little explosion, and -those that did not, ran away.</p> - -<p>"I know where there was some ponies yesterday," spoke up Comanche. "I -saw a whole bunch of them grazing on the mountain on the other side of -the canyon over there."</p> - -<p>"We'll see about that later," replied Jesse. "The question is, what -direction shall we take? It won't do to go north, for we are liable to -run into more of the troops. The fort is off in that direction, and -they would be glad to see us.</p> - -<p>"How about it, Bill? You know this country. Is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> there any place near -here where we can lay up for a while and not get sold out—a good safe -hang-out where the grub is plenty and not too many babblers around?"</p> - -<p>Wild Bill considered the question carefully for a moment.</p> - -<p>"I opine I could find such a shack," he answered with a grin. "I know a -fellow who would take us in and be danged glad of the chance—"</p> - -<p>"Is he all right?" demanded the desperado.</p> - -<p>"Well, they'll all bear watchin', I reckon. He makes his living out -of a stage coach now and then. When business is poor he catches a -prospector or something of the sort. Guess he'll do though."</p> - -<p>After long and laborious effort the outlaws succeeded in picking their -way down the steep mountain side. Instead, however, of following on -down the canyon toward its foot, they turned abruptly south, and the -dawn was appearing in the eastern sky, when, foot-sore and weary, as -well as ill-tempered, they finally ascended to the broad plateau to the -west of the canyon, but as they looked across, nothing was to be seen -of the Indian village where the stirring incidents of the previous day -had occurred.</p> - -<p>"Any almost-food places hereabouts, that you know of?" demanded Jesse -of Wild Bill.</p> - -<p>"No, but there's a ranch about two miles west of here. And the fellow -used to have a fine bunch of Kentucky thoroughbreds. Probably stole -them at that, but they were dandies—"</p> - -<p>"Good. Me for the ranch," exclaimed the great desperado as the men -settled down in a long lope with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> anticipations of a steaming breakfast -at the end of their journey.</p> - -<p>It was just sun-up when the bandits finally approached the ranch, and -Jesse announced his intention of going to the rancher's cabin alone, -while the others remained in the background. But upon second thought, -he told Wild Bill to accompany him.</p> - -<p>No sign of life was observable about the place, and the outlaws were of -the opinion that the household had not yet awakened.</p> - -<p>The great desperado struck the door of the cabin, several thunderous -blows with the butt of his revolver. But there was no response to his -noisy summons. Stepping back a few paces he gave vent to a roar that -should have awakened the soundest sleeper.</p> - -<p>"Hullo the house!" he shouted several times, but without result.</p> - -<p>Having failed to bring any response at all, the outlaw adopted a more -drastic method of arousing the inmates of the place. He heaved a rock -through an upper window, then set to with a will kicking the door with -his heavy boots.</p> - -<p>Then a most surprising thing happened.</p> - -<p>The door suddenly flew open. A brawny hand grasped the outlaw by the -collar and jerked him violently inside. Then the door was slammed to -behind him.</p> - -<p>At the instant of the occurrence, Bill's attention was directed in -another direction. He had observed a bunch of likely looking horses -grazing in a large corral on beyond the cabin. He was watching them -with envious eyes. And his surprise was therefore great, when, upon -turning he found that Jesse had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> suddenly disappeared. Not twenty -seconds had elapsed since he first turned his attention to the horses, -and he had heard no sound of voices nor the opening and closing of -doors.</p> - -<p>Bill did not like the look of things, and dodged behind a tree to wait -further developments, though just what he expected might occur, he was -unable to define to himself. There had been no commotion within the -cabin so far as he had been able to observe. He could not relieve his -mind of the feeling, however, that his chief was inside and that he -was in difficulty of some sort. But what to do under the circumstance, -he did not know. Perhaps the bandit-chieftain was working out some -suddenly laid plan of his own, and to interfere with which would be -fully as serious for Bill as would be the leaving of his chief in -danger.</p> - -<p>Wild Bill finally made up his mind to hurry back for consultation with -his companions. Acting upon this impulse he turned and ran swiftly -back, dodging in among the trees to screen his movements as much as -possible, from any prying eyes that might be about. Seeking out the men -he quickly made known to them the strange situation.</p> - -<p>Frank's keen perception reached a solution of the problem instantly.</p> - -<p>"Of course Jess is inside. They opened the door and pulled him in. -That's what there is to it. You heard no shots?"</p> - -<p>"Nary a shot."</p> - -<p>"Then there is a bunch of them in there," he emphasized conclusively. -"Can we get near the place without being seen from the cabin?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, the trees run down pretty close to it on one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> side. At the back -they are further away. The corral is in back and there is a bunch of -fine nags there too."</p> - -<p>"Ah," exclaimed Frank, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Come on -boys, we have got some more work on hand."</p> - -<p>"And danged little grub," added Homely Harry ruefully.</p> - -<p>"I calkerlate we'll corral some of that too," grinned Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>"Yes, but we will be lucky if we don't get a belly full of lead," -warned Frank with his customary pessimism.</p> - -<p>By this time they had come within sight of the cabin, but still, no -sign of life was discoverable to their keen eyes. The place might have -been deserted for aught they could observe.</p> - -<p>The leader decided to wait, and, placing a man on either side of the -clearing so that no one could leave the place without being seen by one -of them, the bandits settled down as patiently as their empty stomachs -would permit. They were well supplied with rifles and ammunition, -provided for them by Dew Drop, and so far as fire arms were concerned -were in position to do effective work.</p> - -<p>"Why not give 'em a volley?" suggested Comanche Tony.</p> - -<p>"Yes, and probably kill Jess," growled Frank. "That would be a fool -thing to do for sure."</p> - -<p>"I've got a plan," suggested Wild Bill. "If there's any duffers inside, -it'll smoke 'em out sure enough, I reckon."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Quick, out with it," commanded their leader. "We must do something."</p> - -<p>"It's this. Supposing one of us goes over to the corral there and cuts -out a hoss. Let him bring the critter along and tether him out here -somewhere in the bushes. I reckon they'll show their hand about that -time if there's anybody there," grinned Bill.</p> - -<p>Frank appreciated the force of the argument.</p> - -<p>"I should imagine they would," he agreed. "Better leave your rifle -here, but see to it that your side arms are in working order. We will -support you from the bushes with our rifles if necessary."</p> - -<p>Wild Bill, skirting the clearing, kept well within the line of trees -until he had arrived opposite the corral. The latter now being between -him and the cabin, effectually screened his approach to the horses.</p> - -<p>There still was no movement about the place, and the bandit, crouching -low, roped a fine, rangy thorough-bred and led it out through the rear -of the corral where saddles and bridles were hanging in a row on the -fence.</p> - -<p>"This is like gittin' money from home," muttered Bill as he saddled and -bridled the supple-limbed animal.</p> - -<p>All being in readiness, the hardy desperado swung himself into the -saddle. But instead of adopting the safer course and cutting into the -forest at his right, Bill dug the rowels of his spurs into the sleek -sides of his mount, and with a wild whoop dashed straight across the -clearing to where his companions were waiting with guns trained on the -cabin.</p> - -<p>To their surprise and mystification, however, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> a word nor protest -was raised from the mysterious cabin.</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll be—" began Bill, pulling up and surveying the clearing in -perplexity.</p> - -<p>"Try it again," suggested Frank.</p> - -<p>"We have got a good horse, anyhow. Go back the way you went before, -don't hurry. If they see the performance is not to be repeated they -will turn their attention this way."</p> - -<p>The desperado's plans had been laid with savage cunning, but the -fruition of them seemed as far away as when they began.</p> - -<p>Again had the clever outlaw reached the corral without being detected. -And as before, he made a choice of the best animal in it, which he -quickly roped, led out and mounted. But before setting out on his -journey to the other side of the clearing, he drew one of his trusty -"Colts," grasped the reins firmly and dug in the spurs.</p> - -<p>This time, however, the outlaw rough rider adopted a different plan -acting on his own initiative. He drove the animal first straight over -the course previously followed, but when almost opposite the cabin, -suddenly whirled toward it, passing within a rod of it at express train -speed.</p> - -<p>As the desperado swept by a rifle crashed from an upper window, but -Wild Bill's sudden and unexpected change of course had destroyed the -marksman's aim and his bullet flew harmlessly over the rider's head.</p> - -<p>Like a flash, Bill threw down his gun on his assailant who stood in -plain view up there in the window, with rifle poised for another shot.</p> - -<p>Rising in his stirrups the outlaw took a quick pot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> shot back at his -adversary, uttering a savage yell of triumph and challenge as the man -lunged head first from the window with a bullet through his heart.</p> - -<p>Still, the outlaws off under the trees, divining his purpose, held -their fire, and Wild Bill made safe cover with his second capture.</p> - -<p>A shout of triumph from the assembled outlaws was quickly suppressed by -Frank's stern command.</p> - -<p>It was his purpose to leave those in the cabin, if persons there were -there, in ignorance of their presence until the moment for action -should have arrived.</p> - -<p>It came too, unexpectedly. Two men, who somehow had managed to leave -the place unobserved, were driving toward them on fleet horses that -they had quickly taken from the corral.</p> - -<p>"Well, of all the tarnation fools," exclaimed Wild Bill as he observed -them coming.</p> - -<p>"This simplifies matters," breathed Frank.</p> - -<p>"Halt!" he commanded stepping to the edge of the clearing.</p> - -<p>A fusilade of revolver shots greeted his order.</p> - -<p>"Then take your medicine," he snarled.</p> - -<p>The desperado's Winchester crashed twice. The two foolhardy horsemen -toppled from their mounts dead. And to complete the coup, Wild Bill -dashed from cover and skillfully roped the two animals, leading them in -triumph to the outlaws' hiding place.</p> - -<p>"If we wait long enough things will come right to us," he laughed -tethering the horses in the bushes.</p> - -<p>"Know that bunch?" demanded the leader.</p> - -<p>"Never sot eyes on 'em before. They don't belong in these parts. I -shouldn't be surprised if they was in here on a raid of some sort. And -I'll gamble too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> that the fellow what own's the place ain't there. If -he is he ain't takin' any part in this ruction."</p> - -<p>"Well, what do we do next? Want some more nags?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, better go back. We'll draw the rest of them out, if there are -any more in the place. I would charge it, but it would be sure death -to Jess and suicide for the rest of us. We must draw them out without -showing our hand if possible. Failing in that we shall have to wait -until night. Jesse is a captive and—"</p> - -<p>"But what's the game?" asked Texas. "I never see such a queer one in my -time."</p> - -<p>"We will find that out later. Mebby the answer won't please us and -mebby it will," was Frank's enigmatic reply.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Wild Bill held up his hand for silence, his head extended -forward in front of his body in an intense listening attitude.</p> - -<p>"By heavens they're shooting!" he cried.</p> - -<p>"To horse, all that have them!" roared the leader. "The rest jump on -behind. Unsling your rifles as you go.</p> - -<p>"Half go to the rear and the other half to the front. Smash the door in -and shoot quick and fast."</p> - -<p>By this time they were half way down the clearing. But those within -were too busily engaged with their own affairs now to notice the -bandits sweeping down upon them.</p> - -<p>"You fellows in the rear duck and look out for our bullets if we get -in first. If you break in before we do, we'll lay low!" was Frank's -parting injunction to his men as they separated.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> - -<p>Leaping from their saddles the outlaws rushed on the door which went -crashing in under their combined weight.</p> - -<p>The room was so full of powder smoke that at first they were unable to -distinguish a single object.</p> - -<p>"Here I am over in this corner," roared Jesse. "Shoot the other way!"</p> - -<p>And they did.</p> - -<p>A volley of rifle shots rang out from both sides, but the bandits had -dropped to their knees and fired up at their adversaries, whose bullets -had whistled over the newcomers' heads and buried themselves in the -logs of the cabin.</p> - -<p>"Once more!" thundered Jesse.</p> - -<p>Again the outlaws poured their deadly fire into the ranks of their -enemy. And just then the door of the cabin at the rear crashed in and -Wild Bill and the rest of the bandits rushed in.</p> - -<p>With them came the sunshine and the gentle morning breeze that swept -away the smoke.</p> - -<p>Seven men lay dead and groaning on the floor.</p> - -<p>"Jess, where are you?" cried Frank, peering over the ghastly array of -faces.</p> - -<p>"Here," answered Jesse. "Come and release me." And sure enough the -notorious outlaw lay over in one corner. His hands were free, but his -feet were securely bound, and in this condition he had been holding his -desperate adversaries at bay, after surreptitiously freeing his hands.</p> - -<p>Wild Bill's revolver cracked spitefully, and one of the fellows who had -scrambled to his feet and sought to sneak away, went down with a bullet -in his leg.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Get him Bill!" roared the desperado chief. "He's the leader of this -gang. But don't kill him."</p> - -<p>And while Frank was releasing his brother, the others turned their -attention to the men on the floor, all of whom were dead save two, -besides the fellow Bill had winged in his attempt to escape.</p> - -<p>Jesse's face was stern and those of his followers who chanced to -observe the expression knew that the blood lust was once more strong -upon their leader.</p> - -<p>"Bring that fellow here! He seems to be the leader of this gang."</p> - -<p>Tony jerked the cowering wretch to his feet and turned his face so the -full morning light shone upon it.</p> - -<p>"Hello, Sam," greeted Wild Bill with a grin.</p> - -<p>"Know him, do you?" questioned Jesse.</p> - -<p>"Know him? I should say yes. He's Sagebrush Sam, one of the orneriest -coyotes that ever pulled a trigger."</p> - -<p>"He is the fellow that laid me out with an iron bar when they jerked me -into this place," announced Jesse grimly. "Now Mr. Sam, I reckon you'll -answer a few questions."</p> - -<p>"I ain't answerin' questions for the likes of you," snarled the captive.</p> - -<p>"There is a ring up there in the joist boys, trice him up by his -thumbs."</p> - -<p>They did so, so that only the fellow's toes touched the floor. In a few -moments he was writhing in agony.</p> - -<p>"Did you know me when you saw me coming up to the cabin?" demanded -Jesse.</p> - -<p>No answer.</p> - -<p>"Trice him up higher!" commanded the great des<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>perado. "He'll come -around in a minute or two."</p> - -<p>Great beads of perspiration were rolling from the victim's face and -signs of weakening were already noticeable in his agonized features. -Jesse grinned appreciatively.</p> - -<p>"Let me down! Kill me! I can't stand this!" groaned the unhappy wretch, -his head dropping forward listlessly.</p> - -<p>"Let him down. He's fainted," announced Jesse.</p> - -<p>They forced a draught of whiskey down the man's throat after having -laid him on the floor.</p> - -<p>"Now get up!" commanded Jesse administering a vicious kick as Sam came -back to consciousness. "Where is the man who owns this joint?" was his -first question.</p> - -<p>Sam pointed to the floor. "Down cellar."</p> - -<p>"Dead?"</p> - -<p>"No. We tied him up and left him there yesterday."</p> - -<p>"What for?"</p> - -<p>"We allowed we'd take his money and his horses. He sorter didn't take -to the notion, so we put him away—"</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute. Texas, go down cellar. Now go on. What next?"</p> - -<p>"That's all."</p> - -<p>"You lie!" roared Jesse striding forward and pressing his bowie against -the fellow's throat. "You wanted those horses—what did you want them -for? Quick!"</p> - -<p>Jesse's keen mind had instinctively divined that the fellow had -possessed some motive that he did not want to make known to them, and -therefore, the desperado<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> reasoned that this self-same information -might prove useful to Jesse James.</p> - -<p>"For to go to Silver City."</p> - -<p>"Silver City? What for?"</p> - -<p>"We 'lowed we'd stake out a claim thereabouts."</p> - -<p>"String him up again boys," commanded the bandit chieftain. "He can't -tell the truth any other way."</p> - -<p>"I'll tell, I'll tell," cried Sam. "Kill me, for God's sake don't do -that again."</p> - -<p>"I am waiting. Go on."</p> - -<p>"It was this way," began the captive hesitatingly. "They's been some -big strikes in the mountains there and the bank we'd heard was keeping -a lot of the dust and like, for a big shipment east in about a week."</p> - -<p>"So, you were going to soar high—you were planning to rob a bank, eh?" -sneered Jesse.</p> - -<p>Sam nodded wearily.</p> - -<p>"Where is this bank?"</p> - -<p>"It's in the half of the building where they has the postoffice. It's -an easy job if a fellow's got the nerve to go in in the daytime when -the safe is open—"</p> - -<p>"So you got a gang of cutthroats together and were going to steal the -horses to go down there and try it, hey?"</p> - -<p>"I could do it as well as Jesse James—"</p> - -<p>"That will do," warned the notorious outlaw. "How many banks are there -in Silver City?"</p> - -<p>"Two. But I reckon the other one don't amount to much. It's in the back -of a store about two streets down."</p> - -<p>"What is the name of the first one?"</p> - -<p>"The Silver City National. It's run by a man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> named Kemp from the east. -But they do say he's stole more money by giving the miners underweight, -than the whole pack of 'em has got out of it. I reckon it wouldn't do -no harm to trim up that kind of a skunk."</p> - -<p>"No, one skunk is as bad as another," returned Jesse significantly. -"How much money or how much gold did you figure old man Kemp would have -in his money bags?"</p> - -<p>"We figured there'd be close onto fifty thousand," was the startling -reply.</p> - -<p>The bandits pricked up their ears and evinced a sudden interest in the -conversation, but Jesse continued with his examination as carelessly as -if the matter were of no moment to him at all.</p> - -<p>"How do you happen to know all about this, Sagebrush Sam?"</p> - -<p>"I wuz over there last week—"</p> - -<p>"And of course you blabbed your plans to your cronies. Oh, you make me -sick."</p> - -<p>"No, no, honest to God, I didn't. I never told a living soul -except—except a fellow that helps around the post office. He was to -meet us when we got there and tell us how the wind blew—"</p> - -<p>"And he was to get—how much?"</p> - -<p>"We 'lowed we'd give him ten per cent of the rake off."</p> - -<p>"H'm," mused Jesse. "What is the fellow's name?"</p> - -<p>"Jake Fowler."</p> - -<p>"Well, what next?"</p> - -<p>"There ain't no next. I've told you all there is."</p> - -<p>"I'll tend to you in a minute. Where's that rancher?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Here," answered Texas, leading in a very much bedraggled and sullen -individual.</p> - -<p>The notorious desperado related to him what Sam had just told them in -so far as it concerned the rancher himself and asked the man if it were -true. The latter said that it was.</p> - -<p>"Then you haven't got any particular love for Sam here, eh?" chortled -the desperado.</p> - -<p>His men knew that their leader had some scheme in mind, but what it was -they could not imagine.</p> - -<p>The rancher's face suddenly filled with murderous hate.</p> - -<p>"I'd like the chance to show you—and him," replied the other, turning -a malignant look on their prisoner.</p> - -<p>"Mebby we'll give you the chance. But first I want to make a little -bargain with you. We want some horses. We're prospecting through here, -and the Indians attacked us on the other side of the gulch, stampeding -our ponies, and we barely got away with our lives."</p> - -<p>The rancher nodded.</p> - -<p>"I hearn them tell there was doings across the gulch."</p> - -<p>"We will give you a thousand dollars for six, our own pick."</p> - -<p>The owner started to protest.</p> - -<p>"And here's your money," continued Jesse, without giving the fellow -an opportunity to object. "Not a cent more. You've had one experience -today and you'd better take the offer."</p> - -<p>The rancher looked from one to the other of the stern faces about him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> - -<p>"And besides we have saved your life, eh?"</p> - -<p>"I'll take it," was the terse reply, as he reached for the roll of -bills that the desperado extended in his open palm. "What about the pup -over there?"</p> - -<p>"Got a gun?" asked Jesse.</p> - -<p>"They took 'em away from me."</p> - -<p>"Here's mine. Use it if you want to," replied the outlaw carelessly.</p> - -<p>"You, you mean—"</p> - -<p>"Oh hurry up, or give me back the gun," retorted Jesse.</p> - -<p>"You ain't goin' ter kill me be yer?" begged the miserable captive.</p> - -<p>The rancher was fingering the gun at his side with convulsive fingers, -his face growing more malignant with deadly hate from moment to moment.</p> - -<p>"Bang!"</p> - -<p>Sagebrush Sam wavered and plunged forward on his face, dead.</p> - -<p>"Good job," commented the desperado.</p> - -<p>The rancher had fired the fatal shot without so much as raising the -revolver from his hip.</p> - -<p>"You ain't no slouch on the trigger," commended the bandit chieftain. -"There are two more fellows over there who haven't had enough medicine -yet. I observe they are trying to crawl away now. Wait, don't shoot. -Bill, straighten them up. Can they stand?"</p> - -<p>"I reckon they can," grinned Wild Bill.</p> - -<p>Jesse strode over to them and handed each a keen-edged bowie.</p> - -<p>"Fight," he commanded tersely.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> - -<p>The horror of it sent a shiver down the spine of every man in the room.</p> - -<p>The men were friends, and the hands bearing the knives settled slowly -to their sides as they looked into each other's eyes.</p> - -<p>Two guns in the notorious outlaw's hands barked viciously at the same -instant and each of the unwilling combatants lost a portion of one ear.</p> - -<p>"By Judas that was a shot," exulted the rancher. "Mine ain't in it with -that. Fight, you measly spalpeens!" he roared and Jesse smiled as he -noted that the blood lust had taken supreme possession of the man.</p> - -<p>"Yes, fight," added Jesse, notching the ends of the arses of both men -with another of his wonderful shots as if to emphasize his command.</p> - -<p>In blind despair the unhappy wretches raised their knives and with -tightly closed eyes struck blindly out into the air.</p> - -<p>"Close in," commanded Jesse sternly, sending a bullet ploughing through -the upper lip of either man.</p> - -<p>And now in blind consuming rage the victims began to strike. Their eyes -were wide and in the desperateness of the moment, friendship turned to -un-dying hate.</p> - -<p>Each proved an expert with the knife. Their blades flashed in the -sunlight whose rays slanted down through window and door.</p> - -<p>It was thrust and parry as they leaped from side to side, forgetful of -the wounds that the bandits had inflicted on them in the earlier battle.</p> - -<p>Now and then a bowie would come away stained half way to its hilt.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> - -<p>Not a word was spoken.</p> - -<p>The labored breathing of the combatants and the chilling clash of -blades, were the only sounds that broke in upon the sweet-scented -stillness of the mountain morning.</p> - -<p>The scene held the spectators breathless. Even the great outlaw found -himself interested in the desperate battle.</p> - -<p>Blood was over everything, but the desperadoes heeded it not. The -rancher's eyes were strained and the eyelids, drawn far up against the -forehead, never once closed in a wink.</p> - -<p>The blade of one antagonist went through the other's scalp, and a -crimson stream spurted half way across the room. The faces of each were -scarred with crimson rivulets that were constantly fed from the blood -springs above.</p> - -<p>The blade of the other sheathed itself in the shoulder of his -antagonist, and in the next second each was tugging at the hilt of a -knife in his opponent's shoulder.</p> - -<p>The shirts of the desperate combatants were hanging in ribbons where -the keen blades had been drawn in hopes of finding a human path and -through the rents livid streaks showed in strong relief against the -white flesh.</p> - -<p>Weak from exertion and loss of blood, the fighters staggered together -and with arms thrown about each other's necks, hung resting each upon -the other.</p> - -<p>"Break away!" thundered Jesse.</p> - -<p>His voice seemed to rouse them suddenly—to renew the hate that for the -moment had been allowed to slip like a mantle from the hearts of the -two friends.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> - -<p>Their movements were slower now and less certain.</p> - -<p>Finally each with a hand upon the other's shoulder began swinging the -free arm to give it momentum and even then their blades did not reach.</p> - -<p>"Thrust!" roared the blood-thirsty bandit chieftain.</p> - -<p>Exerting a supreme effort a hand swung away from each body and -returning empty hung listlessly at its owner's side.</p> - -<p>Each had buried his blade in the abdomen of the other.</p> - -<p>For a full moment the antagonists stood with hand on each other's -shoulders.</p> - -<p>At last their bodies began to sway.</p> - -<p>They toppled and fell.</p> - -<p>The body of one lay sprawling upon that of his friend.</p> - -<p>And neither man moved again.</p> - -<p>"I guess that will be about all," said the notorious outlaw in a harsh -rasping tone that chilled them through and through.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XVI" id="Chapter_XVI"><span class="smcap">Chapter XVI.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">THE FIGHT IN THE "GOLDEN ARROW."</p> - - -<p>Silver City lay at the base of two great mountain ranges.</p> - -<p>It was, like most mining towns of that time, filled with a floating -population of gamblers, prospectors, miners and bad men. However, a -semblance of law<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> and order had been established by the new sheriff, -Ben Teall, whose courage and quickness on the trigger had gained for -him no little respect among the gun-toters of that rough country. Some -who had doubted both these qualities, were now occupying six-foot -claims in Silver City's graveyard.</p> - -<p>Ben never pulled a trigger unless convinced that his own life was -in danger, and then he shot to kill. The fact that he still lived -was evidence that he had never yet failed of accomplishing that much -desired result.</p> - -<p>Bill was standing back to the bar in the Golden Arrow saloon one -evening two days after Jesse and his companions had departed from the -cabin of the rancher, headed for Silver City.</p> - -<p>The green baize door that was the pride of the Golden Arrow, swung in -and two strangers entered, who attracted Ben's attention instantly. -They were well set up, sharp-featured and clear-eyed fellows, and -though there was nothing about their dress to distinguish them from -the other habitues of the place, Ben mentally put them down as secret -service men; but what mission they could possibly be bent on there, he -could not understand.</p> - -<p>The two sat down at a table and ordered whiskey with "rain water" on -the side, and the keen-eyed sheriff noted that while they only took one -sip of the fire-water, they took down the "rain water" with evident -satisfaction. The rest of the whisky was dumped onto the floor. All -this he noted under half-closed eyelids.</p> - -<p>"If they ain't service men, they'll bear watching," was his comment.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> - -<p>After a little the newcomers and the sheriff's eyes met, and each saw -in the other something of interest.</p> - -<p>"That's the sheriff over there sizing us up, or I'm a goat," mumbled -Jesse to his companion, who was none other than his elder brother.</p> - -<p>"Is he next, do you think?" asked Frank.</p> - -<p>"No, he don't know us. He's looking for somebody and he ain't sure -whether we are the ones or not."</p> - -<p>"Hadn't we better make believe we have finished and walk out? I don't -like the idea of hanging around and letting the whole town spot us, -anyway," growled Frank.</p> - -<p>"You can go. You ain't tied," sneered Jesse. "But come on, let's be -good-natured. There ain't no call for you and I being sore on each -other."</p> - -<p>"No, that's so," agreed Frank swallowing his resentment toward his -brother for the time being. But try as he honestly did, not to hate -his brother, at times the old feeling would come out. Yet on the other -hand, between the two was a strong bond, perhaps due more to the -strenuous scenes through which they had passed together, than to any -tie of brotherly love.</p> - -<p>"That man and I are going to mix it up some day," mused the sheriff.</p> - -<p>"Say," said Jesse to his companion, "if that fellow don't quit boring -into me with his eyes I'm going over and hand him something hotter than -the fire-water he gits over the bar of the Golden Arrow. It's beginning -to get on my nerves.</p> - -<p>"But watch out. He's got something else on his mind now I reckon," -warned Jesse suddenly.</p> - -<p>The green baize door had swung in and the man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> who was entering let -it close to behind him with a snap, as he quickly stepped inside. -His hands fell to his holsters as he swept the room in one quick -comprehensive glance.</p> - -<p>"One of Silver City's bullies," decided Jesse under his breath.</p> - -<p>"I know the breed. I believe the pup is going to shoot."</p> - -<p>At that moment Jesse's glance alighted appreciatively on the sheriff. -He was standing with folded arms gazing at the bad man with a challenge -in his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Steve," said the sheriff in a quiet voice, "I've told you to get out -of town before sun-up tomorrow; I've told you to keep out of the gin -mills tonight. If you're here five minutes from now I'll kill you."</p> - -<p>With that the sheriff turned away.</p> - -<p>"Jim," he said to the bartender, "give me a cigar."</p> - -<p>But the move came near to being a fatal one for the little officer of -the law.</p> - -<p>The instant his back was turned, one of the bad man's guns came out -with a flash and his eyes blazing with terrible rage he was throwing it -down on the man who had given him his final notice to quit.</p> - -<p>But he was not quick enough.</p> - -<p>"Bang!"</p> - -<p>The notorious outlaw's trusty "Colt" had spoken first, and the bad -man's gun fell to the floor, as its owner uttered a howl of mingled -rage and pain.</p> - -<p>He reached for his other gun with the left.</p> - -<p>"Hands up!" commanded the desperado in an even voice. "I reckon we -don't 'low curs like you to shoot men in the back."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> - -<p>Instantly the room was in an uproar. There were those present who, -though they had not deemed it wise to express their sentiments in the -presence of the sheriff, were Steve's cronies on the side.</p> - -<p>Their hands flew to their guns.</p> - -<p>"Hands up, every mother's son of you!" roared the desperado in a -terrible voice that thrilled every man in the room. "Come over here," -he said jerking his head to one side for the sheriff to join them, and -while Jesse's eyes swept the evil faces about them the sheriff calmly -walked over to where the two outlaws were standing, and took his place -beside them.</p> - -<p>"Thanks, pard," he breathed. "You winged him. He won't use that hand -again right away."</p> - -<p>A gun flashed at the far end of the room.</p> - -<p>Jesse's 44 barked viciously and the other's bullet buried itself in the -wall behind him. But his assailant fared not so well. He sank to the -floor with a dull red mark placed fairly between his eyes.</p> - -<p>Now guns crashed everywhere. The sheriff worked his weapons with the -rapidity of a gatling gun. But Jesse and Frank fired now slowly. They -were at a disadvantage. They were unable to distinguish friend from -foe, while the sheriff knew every man there. So the two outlaws kept -their sharp eyes dancing from face to face and at the least sign of -treachery, the man went down with a bullet well placed somewhere in his -anatomy.</p> - -<p>By now the battle was getting too hot for most of the miners and bad -men and they took to the windows like a flock of frightened sheep. The -temptation was too great for the notorious outlaw to resist. He was in -a devil-may-care mood this night, and his recent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> exploits had whetted -his appetite for more desperate deeds.</p> - -<p>He discharged a quick volley after the fleeing men, and though not -once shooting to kill, inflicted wounds from which many an unfortunate -fellow never recovered.</p> - -<p>The firing ceased.</p> - -<p>Jesse laughed harshly.</p> - -<p>The bar tender poked his head above the bar cautiously.</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen all finished?" he asked, peering suspiciously at the three -men on the other side of the room.</p> - -<p>"That depends," answered the desperado easily, "upon whether there are -any other gentlemen in need of pills around here. If you know of any -more would-be bad men go out and get them. We might as well clean out -the whole danged town while we are at it, eh, sheriff?"</p> - -<p>Suddenly Jesse wheeled and sent a bullet crashing through the green -baize door.</p> - -<p>This was followed instantly by a yell of pain and one of the bad man's -friends, plunged headlong into the room dead. He had been taking -careful aim at the great desperado, who suddenly sensing that danger -lurked beyond the door, had fired.</p> - -<p>"Say pard," glowed the sheriff, "I've seen some pretty tall shooting in -my time and I'm something on the trigger myself, but you fellows have -got anything in Silver City backed clear off into the gulch. Shake."</p> - -<p>Jesse extended his hand and bowed with mock gentility.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> - -<p>"There's only one man that I ever heard of who could handle a gun like -you do," continued the officer of the law.</p> - -<p>"And he?" smiled the outlaw.</p> - -<p>"And he is Jesse James."</p> - -<p>"<i>And it is Jesse James who stands before you</i>," was the outlaw's -startling and unexpected reply, one of those devil-may-care impulses -that now and then stirred him on to acts that from their very daring, -overcame all obstacles and brought him out victorious.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XVII" id="Chapter_XVII"><span class="smcap">Chapter XVII.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">THE DOUBLE BANK ROBBERY.</p> - - -<p>For a moment the sheriff stood like a man stricken suddenly dumb. Jesse -faced him with a mocking smile on his face.</p> - -<p>"You—you are—Get out of here! Vamoose quicker'n a streak of greased -lightning. Don't you know I'm an officer of the law?" exclaimed the -gamey little sheriff suddenly turning his back on Jesse and Frank. -And the latter two with a laugh walked from the scene of carnage and -disappeared in the night.</p> - -<p>"Well," snarled Frank, "you have put your foot in it this time -everlastingly."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I don't know. We'll see," was his laconic answer.</p> - -<p>The two men walked across a vacant lot, picked up their horses, -mounted and rode out to a mountain gulch nearby, where they joined -their fellows.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> It was no unusual thing for horsemen to be seen on the -streets of Silver City, and therefore it excited no comment when seven -men rode in from different directions on the following morning. The -uniform quality of their horseflesh, however, did attract the attention -of the mountaineers, but though each carried a Winchester in his saddle -holster, the men excited no more than ordinary interest.</p> - -<p>So changed in appearance were the notorious outlaw and his brother -that it would have been a keen eye indeed, that would have been able -to discover, under their disguises, the men whose guns had done such -deadly work in the Golden Arrow on the previous evening.</p> - -<p>None of the newcomers appeared to be traveling together. Now and then -one would drop from his horse and visit a saloon, two visited the -postoffice and others took in a general store below in which was the -second bank.</p> - -<p>But had one been suspicious he might have noted a certain method in the -actions of these newcomers who seemed to be everywhere at once, and yet -acting without any apparent motive.</p> - -<p>After a time the band seemed to have formed in two sections—one at the -north end of the main street and the other at the south, the latter -section consisting of fewer men than the northern group.</p> - -<p>On the north might have been found the great outlaw, his brother having -cast his lot with the band to the south.</p> - -<p>Jesse sauntered carelessly into the postoffice and asked if there was -any mail for Jim Howard.</p> - -<p>While the postmaster was looking over his letters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Wild Bill slipped -behind the case and dealt the postmaster a terrific blow with the butt -of his revolver.</p> - -<p>While the act was in plain view of the street through the large front -window, there chanced to be no one passing at the moment, and neither -was the brutal assault observable to those in the bank on the other -side of the partition.</p> - -<p>"Who are you?" demanded Jesse as a fellow, hideous in his hunchbacked -deformity leered up into his face.</p> - -<p>"I reckon I don't know you either?" was the enigmatical reply.</p> - -<p>"You're Jake Fowler. I know you."</p> - -<p>"But you ain't Sagebrush Sam. What do you want here?"</p> - -<p>"S-h-h," whispered Jesse. "He sent me here. How many men are over there -behind the counter of the bank?"</p> - -<p>"Two, the owner and the cashier," informed the other, his eye twinkling -with intelligence.</p> - -<p>"Call them over here. Tell them the postmaster has been hurt. They -won't see me, but my pard here will cover them the minute they get -behind the case, and we'll hold you in here till we get through. No -tricks or I'll shoot you full of holes," hissed the desperado, dropping -behind a barrel and motioning to Bill to make himself scarce, as Jake -ran to the bank counter in great excitement.</p> - -<p>"Come quick!" cried Jake. "The postmaster has been hurt or else he's -fallen in a fit."</p> - -<p>"What—where?" cried the two bankers excitedly.</p> - -<p>"Over here. Hurry."</p> - -<p>Jake was playing his part as if he had been study<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>ing it for months and -Jesse grinned approvingly.</p> - -<p>The three had stooped to raise the body of the prostrate man when they -were startled by the sudden command:</p> - -<p>"Move an inch and you're both dead men."</p> - -<p>The owner of the bank started to utter an exclamation, but the words -froze in his mouth as looking sideways he found himself gazing along -the black, menacing barrel of a heavy "Colt's."</p> - -<p>Jesse, not wasting the time to go around into the enclosure, had leaped -the counter and was down on his knees in front of the large open safe -whose doors were swung wide, displaying their glittering contents to -his avaricious gaze.</p> - -<p>Gold, bills, little sacks of precious dust were swept with ruthless -hand into the yawning gunny sack like meal from a miller's hopper.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile two mounted men in front had dismounted and were busily -engaged in tightening their saddle girths, apparently oblivious to -anything that was going on around them.</p> - -<p>Not a soul save those directly connected with the daring robbery had -been disturbed.</p> - -<p>With a sweeping glance around him, Jesse, observed with a grin that the -coast was clear, and came around the counter with the bag of precious -loot in his hand.</p> - -<p>Not a word was spoken as he passed around to the rear of the Postoffice -case.</p> - -<p>Raising his gun by the barrel he brought it down with terrific force, -first on the head of one and then on the other of the bankers. They -fell forward groaning.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Follow me and guard the rear," announced Jesse to Wild Bill. "Here's -a drunk for you baby," he added, tossing a thousand dollar bill to the -hunch-back. "Better mosey or they'll be stringing you up before the sun -is over the gulch. You'll get drunk and that'll be the end of you."</p> - -<p>"Can't I go with you?" leered the outlaw. "I ain't no tenderfoot."</p> - -<p>"Not unless you are ready to die," retorted Jesse</p> - -<p>"Then I'll peach," was the sudden and unexpected reply.</p> - -<p>A sudden rage leaped into the eyes of the outlaw.</p> - -<p>Throwing his gun down on the horrible dwarf he pulled the trigger. "I -guess that'll hold him a while," decided the outlaw with a cruel smile, -as the dwarf fell over dead.</p> - -<p>"Shall I get the money you gave 'im?" asked Bill</p> - -<p>"No," snapped the desperado. "Jesse James does not rob dead men's -pockets. It's his. Let him have it."</p> - -<p>Strangely enough to the outlaws the shot had attracted no attention. -And mounting they rode leisurely up the street toward the store where -the second bank was located. He could see the remaining members of the -band lounging recklessly about in the street in front of the place, and -wondering at the delay.</p> - -<p>"Something must have gone wrong," he muttered, urging his horse along a -little faster.</p> - -<p>Just then the ground under them was shaken by a dull heavy explosion. -People came flocking from shop and saloon and curious scared faces -appeared at the open windows of upper stories.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Dynamite," he growled.</p> - -<p>"It's the bank!" was the startling cry, taken up from mouth to mouth -and passed along down the village street, as a shouting, gesticulating, -yelling mob rushed to the store where the second bank was located.</p> - -<p>The desperado saw his men coolly swing themselves into their saddles -and face the mob with leveled Winchesters.</p> - -<p>A rain of scattered shots began to patter about those in front of the -bank. But the men held their fire, ordering the people back on the pain -of instant death.</p> - -<p>A thirty-two stung Comanche Tony in the cheek.</p> - -<p>Throwing his Winchester to his shoulder he shot the man who had wounded -him, dead.</p> - -<p>The citizens answered with a volley. At that the desperadoes pumped -their magazines, into the crowd, until they were emptied and then -released their revolvers from their holsters began fanning the mad mob -with deadly effect.</p> - -<p>Jesse, having secured the gunny sack firmly to his saddle, and so that -it might not impede his movements, rode still leisurely along.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he espied Frank running down the steps of the store. Like -his younger brother, Frank also bore a gunny sack and from the manner -in which Frank was carrying it, Jesse understood that his brother had -succeeded in his mission of plunder.</p> - -<p>Frank swung into his saddle under a perfect storm of bullets.</p> - -<p>With a wild whoop and a savage yell the great desperado and his -immediate companions dug the rowels<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> of their spurs into their horses -and charged down on the crowd.</p> - -<p>The mob taken suddenly by surprise at this attack on their flank, -ceased firing and fell swiftly back.</p> - -<p>"Forward!" roared the great desperado.</p> - -<p>Frank and his men heard and understood.</p> - -<p>Their horses sprang away under the pressure of the cruel spurs.</p> - -<p>Now Jesse and his companions thundered down on the crowd in the wake of -the first line of fleeing desperadoes.</p> - -<p>All at once a slight, wiry figure sprang out into the middle of the -street.</p> - -<p>"Halt! I know you, Jesse James."</p> - -<p>But the desperado threw himself suddenly forward on the neck of his -horse as the sheriff's bullets sang over him so close to his head that -he could feel the hair on the top of his head, slightly pulled back by -the sudden suction of air from the leaden pellets.</p> - -<p>Both his revolvers flashed up on either side of the horse's neck. They -barked in unison and the sheriff fell dead.</p> - -<p>The outlaw's horse leaping over the body of the fallen officer of the -law, sped away.</p> - -<p>Jesse rose in his saddle and sent a volley of shots from his Winchester -into the crowd in his rear. Then he was obliged to cease firing because -of the fear of hitting one of his own men, whose bodies were now -between him and the mob. The men had swung half way round in their -saddles, reins on their horses' necks, and were pumping lead into the -mad mob with deadly effect.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> - -<p>Jesse fired a signal shot high into the air.</p> - -<p>Their fusilade suddenly ceased.</p> - -<p>With a wild, blood-curdling yell, the desperadoes dug their spurs deep -into the sleek sides of the sensitive thoroughbreds and sped off like -the wind headed for the protection of the mountain fastness.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="Chapter_XVIII" id="Chapter_XVIII"><span class="smcap">Chapter XVIII.</span></a></p> - -<p class="center">CONCLUSION.</p> - - -<p>Not until the shadows of night were falling did the desperate band halt -to make camp.</p> - -<p>So far as they had been able to observe there had been no organized -pursuit of them attempted. But they knew full well that they would not -be permitted to escape without some effort being made to apprehend them.</p> - -<p>But instead of following on south as they had started, Jesse after an -hour or so changed his course and turned due east, thus carrying them -away at right angles to the scene of their late operations. This, he -reasoned shrewdly would send any posse that might follow them, off on a -blind trail for a long distance before they discovered their mistake. -To accomplish this the men had to dismount and lead their horses up a -steep mountain side where the least misstep would have precipitated -them to certain death on the rocks below.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the hard rocky sides of the mountain left no trail for the -mountaineers to follow.</p> - -<p>It was with intense relief that the men dismounted after their trying -ride, and their appetites, whetted by the day's strenuous doings, were -soon satisfied with a hearty meal of bacon and potatoes, sizzling hot -from their improvised stone stove.</p> - -<p>And by the light of the camp fire, Jesse and Frank spread out their -ill-gotten gains on a slab of rock.</p> - -<p>The eyes of the bandits glowed avariciously as package after package of -bills was thrown out, to be followed by many bags of rich, yellow gold -dust.</p> - -<p>A careful count of the money and a rough estimate of the gold dust was -made, Jesse figuring the total by marking on the slab of rock with a -sharp stone.</p> - -<p>"How much?" asked Frank.</p> - -<p>"It'll run better than a hundred thousand, I reckon," answered Jesse, -calmly.</p> - -<p>The desperadoes gave a long, low whistle of surprise.</p> - -<p>"I calkerlate I'd be willing to go hungry for three days any time -for such a bunch of the long green as that," averred Homely Harry -facetiously.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 10em;"><i>TO THE READER.</i></p> - - -<p>Only in the <i>Adventure Series</i> can you get the absolutely true and -authentic history of the lives and exploits of the</p> - -<p> -JAMES BOYS,<br /> -YOUNGER BROTHERS,<br /> -HARRY TRACY,<br /> -THE DALTON GANG,<br /> -RUBE BURROW, -</p> - -<p>and the other Notorious Outlaws of the Far West.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>We are the authorized and exclusive publishers for Jesse James' only -son,</p> - -<p> -JESSE JAMES, JR.<br /> -<br /> -and are the publishers of his great book,<br /> -<br /> -JESSE JAMES, <span class="smcap">MY FATHER</span>,<br /> -</p> - -<p>which is for sale everywhere. Buy it where you bought this book, and -read the inside history of the life of Jesse James.</p> - -<p>Be sure to read the next story, JESSE JAMES MIDNIGHT ATTACK, or THE -BANDIT'S REVENGE ON THE VIGILANTES. In this story will be chronicled -a series of startling adventures in which the noted outlaw turns the -tables on the man-hunters who are on his trail, to their complete -undoing. It is No. 32 in the Adventure Series.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Jesse James' Bold Stroke, by William Ward - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE JAMES' BOLD STROKE *** - -***** This file should be named 62236-h.htm or 62236-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/2/3/62236/ - -Produced by Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Jesse James' Bold Stroke - The Double Bank Robbery - -Author: William Ward - -Release Date: May 26, 2020 [EBook #62236] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSE JAMES' BOLD STROKE *** - - - - -Produced by Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: "He pushed out beyond the shadows of the trees."] - - - - - JESSE JAMES' BOLD - STROKE - - OR - - The Double Bank Robbery - - BY WILLIAM WARD - - -Jesse and his band while passing through Colorado on their way east -have many exciting adventures. The great desperado is captured by the -Indians, after a battle with United States Cavalry and is rescued by an -Indian maiden. He blows up an Indian village with dynamite and performs -other of the daring feats for which he was so noted during his career. -In a mining city in Colorado, he saves the life of a sheriff and robs -two banks, from which he and his men carry away more than a hundred -thousand dollars. - - - ADVENTURE SERIES No. 31 - - Copyright, 1909, by The Arthur Westbrook Company - - - Published by - THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY, - CLEVELAND, U.S.A. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Chapter Page - - I. Indians 7 - - II. Tied to the Stake 13 - - III. The Flight from the Cliff 29 - - IV. The Strange Battle in the Witch's Cave 39 - - V. A Desperate Charge 51 - - VI. The Race for Life 59 - - VII. Dew Drop Again to the Rescue 68 - - VIII. In the Fatal Circle 76 - - IX. When the Earth Fell Apart 85 - - X. In a Living Tomb 94 - - XI. Jesse James' Desperate Leap 103 - - XII. In the Hands of the Redskins 111 - - XIII. Under the Branding Iron 124 - - XIV. Jesse Takes a Terrible Revenge 142 - - XV. The Battle of the Blades 156 - - XVI. The Fight in the Golden Arrow 175 - - XVII. The Double Bank Robbery 181 - - XVIII. Conclusion 188 - - - - -Jesse James' Bold Stroke - -OR - -The Double Bank Robbery. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -INDIANS! - - -"Look! Look!" - -The cry was uttered by the foremost of a little band of horsemen riding -slowly in single file over the rocky bed of what had once been a raging -torrent. - -Darkness was descending over the canyon-traversed wilds of Southern -Colorado and the air was hot and still. - -Towering high above them, sinister and awesome in the half light rose -solid walls of rock. - -And as the leader of the little band had rounded a jutting crag, he -beheld a sight that had brought the startled cry to his lips. - -Far down the canyon, two fires glowed, seeming, in the darkness, like -the luminous eyes of some wild monster. - -Roused by the exclamation of their companion, the others drew rein, -peering intently ahead of them. - -Footsore and weary, for they had travelled fast and far during the day -that was just drawing to a close, the jaded horses stood, with heads -hanging low, while their riders stared ahead of them. - -"Them's either signal fires or camp fires," grunted one of the men, -after a careful study of the brilliant lights. - -"Ain't you the wise lad, though," snorted another. "You talk as though -we were tenderfeet. Any fool knows they're camp or signal fires. - -"It's which of the two they are that counts. Tell us that and you'll be -saying something." - -"Well, Comanche Tony's the laddy buck who can find out," snapped the -man who had first espied the glaring fires, slipping from his saddle. - -And without heeding the protests of the others, he glided away, soon -being lost to sight among the rocks. - -The little band of horsemen were none other than Jesse James' notorious -gang of outlaws. - -After their sensational hold-ups of the Overland Stages in the Devil's -Burying Ground, the last one of which had been done under the very -noses of a troop of United States cavalrymen, the outlaws had headed -for Arizona. - -Hiding in caves and riding by night they had eluded the troopers and, -at last, in the belief that they had outdistanced their pursuers, they -had relaxed their caution, continuing their flight by day instead of -under cover of darkness. - -Consequently, when the member of the desperate gang of cut throats who -was in the lead had caught sight of the fires, they were struck with -consternation. - -"It doesn't seem possible them sojers could have ridden round us," -exclaimed Bob Moore, as Comanche Tony disappeared on his reconnaissance. - -And this statement voiced the opinion of the others. - -"No, it doesn't," returned the bandit-chieftain. "But you can't tell. -Maybe they've sent word to one of the forts to the south of us and -they've sent out a searching party." - -"Phew! That would be tough!" gasped Sam Dirks. "We'd be between two -fires, sojers in front of us and sojers behind us. It would take some -figurin' on your part, Jess, to get us out." - -The fact was so patent that the leader of the outlaws made no comment. - -Well he realized the danger such a contingency would mean, yet till his -trusted pal had returned from his scouting expedition, he could make no -plans. - -Finding that they could not draw their chief out, the others whispered -among themselves for a while, finally lapsing into silence. - -Steadily the two fires, that had so startled them, burned. - -Once or twice, some of the bandits thought they beheld figures moving -about them. - -But the fancied forms disappeared so suddenly that they could not be -sure. - -"Seems as though it was taking Tony an all-fired long time," growled -Wild Bill, glancing about him, uneasily. - -But scarcely had the words left his lips than a piercing shriek rent -the air. - -"That's Tony!" "Suthin's happened to him!" "He's caught!" ejaculated -the startled bandits. - -With a burst of sulphurous profanity, Jesse slid from his horse. - -"Whatever has happened, we must go to him," he snapped. "Frank, you and -Sam stay here with the horses. The rest of you come with me. Be lively -now!" - -Yet before the desperadoes were out of their saddles, they received -still another surprise. - -The fires vanished. - -With a suddenness that savoured of the magician's art, the two balls of -flame disappeared before their very eyes. - -"It's the Devil's work," gasped Bud Noble. - -"Devil nothing!" snarled the world-famous desperado. "Come on! _We must -rescue Comanche!_" - -Little relishing the task of advancing down the canyon whose jagged -sides seemed alive with men, so excited were the imaginations of the -outlaws, they hastened on, stumbling and tripping over the rock-strewn -trail. - -With Wild Bill beside him, Jesse led the way. - -Every few yards they stopped to listen. - -But all was as silent as the tomb. - -"I reckon we're purty close to whar the fires were," whispered Wild -Bill, at last. "I can smell the smoke from 'em." - -"Guess you're right. Boys, get your shooting irons ready. We're liable -to run into an ambush any time. Keep to the rocks as much as you can." - -But his warning was of no avail. - -Of a sudden, the still, hot air was rent with whoops and yells. - -"Injuns, or I'm a nigger!" gasped Wild Bill. "Poor Tony! He's in for -it bad--unless we get to him!" - -Jesse, however, had made a more important discovery. - -The shouts of defiance had come from above. - -And as the last warwhoop rolled back and forth between the towering -cliffs, he raised his pistols, pointing them at random. - -Crack! Crack! - -Sharp and loud their report rang out. - -Sounded a shriek of mingled pain and terror and the next instant a dark -mass came hurtling down upon the little group of men standing huddled -together on the rocky bottom of the canyon. - -The smell of powder broke the spell that had fallen upon Jesse's -comrades. - -With rousing cheers, they greeted the falling form. - -Viciously their pistols barked as they emptied them at the towering -cliff. - -But their exultation was short lived. - -Yells, hoarse with rage, broke from the Indians. - -High above them rang some commands in the native tongue. - -And the next instant a deluge of rocks and stones was launched from the -cliff above. - -Fortunately for the little band of outlaws, the Indians had misjudged -their position and the avalanche of missiles fell to the south of them. - -Some of the scattering stones, however, struck the bandits, inflicting -flesh and scalp wounds. - -Walled in between the two sides of the canyon, the din was deafening. - -All at once, as there came a momentary lull while the redskins awaited -the result of their broadside, a voice bellowed: - -"Back, boys! Run for your lives! The bucks have tons of rocks!" - -It was Comanche Tony, who, despite the danger he ran of having a knife -jabbed into him as he spoke, had braved death to warn his pals. - -A moment Jesse hesitated. - -Loath was he to leave his intrepid pal in the hands of the Indians. But -he realized that should they tarry longer where they were, in the face -of Tony's warning, the lives of all of them might be crushed out in a -death more horrible than by bullets or torture--their bodies mashed to -a pulp between the boulders hurled from the cliff and the rocky bottom -of the canyon. - -"Stop firing! Back to the horses!" he roared. - -Amazed at this desertion of their comrade, the outlaws, nevertheless, -obeyed. - -And scarcely had they moved from where they had been standing before -another broadside of boulders was launched. - -"That was a close call," gasped Bud Noble. "It's a good thing we -started when we did. But it don't seem right to leave Tony." - -"We're not going to leave him," snapped the world-famous desperado. -"When we get back to the horses, I'm going to take Wild Bill and Texas -and go after him." - -Anxious and excited were the two desperadoes who had been left in -charge of the horses as they heard the sounds of conflict down the -canyon. - -Ignorant of how, what they supposed was a battle, might have gone, -when they caught sight of the forms running toward them, Frank -challenged: - -"Who's coming? Halt or we'll fire!" - -"It's all right! Don't shoot!" returned Jesse. - -Relieved at finding the approaching figures were their comrades -returning, Sam cried: - -"Have you got Tony?" - -But the world-famous desperado made no answer. - -"The rest of you wait here. Post sentries and keep your eyes and ears -open. - -"Don't move from here till I get back. Come Bill. Come Texas." - -And, his two pals at his heels, Jesse started up the canyon in the -direction from which they were coming when they had first seen the -fires, bound for a break in the wall of rock he had noticed as he -passed. - -But though he found it, because of the darkness, he was unable to make -any headway, ignorant of the lay of the land as he was and, at last, he -was forced to abandon his attempts to rescue Comanche Tony, deciding to -wait till daylight should come. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -TIED TO THE STAKE. - - -When Comanche Tony had glided from his companions at the bend of the -canyon, little did he think what was in store for him. - -Stung to the quick by the unjustified slur of the brother of the -bandit-chieftain, he was fiercely resentful, muttering to himself as -he dodged from rock to rock. - -Silently, stealthily, the wily old bandit drew nearer and nearer to the -fire. - -But he was labouring under a disadvantage that was to be his undoing. - -Constantly was he looking at the two fires as he advanced and their -glare so blinded him that he was unable to see aught at either side of -them. - -But the crouching forms that lurked in the shadows of the cliffs were -not so handicapped because their backs were toward the flames. - -Warned by the echo of hoofbeats, as the outlaws rode down the canyon, -the Indians had ample time to arrange their ambush. - -Who the travellers were, it mattered not to them. - -They were on the warpath and redskin or paleface was equally welcome. - -Yet so craftily did Comanche Tony approach that he was almost upon them -ere the keen eyes of the expectant bucks had detected his stooping form -as he glided from one rock to another with absolute noiselessness. - -Startled to think that any one could get so near to them and -disappointed that they were to capture only one prisoner, the bucks -watched the bandit steal nearer and nearer. - -Bodies crouched, muscles tense, the savages waited till their victim -was close to the fire. - -Scenting a trick, since he had been allowed to approach unchallenged -and could discern no sleeping forms about the fire, Comanche Tony had -turned, determined to get back to his pals without delay. - -But he was too late. - -No sooner had he faced about than the air was full of leaping forms -which the glare from the fires showed to be streaked with gaudy-hued -paints. - -Instantly the outlaw realized that they were Indians. - -Yet so sudden had been their appearance that they were upon him, -encircling him with their powerful arms, ere he could draw his six -shooters. - -For the moment, it maddened him to think that he, old Indian fighter -that he was, had walked unsuspectingly into the snare of the cunning -redmen, but only for a moment. - -If he had been caught, his pals should not be. - -And, utterly heedless of what the consequences might be to himself, the -intrepid old bandit let out a yell. - -Startled, the bucks gazed at their captive an instant, then their -amazement gave way to snarls as a dozen hands sought Tony's throat, to -choke off his outcry. - -And it was the terrific pressure exerted by the steel-like fingers that -had given to the shout of warning, the peculiar half wail, half roar, -which Jesse and his men had heard. - -Maddened by such defiance, the redskins uttered a few hoarse commands -and the next instant Tony felt himself lifted from his feet and -carried, in sturdy arms, up a path in the cliff. - -But even then, desperate as his predicament was, the fearless outlaw's -thoughts were of his fellows rather than of himself and he muttered: - -"I've warned the boys, anyhow, no matter if I did get caught in -springing the trap." - -Yet he was quickly recalled to his surroundings by feeling his feet set -on a rock. - -Accustomed by this time to the darkness, Comanche Tony was able to make -out that he and his captors were on a ledge in the cliff along the edge -of which was a black, irregular mass. - -Forgetting, in his eagerness to discover what this was, that he was a -prisoner, the intrepid bandit stepped forward. - -Uttering vicious grunts, two bucks grabbed him and threw him roughly -against the wall of rock behind them. - -"Paleface heap fool," snarled one of his guards. "Get too fresh, fall -over ledge, spoil Injun's fun!" - -"By my scalp, but I must have suthin' pleasant ahead of me if fallin' -to my death will spoil these devil's fun!" thought Comanche Tony. - -But again the contemplation of the perilousness of his own plight was -forgotten in the realization that his reckless attempt to warn his pals -had been of no avail. - -For, in the brief interval that he had gazed on the edge of the ledge, -he had seen several bucks frantically beating out the two fires with -their blankets, and he knew that whatever their game, the world-famous -desperado and his men would be in grave danger, forced, as they would -be, to advance in the darkness. - -Yet had he been an instant later, he would have seen the same braves -hurriedly scoop handfuls of dirt onto the glowing coals, after which -they covered the piles with their blankets and bounded up the path to -the ledge. - -On their arrival, a hasty pow-wow was held and the next minute Comanche -Tony had learned the purpose of the irregular mass of black along the -edge of the ledge. - -Lying flat on their bellies, the Indians braced their feet against the -wall of rock and threw out their hands in front of them. - -A sickening fear gripped the heart of the bandit as he divined that the -objects were stones to be hurled from the ledge. - -Wondering if he could warn his pals of the terrible fate awaiting them, -Tony's eyes were drawn to the figure of an Indian standing clear of the -others. - -Like a statue he loomed. - -All at once, he uttered an ear splitting yell. - -He had caught sight of a black line of objects moving in the canyon -below. - -Immediately his braves joined in and as the strident warwhoops rent the -air, the prostrate bucks exerted their strength and the first avalanche -of stones was started on its mission of death. - -But that it was launched too soon, the reader already knows. - -The suspense to Tony, however, was awful as he strained his ears for -the sound of his pals' voices. - -And as he heard their yells of defiance he heaved a mighty sigh of -relief which ended in a grunt of delight as he saw the figure of the -Indian lookout topple and pitch to the bottom even while the report of -a pistol rang out. - -"That was Jesse's shot, I'll bet!" he chuckled. - -But his exultation vanished as he saw the bucks stretched out on the -ledge move along to more stones. - -And then it was that, tempting Fate for the second time, he had -shouted his warning to his pals to flee for their lives. - -Too late was it for the redskins to save their missiles as his cry rang -out. - -But even as the boulders were hurtling to the bottom of the canyon, the -braves leaped to their feet and charged him. - -So terrible was their anger, that they almost crushed the bandit as -they pressed about him. - -"Have your fun if you want," grunted Comanche Tony. "I can't die but -once. But it'll be the sorriest work you devils ever did if you do kill -me!" - -The tone in which the fearless old Indian fighter uttered this defiance -was as calm and cool as though he were talking to a group of children -instead of to a pack of blood-thirsty savages. - -His gameness amazed his captors, though it only made them crush him -against the rocks the more furiously. - -But as he closed his eyes to keep out the sight of the hideous, -passion-distorted faces before him, a deep-lunged voice uttered some -sharp commands. - -In a trice, the terrible pressure relaxed and the next moment the -outlaw felt himself again raised from his feet and borne rapidly upward. - -Ere many minutes he could tell that he was again on a level and -instantly his mind sought some scheme by which he could kill time. - -For he felt that the world-famous desperado would not leave him to the -anything but tender mercies of the savages. - -Yet had he known that his beloved chief was even then returning to his -pals, having failed to find a way to scale the wall of rock, he would -have been sad, indeed. - -But he did not know and his ignorance was bliss, in truth. - -As Comanche Tony racked his brain for some manner to delay his captors, -more commands rang out and the Indians who were carrying him set him -down. - -The moon had just risen above the peaks of the mountains to the east -and, in its light, the bandit saw that he was on a plateau sparsely -covered with stunted trees. - -To one of these his captors guided him. - -As he reached it, a couple of the braves lopped off the lower branches. - -Whirling him roughly, his guards backed him against the tree trunk and -while they held him, others deftly bound him to the improvised stake -with lariats they had brought with them from the bottom of the canyon. - -Grave, indeed, was his situation. - -And it needed no one to tell the captive bandit that the redmen -proposed to burn him at the stake when they should tire of their -preliminary tortures. - -But as his plight became more desperate, Comanche Tony became the more -determined to gain time. - -Only one expedient was there of which he could think that was adequate -in his dire extremity. - -He must scare the painted bucks. - -And while he was considering whether he could do this the most readily -by threatening them with vengeance at the hands of the world-famous -desperado, or by telling them a squad of United States cavalry were on -their trail, the Indians made what was, to them, a fatal move. - -They kindled a fire about two rods from where Comanche Tony stood tied -to the stake. - -As the tongues of flame leaped in the air, their reflection was seen by -Jesse James and his men in the canyon. - -"By thunder! Do you suppose that's from the Injuns or the sojers?" -asked Wild Bill, as his chief sprang to his feet. - -"I don't know. _But I'm going to find out!_ - -"There's no need of waiting till morning. - -"Come on, everybody. We'll go down to where the first fires were." - -Quickly the desperadoes started, for they had ill liked the thought of -leaving their pal to his fate. - -With Texas Jack and Wild Bill at his side, the bandit chieftain -advanced till he reached the heaps of broken boulders that had come so -near to being their death a short time before. - -As the bandits gazed up at the top of the wall of rock, Texas remarked: - -"It's a cinch, Jess, those bucks have some trail up the cliff. We -didn't find any place to scale it, back where we come from, and by the -looks of the wall ahead, there isn't any break, so they couldn't have -got to the end of the canyon and back on top in such a short time. - -"That being so, it means there's some path near here." - -"Then we'll look for it. Get busy, boys. Comanche Tony's life may -depend on our haste." - -With a will, the outlaws set about examining the side of the canyon. - -And while they searched, their pal was sparring for time with his -infuriated captives. - -"See here, my buckos," he said, his voice as cool as when he had -addressed them before, "I reckon you're making a mistake. I haven't -done you any harm. - -"_But if you touch a hair on my head thar's not one of you who won't be -shot to pay for it!_" - -The redskin warriors, to the number of a score, had been standing about -the fire, now and then turning toward their captive as they jabbered -excitedly, evidently arguing over some part of their contemplated -torture. - -But as the calm words fell on their ears, they all faced about, while -one of them, whose peculiar head-dress proclaimed him to be a chief, -grunted: - -"Paleface talk heap big. Navajos fool paleface frien's. How um know -Navajos kill paleface. Heap Injun in country." - -"That may be. But my friends are not ordinary men. _They're smarter -than any palefaces you ever saw._" - -"You got caught. Heap smart, huh," and the chieftain grunted in disgust. - -"True enough. I did. _But my pals didn't._ They were smart enough not -to get under the cliff where you shoved the rocks over." - -Guttural grunts came from several of the Indians and quickly the chief -demanded: - -"Who you?" - -"I don't know that it's any of your business." - -"Me know. Great Bear know. Paleface army scout." - -Instantly the bandit realized that the braves had decided he was -connected with the soldiers of the Great Father in Washington. - -And quickly was he to see his advantage. - -"You're wrong there, Great Bear," he declared. "I told you you were -making a mistake. - -"I don't belong to the sojers any more'n you do. - -"_My chief's greater'n any sojers!_ He's got two battalions chasin' him -now!" - -This announcement produced a profound sensation among the braves and -excitedly they jabbered. - -But whatever his warriors were urging, their chief refused, again -turning toward his prisoner: - -"Paleface talk heap big. No fool Great Bear. Great Bear burn paleface -at stake. Paleface frien's cum, Injun fight um, scalp um. Ugh! Ugh!" - -And he sucked in his breath, making a gruesome sound. - -But Comanche Tony refused to be frightened. - -He knew that the Navajos were a peaceful tribe, as Indian tribes went, -and he wondered what had sent them on the warpath, till suddenly he -remembered the attack on the cabin Jesse had repulsed just before he -had made his race for life from the Vigilantes, and it occurred to him -that perhaps these were some of the same bucks seeking revenge. - -If such should be the case, it would never do for him to disclose his -identity. - -Their words had told him that they had no fear of the cavalrymen, so -that reference to them would stand him in no stead, and as minute after -minute went by without any sound or sign of Jesse, his hope began to -fail him. - -Yet no trace was there in his face of what was passing in his mind. - -Indeed, his wonderful coolness puzzled the redskins. - -They had been accustomed to see white men cringe and tremble before -them, and the words of Great Bear had doubtless been intended to strike -terror to his heart. - -But the fact that he was cool and indifferent made them think they had -captured a man who knew no fear. - -One more attempt they made, however, to break their captive's spirit. - -After a consultation with two or three of his warriors, Great Bear -spoke a few words in a low voice. - -Immediately four bucks stepped from the circle about the fire, their -scalping knives in their hands. - -Came a sharp command from the chief. - -As with one movement, the braves raised their arms and lowered them, -sending the wicked blades straight at their helpless victim. - -Shrilly the knives whistled as they sailed through the air. - -Fascinated, Comanche Tony watched the flashes of steel as they sped -toward him. - -Could any strain have been more nerve-destroying? - -Any one of the four blades, should it strike a vital spot, would kill -him. - -But all four were speeding toward him together, so nicely had the bucks -gauged their throws. - -Yet the bandit was too familiar with the nature of the redman not to -know that instead of striking him where death would result, the blades -would simply inflict painful flesh wounds, that the red devils might -gloat in the sight of his blood and agony. - -Every nerve in his body was atingle as he waited for the impact. - -Of a sudden, however, he made a terrible discovery. - -The knives were coming for his head. - -Like a flash, it occurred to him that his eyes and ears were the -targets. - -A trice he contemplated the possibility of dodging them, for his head -was not bound. - -But the realization came to him that while he might avoid one of the -whistling blades, he could not escape all four, and he decided to make -no move. - -Fortunate, indeed, was it that he did so. - -Nearer and nearer came the knives. - -Yet it seemed to Comanche Tony that years had elapsed since they had -left the hands of the savages. - -Of a sudden, he felt a cool draught against his cheeks, and then he -could no longer see the awful blades. - -Scarce able to believe his senses, he could feel no pain. - -Then it dawned on him that the bucks had been testing his courage by -aiming the scalping knives so they would just miss him, if he remained -motionless--and he thanked his lucky stars that he had not tried to -dodge them. - -It was the very refinement of torture to which he had been subjected. - -And well the redmen knew it. - -To see the wicked blades coming for his head and not to move it when he -was free to do so was an ordeal such as only one man in a million could -survive. - -But Comanche Tony was that one man. - -Eagerly the bucks had watched him. - -When they saw he had faced death unflinchingly, they grunted in -grudging admiration. - -"Paleface heap brave," exclaimed Great Bear. "Me know um now. Only one -paleface got nerve like that. Him Jess Jame. You Jess Jame. - -"Injun hate Jess Jame! - -"You got die!" - -The logic of the chief was crude. But it answered his purpose and again -he repeated: - -"Injun hate Jess Jame! Um got die! Burn um at stake!" - -Turning to his warriors, Great Bear addressed them in the Navajos -language earnestly. - -And so engrossed were the bucks in listening to the words of their -chief that they failed to see three faces rise cautiously above the -edge of the cliff and gaze at the strange scene. - -Jesse had found the trail and was soon to make his presence known. - -When the bandit-chieftain and his men had reached the ledge whence the -rocks had been hurled at them, he had ordered all but Wild Bill and -Texas Jack to wait there while he and his chosen pals climbed to the -top, fearing that the approach of all might be heard by the redmen. - -Sweeping the top of the cliff with a hurried glance the world-famous -desperado had seen, with joy, that he was in time to save the life of -his chum. - -Yet because he was aware that to act too soon would be as bad as to act -too late, he dropped back behind the cliff again. - -"Texas, go down and bring the others up," he whispered, putting his -mouth close to his pal's ear. "Don't make a sound going down. But it -won't matter coming back. - -"_I reckon the fun'll be on before you get here!_ - -"But hurry. We'll have our hands full." - -Hastily the bandit descended and again Jesse straightened up and peered -over the edge of the precipice. - -And what he saw made his face grow hard as he raised his six shooters. - -Bearing burning brands in their hands, two bucks were advancing toward -their victim tied to the stake, while two more carried armsful of dried -twigs and leaves. - -Less than ten feet were they from Comanche Tony. - -Squatting about the campfire, prepared to enjoy the writhings of their -captive, sat the rest of the Indians. - -The distance from the edge of the cliff to the stake was too great for -a pistol shot. - -Yet Jesse realized that he must act at once were he to spare his chum -awful suffering. - -Bending toward Wild Bill, he breathed: - -"We've got to rush 'em! Come on! Nail the devil's with the firebrands -first!" - -With a stillness marvelous in the rapidity of their actions, the two -desperadoes gained the top of the precipice and dashed forward. - -So engrossed were the bucks in watching their fellows that they had not -seen the bandits. - -"Give 'em a yell, then shoot!" whispered Jesse. - -With a will the two outlaws gave the old guerrilla battle cry that had -made Quantrell's men known and feared. - -Panic-stricken, the redskins leaped to their feet. - -Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack went the four six-shooters in the -desperadoes' hands. - -And with each bark of a pistol one of the Indians advancing toward -Comanche Tony, pitched forward, a bullet hole in his heart. - -But only for a minute did the braves lose their heads. - -Thundering at his warriors, Great Bear commanded: - -"Charge them! They are only two, we are twenty! We can push them off -the precipice!" - -Inspired by the words of their chief, which had been uttered in their -native tongue, the braves drew their revolvers, opening fire on Jesse -and Wild Bill as they advanced. - -Never had the guerrilla battle cry sounded so sweet as it did to the -ears of Comanche Tony as he stood, bound fast to the stake, watching -the bucks approach with the firebrands and twigs with which to kindle a -blaze about his feet. - -But, when turning his head, he saw only Wild Bill and Jesse and a -moment later beheld the warriors rally to the charge, he was filled -with fear. - -Two men, no matter how brave, would have little chance against the -overwhelming numbers of the redskins. - -Then he remembered that his six-shooters had not been taken from him -and he bellowed: - -"Jess! Jess! Cut me loose! I've got my guns! I can help you!" - -"Keep pumping at the devils, Bill," commanded the world-famous -desperado. "We've got to stand 'em off till the others get here!" - -And, discharging his own shooting irons the while, Jesse ran to -Comanche Tony. - -But though the shots of the Indians had been wild at first, they were -so close to the outlaws now that many a bullet ploughed through their -flesh. - -Seeing Jesse's purpose, Great Bear ordered the fire to be trained on -him. - -And so furiously did the bucks respond that the bandit-chieftain was -forced to give ground. - -Delirious were the yells of the braves as they saw this move. - -But their rejoicing was short lived. - -Aware, from the shots and shouts, that the fight was on, Texas and the -rest of the bandits hastened up the trail, reaching the top just as -their leader and Wild Bill were retreating toward the edge of the cliff. - -"Hold your ground! We're coming!" yelled Frank. - -Never were words more welcome than these as they rang in the ears of -the sorely pressed outlaws. - -And even as they heard them, a volley crashed from the guns of their -fellows. - -Surprised at the unlooked for re-enforcements, the bucks, however, held -their own. - -But only for a few minutes. - -The fusilade of lead poured into them was too galling. - -Though they outnumbered the bandits almost two to one, for death had -thinned their ranks, Jesse and his men fired three times as rapidly. - -Fast and furious raged the battle. - -Then, of a sudden, Great Bear shouted a command. - -With one accord, the bucks whirled and ran for the farther side of the -cliff. - -And, while some of his men pursued them, Jesse hurried to Comanche Tony -and slashed the bonds with his bowie-knife. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE FLIGHT FROM THE CLIFF. - - -As the severed cords of rawhide dropped about his feet, Comanche Tony -leaped from the tree to which he had been tied, swinging his arms like -a flail. - -"By my scalp! it feels good to be able to move 'em," he declared. "I -begun to think I'd never git the chance to use 'em again. I ain't never -been bound afore. - -"You come jest in the nick of time, Jess. An' perhaps the old battle -cry didn't sound good to my ears." - -"I reckon it did," assented the bandit-chieftain. - -All the while the two outlaws had been walking toward where the rest of -the notorious band were standing, making an examination of their wounds. - -"Any of the bucks' shots get you fellows bad?" asked the -bandit-chieftain, anxiously, as he swept the little group with his eyes. - -"Sam's got it the worst," returned Frank. - -Muttering an imprecation, Jesse strode to where Dirks was standing. - -"Where'd they hit you, Sam?" he asked. - -"In the shoulder, the right one." - -With tender fingers, the world-famous desperado cut away the -blood-soaked clothes, while his men gathered about to learn the extent -of their pal's injuries. - -As the red, angry looking flesh was exposed to view, they uttered -various exclamations. - -One and all of them had seen enough wounds to know that this was -serious. But to learn just how bad it was they awaited their leader's -announcement. - -"That sure is a nasty one," declared Jesse in a few moments. "The -shoulder blade's shattered." - -"It's too much for me to attempt to fix up. I'll just put a bandage -round it and then you'll have to go to some town where there's a -sawbones. - -"He'll probably say you'll have to lose your arm." - -The words evoked groans from the others as Sam wailed: - -"And it's me best arm, too. What good'll I be with only one fin left? I -wish the devils had a killed me." - -"Nonsense, man! Buck up! You can shoot with your left hand and when you -get into a fight there won't be so much of you to hit." - -This lugubrious consolation did not reconcile Sam to the prospective -loss of his good right arm, however, and all through the time his -leader was dressing the injury he lamented his fate. - -The wounds of the others, though painful, were not serious. - -Bud, Bob and Frank had all been hit in their legs. - -"I reckon you three," said Jesse, addressing the last named, "had -better be the ones to take Sam to the Sawbones. - -"He can't go alone, and if we should be obliged to make any hard rides, -it wouldn't help the holes in your legs any." - -Loudly the trio protested. - -"But suppose we run into the soldiers?" queried Bob. "Four of us, with -Sam worse than useless won't be able to do anything against 'em and -we'll get pinched and run to the nearest fort. And you know what that -means," he added significantly. - -"For my part I'd rather stay with you-all and take my chances on my -legs mortifying." - -But the bandit-chieftain was not to be moved. - -"I know it's a chance," he replied. "You've got to take it, though. -Sam's got to be taken to a sawbones and somebody's got to go with him. - -"If you do meet the cavalrymen, you can tell 'em you-all had a run in -with a bunch of men. - -"That'll make 'em think it's me you met and they'll swallow the bait. - -"You can describe us exactly and give 'em a steer as to where you met -us, only be sure you send them in the wrong direction. - -"If you only work it right, you'll be able to put the soldiers on the -wrong track and get yourselves clear. - -"Why, it's a cinch." - -"If it's so mighty easy, why don't you go with the boys and let me -stay?" demanded Frank. - -"Because they have my description too close," returned his brother. -"It's dollars to a piece of hard tack they'd recognize me the minute -they got their eyes on me. - -"And then it would be all up with little Willie." - -Jesse's argument was too cogent to admit of further dispute and, much -against their will, the quartette of wounded outlaws accepted the -decree of separation. - -But it was not ordained that the plan should be put into effect. - -The last of the wounds inflicted upon the bandits by the bullets of the -redskins was being dressed when Comanche Tony came up to Jesse. - -The old Indian fighter who, alone of all, had not been injured for the -reason that he had been tied to the stake and was therefore prevented -from taking any part in the furious encounter, had taken advantage of -the pre-occupation of his pals to make a little reconnaisance on his -own account. - -Familiar with the habits of the redmen, he believed from the fact that -he had seen no ponies in the canyon that the bucks were not far from -some of the villages of their tribe. - -Convinced of this, the bandit reasoned that the braves would return for -re-enforcements with which to avenge the slaughter, and it was to learn -if there were any campfires to be seen below, over the farther side of -the top of the cliff, that he had left his companions. - -To the east, as he peered through the bushes that lined the edge of the -cliff, he caught sight of a flickering light that came and went like -the spasmodic radiance of a fire-fly. - -For a few minutes he had stood staring at the curious sight, in -bewilderment. - -Of a sudden, its meaning came to him. - -When it did, he turned on his heel and made his way to his chief, -eager to tell him of his discovery. - -"What is it, Tony?" asked the world-famous desperado, as he caught -sight of the excited countenance of his chum. "You look like a woman -who's just heard a choice bit of scandal! - -"What did you discover? I saw you sneaking into the brush." - -The fact that his scouting expedition had been known to his master -caused the old Indian fighter's face to fall, for he had thought that -his going had been unnoticed. - -"Poke fun at me if you want to," he retorted. "You may not git the -chance to laugh again for some time." - -The seriousness of their pal's tone hushed the hilarity on the outlaws' -lips. - -Yet before he had the opportunity to explain his words, Wild Bill cried: - -"Look! Look! To the north! Quick!" - -Believing their fellow had caught sight of the redskins coming back, -the desperadoes wheeled like a flash, whipping out their shooting irons -at the same time. - -But it was not Indians they saw. - -Hastily raising their eyes, when they found that it was no skulking -figures that had called forth Wild Bill's excited exclamation, they -were just in time to see a shower of seeming stars dropping through the -air. - -"It's a falling meteor!" ejaculated Bob Moore. - -Believing it was, indeed, some of those phenomena so common on the -plains, the outlaws gazed at the spectacular sight. - -But the bandit-chieftain did not share their opinion. - -"Dropping meteor nothing," he exclaimed. "Have you fellows all gone -nutty that you can't recognize a falling rocket? - -"You've seen enough of them, I should think." - -"That's just what I was goin' to say," declared the bandit who had been -the one to call the attention of his fellows. "When I first saw it, -them white stars was a green ball." - -"Then it's a signal," ejaculated Bud. - -"My eye! but you're the wise guys," grunted Jesse. - -"Of course it's a signal. You didn't think it was old Great Bear giving -a fireworks display in our honour, did you? - -"It's a signal, all right, all right, and it's from those cavalry -fellows, too. - -"Injuns don't go round carrying a stock of rockets in their belts. - -"Now the thing to do is to find out what point of the compass they're -signalling to." - -With alacrity, the outlaws faced about, some gazing in one direction -and some in another. - -Not long were they obliged to wait to learn the answer to their -leader's question, however. - -Scarcely had the shower of sparks vanished than one of them sang out: -"Here she comes, from the East, boys!" - -But the words had no more than left his lips than another shouted: - -"They're answering from the south, too!" - -Rapidly Jesse and his men whirled, viewing first the rocket to the east -and then to the south. - -"Jumpin' snakes! They've got us surrounded!" gasped Texas Jack. - -"You're wrong, pard," interposed Bob. "They haven't quite surrounded us -yet. There's been no rocket from the West." - -"And that's the side of the canyon where our horses are. Were sure in -luck. I reckon it's a good thing we had this brush with the redskins. -It's showed us where the sojers are," chimed in Homely Harry, not -wishing to let the others get ahead of him. - -"After them rockets, we kin ride dead West an' git away. If it hadn't -been for the Injuns we might a rid right into some of the sojers." - -"Come on! We'll go down and get the ponies while we have the chance," -cried Frank, moving toward the edge of the cliff. - -Ere he had taken more than a few strides in the carrying out of his -purpose, Jesse's voice rang out: - -"Hold on; don't be in such a hurry! - -"_If any of you show yourself on the edge of the cliff, I'll drop you -in your tracks!_" - -In amazement those of the outlaws who had started after Frank, stopped -and turned toward their leader, their surprise evident in their faces. - -"What's the reason we can't get the horses?" snapped the elder of the -James boys. "Speak lively! You're wasting valuable time!" - -"It's better to waste time than our lives, isn't it?" returned his -brother, with a deliberation that was exasperating to the highly -wrought bandits. - -"You ought to know better, Frank. - -"I reckon Texas hit it right when he said we were surrounded!" - -"Then why didn't the men in the West send up a rocket?" demanded the -elder of the James boys. - -"_Because they're on our trail!_" - -This statement produced a profound sensation among the bandits and -quickly they plied Jesse with questions as to his reasons for making -it, that is, all but Frank, who, with a sneer started toward the edge -of the cliff to find out for himself, though it was eloquent testimony -for his secret regard for his brother's intuition that he dropped to -his belly and approached the precipice with all the caution of which he -was master. - -Smiling as he saw this indication of alarm, Jesse addressed the others: - -"It's an old trick among troopers, one that will be well for you to -remember in the future, when they are on a search, for the squad that's -hit the trail not to answer the rocket signals of the others. - -"If the men they're hunting happen to see the rockets in every -direction but one, they'll naturally make the move Homely -suggested--ride away in the direction from which there was no -signal--and fall right into the trap! - -"I had a close call once--before I got wise. That's how I happen to -know. - -"How near the troopers on the west are to us, of course I can't tell. - -"But they're not very far off. They've hit our trail in the canyon -and--" - -"They're right down at the foot of the cliff examining the dead -campfires the Injuns left," interrupted Frank. - -"You doped it right, Jess, I'll have to admit." - -So engrossed had the others been in listening to the bandit-chieftain -that they had not seen Frank as he returned from his reconnaisance, -and the effect of his words, melodramatic as was the manner in which -they fitted in, struck consternation to their hearts. - -Enjoying the sensation he had caused, the elder of the James Boys -continued: - -"They've corralled our ponies, I could see one of the sojers leading -'em. - -"The moon against the walls of the cliff makes it pretty near as light -as day down at the bottom." - -"We _are_ in a mess," grunted Bob. "Injuns on one side of us and sojers -on all the others. Looks as though this top of the cliff was going to -be our burying ground." - -"Between the two, the way things is, I reckon I'd ruther tackle the -Injuns, eh, Jess?" interposed Comanche Tony, hurriedly, ere his chief -could say another thing. - -"When I was peerin' through the bush on tother side of this table of -rocks, I see'd a campfire with a lot of Injuns cuttin' up round it. - -"At fust, I couldn't git on to wot it meant, then I tumbled that it's a -war dance. - -"I'll bet my scalp, them bucks wot got away from us ull hipper over to -the pow-wow to bring 'em back here, thinkin' we'll either be on top, as -we be, or down in the canyon, as we was." - -"But they'd see the rockets," protested Bud. - -"Wot of it? They ain't got no Jess James with 'em to put 'em next to -the signal trick an' they'll think there ain't no one to the West." - -"Findin' we ain't on top, they'll start down into the canyon. - -"Then, if we has _any_ luck at all, the sojers ull jump 'em and -they'll have a fine old set-to while we're doin' the sneak act." - -"Good boy, Tony. You've got the right dope. Come on, boys! It's time -for us to be lighting out," cried the world-famous desperado. - -"Can you walk, Sam, or do you want us to make a sling for you?" - -"I cal'late I can walk, for awhile anyhow." - -"All right. If we stay here too long the soldiers may find the trail -and climb up here. - -"They heard the shooting, of course, and I reckon they'll be curious to -find out what it was about. - -"If they only do, and Tony has it right about the bucks going for -re-enforcements, when they see the redskins coming from the brush, -they'll start shooting. So we'll win out, which ever way it happens." - -Quickly and silently the outlaws entered the fringe of bushes along the -top at the opposite side of the cliff, descending by the trail which -Wild Bill and Texas Jack had found while the bandit-chieftain had been -talking. - -With every sense alert, the outlaws proceeded, increasing their caution -as they approached nearer and nearer to the bottom. - -To their delight, they beheld a heavy patch of fir trees at the foot. - -But just as they were within a rod of it, they were startled to hear a -voice cry, faintly: - -"Jess Jame! Jess Jame!" - -In consternation, the desperadoes looked at one another. - -Whether the calling of the name was a lure of the Indians, who, -returning, had seen the men filing down the cliff and planned another -ambush or what it betoken they could not tell. - -"We're in for it now, for fair," growled Frank. - -And as though to give emphasis to his words, a shout of triumph sounded -from above them, and looking up, they beheld the forms of a score of -cavalrymen silhouetted against the sky. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE STRANGE BATTLE IN THE WITCH'S CAVE. - - -"Quick! Into the woods, boys!" snapped the world-famous desperado. - -Instantly the bandits sprang to obey. - -Fully ten feet away were the evergreens. - -Desperately the men sought to gain their cover. - -But less than half the distance had they traversed when from above -there rang out in stentorian command: - -"Fire!" - -R-r-rip! crashed the sharp, staccato volley of carbines. - -The aim of the cavalrymen was deadly. - -With shrieks of pain, three of the outlaws threw up their hands and -pitched forward. - -Convulsively their bodies twitched for a few moments and then lay -still, while their life blood oozed from wounds in their backs, -saturating their clothes and making soggy the ground on which they lay. - -With a terrible oath, the world-famous desperado hissed: - -"Don't try to return the fire. Our pistols won't carry up the cliff. -Into the woods! Leave the bodies!" - -As they saw the desperadoes continue their flight without stopping to -take their dead pals with them, a mighty cheer broke from the soldiers. - -And, while it echoed, again the deep-lunged voice bellowed: - -"Fire!" - -Once more the rattle of the musketry rang out. - -But this time no men fell. - -The outlaws had gained the protection of the evergreens. - -"Who's here?" demanded Jesse, a strange tremor in his voice. "Answer to -your names as I call them." - -So sudden had been their dash from the unprotected trail of the cliff -to the woods that none of the outlaws knew who of their number had -fallen victims to the terrible rain of lead that had been literally -poured down on them from the edge of the precipice above. - -And it was with bated breath that they heard their leader say: - -"Comanche Tony!" - -"O.K." - -"Wild Bill?" - -"Here." - -"Texas Jack?" - -"Here." - -"Sam Dirks?" - -Heavily the others drew in their breath as no one answered. - -"Sam Dirks?" repeated Jesse, in hushed tone. "Poor Sam." - -"Frank?" - -"Here." - -"Homely Harry?" - -"O.K." - -"Bud Noble?" - -Again there was no answer. - -"Bob Moore?" - -Silence greeted this name also. - -A moment later the bandits stood. - -The calling of the roll in the sombre setting of the overhanging -branches of the evergreen trees, through which, here and there, the -moonlight filtered, amid the crash of the carbines and the whistle of -the bullets, as they searched out the possible hiding place of the -little band of fugitives, was dramatic in the extreme. - -And the outlaws, rough and desperate men as they were, were cowed -as they realized that the same death they had visited upon so many -helpless mortals, had thinned their own ranks. - -And the shock was all the greater for the reason that they had -practised their nefarious pastime with such seeming immunity that they -had come to look upon themselves as bearing charmed lives. - -Not long, however, were they left to their thoughts. - -Of a sudden, above the cheering of the troopers, above the rattle -of the musketry, above the shrilling of the bullets rang the wild, -blood-curdling war whoops of infuriated redskins. - -"Quick, on your bellies under the trees!" whispered Jesse. "We'll let -the devils charge the soldiers and may they battle till every one, -Injun and trooper, falls dead!" - -But just as the bandits were obeying their leader, there sounded from -close beside them a plaintive: - -"Jess Jame! Jess Jame! Don' lie down. Injun see um dead paleface, hunt -um wood. Injun no care sojer, want Jess Jame. - -"Come Dew Drop. Dew Drop show um place hide." - -As she uttered the last words, the amazed desperadoes saw a slender -creature, clad in what seemed an old wrapper, part the branches of the -tree near which they stood. - -An instant the world-famous desperado hesitated. - -"If the bucks see the corpses and don't find us in the woods won't they -search the place you're going to take us?" he asked, anxiously. - -"No. Dew Drop take um cave Kaw-Kaw, Injun witch. Injun fraid go in -Kaw-Kaw cave." - -"Well, we won't be any worse off than we will here, that's sure. But -why you want to help us I don't see. However, we'll take the chance. -Come on, boys." - -And, following the Indian maiden, the outlaws wound in and out among -the evergreens till they reached a black hole, like a cavernous maw, in -the cliff from which was exhaled a curiously intoxicating aroma. - -"Paleface no make noise. Kaw-Kaw deaf, no hear. Lie down, no see. Dew -Drop lie nex' Jess Jame so can talk." - -Wondering what adventure was in store for them, the bandits quickly did -as the Indian maiden told them, their chief choosing a place near the -mouth of the cave with his chum at his side. - -Scarcely had the world-famous desperado squatted down, with Dew Drop -on his left and Comanche Tony on his right, than howls and yells of -exultation reached them, telling them that the savages had discovered -the three dead bodies at the foot of the cliff. - -"By my scalp! we didn't git hyar any too soon, I reckon, jedgin' by -them whoops," whispered the old Indian fighter. - -But his master paid him no heed. - -The action of the red-hued maiden in coming to him when he was in such -sore need puzzled him, and he was racking his brain to remember whether -or not he had ever seen her before. - -Unable to place her, his mind once more reverted to the thought that -her opportune appearance might have been but a part of a plot conceived -by Great Bear to lure him and his men to the cave of the witch that -they might be slaughtered without chance of escape. - -If such were, in truth, the case, he and his companions were wasting -precious moments. - -Determined to end his suspense, Jesse clutched the maiden in a -vice-like grip with his left hand, raising his bowie knife in his -right, ready to plunge it into her heart, as he whispered in a tense, -hoarse voice: - -"Tell me why you brought me here! Was it at Great Bear's order? Tell -the truth, as you hope to carry your scalp to the Happy Hunting Ground!" - -Startled by the suddenness of the move and frightened by the stern face -peering into hers, her eyes rivetted on the keen edged blade, Dew Drop -blinked. - -But a rough shake recalled her to the necessity of replying. - -"No, no!" she gasped. "Great Bear no know Dew Drop left tepee. He kill -um if knew." - -"Then what made you?" - -"Dew Drop want save um Jess Jame." - -"Why?" - -"Jess Jame save um Dew Drop." - -"_I_ save _you_?" repeated the bandit-chieftain, surprised in his turn. -"When? What do you mean?" - -"Kaw-Kaw say Great Spirit want Dew Drop be squaw um son Dog Face. Dew -Drop no want. No like Dog Face. Dog Face bad Injun. Kaw-Kaw say must. -Have heap pow-wow. - -"Little Wolf come tepee say um hunting um see paleface burned -Silverstock cabin, Jess Jame. - -"Great Bear ask where. - -"Little Wolf say canyon. - -"Dog Face say get um Jess Jame scalp give squaw. - -"Great Bear take Dog Face, Little Wolf twenty Injun leave um pow-wow go -git Jess Jame. - -"Dew Drop no know what happen." - -"Great Bear five Injun come run tepee say Jess Jame on cliff, kill um -Injun, kill um Dog Face. - -"Kaw-Kaw say must scalp um Jess Jame or cuss um Great Bear. - -"Great Bear make heap talk. Call um brave go back get Jess Jame. - -"Dew Drop no wait hear more. - -"Jess Jame save Dew Drop from Dog Face. Dew Drop save Jess Jame from -Great Bear. - -"Dew Drop git cliff see um paleface come down. Dew Drop call. Sojer -shoot. - -"Dew Drop 'fraid Jess Jame get um lead. When see no dead, hear um Great -Bear. - -"Dew Drop think where hide. - -"Dew Drop think um cave Kaw-Kaw. - -"Jess Jame in Kaw-Kaw cave." - -Like a torrent the Indian maiden poured forth her story and as the -world-famous desperado learned the strange reason for her friendship, -he exclaimed: - -"Well, I'll be jiggered! So my men killed Dog Face, eh? I guess we can -trust you, if that's the way things are. - -"I'm sure mighty glad we put an end to your prospective husband." - -"But she said Kaw-Kaw was in the cave when we got here, and just now -she tells us she's at the pow-wow," breathed Comanche Tony, who had -heard the remarkable tale. - -"How about that?" demanded Jess sharply, his suspicions rekindled by -the seeming discrepancy in Dew Drop's statement. - -"Kaw-Kaw in um cave," returned the maiden with positiveness. "When um -hear Great Bear say go back git um Jess Jame, Kaw-Kaw say go um cave -get um cuss ready case Great Bear no get um Jess Jame." - -"So that smell's the old hag's curses, a brewin', eh?" chuckled Tony. -"I'm glad they're for Great Bear and his bucks and not me, if they're -that strong." - -But further speech was stopped by the sudden appearance of three tall -forms, looming in the entrance of the cave. - -Crouching low, the bandit-chieftain watched them, stealthily drawing -his shooting-irons. - -Yet before he could extract them from his holsters, he felt Dew Drop's -hand on his arm, restrainingly. - -Turning toward her, wondering what she meant, he saw her shake her -head vigorously, at the same time pressing upon his arm. - -"Evidently doesn't want me to shoot," reasoned Jesse. "I reckon she -knows more about what's best in this witch-den than I do." - -And he silently dropped his guns back into their holsters. - -The old Indian fighter had been a spectator of the pantomime and as he -saw his chief relinquish his weapons, he did likewise. - -All this had taken but a few seconds, and even while it was -transpiring, one of the bucks was jabbering excitedly. - -What he was saying, the bandits did not know, for the redmen spoke in -their own language. - -Yet from the jumble of guttural sounds, they occasionally distinguished -the words "Jess Jame" and "Kaw-Kaw." - -But if they could not understand what was said they could see what was -happening. - -The jabberings of the excited bucks had been carried on in loud tones. - -Scarcely had they begun than the outlaws beheld a bent and bowed figure -hobble into the light at the mouth of the cave, leaning on a crooked -staff. - -At her approach, the warriors drew back. - -In shrill tones the figure, whom they realized must be the witch, -Kaw-Kaw, harangued them, waving her staff as her excitement got the -better of her. - -Soon she paused and the bucks replied. - -Again the piping voice answered. - -And, as she heard the words, Jesse could feel Dew Drop tremble, so -close was she to him. - -Deciding because of this that whatever the gibberish meant it spelled -danger for himself and his men, the world-famous desperado again -whipped his hands to his pistol holsters. - -And this time there was no objection from the Indian maiden by his side. - -Yet before he could draw them, Kaw-Kaw hobbled from the cave, joining -the three braves and vanished from sight with them. - -As they disappeared, Dew Drop breathed a sigh of intense relief. - -Ere Jesse could utter the question that was on his lips, the -red-skinned maiden whispered: - -"Quick! Quick! Get um paleface. Dew Drop take um back Kaw-Kaw cave -while um 'way." - -Springing to her feet, the maid seized the hand of the bandit-chieftain -and dragged him back into the pall of blackness that enveloped the -witch's den. - -Seeing their leader rise, his pals had followed suit, even before he -commanded in a low voice: - -"Get up, boys. Take hold of one another. Follow me quickly!" - -Had Kaw-Kaw returned to her den just then, she would have been filled -with amazement at the file of men, who threaded their way through -the maze of pots, tripods and implements dear to the heart of the -sorceress, led by the lithe, slim maiden. - -But her amazement would have turned to alarm had she seen them enter -a second cave, which led from the first, the existence of which she -thought she herself alone knew. - -So low was the opening into the inner den that the bandits were forced -to drop to their hands and knees. - -"This is a fool's stunt, getting in farther instead of--" began Frank. - -But his words were frozen in his mouth by a terrible, hair-raising -growl that sounded from the recesses of the cave. - -"No 'fraid, no 'fraid!" gasped Dew Drop hurriedly. "Um Wa-Wa, Kaw-Kaw -bear. Um no hurt." - -"Sure not, his growl doesn't sound fierce, I don't think!" ejaculated -Wild Bill. - -But the Indian maiden, laughing softly, quickly allayed their fears by -adding: - -"Wa-Wa no got claw, no got teeth.'" - -"Well, the growl's the real thing, all right, all right," exclaimed -Jesse. "The old hag hasn't removed his hug, too, has she?" - -"No-o," replied the maiden, doubtfully. "But Dew Drop know Wa-Wa. Um -play, Dew Drop an' Wa-Wa. - -"Dew Drop come cave any day. Kaw-Kaw deaf no hear. - -"Wa-Wa know Dew Drop. No hurt." - -"That may be all right for you," snarled Frank, "but Wa-Wa may not take -so kindly to our coming." - -The series of growls, growing in intensity and volume with each -successive outburst, that came from the monster, lent a force to the -outlaw's words that even the Indian maiden could not disregard. - -"Wa-Wa!" she called, soothingly, adding something in her native tongue. - -But the pet of the witch, Kaw-Kaw, as though he recognized among the -strangers, whose presence he scented, the man who had grievously -wronged his mistress by killing her son, refused to be pacified. - -Each moment, his growls announced that he was getting nearer and nearer -to the bandits. - -Of a sudden, two little balls of seeming phosphorous glowered at them, -as the brute came from behind a boulder. - -"You can stand there like dummies, if you want to," snapped the elder -of the James boys. "_I'm going to shoot him!_" - -"No! No! No shoot!" protested Dew Drop, in alarm. - -"Why not?" - -"Kaw-Kaw smell powder when um came back. Know some one in um cave. Make -heap cuss. Fin' um paleface. Call um Injun. Devil to pay!" - -"I reckon the girl's right, Frank," declared his brother, smiling at -the words of his saviour. "It wouldn't take long for the old hag to -notice the odour of the saltpetre and when she called the bucks it -would be all over but the shouting. - -"And I've no intention of adorning an Indian triumph." - -"All right," grudgingly acquiesced the elder of the James boys. "I -won't shoot, but something's got to be done. - -"I don't propose to stay in here with a bear walking round loose, if it -hasn't any teeth or claws." - -This announcement expressed the feelings of the rest of the bandits, -yet what to do, they did not know. - -And as they stood, in helpless perplexity, the brute itself solved -their dilemma. - -As its wicked little eyes beheld the figures of the intruders in -its retreat, the monster reared on its hind legs, and with a roar, -deafening because of the narrow confines of the cave, charged at them, -laying about it viciously with its herculean paws. - -In panic, the outlaws fled before it. - -But the rock side of the den checked them. - -Came a mighty swish and Comanche Tony fell, dropped by the clawless -paws of the monster. - -And, in a trice, the bear stood over its unconscious victim, snarling -ominously. - -The peril of their pal broke the spell of terror in which the outlaws -stood. - -"Stab the brute! Tackle him, boys!" snapped Jesse, leaping toward the -monster as he spoke. - -Instantly his comrades obeyed. - -Drawing their keen-edged bowie-knives, they buried them to the hilts in -any part of the bear's body they could reach. - -Stung by the sharp pains, the monster reared on its hind legs again, -lashing about viciously with its paws, emitting savage growls, awful in -their fury. - -But its raising up was the beast's doom. - -Crouching low, dodging the terrible lunges as a prize-fighter dodges -the blows of his adversary in the ring, the world-famous desperado -watched his chance. - -Suddenly he saw the monster's breast unprotected. - -With a lightning movement, the bandit-chieftain leaped forward. - -In his right hand he clasped his bowie-knife. - -His arm, bent close to his body, shot out. - -And the force of his spring drove the keen-egded blade to the hilt, -straight through the bear's heart. - -But so great was the power of resistance of the monster that, despite -the steel in its most vital organ, it seized Jesse in a mighty -embrace, holding him helpless as it staggered. - -"T-trip it!" gasped the leader of the outlaws frantically, "I--I've -st-tabbed it." - -Again his men sprang forward. - -Yet before they could carry out their master's instructions, the bear -fell, its embrace unbroken. - -Not long did it take the bandits to extricate their chief from his -uncomfortable position. - -But as they raised him to his feet, they heard the sound of hoarse, -excited voices in the outer cave. - -"The bucks have come back!" hissed Texas Jack. - -"No, no Injun! Um paleface sojers!" gasped Dew Drop in consternation. -"No Injun come Kaw-Kaw cave." - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -A DESPERATE CHARGE. - - -In dismay, the bandits gazed at one another, as they heard the -portentous words of the Indian maiden. - -And in a moment more their own ears confirmed their truth. - -No mistaking the identity of the men in the outer cave was there, as a -sharp command, in plain English, rang out: - -"Search every nook and cranny in the den, men. It's just the place for -Jesse James and his pack of cutthroats to hide." - -"That pet name'll cost the life of many a soldier, young fellow, if I -ever get out of here!" hissed Comanche Tony in a low, harsh voice. - -But his pals were too taken up with the peril of their position to make -any comment on the blood-thirsty announcement. - -No need was there to tell them it was one thing to have the Indians -search the cave and quite another to have the cavalrymen. - -The superstitious reverence and fear of the bent and bowed sorceress -would not sway the troopers or cause them to consider the intrusion of -the abode of the witch a sacrilege. - -Rather would their contempt for the customs and beliefs of the redmen -incite them to unusual effort. - -Should they chance to espy the hole leading into the second cave, every -one of the six men knew that they would lose no time in exploring it. - -And it was to what they should do, in such event, that each man devoted -his thoughts. - -"Can't we block up the hole?" hazarded Texas Jack, grasping at the most -obvious expedient. - -"No," returned Dew Drop. "Kaw-Kaw see, Kaw-Kaw get wise. Hole always -open for Wa-Wa. - -"Dew Drop no see why Kaw-Kaw let sojers come um cave." - -"Probably they didn't ask her permission," returned the -bandit-chieftain. - -But the explanation did not satisfy the Indian maiden. - -From her earliest memory, she had been taught reverence for the -aged sorceress and she knew the fear her fellow-tribesmen held of -the terrible curse that would be visited upon any Indian who dared -penetrate the recesses of the cave. - -Indeed, not unless she had been invited to enter, as an honour that -would influence her to accept Dog Face as her brave, would she ever -have had the temerity to enter and as she thought of being discovered -in the "holy of holies" with the men she was trying to save, she -trembled like a leaf, silently rocking too and fro as she wrung her -hands in an agony of despair. - -Plainly the outlaws heard the troopers draw nearer and nearer as they -proceeded with their fruitless hunt. - -"I reckon there's nothing for it but to stab the first trooper who -pokes his head through the opening," whispered the world-famous -desperado. - -"I'll take that job for mine. The rest of you line up about me. As soon -as I've knifed the first, some of you pull him out of the way and the -others be ready for the next. - -"If we can kill 'em without an outcry, we may be able to get em all." - -The fiendish plan of slaying one man after another as fast as they -appeared showed clearly how desperate Jesse believed their position to -be. - -It proved that in order to save his own life he had no hesitancy in -killing any number of men. - -And, as they heard the shocking proposition, even his pals, steeped -in the gore of innocent men as their hands were, recoiled at the task -imposed on them. - -Yet they dared not disobey and silently took their places, kneeling, at -the entrance to the cave, opposite their inhuman chief who waited, with -bowie-knife upraised to plunge it into the heart of the first soldier -that appeared. - -But before the awful scheme could be put to the test, the old witch -herself took a hand in the proceedings. - -As the bandits kneeled, the beats of their hearts alone breaking the -silence of the den in which they were, their ears strained for the -first sound that should announce the discovery of the hole, they -suddenly heard a shrill snarl in good English: - -"Dogs of palefaces! What are you doing in my cave? How dare you profane -the temple of a Navajo medicine? Curses on your palefaced heads! May -you perish on the plains, riddled with wounds, mad for water! May the -coyotes feed on your carcasses! May no grave hold your bones and may -they be scattered to the winds! Curse you! Curse you! Curse you!" - -So furious, so terrible was the wrath of the aged sorceress that the -troopers stopped in their search, staring at the wizened, bent figure, -abashed. - -Not slow was the shrewd old hag to note the impression her bitter -invective had made upon the cavalrymen and, without delay, she followed -it up. - -"If the dogs of palefaces have wives, may they rot with child; if they -have sweethearts, may they play with them and jilt them; if they have -children, may they grow up deformed and idiotic! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" - -And she croaked in diabolical glee. - -Of a sudden her manner changed. - -"What do the palefaces want, more curses? Haven't they had enough?" -she shrieked, angered that, though the soldiers trembled beneath her -imprecations, they made no move to leave the cave. - -"May--" - -But before another word could leave her lips, the lieutenant commanding -the troopers, having recovered from the first shock of surprise, -bellowed: - -"Seize her! Bind her! Gag the old vixen!" - -Eagerly the cavalrymen sprang forward, their faces bespeaking with what -relish they would obey the commands. - -Yet before they could lay hands on her, Kaw-Kaw began to back away, -swinging her crooked staff in front of her to hold off the troopers, -while she screamed in the language of her tribe. - -"Kaw-Kaw call um Great Bear an' um braves," gasped Dew Drop, excitedly, -close to Jesse's ear. "Paleface dogs must fight for coming Kaw-Kaw -cave." - -So unexpected and so startling had been the intervention of the old -witch that Jesse forgot his own peril in his interest to learn the -effect of the awful curses on the soldiers. - -But the words of the Indian maiden recalled him to himself. - -Whoops and yells resounded in the outer cave in answer to Kaw-Kaw's -appeal to her tribesmen. - -Suddenly a flare of light shone through the hole leading into the -cavern in which the outlaws were. - -"The bucks have thrown in lighted faggots," grunted Comanche Tony. -"There'll be suthin' doin', now." - -Ere he had more than spoken, the barks of pistols rang out, like the -explosion of gigantic fire-crackers. - -The deeper toned army revolvers answered. - -In a trice the din was deafening. - -"Here's our chance!" declared the world-famous desperado. "We'll crawl -into the other cave and attack the troopers from the rear. - -"Judging by their guns, there are only a dozen or so. - -"Our charge'll rattle 'em so we can rush through 'em and get outside. - -"The Indians won't stop us. - -"When we get clear, we'll strike for the place the bucks are grazing -their ponies, Dew Drop'll tell us where it is." - -"Jus' other side trees, straight from cave," responded the red-skinned -maiden. - -"Good. All ready, boys! I'll go first. Don't begin shooting till we're -all in the other cave. - -"Dew Drop, you stay here." - -Desperate was the scheme. - -If the braves or troopers recognized Jesse, they might forget their -fight in the desire to capture their common enemy. - -And then the outlaws' shrift would be short. - -But no word of protest did the others offer. - -In deciding upon the sortie, the bandit-chieftain had counted on the -cavalrymen mistaking him and his pals for Indians while he hoped the -savages would think them troopers. - -Furiously was the battle raging as Jesse finished the announcement of -his plans. - -From the yells and shouts, he decided that the soldiers were driving -back the redskins. - -And, with hope high, he began to crawl through the hole onto the field -of strife. - -Rapidly his five pals followed. - -As they gained the larger cave, they saw that the troopers had, indeed, -forced the braves back. - -"Don't shoot till we get on top of 'em," breathed Jesse. "I'll give the -word. Ready! Charge!" - -Like deers the outlaws sped toward the cavalrymen, their presence -unsuspected. - -But as they got within twenty feet of them, a voice suddenly shrilled: - -"There he is! There's Jesse James!" - -In their reckoning, the desperadoes had forgotten the old witch whose -son they had killed. - -The cause of the fight between soldiers and Indians, Kaw-Kaw, had -ducked into a niche out of range of the bullets, from which she watched -the conflict. - -And as the bandits rushed past, she recognized them. - -Yet before her warning had rung out, the bandit-chieftain thundered: - -"Fire! Rake 'em, boys! Drop 'em!" - -But while his men poured their murderous fire into the troopers, Jesse -turned and sent a shot crashing into the brain of the old hag and she -toppled from her hiding place, a blood-curdling shriek coming from her -lips as she fell. - -Amazed at the warning which was followed on the instant by the fusilade -from behind, the cavalrymen whirled to face their foes from the new -quarter. - -But the rain of lead from the outlaws' guns was terrible. - -One after another, the troopers fell, mowed down like grass before the -scythe. - -"We've cleaned 'em out! Come on! Charge the Injuns! We've got to shoot -our way through!" bellowed the world-famous desperado. - -Howling, yelling, leaping like Dervishes, the six desperadoes dashed -from the mouth of the cave. - -An instant the braves stood and faced them. - -But the fire from the outlaws' pistols was too galling and they gave -way. - -Intoxicated by the smell of powder, wild with the sight of carnage on -all sides of him, Jesse led his men through the evergreens, coming upon -the Indians' ponies where Dew Drop had said they were. - -Quickly the desperadoes cut out six, leaped on their backs and dashed -southward. - -Behind them, having recovered their nerve, swarmed every buck who could -find a mount, rending the air with fiendish whoops of fury and chagrin. - -"We can get away from them, all right," declared the world-famous -desperado. "What worries me is where the troopers are who signalled -from the south." - -And scarcely had the words left his lips before he caught sight of a -body of horsemen rising from a ravine less than a quarter of a mile in -front of him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE RACE FOR LIFE. - - -In the light from the moon, which bathed the brush-grown plain and -towering cliff in a flood of silver sheen, the figures of the troopers -stood out clearly. - -By common consent, without waiting for the command, the men with the -world-famous desperado checked their ponies and watched the cavalrymen -rise from the ravine. - -Whether or not, the soldiers had caught sight of them they did not -know. But shouts of delirious glee from behind told them that the -pursuing Indians had discovered the troopers. - -Of a verity, the little band of desperadoes were between two fires. - -Apparently the liberty they had achieved by such ruthless slaughter -of soldiers and redmen in the cave of the old witch was to count for -naught. - -And as this thought came to them, the companions of the notorious -outlaw groaned inwardly. - -Not so the notorious Jesse, however. - -Save for the deepening of the lines about his mouth and the compression -of his lips, he sat erect and rigid. - -But his mind was working as it never had worked before. - -Through many a desperate situation had he passed unscathed. Yet none -of the ruses which had stood him in such good stead on those occasions -could he use in his present predicament. - -The brilliancy of the moonlight, the presence of foes in front and -back, the treeless waste all about him prevented. - -Should he make any move, it would be clearly discernable to troopers -and Indians alike. - -And, aware of his seeming helplessness, the bucks were already yelling -in anticipation of his capture. - -Their attention attracted by the howls of the savages, the cavalrymen -quickly discovered the group of horsemen in the bracken. - -Hoarse commands, the sounds of which alone reached the bandits, were -spoken and, in a twinkling, those of the troopers who had mounted the -level from the ravine, set their horses toward them. - -Turning his head, the world-famous desperado looked toward the Indians. - -All of half a mile away were they, though each minute lessened the -distance. - -"Its a chance, but we've got to take it," snapped Jesse, thinking -aloud. "Quick, boys! Whirl your ponies. We'll ride back a way then make -a dash for the ravine! Come on!" - -Even as the words fell from their leader's lips, his men had turned -their mounts and, as he gave the word, buried the rowels of their spurs -in the flanks of the fleet footed Indian ponies. - -Startled by the unwonted pain, the animals leaped away like stones from -catapults. - -The race for life was on. - -Scarcely a minute had it been from the time the outlaws had caught -sight of the cavalrymen till they were in full flight. Yet to them each -second their chief had sat inactive had seemed an hour. - -In amazement, the savages beheld the men they had been pursuing rush -toward them. - -"Kaw-Kaw's bewitched them! They've lost their minds! Her curses live -to destroy the men who killed her!" shouted Great Bear in his native -tongue, transported with joy. "At them! At them! Jesse James is the -Navajos' prey. The paleface dogs must not get him first!" - -Goaded to frenzy by the words of their chief, the bucks fell to lashing -their ponies, riding like fiends in their effort to prevent the -troopers from snatching their quarry from their very grasp. - -But the cavalrymen viewed the course of the desperately pressed little -band with different feelings. - -"Jesse's in the bunch, all right. That move shows it," growled one of -them, the stars and chevrons on whose uniform proclaimed him a captain. -"No one but that murdering daredevil would have chosen to ride back -toward that pack of howling savages rather than toward us. - -"Curse the luck! Why couldn't we have struck the ravine half a mile -farther east? Then we'd been right on top of him and could have shot -him down." - -"But the bucks 'll drop him," asserted a lieutenant who rode at his -side. "So long as he's shot, I don't see what difference it makes -whether we get him or they." - -"_But they won't get him!_" bellowed the captain, his disappointment at -losing his chance to capture the most famous desperado the world has -ever known and anger at the ill-disguised rebuke of his subordinate -getting the better of him. - -"Won't get him?" repeated the lieutenant, as though he seemed to doubt -his ears. - -"_Yes, won't get him!_" returned the man in command of the troops. -"You've got a lot to learn, young man, about hunting bad-men. - -"But if you never learn any thing else, remember this--Indians, when -they're howling and whooping and all excited, are the worst shots in -the world. - -"Jesse James knows it. And he'd rather take the chance of riding by the -whole pack of 'em than to give the few of us a shot at him." - -Such, indeed, was the reason that the world-famous desperado had chosen -the course he did. Yet his decision had been strengthened by the -further knowledge that the redmen feared him and his marvelous prowess -with his shooting-irons. - -All the while, the little group of outlaws and the two bodies of men -bent on their death or capture, were drawing closer together. - -Never was there stranger chase. - -In full view of one another, each party was riding like mad to gain its -own end. - -Yet never a shot was fired. - -The distance that separated them was too great. - -Nearer and nearer drew the bandits and the Indians and farther and -farther were the cavalrymen getting from the ravine. - -Less than two hundred yards separated the former. - -With eyes now in front, now turned behind, Jesse watched the approach -of his enemies. - -"Damme! I believe they're mad! Why don't they open fire?" snarled the -captain. - -To which of the two groups the words referred, the lieutenant did not -know and his recent, caustic reprimand prevented him from asking. - -His mind, however, was instantly diverted by his superior. - -"Ha! What's that mean?" cried the latter, then added instantly "Jesse's -turning. I see. He's making for the ravine. I've been fooled!" - -Almost choking with rage at the thought that he had allowed himself to -be out-generaled by the notorious cutthroat, the captain rose in his -stirrups, jerked his sabre from its scabbard and, pointing toward the -ravine, turned to his troopers, bellowing: - -"Fours oblique _and ride like Hell_!" - -Chuckling inwardly at the choler of their commander, the cavalrymen -executed the orders. - -As Jesse and his pals heard the frantic command, they yelled in -defiance, waving mocking goodbyes at the discomfited troopers as, -leaning forward along the necks of their ponies, they raced past the -head of the column of cavalrymen. - -Better than he had dared hope had the bandit-chieftain's ruse worked. - -But the end of the race for life was not yet. - -Though the world-famous desperado had held his course straight toward -the whooping Indians, his mind and eyes had been almost entirely upon -the troopers. - -When he had caught sight of the first troopers rising from the ravine -and realized the desperateness of the position of himself and his -companions, with that instinct which had made him so valuable an -asset to the old guerilla chieftain, Quantrell, in the days of the -Civil War, he had realized that the one chance of escape open, lay in -reaching the ravine. - -Yet his eyes, calculating the distance nicely, told him that, should he -make a dash for it, the troopers could head him off by riding along the -edge of the gorge. - -A moment he had been puzzled as to what to do. Then, in a flash, it had -come to him that by retracing his course and riding straight at the -howling savages he might be able to entice the soldiers to follow him, -abandoning their strategic advantages of the position along the ravine. - -With elation, he had seen the troopers fall into his snare. - -This accomplished, he had kept watch of their pursuit, waiting for the -instant when they should be so far away from the ravine that he could -beat them to it. - -At last the time came. - -With a whispered command, he had bidden his pals wheel and rush for the -gorge. - -Skilled horsemen all, they had accomplished the turn which was so -sudden that it would have unseated less expert riders. - -But so absorbed were they in watching the troopers that they had not -noticed five bucks who had broken away from their fellows and were -bearing down upon them with the speed of whirlwinds. - -Riding with marvelous ease and grace, the redmen closed upon them with -incredible rapidity. - -No whoop or yell did they utter. - -Their success in getting near enough to the men who had killed their -brother warriors and outraged their race by shooting their medicine -woman lay in their silence. - -Breathlessly the rest of the braves watched them. - -As the echoes of the outlaws' derisive shouts, when they dashed past -the head of the cavalry, died away, one of the bucks straightened and -raised his arm. - -Bang! went the pistol in his hand. - -The report of the gun was the first intimation Jesse and his pals had -of the proximity of the braves. - -And as the bullet whistled over their heads, they whirled on the backs -of their ponies to see who it was that had been able to get within -shooting distance of them, undiscovered. - -"Drop em! Drop 'em!" roared the world-famous desperado, adding a -terrible oath. - -Crash! went the dozen six shooters. - -The six outlaws were firing with a gun in each hand. - -But only one Indian toppled from his pony. - -"Again!" bellowed Jesse. "Get 'em this time!" - -Once more the twelve pistols barked. - -And once more only one brave fell. - -"What's the matter with you?" snarled the notorious outlaw. "_If we -don't get them, they'll get us!_" - -But the task imposed on the bandits was no easy one. - -Keeping their seats on the backs of their madly galloping mounts only -by the grips of their knees, the desperadoes were obliged to shoot with -their bodies twisted round to face behind them. - -And small wonder was it that their aim was bad. - -But on the three remaining redskins rushed, firing frantically and -behind them thundered the rest of the savages and the troopers, yelling -encouragement. - -No chance was there for the little band to throw off the pursuit when -they reached the ravine unless the trio of braves was killed. - -Cursing furiously as he saw the second volley had accomplished no more -than the first, Jesse forebore to call for another. - -Well he knew that it had been the bullets from the gun in his right -hand that had toppled the two Indians from the horses and he made up -his mind that upon him devolved the killing of the others. - -With the marvelous rapidity that had won him his reputation, he snapped -his trusty "Colts" in quick succession. - -Two more of the savages pitched from their ponies. - -Again his guns spoke. - -Yet before he could see the result of his last attempt to drop the lone -buck, Homely Harry shrieked: - -"Watch out, boys! We're right on to the ravine!" - -The warning came too late. - -Even as the cry rang out, the bandits felt their ponies sink beneath -them as the animals rushed over the edge of the gorge. - -Never was such horsemanship as Jesse and his pals displayed. - -To the average man, the plunge taken at the whirl-wind speed of the -ponies would have meant death. - -Turning the instant their pal's voice had sounded, the bandits steadied -themselves by bracing their hands, still holding their revolvers, -against the necks of their mounts, leaning back to offset the shock -when the ponies should strike the brush-covered bottom of the ravine -that yawned beneath them. - -To any one in the gorge, they would have seemed like huge, ungainly -birds sailing through the air. - -For so terrific was the pace at which the animals had approached the -ravine that their momentum carried them far out over the brush ere they -began to drop. - -"Be ready to slide when the pintos strikes!" yelled Comanche Tony, -quickly realizing the danger. "If you tries to set your horses it will -mean your death!" - -Quickly his pals relaxed their muscles. - -And well was it that the old Indian fighter had given the advice. - -With feet braced stiff, the ponies struck the ground. - -There was a snapping and cracking and the poor beasts sank down, their -legs broken by the awful force of the impact. - -Yet even as they fell, the outlaws, prepared by the warning of Comanche -Tony, shot over their heads, landing in the bushes unscathed save for -scratches and the jolting they received as they struck. - -And as they picked themselves up, they heard the captain of the -troopers roar: - -"Find the horses! Jesse and the bunch'll be near 'em. No man could take -that plunge and come out whole." - -"That's where your wrong, old top," grinned the world-world famous -desperado. "Quick boys! drop on your hands and knees! We'll work up -the ravine a couple of rods from the ponies and then strike for the -side from which they jumped. Careful, now, we won the race. But if the -troopers or Injuns get their peepers on one of us, its death to the -whole bunch!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -DEW DROP AGAIN TO THE RESCUE. - - -Hurriedly the outlaws dropped to all fours and resumed their hazardous -attempt at escape. - -The bushes that grew in the ravine, fortunately for them, were of -sufficient height to conceal their bodies as they advanced. Yet mere -concealment, they knew, was not sufficient to insure their safety. - -Should the keen eyes of soldiers or savages detect a suspicious -movement among the brushwood, the hue and cry would instantly be raised. - -And, aware of this full well, the six sorely pressed bandits crawled -with infinite stealth. - -So near were the troopers that the creaking of their saddle leathers -was audible, followed almost instantly by the snapping and cracking of -twigs and bushes as the horses picked their way gingerly down the steep -side of the ravine. - -Eagerly the eyes of the cavalrymen searched the bottom of the gorge, -bent on discovering the forms of the horses, as their captain had -commanded. - -So thick was the tangle of brushwood, however, that it was several -minutes after the desperadoes had heard them crashing into the ravine -ere their hearts were set a flutter by excited cries, breaking from -several mouths at the same time: - -"There they are! On the farther side!" - -The announcement of the discovery was received with wild cheers. - -"Where? Which direction?" yelled those of the troopers whose sight -was unable to discern the dark forms of the ponies writhing in their -suffering. - -"To the East! To the East!" answered the ones who saw them. "Come on! -Come on! We've got 'em." - -Wild with the excitement of the soldiers at the prospect of capturing -the desperate cutthroats who had defied all efforts of an army -of man-hunters either to kill or to take them into custody, so -successfully. - -Yet scarce had the cries of the exuberant troopers rung out than their -commander bellowed: - -"Give 'em a volley before you ride at 'em. They're tricky devils!" - -In the exigencies of the moment all thought of military discipline was -forgotten. - -The captain knew his men and the men knew their captain. Many a -punitive expedition had they ridden on before, against outlaws and -renegade redskins alike and no need was there to waste time in giving -book-rule commands. - -No sooner had the words of caution left the officer's lips than the -troopers threw their carbines to their shoulders, sighted them on the -dark, struggling forms in the brushwood and pulled the triggers. - -With deafening roar the guns spoke. - -Straight and true sped the bullets. - -But instead of stopping the heart beats of any of the James gang they -simply put an end to the miseries of the maimed ponies. - -As the report of the broadside rang out over the plains, the cavalrymen -urged their mounts forward, eager to be in at the death. - -In the stress of their emotions, they had not noticed that no shots had -been fired at them. - -Had they been more calm, this fact alone would have told them the -outlaws were not by the ponies. - -And it was not till they had reached the bodies of the beasts, -dismounted and searched the nearby bushes that they found that Jesse -and his band had again outwitted them. - -But when the fact dawned on them, loud and forceful were their curses. - -"Beat up and down the gorge!" shouted the lieutenant, believing that -the mistake of his superior gave him a license to issue commands. - -"Shut up, you dunderhead!" roared the captain, his face livid with -rage. "I was chasing men when you were in swaddling clothes. I know how -they act. - -"_The bandits have crossed the ravine and struck into the brush beyond! -After them!_" - -In a wild scramble, the troopers mounted the farther side of the -ravine, gained the edge and were soon lost to view. - -And as the world-famous desperado, peering cautiously from the -brushwood, saw they had vanished, he heaved a mighty sigh of relief. - -Terrible, indeed, had been the suspense of the six men crawling on -hands and knees under cover of the bushes. - -On their ears alone had they been obliged to rely to tell them what was -transpiring about them, for they dared not raise their heads to look, -lest the eyes of the troopers decry them. - -When they had heard the crash of the volley, Jesse had turned toward -the very bank from which it was fired. - -And as the soldiers descended to learn the result of their shots, the -outlaws had crept up the steep incline. - -Of necessity, their progress was slow and not more than half way to the -top were they when the words of the captain, expressing his belief that -his quarry was on the farther plain, had reached them. - -Still crawling, the bandit-chieftain had waited till he thought -sufficient time had elapsed for all to have gained the plains before he -ventured to look to make sure. - -And when he found that the cavalrymen had, indeed, disappeared over the -opposite bank, he quickly apprised his companions. - -"I'll bet my hair's turned white," ejaculated Wild Bill. "I ain't never -been through no such tryout before an' I don't want to agin." - -"Don't crow too soon," admonished Comanche Tony. "We ain't clear -yet--by a long shot." - -"Right you are, pard," declared Jesse, "And it doesn't look as though -we'd get clear," he added. "Duck, boys, duck! Here comes the Injuns! -Skirt the edge of the bank!" - -Luckily for themselves, none of the outlaws had risen from the -brushwood so that their chief's exhortation was unnecessary and, with -agility born of desperation, they struck westward along the crest of -the gorge. - -When they had seen the troopers change their direction and rush madly -after the fleeing bandits, the savages had checked their pursuit, all -but the five whom Jesse had sent to the Happy Hunting Ground. - -No love did they bear for the soldiers and they were not eager to -mingle with them, even though they were engaged in the chase of a -common foe. - -Hurriedly Great Bear had passed the word for silence and, sitting on -their ponies like statues, they had advanced at a walk. - -Not even the roar of the carbines had induced the chieftain to increase -the pace. - -But when he saw the forms of the cavalrymen mounting the farther edge -of the ravine, he became interested. - -"Jess Jame fool um paleface!" he grunted, his eyes twinkling with -delight. "Sojers no get Jess. Injun got chance." - -If the bandits had, indeed, taken to the plains across the gorge, -Great Bear knew that he and his braves were as likely to find them as -the troopers. But because he was wise in his generation, the wily old -warrior again enjoined his braves to silence that they might surprise -the little band had they doubled on their tracks as he more than half -suspected. - -The shoeless hoofs of their ponies making scarcely no sound because -of the thunderous charge of the cavalry on the farther plains, the -redskins bore down on the ravine. - -But, as the reader knows, Jesse had seen them and, with his pals, was -scurrying from their path. - -The Indians slowed up as they reached the edge of the ravine, then -descended, crossed, mounted the other side, and swept on in the trail -of the soldiers. - -Pausing as he heard the bucks plunge into the gorge, Jesse parted the -bushes at his side, peering at the dark, tossing forms. - -Cautiously his pals followed his example. - -Never had men seemed to move so slowly as did the Indians in crossing -the gulch. - -But at last only a few stragglers had not mounted to the plains. - -"Quick, boys! Crawl to the top of the bank, only keep under cover!" -whispered the world-famous desperado. - -With alacrity his companions obeyed. - -A rod he led them, still on their hands and knees, after they had -gained the level. - -"There's no danger of our being seen now, I reckon," he declared, -rising to his feet. "But we won't run any risk by showing too much of -ourselves. - -"Come on! While the Injuns and troopers are searching the other side of -the ravine, we'll get back to the cliffs on this." - -Overjoyed at their escape from the foes, which seemed little short -of miraculous, the bandits broke into a swift, steady jog trot that -carried them rapidly over the ground. - -Nearer and nearer they approached the rocks that towered majestically -ahead of them. - -But just as safety seemed within their grasp, Frank gasped: - -"I'm all in! The--wo--wound--in--my--leg." - -And he sank to the ground, in collapse. - -Muttering an oath under his breath at this misfortune when all was -going so well, Jesse hurried to the side of his brother and the others -joined him. - -"Take an arm, Texas," snapped the bandit-chieftain, as he put his own -hand under Frank's left shoulder and lifted him to his feet. - -Quickly the other obeyed and, supporting their exhausted comrade -between them, they resumed their progress toward the cliffs. - -"I reckon we might as well go back into the canyon," asserted the -world-famous desperado. - -"We'll climb up to the table land where we rescued Tony and rest for a -few days. We can see all about us. No one can surprise us and the bucks -and troopers would never think we'd go back. - -"We'll be able to find something we can eat." - -This suggestion met with the approval of the others and the little band -bent their steps toward the black cleft that marked the entrance into -the rocky defile. - -Occasional glances behind them told them that none of the pursuers had -returned from the chase. - -Indeed, no moving object could they discover in any direction and, with -hearts beating light at their successful escape from the blood-thirsty, -revenge-craving savages and the cavalrymen whose ire had been roused by -their strategic errors, they were just about to enter the canyon when a -lithe figure darted toward them from behind a boulder. - -"It's more of the red devils," snarled Wild Bill, whipping out his -guns. "We _are_ smart--I don't think. While we've been patting -ourselves on the back, they've been lying here, waiting for us." - -Yet the alarm of the outlaws was short-lived. - -Ere any of them could draw their weapons, a voice cooed, softly: - -"Don' shoot! Don' shoot! Me Dew Drop!" - -The relief the words brought to the bandits, who feared the fruits of -their desperate escape and retreat were to be snatched from them, was -inexpressible and it was turned to outright joy as the Indian maiden -continued: - -"Dew Drop take um Jess Jame to safe cave. Heap food. Heap water in -pool. Then Dew Drop leave. Injun move camp, Dew Drop got go." - -"Then if they're going to take you along, they haven't got wise to your -hiding us in Kaw-Kaw's cave, I judge," exclaimed the bandit-chieftain, -glad to know the assistance which had been so opportune to his little -band had brought no trouble to the girl. - -"Squaws no know. Bucks forget 'fore get back. Um go on raid. Sojers no -be in forts now," returned Dew Drop. - -"Sorry I didn't pot more of 'em if that's what they're up to," grunted -the world-famous desperado. - -But his good fairy did not understand what he meant and prattled -artlessly. - -Skirting the base of the precipice, Dew Drop passed the mouth of the -canyon and led them more than a mile beyond, stopping when she reached -a fissure that ran from top to base. - -Squeezing into it, the bandits were plunged in darkness. - -Putting his hand on his guide's shoulder, Jesse bade his men hold onto -the one in front of him and in single file they advanced till they -could feel from the change in the air that they had reached the cave. - -"Dew Drop no stay," declared the maid, slipping from the -bandit-chieftain's hand. "Mus' join um squaw. Paleface fin' grub, -water. So long." - -And, ere any of the outlaws had the time to protest, the Indian maiden -sped from them, leaving them in the unknown cave in pitch darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -IN THE FATAL CIRCLE. - - -But Jesse had plans other than to permit the soft-voiced Indian maiden -to desert them thus suddenly. - -Without a word, with the quickness of a panther he sprang after her -leaving the others helpless and surprised at the unexpected action of -their chief. - -"Has Jess gone plumb bug house?" breathed Tony, scarcely daring to -trust his voice. - -"Everybody's got wheels in this devil's neighborhood," averred Texas. - -"And if he ain't he will have in the hole we're in now," added Homely -Harry. - -Frank groaned weakly. - -"Hey, pard," interrupted Tony, suddenly bethinking himself of their -wounded companion, "How you comin' along?" - -"Give me a drink," returned the elder James brother in a voice scarcely -above a whisper. "I feel as if I was dying." - -"Bosh," retorted Tony. "I know them symptoms. You're been loosin' some -red juice. Here, take a pull at the flask. It'll put you right in a -jiffy." - -Frank James gulped down the liquor greedily, so much so that for the -instant it nearly strangled him. - -"How's that," grinned Tony in the darkness, fetching the flask away and -restoring it to his ample hip pocket. - -"B--b--better," coughed Frank. "But I'll be bad again in a minute. -Where's Jess?" - -"Dunno. He vamoosed like a lightning bug. Sloped after the Indian -maiden I guess." - -"Call him back quick," demanded Frank. "You, Texas. Hurry or I'll bleed -to death. I'm bad hurt, I tell you fellows." - -Without an instant's hesitation Texas sprang away to do the wounded -man's bidding, regardless of any personal danger to himself. - -But Texas did not have far to go. - -Just without the cave he was grasped in a grip of iron. His hand flew -to his belt. - -"Stop, you fool! Where are you going!" hissed Jesse in his ear. - -"Gad, what a fright you gave me," gasped Texas. "I was going for you. -Frank's bad and said you'd got to come right away. Oh there's the girl, -eh." - -"Bad? Come along Dew Drop," and without further parley Jesse led the -way into the cave, keeping tight hold on the Indian girl, who though -reluctant, made no protest at being dragged back by the man she had -just saved. - -"Somebody strike a light," demanded the great bandit. - -"No, no," protested Dew Drop with a quick pressure on the outlaw's arm. -"Injun smell smoke. Stop um hole up an catch pale face. Jess Jame and -other pale faces come with Dew Drop." - -"All right go ahead and we'll follow," decided Jesse. "Frank can you -walk?" - -Frank groaned. - -"Pick him up, two of you and follow. Be careful." - -Not a word was spoken as the strange procession moved silently on, -deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mountain. - -The silence was, after what had seemed an age to the men whose nerves -were tensed by the strangeness of the cave, broken by the voice of the -Indian girl. - -"Pale faces git down um bellies," she directed tersely. "Me go first." - -Suiting the action to the word Dew Drop threw herself down and crawled -through a hole in the rock. But Jesse, who followed, did not succeed in -passing the narrow opening with the same ease that Dew Drop had, but -he finally accomplished the feat with sundry exclamations of disgust -beneath his breath. - -Texas, more ample of girth, got stuck in the hole, which he had -attempted to get through feet first, and he could not move either way. -Jesse solved the difficulty quickly by grabbing the unfortunate outlaw -by the feet and jerking him in beside him. - -But with Frank the task was still more difficult. - -"Easy there," commanded the bandit-chieftain. "Put him through head -first and I will draw him in." - -This they did, and though Frank groaned and begged piteously the move -was quickly executed. - -Dew Drop now led the way again, which Jesse observed led slowly upward -and that the air was freshening as they proceeded. - -At last the Indian maiden came to a quick stop. - -"Light um fire," she directed tersely. - -It was the work of a moment for Jesse to strike a match and to his -intense satisfaction he discovered a pile of dry limbs in one corner -of the chamber where they had halted, and a blazing fire was burning -quickly. - -The men uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -What they saw challenged the admiration of every man present. - -Millions of brilliant stalactites hung suspended from the domed arch -above them, and gave back scintillating flashes from the light of the -flames. For the moment they forgot the real purpose of their presence -there. - -"Diamonds, by Judas," exclaimed Homely Harry in open mouthed wonder. - -"Diamonds, your eye," returned Texas. "Them ain't no diamonds. I know -the kind, I've seen them before." - -But Jesse had given no heed to their expressions of admiration. - -Instantly the fire was started, he dropped down by the side of his -wounded brother, making a hurried examination of his wounds. - -"Give me a piece of lariat," he commanded. - -Tony passed over a strip of tough leather. With this the -outlaw-chieftain bound the leg just above the wound, administering a -drink from his own flask, and turned to Dew Drop. - -"Got any saw bones around here?" he demanded sharply. "That's what I -brought you back for." - -The Indian girl looked at him blankly. - -"Pale face medicine man," he explained. - -Dew Drop smiled understandingly, but shook her head. - -"Two suns journey," she explained, pointing to the north. - -"Got a medicine man in your village, then? We've got to have some one -here quick and I guess a medicine man of one color is about as good as -another." - -"Great Bear him got medicine man," explained the girl. "No get medicine -man. Great Bear kill white man; Great Bear kill me." - -"We'll kill Great Bear; so, that'll be a toss up. You go get the -medicine man. Tell him your Indian beau is down in the canyon so badly -wounded that he will die and fetch him here." - -"Dew Drop fraid," she protested. - -"Don't worry, we'll fix him so he won't hurt you. I will follow along -behind you to see that no harm comes to you. Two of you men go outside -the cave after a while and hide there and when Dew Drop brings the man -you jump on him, and carry him in--" - -"No, no," answered the maiden hurriedly, "me put out um medicine man -eyes." - -"Put out his eyes?" demanded Jesse in surprise. - -"So," drawing her hand across her eyes and to the back of her head. - -"Oh, I see: you mean to blindfold him? But how are you going to do it?" - -"Me tell um take um cave of Great Spirit and must not see." - -The others gazed at the girl blankly. Jesse haw-hawed loudly. - -"Well, you are a wise little savage. I guess Jesse James and his band -had better hang around here a while and take some lessons from you. -What do you say, boys? Dew Drop ain't near so soft as her name, is she -now?" - -"She ain't that," they chorused. - -"Oh hurry up," urged Frank. - -With that, Jesse and the girl quickly made their way out of the cave. -Once outside he gave the girl explicit directions, and without further -delay she sped away, quickly disappearing amid the foliage without so -much as betraying her movements by the snapping of a dry twig. - -"A snake couldn't get away any quieter than that," nodded Jesse -approvingly, and after a keen survey of rock and wood he too slipped -away in the direction that Dew Drop had taken. - -Not quite sure of his way, Jesse cautiously mounted a rock and, shading -his eyes from the setting sun, peered off to the north. - -He found what he was looking for, and, dropping from his perch once -more took up his cautious way toward the Indian village. That he was -going toward what would prove certain death, should any watchful, -sneaking redskin chance to discover him or even come upon his trail, -did not trouble the great bandit in the least. - -His brother's life was at stake and that there might be no slip up he -would follow clear to the Indian village, if necessary. - -"I'll bring back the medicine man dead or alive," he swore under his -breath. - -Twilight was deepening and Jesse went more boldly on. But he had made -a fatal move. He had done a thing that he would not have done had -his band of hardy outlaws been with him, for then Jesse's sense of -responsibility would have been doubly heavy. - -He might expose his own life to peril unnecessarily. But for his -companions, no. He took no more chances than was necessary where they -were concerned. - -During the brief moment that he had stood poised on the rock, however, -the field glass of a United States Cavalry officer chanced to be -trained on that very spot. More than that the pair of eyes behind the -glass, also chanced to belong to the very officer with whom the band -had mixed it up earlier. - -The Captain uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -"Quick! mount!" he commanded. "Not a word as you value your lives." - -Trained to instant obedience, the troopers sprang into their saddles. -They did not know what the order portended, nor did they care. The -Captains manner meant that there was excitement ahead and that a brush -with the red skins was more than likely at no distant moment. - -"Red skins?" asked the young Lieutenant, in a low voice, riding up -beside his superior officer. - -"Worse," was his laconic reply. "James, and he was alone when I saw -him. I think he is out reconnoitering. We'll bag him this time I hope." - -"That ought to be easy if he is alone," returned the Lieutenant. - -"Humph," snorted the Captain. "You'll learn more as you grow older. -I'd rather hunt savages than those Missouri outlaws, for when it -comes to devilish tricks, the Missourians can give the Indians points -blindfolded. - -"Halt! Dismount! - -"Tether your ponies." - -"Where away?" asked the Lieutenant softly. - -"To the north. He should be near us providing he has not changed his -course and I don't think he has, for very good reasons too." - -"Why, Captain." - -"Because, young man, on one side is an Indian village full of savages -thirsting for his blood, and on the other a sheer precipice dropping -down a few hundred feet only. We are on the third side, and, unless he -turns back there is only one course open for him--to run into us. - -"Throw your men out into a circle. Conceal them behind boulders. We -should get him in the circle that way, and once there I don't think he -will get away. - -"Catch him alive if you can. Kill him if you have to." - -Silence again fell over the night. - -The troopers trained to tread on velvet feet, slipped along like so -many silent shadows. - -But every first right finger trembled on a trigger. - -They knew the man they had to deal with, and the mere click of a -gunlock on their part might mean instant death at the hand of the great -bandit. - -They lay down. - -Each tree and rock beyond seemed to hold a lurking shadow, so tensely -strained were their nerves and vivid their imaginations. - -A twig snapped among the trees in the dense shadows. But not a man -stirred. For long minutes they waited there, scarcely drawing a free -breath. - -The men needed no orders from their captain, no imposition for silent -caution. They were trained too finely in Indian warfare to need such -injunctions. - -If indeed it were the great outlaw himself who stood under the -spreading trees whence had come the warning sound, they knew he would -not move for some time. Not until he had waited the effect of his -incautious step would he move a muscle of his body, and perhaps he -would be standing with one foot poised in the air, every sense keenly -alert, his eyes piercing the shadows with almost superhuman vision. - -To such extremes are men's senses trained, who live in momentary -expectation of the blinding crash and the bullet between the eyes. - -The troopers heard no further sound. - -Their eyes suddenly began to blink. They could scarcely credit what -they saw. - -Right in the middle of the moonlit space, as if he had risen from the -ground, stood the great outlaw himself. - -How he had come there without their observing him, was beyond their -understanding. - -He was standing behind a large boulder, hat tipped back, his features -plainly outlined in the brilliant moonlight, nose and face tipped -upward as if scenting danger in the air. - -Twenty trigger fingers twitched nervously, and as many Winchesters -swung silently until they focused on the figure no more than twenty -paces distant. - -The great desperado poised there like a statue, hands and arms hanging -listlessly at his sides, guns in their holsters as if there was no -expectation of their being needed for instant use. - -But this did not deceive Uncle Sam's Indian fighters. They were too -familiar with Jesse James' reputation for quickness on the trigger not -to understand that the mere glint of a moonbeam along a rifle barrel -would mean death to the soldier behind it almost before he could pull -his own trigger. - -Like a blow in the face came the sudden command: - -"Put up your hands, Jesse James!" - -"Crash!" - -Both the desperadoe's "Colts" spoke in a single explosion, and the -Captain yelled with pain as a bullet tore through one arm. - -"Give it to him!" he roared. - -"Fire in a volley." - -The roar of the heavy Winchesters sent the leaves of the trees a -rustling and even the rocks and earth catching up the note, responded -with a tremor. - -Dimly they could see the figure of the outlaw stretched out on the -ground in the shadow of the boulder after the smoke had drifted away. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -WHEN THE EARTH FELL APART. - - -Just before leaving the cave the great desperado had whispered a word -of command to Tony and Texas. - -But the nature of the orders so secretly conveyed the others did not -know, and none save Frank felt licensed to make inquiry, for Jesse was -apt to administer a sharp rebuke that the inquisitive one would not -soon forget. - -Being the interested party the elder James brother glared suspiciously -at the two bandits. - -"See here, you mutts," he exploded with all his remaining strength, "I -know what you are up to. You think my leg has got to come off and Jess -didn't want me to know about it cause I'd make a ruction. - -"Take it from me, you've got another guess coming. The leg is mine -and it's on to stay. Time enough to plant it when I'm put away. Nice -looking chump I'd be hopping around on one peg, eh?" he laughed -maliciously. - -"You're wrong, Frank," corrected Texas. "You ain't so bad off either. -I'll gamble my spurs on it, that it's only a flesh wound and there -ain't no bullet in there at all. But them gunshot wounds is nasty -things, and what the chief wants is for that redskin sawbones to put on -a lotion that will draw out the poison and--" - -"Then what did he want to be so danged secret like with you duffers -for? That's what gets me. You tell me right now or I'll give you a dose -of the same medicine I got!" he growled menacingly. - -Tony laughed good-naturedly. - -"Jest a little job Jess had put up to save the girl's skin. What do you -s'pose would have happened to her if she brought the medicine man here. -Sure as you're alive, she'd a been in a bad way if the redskins got -wise to what she's doin' with the medicine man. Do you get it?" - -Frank nodded and emitted a sigh of relief. - -"I just wanted to give you all a tip that I've got a gun or two in my -belt, and what's more, they are liable to go off if any of you dubs -monkey with this peg of mine. See?" - -But Tony and Texas, grinning broadly, had slipped away, their -moccasined feet giving no intimation of their departure on the mission -of the chief. - -The time seemed interminable to Frank and the wounded leg gave him -much pain, as he twisted and swore at intervals over the long delay in -bringing help. - -Night had fallen by the time the two bandits reached the opening of the -cave. They had proceeded only a short distance beyond when their keen -ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps. - -Quickly secreting themselves and crouching low the men awaited the -nearer approach of the strangers, eyes keenly bent in the direction of -the faint sound they had heard beyond. - -They had only a moment to wait. - -Tony nudged his companion and nodded his head. - -"Them's them," he ejaculated sententiously. - -"And by my spurs he's a giant," added Texas. - -"Yes, and there the gal behind him, Tex. She's a wonder." - -"There's some things worse'n some squaws," replied Texas. - -"S--h--h--h," cautioned Tony. - -"I'll take the big one and you get the girl, but don't hurt her. Give -her a hunch as to what we're up to as soon as you get your clamps on -her. Now." - -Silently and with bated breaths, the two desperadoes waited until the -medicine man, who indeed did loom up a veritable giant in stature, had -passed Texas. - -He was right beside Tony now, and so close that the bandit could easily -have reached out and touched him. But Tony did not propose to adopt the -ordinary methods of catching an Indian and for the very good reason -that he had no ordinary man to deal with. - -His plans had been quickly matured. And what he did was successful from -the very novelty of the proceeding. - -What Tony did was to shove a stout stick squarely between the medicine -man's shins, at the same time giving a quick, sharp twist. - -The effect was magical. - -The Indian plunged head foremost to the ground, his feet waving wildly -in the air for a moment. But before he could gain equilibrium or cry -out, the same stout stick came down on his head with crushing force. - -The copper-hued sawbones lay still. - -"Holy snakes!" exclaimed Texas with genuine admiration. "Ef that ain't -the all-firedest way to catch a doctor that I ever seen. Here, my -pretty squaw, you're my prisoner too. Now come along like a good little -papoose." - -Dew Drop, with a surprised look in her eyes, turned to flee. Texas -caught her. - -"Keep yer head plumb. We're just makin' believe capturin' you and when -old sawbones wakes up we'll have you tied so he don't get wise to your -little game. See?" - -A smile slowly rippled over the face of the little red girl. - -"Pale face smart like Indian," she answered, nodding her head -vigorously. "Um hurry. Big Bear and braves up yonder. Come for Jess -Jame pretty soon." - -"Jess?" questioned Tony rising from the medicine man whose arms and -hands he had been pinioning. "By the way, where's the chief. He went -with you, didn't he?" - -Dew Drop shook her head. - -"Dew Drop no see um." - -"That's funny. Lend a hand here, Texas and let's get this red devil -into the cave. No need to blindfold him now--" - -"Didn't put out his light, did you Tony?" asked Texas a bit anxiously. - -"Kill him? N--a--w. Head's too thick to break if a log fell on it." - -It was no easy task to get the inanimate form of the giant to the cave. -At first they essayed to carry him, one at the head, the other at the -feet. - -Tony dropped his burden in disgust. - -"Say, Texas, come here. This is too much like work. Jest get hold of -his feet with me and we'll drag him the rest of the way--" - -"But it will hurt him," protested Texas. - -"What, hurt a redskin? G'wan. It'll wake him up, that's all, and he'll -be fit as a fiddle when we git him into the cave. Come along." - -The way was rough and the sacred medicine man got the roughest voyage -of his life for the next few moments. And as Tony had predicted, by the -time they had reached the entrance to the cave, his eyes were open -and he was glaring at his captors with malignant eyes. He could speak -no word because Tony with rare forethought had twisted a gag into his -mouth, fearing that should the man come to he might give the alarm and -bring down some lurking savages on them. - -Just before reaching the mouth of the cave Texas, at his companion's -bidding, bound a handkerchief over the prisoner's eyes. Then with great -caution, they hauled him into the hole in the rocks. - -Being a large man the savage went through the smaller hole opening into -the large chamber, with much less ease than had the bandits. In fact -they had pulled him only half way through when he stuck there fast. - -"Can't make it. He's too fat," decided Texas. - -"Can't? Wait. I know the breed. He's making himself fat--swelling -himself out. Here you savage," roared Tony, "we're going to give a good -long pull and if you don't come through we'll fix you so you do." - -The medicine man grunted. - -"That's right, grunt. But you'll grunt harder when I get through with -you. And understand me, and if you don't get through this time, Harry -here will slice off a few slabs of flesh so you'll fit. Harry'll do a -good job too, and don't you forget it, for he used to slaughter cattle -on a range out in Missouri. Now draw in your belly unless you want to -lose some skin. Heave away boys." - -The bandits counting, "one, two, three," gave a mighty pull. - -This time the medicine man came through, but little rivulets of blood -trickled down his sides as they pulled him into the brilliantly lighted -room. There they removed his blindfold and released his arms, after -first taking possession of his knife. - -The redskin's glance swept the room, then rested on Dew Drop. - -But the little Indian maiden was acting her part to perfection. Tied -hand and foot, she had been stood against one side of the chamber, -where she rested, her eyes blazing with well-assumed hate at her -captors. - -"Big Bear kill um pale faces," she gritted. - -"Never you mind about Big Bear," retorted Tony. "If there's any killing -going on we will take a hand in it ourselves. We shall not hurt you if -you keep quiet--" - -"Indian girl no fraid white man. She stick um knife some day, maybe." - -"Ho, ho," roared Texas. - -"Our little pussey has sharp claws," interjected Homely Harry. - -Frank had been taken into the next chamber, an apartment somewhat -smaller than the one they were in, and there they carried the Indian -medicine man after having instructed him as to what was expected of him. - -They planked him down beside the wounded man. - -Frank's right hand slipped down to his trusty "Colt." - -But the Indian made no move. - -Tony's face grew stony. - -"You red devil," he cried, "don't get stubborn. Do as we demand and no -harm will come to you, but if you don't fix this man up inside of ten -minutes--by the watch, remember--you're a dead Indian. Get busy!" - -The Indian bent a keen glance on Tony, then looked sharply from one to -the other of the assemblage as if to satisfy himself that he was not -being tricked. - -But there was no trickery lurking at the corners of the stern mouths of -the desperate men. - -"Kill um pale face," urged Dew Drop with a vicious snap of the jaws. - -"Ugh," grunted the medicine man with a shake of his head, as he slowly -began drawing a variety of herbs from his belt. These he quickly meshed -together with a stone, and, forming them into a poultice applied it to -the wounds of Frank James. - -The latter let out a yell and tugged at his gun. - -But Tony anticipating just such a move, closed over his wrist in a -vice-like grip. - -"Easy pard," he cautioned. "The poultice is drawing out the pizen. It -won't hurt but a minute, will it old sawbones?" peering up into the -savage face before him for confirmation of his words. - -"White man cry out, then hurt go way," grunted the savage. - -"There, what did I tell you," chortled Tony. "Poultice goes on, you -yell like--like--like you did, and pain goes away. That's it." - -"Oh, shut up," snarled Frank, the lines of his face drawing sharply -under the excruciating pain he was enduring. - -"How--how long is this going to keep up?" he demanded. - -"Yes, when can the captain get out again?" chimed in Homely Harry. - -"White man walk byemby," returned the man of herbs. "Before sun up he -go out. Then mebbe Indian kill um." - -"That's alright, Reddy; we'll be there for the killing. But we don't -'low we've got any hard feelings again you. Hey, boys?" - -"Sure not," chorused the others. - -Crossing the medicine man's palm with a gold piece, to his intense -surprise and satisfaction, they again led him into the vaulted chamber -and releasing Dew Drop bade her bind the cloth about his eyes once more. - -Tony seeing that his orders were being obeyed, had stepped back to -speak to Frank as to the best means of disposing of their prisoners. As -he turned he observed that the Indian girl was feeding embers to the -fire the better to light their way out. - -But the desperado had no more than turned his back on the savage and -the girl ere the rocks beneath him were shaken by a mighty tremor. - -A sudden and awful roar smote his ears. - -A fearful blow seemed to have been struck across his eyes. - -The air was full of hurling rocks and debris. - -Tony and his companions were tumbled together in a confused heap, -yelling in terror at the awful thing that had happened, though they -knew not what it meant. - -Rocks and particles rained down upon their bodies with sickening force. - -But the desperate men neither heard nor felt now. - -A sudden darkness had settled over them and they lay motionless and -lifeless. - -A mighty explosion had rent the cave from end to end. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -IN A LIVING TOMB. - - -It might have been hours for aught they knew that they had lain there. - -Frank was the first to regain consciousness. He heard someone groan and -called out demanding whose voice it was. - -"It's Tony, or what little is left of him," was the answer. - -"Are you hurt?" - -"Donno. Feel as if the roof had caved in on me. Where's the rest of the -gang?" - -"If they only have got out of it as easily as we have we can count -ourselves the luckiest men on earth," returned the elder James boy with -emphasis. - -Forgetting his recent wound, which the herbs of the medicine man had -most miraculously put to sleep so that he felt no pain at all, Frank -struggled to his feet and struck a match. Texas and Harry he espied -lying in a heap in one corner half hidden by the debris which had -fallen upon them. - -Out of the wreck he gathered some sticks and rekindled the fire which -in a moment brightly illuminated the chamber. The scene that met his -gaze was one of wreck and ruin. - -But to this the bandit gave no heed. His first care was for the other -members of the band. - -"They're alive, Tony," he cried, "every man of them. Come help me get -them out--" - -"You'll have to get Tony out first, I'm thinkin'. I'm wedged in here -under this heap of stuff tighter'n a sardine in a box." - -It was but the work of a moment for Frank to release the imprisoned -desperado, and after taking careful inventory of his anatomy and -learning to his delight that no bones had been broken, both men turned -to with a will and began digging out their companions. - -"Thank Providence, or whatever or whoever did it, that my flask was not -broken," exclaimed Frank. - -"Here, hold Texas's head while I pour a few fingers down his throat. -That'll bring him around if anything will." - -And it did. Texas gasped, strangled, sat up and swore roundly. - -The others were quickly restored to consciousness and the men were -overjoyed that all had escaped. - -"Say," spoke up Tony suddenly. "That explosion come from that other -room there. What do you s'pose did it--" - -"And the medicine man and the squaw were in there alone, weren't they?" -asked Frank. - -"By the gods you're right," exclaimed Texas. - -With one accord each man grabbed up a burning brand and climbing over -the obstructions that the explosion had placed in their way, dashed -into the adjoining chamber. - -If anything the disaster had been greater here than in the other room. - -"There's the redskin all shot to pieces," cried Harry. - -"Yes, deader'n a tick," agreed Texas. "But where is the gal?" - -"Yes, where is the girl?" demanded Frank suddenly aroused to action. - -"Blown into little pieces. She's too tender to stand a racket that -would put out a giant like the medicine man," opined Tony. "But where -the devil is she? There ain't no pieces of her layin' about here as I -sees. It makes a feller shivery--like--kinder weak under the belt." - -"Dig! Dig like hell every man of you!" roared Frank in a frenzy of -haste at thought that the girl who had proved such a friend in need -might be dying within a few feet of them for want of a willing hand to -give her succor. - -They set to with a will. - -"Dew Drop here," piped a voice that seemed to come out of the air, but -from just what direction none could say. - -They looked about; peered into every corner and crevice, then faced -each other questioningly. - -"Hello!" shouted Frank, but only the echoes of his own voice came back -to him. - -"Mebby it's the Great Spirit she was tellin' us about," suggested Texas -with a hoarseness in his throat that he tried vainly to down. "She's a -dead one that's sure--" - -"Dew Drop no go Happy Hunting Ground; Medicine man he go Happy Hunting -Ground. Mebby Jesse Jame he happy Hunting Ground," came in the -plaintive tone of the Indian maiden. - -It was maddening. - -In a moment these hardy desperadoes who had faced death in a thousand -forms, would feel their courage oozing from their finger tips and would -make a run for the outer air. - -"Where are you?" roared Frank. "Are you dead or alive?" - -"Me here; me no with Great Spirit." - -"Where?" bellowed Tony. "Where in the humping pizen snakes be you -anyhow? You sound as if you was over my head, but if you be you're a -dead one, and that goes." - -Frank with a sudden thought in his mind was shading his eyes from the -flaming torches and peering up into the shadows. There, more than ten -feet above their heads, he saw the form of the little Indian maiden -wedged in a crevice of rocks where she had evidently been hurled by the -sudden explosion. - -The men shouted for pure joy. - -"Jump, you little devil," shouted Texas, "we'll catch you." - -"Paleface say well. Dew Drop no jump." - -"Not jump? Don't be afraid," reassured Frank. - -"Dew Drop um no jump. Um fast," she wailed. - -"She's wedged in between the rocks," yelled Tony. "Git a ladder -somebody quick." - -Everybody laughed but it was evident that Tony in his excitement was in -dead earnest. - -"Yes, how we going to git the gal down?" demanded Texas. - -"Can't one of you take a running jump and reach her?" cried Frank. "If -my leg wasn't game I'd do it myself." - -"Yes, you would," sneered Tony. "You ain't no bird and neither be I. -That's twelve feet if its one up there." - -"I've got an idee," interrupted Homely Harry. "I'll stand agin the wall -and you fellers climb up on top of me, one top of tother. I've seen 'em -do that in a circus once. We kin git her down that way." - -Frank shot an approving glance at him. - -"You're the only one in the bunch that's got a head on his shoulders -about now I reckon. I ain't much on the climb, but try it and if you -don't get her, I'll go to the top of the pile myself." - -The agile mountaineers formed a human pyramid in a moment with Texas as -the top-mounter, Tony groaning beneath his weight and threatening every -moment to give way sending the pyramid a bruised and broken wreck to -the hard stone floor of the cave. - -It was with no little effort that they finally accomplished the feat of -releasing the girl from her rocky prison. - -But once free she slid down the pyramid with the grace of a lofty -tumbler. - -Tony and Texas came down rather less easily. - -"Now I want to know what this is all about?" demanded Frank when they -once more had recovered themselves. - -"Yes, what devil's prank put this joint on the blink?" added Tony. -"I've had some jars in my time, but I never did have such an all-fired -bump as this one." - -"Me not know," answered Dew Drop hanging her head. - -"What were you and the bones doing when it happened?" urged Frank, -pointing to the mangled remains of the medicine man. - -Dew Drop gazed at the horrid sight with emotionless eyes, then turned -toward them. - -"Me make fire burn one--two times--" - -"Yes, yes," they chorused. - -"You put wood on the fire to make it bright," added Frank. - -The Indian girl nodded. - -"What then?" - -"Make fire more. - -"Then heap fire like sun. Dew Drop go sleep. Great Spirit get um. Dew -Drop open eyes--see pale faces and um want see Dew Drop." - -Harry scratched his head. - -"Clear as the big Muddy in a spring freshet," agreed Tony. - -"Wait a minute," commanded Frank, raising a restraining hand. - -"You put one, two, three sticks on fire, then you put another?" - -Dew Drop nodded vigorously. - -"But when you put on the fourth one, hey?" - -"Um pale face he know." - -"Then the whole business went up?" - -Dew Drop puffed out her cheeks and said "Pouf! So." - -"Well I'll be damned!" exclaimed Frank. - -"What is it?" demanded Texas. - -"What was it?" urged Tony. - -"Dynamite!" snapped the desperado holding the girl with a wondering -gaze. "And you near put us all out of business at the same time. - -"Yes, dynamite. I understand it all now. _Jess must have left those -sticks here and the girl used one of them to build the fire with._ -It's a wonder it didn't blow us all to kingdom come." - -A loud guffaw greeted Frank's explanation. - -All danger past they could afford to look on the humorous side of the -disaster now. - -"Well, we got rid of old saw bones quicker'n we thought," chuckled -Tony. "Good thing Jesse wasn't here. It might have got him too, for -he'd a been right on top of it likely as not." - -"Jess. I had forgotten," cried Frank. "What has become of him? He's got -into trouble, I'll bet my spurs on it. It must have been hours since he -went away. - -"Say Dew Drop, did he go with you?" - -The girl shook her head. - -The men looked into each other's faces in dismay. - -"Come, we must find him," cried Frank, his face narrowing down until -the lines of it laid up in projecting, stern wrinkles. - -"Mebbe Big Bear git um Jess Jame," vouchsafed the girl stoically. - -"What's that?" demanded Frank suddenly turning on her. - -"Mebbe sojers git um Jess Jame." - -"Soldiers. No, they're miles away to the north of us by now. We headed -them toward the fort hours ago." - -"Sojers come back," averred the girl. - -"Came back? How do you know?" - -"Me see um, Me see injuns. Injuns he look for Jess Jame." - -"The girl is right," roared Frank. "Out of this devilish hole. They've -got him. What can one man do against a company of infantry and a whole -village of redskins. Come!" - -The bandit strode toward the opening whence they had first entered, -then stopped short. - -"Trapped!" he cried hoarsely. - -"The explosion has blocked our entrance. We're caught like rats in a -trap." - -The outlaws groaned. - -Hoarse curses and muttered imprecations were passed from lip to lip as -the enraged desperadoes ran from point to point seeking in vain for -some means of egress from their rocky tomb. - -"We're done for," snarled Tony, his hand slipping instinctively to his -pistol holster. - -"Jess will get us out somehow," soothed Harry. - -"No. Jess is probably in a worse fix than we are at this very minute," -exploded Frank, "and--" - -A timid pressure on his arm caused him to look suddenly down. - -"Well, what is it?" he demanded shortly. "Haven't you got us into -enough trouble already? What do you want now? Say it and say it quick." - -"Pale face um want go way?" - -"Want to? Holy snakes, hear the girl," laughed Tony harshly. "I -calkerlate it don't make a mighty sight of difference whether we want -to or not. We don't." - -"Silence!" commanded Frank. - -"Well, what is it, girl?" - -"Pale face want go--Dew Drop want go. Um show pale face." - -So astounded were the outlaws at her amazing confidence in her ability -to pilot them to freedom, that for a moment no one answered, and by -the time they had gathered their wits again, Dew Drop was tripping on -velvet feet to the chamber they had just left. - -They sprang after her eagerly, but just in time to see the girl -disappear behind a pyramid of rock and which they now discovered for -the first time, led into another passage. - -"Hold on," called Tony, "you're taking us further into this infernal -hole." - -But Dew Drop made no reply. - -Her confident manner brought hope to the bandit's hearts almost in -spite of their determination not to be trapped at any cost. - -"Bring lights," commanded Frank. - -They did so. - -As they progressed they noticed that their course was leading them up -and up, further and further, and with each rise of the trail their -spirits ascended proportionately. - -"Hooray! I see moonlight," cried Texas. "By gad we're getting out as -sure as you're alive." - -Dew Drop turned and laid a warning finger on her lips, and bent her -head in a listening attitude. - -"What is it?" they demanded in bated breaths. - -"Injuns," breathed the Indian maiden. - -Each right slipped to pistol holster. - -"Indians," muttered the desperadoes, and "Colts" were quickly -unsheathed. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -JESSE JAMES' DESPERATE LEAP. - - -Not a man moved. - -Every rifle was turned on the prostrate man. - -The captain peered suspiciously at the form of the great desperado for -a moment, then nodded his satisfaction. - -"Cease firing!" he commanded. - -Placing a whistle to his lips the officer blew a short, shrill blast. -Two troopers in response, came dashing up on their ponies, saluted and -sat at attention awaiting their leader's commands. - -"Boys, we have got him at last," he said, addressing the two troopers. -"That's Jesse James over there on his back. Sorry we had to kill him. -But it's my opinion he's safer that way. I knew we should get him -in time. Outlaws may fool posses indefinitely, but when it comes to -beating the United States Cavalry, that's different. Young man," he -continued, "let this be an object lesson to you in persistance. Four -times within the past twenty-four hours I am free to confess we have -been outwitted by the world's greatest desperado, but each time we came -back stronger than ever and as full of fight. You see the result. We -have done our full duty." - -"Yes, but what shall we do with the body, bury it or roll it into the -gully somewhere hereabouts?" asked the Lieutenant, stepping over toward -the body of the outlaw, then turning back. - -"Neither. Have some saplings cut and make a litter between two ponies. -We must get him to the fort immediately before it is too late. No one -would ever believe we had killed the world's greatest bandit unless we -had something better to show for it than our mere word. It is not that -they would doubt our word, but the rub is they know Jesse James," he -grinned. "And so do we," he added grimly. - -"Make haste now. We'll surely have the redskins down on us after all -this racket, and we've made a lot of it, I reckon." - -"I'll attend to it at once, sir," responded the Lieutenant. - -"Throw out pickets!" ordered the commander. "We are in a dangerous -strategical position here." - -"But what about the rest of the gang--do we go after them?" asked the -Lieutenant after executing his superior officer's commands. - -"Yes, we might as well clean house thoroughly while we are about it. -Let two men ride in with the body. They should reach the fort by -daybreak. We will remain here with the rest of the troop and finish -up the job. It should be easy to at least disperse the gang, now that -their leader has turned up his toes for the last time. It has been a -good job, Lieutenant, eh?" - -The young officer nodded and smiled, for his share in the great -achievement had been no small one and in all probability would bring -him much nearer to having a command of his own at no distant day. - -With the others, the army officer's words were accepted as final. -Meantime the troopers had constructed a litter and were now engaged -in dragging it to the spot where Jesse lay face up on the rocks, the -moonbeams lighting up his face with a ghastly pallor, to the strained -imagination of the soldiers. - -At a motion from the Lieutenant, the two mounted men rode their ponies -to the scene and sprang from their saddles to lift the inanimate form -of the fallen desperado to the litter to be conveyed to the fort some -thirty miles away. - -The men's Winchesters reposed safely in their saddle holsters, and -the ponies, unmindful of the tragic scene before them, calmly began -browsing on the tender underbrush. - -The two troopers bent over to lift the body to the litter that the -others were bringing up. - -At that instant a strange and unexpected thing happened. - -The supposed dead man moved. - -Both arms shot out and the moon beams caught and reflected a steely -glint in each hand. - -With lightning-like quickness the bandit's hands shot into the shadows -formed by the bodies of the two troopers. The movement was so slight as -to have been almost indistinguishable two paces away. - -The soldiers with a groan settled down in a heap. - -Yet nothing of the tragedy being enacted before their very eyes, -conveyed itself to the troopers just beyond, and the Captain was -calling out some order to the men that the bandit had laid low. They -did not know that two of their companions lay dying there, their life -blood staining the virgin rocks. - -"Hey, what is going on over there?" shouted the Captain, his keen eyes -noting something unusual in the attitude of his men. - -There was no response. - -"Lieutenant, you had better straighten out those men." - -With one movement, the great bandit had driven his bowies straight into -the hearts of the unsuspecting soldiers. In bending over him to raise -his body to the litter, they had presented a mark that the veriest -novice at man-killing, could not have missed by any chance. - -Their blood in crimson stream spurted into the face and eyes of the -blood-thirsty desperado, but the only emotion it stirred in him was to -arouse him to deepest anger. - -Not a bullet of the death-dealing volley had reached Jesse. With that -marvelous instinct that had saved his life on so many occasions in the -past, the outlaw had sensed the danger that confronted him, he knew -that the eyes of enemies were upon him, but whether of white men or -redskins, he did not know. - -Instantly his quick mind evolved a plan. He knew that death yawned in -the shadows there, which one false move would precipitate upon him. -With Jesse James, to think was to act. - -He dropped at the instant when twenty Winchesters hurled their death -missiles at him. But the leaden pellets sped harmlessly over his head. - -Instead of leaping to his feet and making a desperate dash for liberty, -as a less experienced man in the art of guerilla warfare might have -done, the great bandit stiffened out and lay motionless in well-feigned -emulation of death. - -His ruse was successful. - -But now the moment for action had arrived. Yet he did not move a -muscle and respiration seemed to have ceased utterly. - -One of the ponies moved a step forward, having sighted a fresh bit of -tender verdure. Its body was thus projected between the main arm of the -troop and the prostrate outlaw, hiding his movements from them. - -With a blood-curdling yell that sent terror to the hearts of the -soldiers for an instant, Jesse leaped to the startled pony's back. He -seemed to spring from the ground as if impelled by some giant spring. - -So unexpected had been the move that the troops stood paralyzed--unable -to move hand or foot. In fact, no comprehension of the real meaning of -the scene--of the terrible tragedy that had taken place before their -very eyes--had forced itself into their minds. - -The outlaw's yell of defiance had accomplished the exact result that he -had intended it should. - -"It's James!" roared the Captain in a fearful rage. - -"Take aim! - -"Fire!" - -Twenty Winchesters crashed, a dull flash of flame lighted up the -scene and was instantly lost in a pall of suffocating smoke, the -reverberations from the explosion, thundering from peak to peak of the -surrounding mountains. - -The command was repeated and again the guns of the troopers spoke -hoarsely. - -Coincident with the first volley the outlaw had thrown himself down on -the horse's side, away from the attacking force, Indian fashion. He was -a master of every trick known to savage warfare, learned in the school -of Quantrell years before. - -So suddenly had he gone down that at first they thought he had fallen. -But the world's greatest outlaw was not thus easily to be disposed of. - -"It's a trick," yelled the Captain. - -He was goaded to desperation. - -"Fire at will!" he commanded. - -"Give it to him! Shoot low and fast!" - -Still another heavy volley broke the stillness. - -"Mount and pursue!" came the stern command. - -Jesse rose in his saddle and swung the Winchester that he had drawn -from the saddle holster, on his enemies. - -Two soldiers bit the dust. - -The troopers sprang to saddle. The death of their companions had filled -them with mad lust for the blood of the desperado. Now they were -yelling like a band of Indians who had discovered that their coveted -prey was almost within their grasp. - -The fleeing bandit made a sudden discovery. The opposite side of the -circle of troops was drawing in on him. But instead of taking alarm, -Jesse was quick to note the advantage that their manoeuvre gave him. -The newcomers fired a volley into the air to warn the Captain of their -location that he might not fire into the ranks of his own men. - -Jesse shouted a jeer, and rising in his saddle again, pumped his -Winchester first into the ranks of one body of troops and then into the -other side, continuing to yell like a Comanche Indian on the warpath. - -It was maddening. Not a shot was fired in answer by the enemy. - -A blast of the bugle had commanded the troops to "cease firing." - -"Charge!" - -The notes of the command rippled musically from the bugler's horn and -the troops, swinging to saddle as one man, swept down in pursuit. - -They were moving in a half circle formation, now. - -"We've got him this time, sure," exulted the Captain. - -"Depends on whether our horses are faster than his, which I very much -doubt," objected the Lieutenant. - -"You've still got a few things to learn, young man," retorted his -superior officer. "When you have been in the service longer you'll find -out an officer has to use his eyes and every other sense that nature -has given him, if he expects to save his hide, letting alone catching -the enemy." - -"I don't catch you," shouted the Lieutenant above the sound of the -fleet-footed rushing ponies. - -"He is headed for the canyon. That's what I mean." - -"The canyon! Good God!" gasped the young officer. - -"Surrender!" roared the Captain. - -"It's sure death to go on." - -The desperado rose in his stirrups. He again emptied his Winchester -into the ranks of the pounding troop on his flanks. - -The feel of the swift-moving little Indian pony beneath him, filled -him with unholy joy. On a fleet-footed animal the great outlaw feared -neither man nor beast, and in very truth, few of the wild men or -savages of the turbulent west, were his equals in the saddle any more -than they were when it came to quickness on the trigger. - -Three ponies fell as the result of his deadly fire, and as many riders -were hurled into the air, an instant later to fall with a sickening -thud as they struck the hard ground. - -But the outlaw did not turn to note the result of his fusilade. He had -other momentous things to occupy his mind at that moment. - -Casting his Winchester aside he threw his full weight on his toes in -the stirrups and sat crouching like some wild animal about to spring -upon its unsuspecting prey. - -The desperado's eyes were fixed and staring. - -Ahead of him yawned the black and awful abyss. - -Driving in the rowels of his spurs until the pinto snorted with pain, -Jesse fairly threw the hardy little Indian pony at the rocky canyon. - -"My God, he is going over!" cried the Lieutenant, aghast at the awful -leap the great bandit was about to take. - -"He don't see it! He don't see it! - -"Halt! The canyon!" roared the young officer in the stress of his -excitement. For the moment he had forgotten that the man he was warning -was he for whose death half a continent was clamoring. - -"He knows it, you fool!" snarled the Captain. "Don't you see he's going -to jump it?" - -"But its certain death." - -"So is this," gritted the commander of the troop. "It's death either -way he takes it, back or front. - -"Call the halt or we'll be going over with him, the whole pack and -parcel of us." - -The bugle sounded its warning short and sharp. - -On the very brink of the precipice stood a giant spreading oak, and -into it's broad shadow the world-famous desperado drove his mount, a -veritable living projectile in its undeviating flight. - -The notes of the bugle trilled again and the horses of the troopers -slid to their haunches perilously near the brink. - -"Fire!" rang the stern command. - -Once more the heavy Winchesters crashed. - -A wild yell greeted the volley. - -But whether of pain or triumph they did not know. - -With a scream of awful fright, the pony leaped high in the air and -plunged far out and over the terrible precipice. They heard his body -buffeted from rock to rock in its descent. And finally as they listened -they caught the sound of the impact when it struck for the last time on -the rocks far below. - -Not a man spoke. They were too full of wonder and horror for speech. - -A heavy silence had fallen over the scene of death. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -IN THE HANDS OF THE REDSKINS. - - -"Well, I guess that will be about all--that settles the career of the -world's greatest bandit," averred the Captain. - -Both officers and men stood on the brink of the black chasm, gazing -down fearsomely into the apparently bottomless pit. The thought of the -fearful plunge that they had just witnessed, had a sobering effect on -all of them. It had stirred within the men an emotion almost akin to -fear, and each trooper as he turned away, felt a little chill trickle -up and down his spinal column, all in spite of his stern effort to -repress it. Hated as was the great outlaw, the soldiers rated him as a -brave man, a quality that touches a responsive chord in every soldier's -breast. - -The Captain broke the silence, his words falling on them almost like a -blow. - -"No living man could come out of that fall alive," he continued. "It is -a sheer drop of more than two hundred feet to the bottom of the gulch, -and there isn't a ghost of a show for anything human or inhuman that -goes over it. - -"Lieutenant, take a squad of men and ride north until you strike the -entrance to the gorge. The water is low at this time of the year and -you can easily get up to the point where the bandit and the pinto -struck. This time there won't be any question about it. He won't look -very pretty, but we've got to get him to the fort as soon as possible, -for the weather is warm." - -"Right, sir; but I should like to know how he played that scurvy trick -on us?" demanded the Lieutenant. "I can't get it through my head how -our men ever missed him." - -"That is elemental. He lay down before the volley was fired!" - -"That's all right, Captain, but I still don't understand how he knew -we were going to shoot," persisted the Lieutenant. - -"Because he was Jesse James. That's the only answer I can give you. I -made my mistake when I failed to order a volley fired into him after -he was down. That's the trouble when troops are opposed to savages and -outlaws. We fight according to the rules of civilized warfare while -they--well, they are just common murderers. Warfare to them is only -assassination. - -"Have the recall sounded, then start for the gulch. Jesse James is dead -for the last time." - -But once more the army officer had been tricked. - -In a pure game of wits, he with all his military training and his -experience in fighting savages, had been outwitted. When it came to -pitting one man in a battle of wits against another, Jesse James had no -known peer. He never seemed to come to the end of his resources, and -the most desperate situations, the moments of the gravest peril, gave -him not the slightest apprehension as to the ultimate outcome. He was -able to cope with them all, come when and how they might. - -As he lay, back down, on the rocks, after the first volley had been -fired by the troops, the great desperado formed his plans concisely -and definitely, and these plans, as it proved, he followed without the -slightest deviation. - -Jesse had heard the command of the Captain to prepare a litter and it -brought a sardonic grin to his hardy face. - -"They sure will need that litter themselves before I get through with -them," he muttered. - -The outlaw reasoned with marvelous precision, just what the soldiers -would do, and, therefore, his quickly laid plans worked out without the -slightest slip or miscarriage. - -The great oak tree on the brink of the precipice proved Jesse's -salvation, as he proposed that it should. Had it not been there, -another and different ending to his escapade, might have resulted. - -But the officers did not attach any special significance to the -fact that the outlaw had driven his pony straight for the tree in -his mad flight from them, seeing only in the act a desire to put an -end to himself rather than fall into the hands of the United States -Government. Still the tree was the key note to the situation--the -one factor that enabled him to elude his pursuers, and at the same -time save himself from being dashed to certain death on the rocks two -hundred feet below. - -As his pony shot into the shadow, Jesse raised himself in his stirrups -and caught a low-lying limb. With the agility of a trapeeze performer -he drew his body up and free of the horse just at the instant when the -bullets of the troops sang by beneath him and the screaming pinto went -dashing to its death. - -Like a squirrel, Jesse ran up the trunk of the tree, and there he -perched, his body convulsed with fiendish glee at the neat trick he had -turned on the cavalry troop for the second time that night. And it was -with intense interest that he listened to the comments of the officers -down below. - -"So, Jesse James is dead, eh?" he chuckled. - -Yet at that moment the supposed dead man held with steady hand, a heavy -"Colt," trained on the redoubtable captain. The officer was nearer to -death than he ever knew, and Jesse himself, was not so far from it as -he thought. - -It was a relief, however, that he noted the final departure of the -troops. Jesse was anxious to get back to the cave. He wondered that -none of the band had been out in search of him. This augured trouble -of some sort. And he wondered too, how successful Dew Drop had been -in corralling Great Bear's medicine man, for he felt that the need of -the herb doctor's services, was urgent. Perhaps that was where the rub -lay--perhaps his whole outfit had been picked up by the redskins. - -It suddenly occurred to the desperado too, that no redskin had shown -himself during the melee. Certainly they had not been so deaf as not to -have heard the bombardment of the cavalrymen. - -"There's sure something doing," he muttered. "Things look kinder -ticklish." - -Jesse decided that it would be wise to get away while the coast was -clear. The troops were now well out of the way. - -But his cogitations were rudely interrupted by a guttural grunt at the -foot of the tree. - -Jesse started. - -He recognized the sound. No other than a redskin could give vent to an -exclamation like that. - -The desperado's gun came out in a flash. He peered down through the -foliage, dimly making out the figure of a savage. Perhaps the Indian -was alone, but more than likely there were others nearby. - -The outlaw, adopting the policy of the savages, waited patiently for -further developments. But all hope of the redskin not being aware of -his presence in the tree, was shattered a moment later. - -"Ugh," said the Indian. - -"Great snakes," muttered Jesse. - -"Jesse James, um up tree," announced the Indian stoically. - -"That I am for certain," growled the great bandit chieftain, under his -breath. - -"Jesse James um in a fix." - -"Great Bear, as I'm alive," whispered Jesse, slipping down the tree -trunk a few feet. - -"Pale face um fool sojers. Um no fool Great Bear. Great Bear um see -many things. Um see sojers shoot Jess Jame. Great Bear know um not -shoot Jess Jame. Jess Jame he play possum. Ugh. Great Bear um wait. Um -want pale face for umself. Huh." - -"Well, you've got another guess coming," retorted the outlaw. - -Jesse began parleying to gain time. He first wanted to know if the -chief was alone, which fact was all-important to him in his present -predicament. - -"Great Bear go away," he called down gently. "Great Spirit up here in -tree," he crooned with subtle cunning. - -"No, no!" protested the chief, "Great Spirit not for pale face. Great -Spirit stay Indian." - -The great desperado fingered his guns nervously. It required all the -self control he could impose upon himself to refrain from shooting the -redskin, where he stood in plain view of the man up the tree. It was a -terrible temptation, but the bandit-chieftain resented it manfully. - -"All right, old moccasin foot, we'll see about that later!" - -Great Bear, he realized had been a witness to his brush with the -cavalry troops; but with a cunning characteristic of the savage that he -was, had viewed it with keener eyes than had the officers of the troop. - -"Um Jess Jame come down," grunted the chief. - -"Jesse James will come down when he gets good and ready, you greasy -old cutthroat," he jeered. "Great Bear had better look out or my men -will shoot him in the back. Do you think I'd let you stand there making -threats at me all this time without killing you, if I hadn't known my -men had you covered. You are not half so smart as you think you are, -eh?" - -The old chief did not change his position in the least. - -But meanwhile Jesse was cautiously making his way down the trunk of the -tree, yet in doing so not so much as displacing the smallest particle -of dry bark whose falling would warn the savage of his approach. - -"Ugh," grunted the chief. - -"Ugh it yourself," threw back the desperado. - -"Um lie. Great Bear um know Jess Jame. No paleface get Great Bear. -Paleface all gone. Indians here--Great Spirit here. Indian in -bush--many Indian in bush there," indicating a half circle by a sweep -of his hand. - -"Ah," exclaimed the desperado. - -Jesse had drawn from the big chief the very information he was seeking. -He knew now that the savage was alone. "When an Indian tells you a -thing is so, you know it isn't," was Jesse's motto and it was the one -he applied to the present case. - -Still, he dared not use his guns. - -Great Bear, perhaps, following the same process of reasoning, stood -confidently awaiting the moment when the desperado should find it -convenient to move. - -"Pale face no jump. Um fall down big hole like pinto," he warned. - -"Don't worry, my sweet papoose," jeered the outlaw. "Jesse James don't -jump down holes, nor does he run away. But he's going to kill an Indian -bye and bye, when he gets down. But paleface going to stay up here -till Big chief gets sore feet waiting for him. Good night, you old -dog-eater." - -The great desperado laughed and chuckled, all with a purpose, but not -so loudly at any time that his voice could easily be heard beyond the -circle of shadow thrown by the great tree. - -"Ugh. Pale face, dog--" retorted the savage. - -But he got no further. - -Like a flying projectile, a dark object was hurled from the tree. -Straight did it speed at the copper-hued savage below, and as true as -if it had been from a mountain battery. - -The projectile was none other, however, than the great desperado -himself. With rare cunning, Jesse had step by step, drawn the chief's -attention from his real purpose, the while occupying the time in -getting into the most advantageous position for the carrying out of his -plans. - -The outlaw's flying body with unerring aim, hit the savage fair and -square and both men went down in a heap. - -Great Bear uttered a grunt of terrible rage, but could not speak. The -terrific impact of Jesse's heavy body striking him, knocked all the -wind out of his savage body. - -But the Indian's arms suddenly closed over the desperado in a crushing -grip. Jesse, tough and muscular as he was, felt that his ribs were -being slowly, but relentlessly crushed in. - -Neither man spoke a word at first, each playing for an advantage that -would enable him to reach his knife. - -One of Jesse's bowies that he held in his teeth, when he jumped, was -lost at the moment his body struck that of Great Bear. - -The desperado now discovered that his antagonist was working slowly -toward the precipice. But whether he thought to frighten the outlaw or -whatever his motive, Jesse checkmated it. - -"S-s-o--that's y-o-u-r g-g-a-m-e is it?" he gritted, "you black hearted -savage. All right, if you want to go over, come on." - -Great Bear changed his mind instantly. - -"Jess Jame um brave man. But Injun kill um," he hissed between breaths. - -Over and over the combatants rolled, first one gaining a slight -advantage which would be quickly lost to the other. Great Bear on his -side possessed one advantage that Jesse did not--he was stripped to -the waist while the outlaw was fully clothed. This gave the Indian -something to hold to, while Jesse's grip on the perspiring skin of his -antagonist was an uncertain thing. - -But the bandit king was working his hands upward as frequently and as -rapidly as he dared. Once when he had succeeded in forcing Great Bear -to his side, with the left hand pinioned under him, Jesse's right shot -up and his fingers closed over the savage's right ear. With a grunt of -rage Jesse's hand came away covered with blood. - -The hand held the ear of his savage antagonist. But the stoical Indian -gave no sign that he had been injured. If anything the terrible wound -gave him added strength. - -A sudden upward expansion of his muscles, chest and abdomen, fairly -lifted Jesse into the air. - -When the two came down, Jesse was underneath. In a moment more their -positions were reversed. - -Great Bear's fingers closed over the outlaw's throat, while the -desperado's knee forced itself into his adversary's abdomen with -terrible force. - -The Indian emitted a grunt, which was followed by another as the -desperate outlaw bored in and in with the bony knee until it seemed as -if the flesh of the other's body must give way and let the knee find an -easy path. - -The Indian's grasp slackened and Jesse's terrible fist smote him -squarely in the face until the blood of the savage spurted into his own -eyes. - -Again and again the outlaw rained sledge hammer blows on his opponent's -face until it was reduced to a bloody pulp. But still the desperate -battle waged. - -Now and then both men would lay still for a moment, clasped in a -desperate embrace, gasping for breath, but speaking no word. - -The time for vituperation had passed. - -It was now a battle to the death. - -They were wonderfully matched. And though Jesse's hands and face were -smeared with red blood that showed ghastly in the moonlight, he had -sustained no wounds. - -In a moment of relaxation he jabbed a thumb with all his force into the -savage's eye. - -The pain must have been excruciating. But the redskin gave no sign that -he sensed its pain. - -Great Bear had succeeded in unsheathing his knife, but his hand -instantly was pinioned to the ground where the great outlaw held it in -a vice-like grip. - -All at once Jesse released his hold on the knife hand. The hand with -lightning-like quickness shot up to make the fatal thrust. - -It got no further. - -With a movement equally quick, the desperado caught the hand and with -an unexpected movement bent it backward. - -"Snap!" - -Great Bear cried out, and the hand hung limp. - -"Ha, ha! Reached you, did I?" gasped Jesse in triumphant tones. - -Great Bear snarled like a wounded animal. - -The hand though useless, slipped about the outlaw's neck and the -savage's arm pinioned it in a grip of iron, while with his free hand he -showered blows on the bandit's side. - -Jesse fastened his teeth in the redskin's cheek and when he pulled away -there was left a great gaping wound, and the bandit spat out his toll -of human flesh. - -The Indian's grip on Jesse's neck was released and Great Bear with his -free hand dealt his antagonist a frightful blow on the side of his head. - -Jesse sunk down and all grew black about him. - -With a muffled yell of fiendish joy Great Bear sprang free of his -antagonist, throwing Jesse with crushing force to the ground where he -lay for a brief moment on his back. - -The redskin scrambled for his knife. - -It was but the work of an instant for him to secure it. - -He made a mighty leap for his desperate, fallen antagonist, his face -contorted with the awful passion that was raging within him. - -But the brief respite had given Jesse's wonderful recuperative powers, -time to act. Yet he lay perfectly still calmly awaiting the onslaught. - -The Indian sprang clear of the ground, projecting his body at his -fallen antagonist and with gleaming knife held aloft for the fatal -blow, was descending upon him with crushing force. - -In his rage he did not pause to think or to consider. The lust for -human blood overcame all other emotions and blinded the savage's -judgment. - -The outlaw's eyes were upon him, but this, Great Bear did not know, nor -would he have heeded had he seen. - -Quicker than the human eye could follow, the desperado's knees doubled -up, his legs were drawn back. - -The feet shot out with terrific force, catching the savage redskin full -in the abdomen. - -Great Bear doubled up like a jack knife and catapulted in the air, -turning a complete somersault, ending up by landing on his head on the -hard rocks some distance away. - -The Indian toppled over and lay still. - -It was now Jesse's moment to act. - -He too sprang into the air. - -His heavy boots landed full on the Indian's face, mangling and -mutilating it almost beyond human semblance. - -But the uncertain footing threw the outlaw from his feet and he fell -sprawling over the body of his antagonist. - -In an instant he had whirled over. - -Again the combatants were locked in a deadly embrace. - -It seemed as if human flesh and blood could not stand the terrible -gruelling that each desperate man had sustained. - -Still the battle waged on as sanguinary as before. - -Never had such a desperate fight to the death been known in all that -wild, barbarous country, and the story of it has been handed down--told -in tepee and at firesides to this day. You can hear it any day should -you chance to come across some old trapper or Indian chief when either -is in a communicative mood. - -But neither man of iron could conquer the other. - -Jesse while holding his antagonist down, had pinioned both arms to -the ground and with hands in the redskin's hair, was beating his head -against the rocks, with an impact that might have been heard for many -rods around. - -He hoped to wear out his antagonist in this way. Both men's knives had -now been lost beyond recovery, and nothing but pure muscular prowess -could decide the equal battle. - -All at once Jesse sensed that some one was approaching him from the -rear, but whether friend or foe, he could not tell, for all behind him -was in a deep shadow now. - -His guns were still in their holsters, but the sudden strain that the -desperado put upon himself to draw them, was futile. The Indian's grasp -of iron could not be broken for the infinitesimal space of time that -was necessary to give Jesse an opportunity to jerk his "Colts" from -their resting place. - -With a mighty effort he twisted his antagonist about so that he could -partially look behind him. - -The discovery that he made was enough to shake the stoutest nerves. - -Over him towered the savage, malignant face of a giant Indian. - -He held in his hands a club which was descending on Jesse's head with -fearful force. - -Like a flash the outlaw dodged and the blow fell upon Great Bear's arm, -crushing it, and bringing from the warrior a groan of agony. - -Jesse sought to free himself from the killing embrace. - -He was a second too late. - -Again the mighty club was swung on high. - -It landed fair on the bandit's head. - -The world's greatest desperado toppled over the form of his antagonist, -with a subdued moan. - -Jesse did not move. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -UNDER THE BRANDING IRON. - - -"Take that rock off my head," Jesse caught himself mumbling as he -slowly returned to consciousness. - -Two factors had served to save the outlaw's life: One that the Indian -behind him had struck him a glancing blow, and the other that Jesse -James' skull was too thick to break by any ordinary means. - -But the blow had been a terrific one and the outlaw's head throbbed -like a locomotive under full headway. - -He emitted a subdued groan and tried to move. To his surprise he found -he could not. - -He was now conscious of shooting pains through his whole body. His arms -were stretched above his head, and when he sought to draw them down by -his side, he found he could not move them. - -Jesse cautiously tried to move his feet, but like the arms, these also -refused to respond to his will. - -"That's queer," he thought. "I wonder if I'm dead." - -He tried to recall the incidents that had preceded his present -condition, but his mind was sluggish and just as he would almost come -upon a solution of his strange condition, memory would elude him again. - -He tried to open his eyes, but the eyelids seemed held down by some -irresistible weight. - -For a time the desperado sought to gratify the sensation of drowsiness -that seemed to steal over him. Then he would suddenly awake with a -start, the pain in his body more intense than before. - -At last with a mighty effort of will he dragged his heavy eyelids open. -At first he could see nothing for the darkness, then little by little -he made out his surroundings. - -He was in an Indian tepee. - -"How did I get here?" he wondered. - -He tried and tried to think. - -Suddenly memory returned like a blow. - -He remembered it all. The desperate battle on the ground--the club that -finally had laid him low. But beyond that all was dark. - -For a moment he could not make up his mind whether it was night or day, -but glancing up he noted that the flap that covered the entrance to the -wigwam showed a tiny ray of light through a fine slit that its owner -had made for secret observations when within. Jesse wished he might be -able to pull himself together sufficiently to get up and peek out. - -But the effort to raise only gave him pain. - -He sensed that his holsters were still at his sides and by their weight -against his leg he judged that his guns must be in their places. - -The thought gave him comfort. The outlaw's guns had become as much a -part of himself as were his hands or his feet. - -As his mind by slow process began to clear, he set about finding out -why it was that he could not move--whether he had been seriously -wounded or what mysterious force was holding him down. - -The discovery came as a distinct shock and roused all the rage that his -savage nature was capable of. - -He was bound hand and foot. - -Jesse's inclination was to give voice to his passions--to hurl -invective at his unseen captors, to taunt them, to goad them, but not -to plead. Jesse James had pleaded with no man in his eventful life. It -was not in his nature to do so, nor would he begin now. - -Yet he did not quite understand what manner of torture they had -inflicted upon him to put him in such pain. But it was a matter of only -a moment or so before he was made acquainted with his exact situation. - -The great desperado had been subjected to the humiliation of being -bound hand and foot. And more than that, his manacled hands had been -triced up to a stake protruding from the ground some eighteen inches, -and the feet had been treated similarly. His position was such that the -weight of his body was a constant strain upon the thongs that bound -him, a strain that extended through his entire body. - -Jesse swore a terrible oath. - -"I hope I killed the cursed savage," he gritted. - -But his fond hopes were dashed almost at the moment of the utterance of -them. - -The flap was slowly pulled aside and an evil, ghastly face peered in--a -face so torn and mutilated that Jesse observed nothing familiar in it. - -He stared at it without speaking. - -All at once he noticed that an ear was missing from the place where it -should have been. - -Then Jesse understood. - -The face was that of his late antagonist, Great Bear. - -The desperado laughed mockingly. - -Great Bear jerked aside the flap so viciously that he tore it from its -fastenings, allowing it to drop slowly from his lingering grasp as he -surveyed his captive with malignant eyes. - -"Welcome to our home, old scarred-face," jeered Jesse. - -Great Bear made no reply, standing with head erect, searching keenly -for some sign of fear or weakening in the face of his captive. - -After a time, the redskin squatted on the turf and with chin in hands -sat holding the outlaw with a steady gaze. For an hour he sat thus, -Jesse glaring back at him with menacing, challenging eyes. - -"Ugh! Paleface brave man," he grunted. - -"Ugh! Big Chief a dirty cutthroat," retorted Jesse. - -"Huh!" said Great Bear. - -"I can lick you with one arm tied behind my back, old pizen snake," -leered the desperado. "Let me up and I'll show you." - -Great Bear rose, and stepping to the door gave a terse, guttural -command to some one without. Returning to the wigwam, he squatted down -at the great bandit's feet again and resumed his intent gaze into the -other's face. - -"Well," questioned Jesse, "Am I so purty that you can't keep your eyes -off'n me? Think you'll know me when you see me again? I'd know you -among a million with that face. I certainly did lam it to you, didn't -I? I ought to have killed you when I had the chance up the tree there, -but I hated to take an unfair advantage, even of such an old murderer -as you are." - -While the outlaw was now suffering terrible tortures from his strained -position, he gave no sign to the waiting Indian chief. - -A silent-footed savage appeared in the doorway, placing before the -chief an earthen jar from which a thin curl of smoke ascended. - -But even then Jesse did not catch the full significance of the chief's -intentions. - -From the receptacle the Indian removed a short iron rod. It's end was -at white heat. - -Great Bear moistened a finger at his lips and touched it. The rod -hissed angrily. - -Jesse understood now. - -It was a branding iron. But still he did not quail, though his passions -rose in a perfect storm. - -"Paleface like um?" grinned Great Bear once more causing the hot iron -to hiss. - -"Never ate any," retorted the desperado with a grin that was even more -expansive than that of the chief. "Going to brand some stock that you -have stolen, eh?" - -"Huh! Indian no brand cows. Um brand men. Um burn you." - -"Oh, so that's the game is it? You're going to brand me like you would -a critter on the range? Well, what do you think my men will do to you -if I don't get away from here before you do it? Think they will do -anything to you, you black-hearted cur?" - -"Paleface no hurt Indian. Paleface all dead." - -"That's a lie. One of them is here now watching you. He'll carry the -word to the men and if there is not enough of them left he'll go to the -fort for help. Guess the soldiers wouldn't do much to you." - -Great Bear cast a glance that was almost apprehensive, out through the -opening. With an expression that was half snarl, half grunt he drew the -branding iron from the pot and squatted down beside the great outlaw, -leering down into his face, gloating over the joy that was to be his. - -Roughly he tore apart his prisoner's shirt and drove the blunt, white -hot iron against his chest. - -The iron hissed again. But this time a little thin line of blue smoke -curled upward. - -Great Bear inhaled a deep breath of heavenly satisfaction as the odour -of burning flesh permeated his nostrils. - -Jesse steeling himself, glared back at his tormentor. He gave no sign -that he sensed the excruciating torture. But the lines of his mouth -drew tense and hard. - -The redskin replaced the iron in its heating pot and sat gloating over -his victim as it burned again to a white heat. - -Next he bared the left side of the outlaw and carefully selected his -spot with the eyes of an expert, he applied the torture rod, holding it -in place with steady, resistless pressure. - -The agony that the victim suffered was almost more than human being -could endure. - -But still the man of iron there at the stake made no outcry, gave no -sign, still smiling up at his tormentor. But the eyes were not in -sympathy with the smile on the lips. They were cold and steely--they -were the eyes of the gun-expert at the moment when he is about to take -the life of a human being. - -"Great Bear," began Jesse in an even, emotionless voice. "I shall be -going away from here pretty soon. You will be dead then. I shall kill -you. But before I go I am going to cut out your tongue and feed it to -the dogs. Then I shall cut off your other ear and give it to the first -drove of hogs that I meet. You'll be up in the Happy Hunting grounds -then and you can't help yourself." - -Once more the fiendish redskin tuned his branding iron to a sizzling -white heat. - -Great Bear felt the outlaw's cheek apparently with the intention of -applying the iron there next. But for some reason, he evidently changed -his mind. Carefully slitting the shoulders of Jesse's shirt, he burned -a deep, livid impression on each, holding the iron for what, to the -tortured bandit, seemed ages. - -The great desperado was faint and dizzy, and tepee and savage danced -before his eyes in a most outlandish fashion. Jesse wondered vaguely -if all had gone suddenly crazy. But he had borne the ordeal without so -much as a groan. - -Great Bear scrutinized the outlaw's face keenly, and what he saw filled -his soul with savage glee. - -The Indian grunted a long-drawn grunt of satisfaction and laid aside -his instrument of torture. - -"Injun come again," he informed as Jesse opened his eyes once more. -"Come tomorrow sun up. Take eyes out. Jesse Jame no fool Injun this -time. No fool sojer. Byemby Jesse Jame Indian kill um. Injun get heap -money for kill um Jesse Jame. Sojers no get um paleface. No get um -money. Huh!" - -"Jesse James will beat you yet," gasped the desperado weakly, mastering -his faintness by a supreme effort. "He'll kill you!" - -"Ugh!" breathed the savage, picking up his fire pot and departing from -the wigwam without another word, nor once looking back at his miserable -victim. - -His fiendish torture had only just begun, and the anticipation in the -mind of the savage was the keenest of all his inhuman emotions. He -could afford to wait and he would yet see his victim writhe in agony -and scream out as the awful pain was inflicted upon him. - -Jesse emitted a long-drawn pent up sigh of relief, and a slight moan of -agony escaped him as he closed his eyes wearily. - -Great Bear had been gone but a moment when an Indian whom Jesse had -never seen before, stalked in and made a careful examination of the -tortured captive and his wounds. - -From the savage's actions Jesse judged that he must be a medicine man. -The outlaw grinned sardonically. - -"Want to find out how much more I can stand, eh?" he jeered. "I'll take -all you blood-thirsty devils can give me, don't you forget that." - -His suspicions were confirmed when shortly after the medicine man had -departed, three other Indians accompanied by Great Bear entered the -wigwam, the chief giving them some terse directions in his own tongue -that Jesse could not understand. - -He did, however, understand the purport of it when the thongs that -bound him to the stake, were severed by the strike of a keen-edged -knife. - -The desperado was roughly turned over on his face, and while two -stalwart savages sat on him to hold him down, his arms were brought -down to their normal position, then securely tied behind his back. - -It was not much to be thankful for, but the change brought to Jesse the -most heavenly sensation he ever had known. - -His inclination was to draw a deep, long breath, but he resisted and -shut his lips tight. - -He would not give them that satisfaction. - -The thongs that held his feet were now made doubly secure, so that in -reality he was more helpless than before. But he was not inclined to -complain, though the desperado never had been in such sore straits -before. - -His tormentors left him. - -Jesse had been left lying on his face, the Indians not taking the -trouble to turn him over. But after satisfying himself that he was -alone, the outlaw cautiously rolled over on his back and rested for a -few minutes. But his new position enabled him to see out through the -opening, only the upper part of the flap having been put back in place -by the savages when they left him. - -He discovered that two stolid Indians had been left on guard. They -were squatting on the ground in front of the wigwam. And now the -desperado's mind began to work like a piece of well-oiled machinery, -planning an escape. But just how he expected to accomplish this, was -not clear to himself. Yet to his resourceful mind, no situation was -impossible. Therefore the outlaw took cheer and set about the task in -hand, regardless of the stinging pain from his burns, that he was now -beginning to sense more keenly. - -The desperado pricked up his ears at the sound of voices outside. He -recognized the tones of Dew Drop, the Indian maiden. She was speaking -loudly in her broken English, and Jesse understood instantly that she -intended he should hear what she was saying. - -Somewhere within her words there lay a message for him. - -Dew Drop had launched into a perfect tirade of invective against the -helpless desperado there in the wigwam, and with straining ears he -listened for the words that would give him a clue to her motives. He -observed too, that the shadows of night were falling. Between these two -incidents the desperado believed there was a connection that augured -well for his plans. - -Once during her conversation with the Indians, he caught the words, -"fire-water." Then Dew Drop's voice was heard no more, and he -understood that she had gone away. - -His heart sank. Perhaps he was wrong in his surmise, after all. - -But Jesse's spirits revived a moment later when he heard her returning. -He was at a loss at first to account for her movements. That something -of interest to himself was occurring, Jesse was firmly convinced. But -wriggle about as he would, he could not get a glimpse of the group -outside. - -However, the desperado's curiosity was soon rewarded. - -"Firewater. That's it," he exclaimed. "By the great humping snakes. -Sure as I am alive, the little savage is filling them up. I wonder what -she's got up her sleeve now? If I only was able to get hold of my guns. -I'd help her clean 'em out." - -The sky was heavily overcast and black night had settled down over the -scene, when finally labored breathing and guttural snores from without -told the desperado that little Dew Drop's medicine had done its work -well. Heap big Injun had gone to the happy hunting ground of dreamland. - -But the bandit's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice beside -him. - -"Jesse Jame," breathed the soft, purring voice of the Indian maid. - -"Right you are, my little Dew Drop--" - -"S-h-h-h!" cautioned the girl laying a soft, warm palm over his lips. - -The sensation was peculiarly pleasant to the great bandit. - -"Me cut um lariats. Um Jesse Jame go back by paleface brothers--" - -"Where are they?" interrupted Jesse. "Do you know where they are now?" - -"Dew Drop know. Dew Drop um know too bad chief kill um Jesse Jame -morning." - -"Hurry, little one," he begged, "let me get my guns. I must get out of -here now." - -He heard the girl utter a little startled exclamation as if she had -been suddenly surprised by some one from without, then she sped away as -silently as she had come, much to Jesse's surprise. - -"Well, that gets me." - -He could not understand her peculiar actions. - -At least the desperado did not propose to remain quiescent when the way -to freedom had been laid open to him. Dew Drop too, must have ere this, -told the members of his band of his predicament, but by the time they -were able to reach him, it might and probably would be too late. - -Seconds were precious. - -"I'd be a fool to stay here any longer," muttered Jesse. "The kid -fluttered away like a frightened bird. Guess I'll go to." - -Going, for the great desperado, however, was a far different matter. He -could not walk nor could he crawl, and there seemed only one way left -open to him, and this he adopted. He rolled. - -It was not a dignified exit that he made from the wigwam, but it was -better than being bound and guarded there with the prospect of further -tortures in the morning. - -He found his first difficulty was in getting out of the wigwam without -pulling it down about him. This might attract attention and defeat his -plan of escape. But Jesse finally accomplished it by going out head -first, wriggling along like a clumsy snake on a frosty morning. His -burns tortured him excruciatingly, but the great desperado shut his -teeth together savagely and began to roll. - -His two Indian guards lay directly in his path. Jesse with some -misgivings and a greater effort, rolled over them as the quickest way -to get on. - -The Indians grunted but did not wake up, which he was positive would be -the case in their condition. But the feel of their bodies against his -had stirred the blood lust within him and suggested a new idea to the -great desperado. - -"If my hands only were free," he growled. "Ah, I have it. I'll try it," -he gritted, with blazing eyes. - -Quickly the outlaw rolled back to them. Now he was bent on a terrible -revenge. And he forgot for the moment his own deadly peril in his -ferocious desire to be revenged on Great Bear. - -With as much speed as his manacled condition would permit, the great -outlaw worked his head along the body of the Indian nearest to him. -Not finding what he sought at first, he braced his feet with great -difficulty and putting forth an almost superhuman effort, pushed and -pushed against the redskin with his head, until the savage had been -rolled over. The deed, however, had required a supreme effort. - -The Indian squirmed and muttered surlily, but to the desperado's -intense relief, did not awake. - -Jesse searched at the side he had just turned up, and with a savage -exclamation of delight, bit hard at the Indian's waist. - -The desperado's face came away with the redskin's bowie between his -teeth. - -The outlaw could have shouted, so great was his joy. After laborious -effort he succeeded in setting the keen-edged blade more firmly between -his teeth, so that only the hilt was held by them. - -Cautiously he squirmed and wriggled until his head and shoulders were -over the body of the redskin whom he had again rolled over on his back. - -The great desperado, still holding the knife in a vice-like grip -between his teeth, twisted his head at right angles to his body and set -the needle-like point of the blade, on the Indian's abdomen. - -The cruel blood-thirstiness of what he was about to do made no -impression on him, for Jesse was bent on a terrible vengeance. And it -was a moment of supreme ecstasy for the bandit-chieftain, bound and -manacled and helpless as he was. - -Suddenly throwing the weight of his body on his toes and neck, the -deadly bowie, by the sheer force of the outlaw's own weight, was driven -into the Indian's bowels while the blood in a sudden red sheet, spurted -into his mouth and eyes. - -The redskin sprang almost clear of the ground, then settled back with -a heavy groan, his stupor too heavy to resist the work of the vengeful -blade. - -With a fiendish light in his eyes the desperado gloated over the death -throes of the unconscious savage, whose writhings, whose agonized -twistings and muscular contractions, sent the outlaw into an ecstasy of -delirious joy. - -After a little, the Indian stiffened out and lay still. - -"One!" snarled the desperado. - -Once more the avenging outlaw crawled laboriously to his victim. And -that despite the fact that every moment's delay placed his own life -more and more in jeopardy. - -Now came the most difficult part of his task. The bowie, driven in to -its keen-edged limit, was tightly wedged in the body of the dead savage. - -With feverish haste, the world's greatest desperado again buried his -face in the awful pool of blood. - -His teeth closed over the slippery hilt of the blade. - -But it stubbornly resisted all his efforts. - -The knife was too firmly embedded in its human sheath, to come away at -his command. - -The cords of the outlaw's neck swelled to enormous proportions from the -fearful strain he was subjecting them to. - -He sought to accomplish his ends, in another way. Biting the hilt as if -he would sever it in twain, Jesse pushed against it with all the weight -of his body. The keen edge, under his irresistable pressure, cut its -way into the Indian's flesh at right angles to his body, thus widening -the wound and making its sheath less binding. - -Back and forth did the blood-thirsty outlaw work the blade. - -He pushed and he pulled like a dog wrestling with a bone. He shook it -like a rat. Then he gave it a long, vicious tug. - -The bloody blade came away with a sickening sound. - -And the desperado fell backward with a terrible curse. Yet, withal, his -grip on the bloody hilt did not relax. - -Now came the most arduous task of all, that of crawling over the body -of his victim and rolling to the remaining savage, without losing the -knife from his teeth. The feat was not so easy as it would seem, and he -could accomplish it only by keeping his head from touching the ground -over every inch of the way. - -He struggled desperately. - -Minutes elapsed. - -But the second redskin died more speedily than had the first, Jesse -having given him a terrible thrust with the deadly blade. And with -eager, fascinated eyes he watched the death agonies of his victim. In a -moment all movement ceased. The man was dead. - -Jesse's work of vengeance, for the time, was ended. And now to roll for -safety, if that were possible. Should he be caught, he knew that this -time his punishment would be swift and sure. Great Bear would take no -chances with him after this. - -But just as the outlaw was about to start on his unequal journey, he -suddenly espied the figure of an Indian standing a few paces away, in -the gloom, gazing intently in his direction. - -The desperado fairly held his breath. He wished now that he had -brought away the bowie from his second victim. But it was too late to -rectify his mistake. - -Still, defenceless as he was, the great bandit devoutly hoped the -savage redskin would throw himself upon him. Jesse believed that, with -a well directed kick he could silence the fellow and put an end to him -afterwards, for his thirst for blood had not yet been satisfied. - -Though it would be a desperate chance he was willing and anxious to -take it. But he was not given a chance to put his foolhardy plan into -operation. The redskin emitted a sudden grunt, and dropping into a long -lope, sped noiselessly toward the main part of the village, that lay -some twenty rods to the west. - -Jesse was off like a flash. - -His one supreme object now was to put as much distance as possible -between himself and his savage enemies. - -But the laborious rolling process was too slow for him. - -He had rolled himself clear of the bodies of his victims, when all at -once, acting upon sudden impulse, he adopted a new and unique method of -facilitating his progress. With a tremendous effort he raised himself -on his manacled feet. - -Despite the fact that his hands were tied behind him, the desperate man -threw himself head first to the ground. None but the toughest skull -could have survived the impact when his head struck the hard ground. - -Jesse's object was now obvious. - -The instant he sensed the feel of the ground under his head, by a -sudden twist of the body, using his head as a pivot, the desperado -threw himself to his feet again, thus finishing as pretty a head spring -as ever a trained performer in a circus had done. - -With movements so lightning-like that the eye, in the uncertain light, -would scarcely have been able to follow them, the great bandit hurled -himself into a mad whirl of somersaults that carried him away from the -scene of his recent exploits almost as fast as his legs could have done -had they been free. - -He heard a loud commotion in the Indian village behind him. But whether -the savages had learned of the death of the two men or that they simply -had been told by the Indian who came upon him so suddenly, that the -sentinels were asleep, he neither knew nor cared. - -Jesse reasoned shrewdly that in any event the Indians would be delayed -a few moments in their surprise at finding their companions murdered, -and then the search for him in the wigwam and its immediate vicinity -following, all of which would give him a fair start. - -Still he knew his trail was as plainly marked as if it had been made -by a log-rolling gang, a trail which they would have no difficulty in -following at top speed. Therefore haste was all imperative if he hoped -to keep his scalp fitted in its proper place. And the world's greatest -bandit was not ready to part with that portion of his anatomy just yet. - -On dashed the desperado, his movements resembling the evolutions of a -cart wheel down a mountain road. And so rapid was his flight that he -was unable to take note of either direction or location. - -The savages were now hot on his trail. - -He could hear their shouts as they discovered it. Like the bay of the -hounds when close upon their prey they came rushing down upon him. - -Jesse redoubled his efforts. Bending every nerve to the tremendous task -before him, the terrible outlaw sprang far up into the air to increase -the reach of his next leap. - -He stiffened his nerves to meet the impact when his feet should next -touch the ground. - -But to his intense surprise, the feet did not touch at all. They were -kicking wildly in empty space. - -All at once the great desperado realized that he was falling through -space. - -Like a rock, hurled with terrific force, he had thrown himself over a -sheer precipice whose rocky bottom lay two hundred feet below him. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -JESSE TAKES A TERRIBLE REVENGE. - - -"Danged queer about Jess," declared Comanche Tony. - -"Something sure has happened to him and I for one am going to look for -him," returned Frank. - -The bandits were gathered on a broad, shelving rock looking down into -the canyon, where they had remained when Dew Drop left them after -conveying them to safety after the explosion in the cave. - -Acting upon her advice they had remained there until she should have -gone to the village to learn if Jesse had been taken prisoner or -killed, perhaps, by the savages. She had promised them a speedy return, -but hours had elapsed since her departure and the men were getting -restive. Little had been said by them, they being too full of the -thoughts of the lively incidents that had happened since they first set -foot in the mountains of Southern Colorado. - -"Better not try it till the moon comes up," advised Wild Bill who knew -the treacherous nature of the country where they were. "I calkerlate -you'd break yer danged neck tryin' to git out of here in the dark -without a guide. When it gits lighter we'd better all vamoose. We'll -find Jesse if we can, and if not we'll mosey over to tother side of the -gulch and make camp in a place I know of. From there we kin scout for -him. The gal said we was to stay here--" - -"Sure, she did," added Texas. "I reckon she knew what she was doing. -We'd better bide here a bit I reckon." - -Under their urging, Frank gave a reluctant consent, for he knew that -Jesse would expect him--would expect every one of them to come to him -at once, had they reason to believe he was in trouble. - -So they waited. One hour, two hours, and three passed, and the men had -finally decided to make an investigation, provided they could discover -the trail that led up the mountain side. They had only a general idea -of where the Indian village lay, but reasoned that they could easily -locate it by the camp fires that surely would be burning. They decided -that it would be safest to start in single file, the leader holding to -the hand of the next to him, and so on, making a human chain, the last -man to at all times make sure that he had firm hold of a tree or rock. - -"Hark," warned Frank after they had decided upon the direction in which -they would make their first attempt. - -"What is it?" asked Tony. - -"I didn't hear anything," returned Texas. - -"Keep still," commanded the elder of the James boys, listening -intently. "I am sure I heard a yell." - -"Mebby 'twas a cat," suggested Bill. "There's a lot of them in these -hills, and they're a danged tough proposition to run into when a -fellow's afoot." - -"There it is again," cried Frank in a suppressed voice. - -They all heard the cry this time and it seemed to be drawing near them. - -"Indians agin," breathed Tony. - -"By the great jumpin' cats," exclaimed Texas. "What do you suppose -they're up to?" - -"They are chasing somebody," declared Wild Bill confidently, knowing -the ways of the savages thereabouts as he did. "The question is, who or -what is it." - -"Dew Drop, mebby," suggested Harry. - -"Yes, mebby the skunks have got wise to her," added Texas. "But if the -cutthroats do her dirt they'll have to reckon with me. She's been the -squarest little pard that a bunch ever come up with. She's got some -white blood in her, I'll bet my spurs on that." - -The outlaws listened in awed silence as the yells grew louder, -increasing steadily in volume. - -"More of 'em joined in the chase," nodded Bill. "Guess the whole -village is out on the warpath." - -"And they're coming this way," asserted Frank. - -"Mebby we'd a better git back in the cave," urged Texas. "We can watch -out from there." - -"No, we'll stay right here," returned Frank, savagely. "We may have to -take a hand in this. Perhaps they are after Jess." - -"After Jess?" replied Comanche Tony laughing sardonically. "You haven't -heard any shooting going on, have you? You don't suppose Jesse James -would let a lot of dirty Indians chase him out of their village without -potting a few of them in the meantime, do you?" he demanded. - -His reasoning appealed to them. - -"I guess you are right," agreed Frank. "But squeeze up closer to the -rocks. They may take it into their heads to roll a few more boulders -down on us. Bowling with hard-heads seems to be a favorite occupation -with these copper-colored curs." - -"Yes, it's a heap o' fun for the chap on top, but it's hell for the -feller down below," agreed Homely Harry humorously. "Excuse me from the -job of settin' up the pins in this alley." - -"Silence," commanded their leader. "We may have to do some shooting -pretty soon." - -Not a word was spoken and for several minutes they waited with bated -breaths. - -Every man sensed danger and every man felt instinctively that they were -on the verge of a sudden and unexpected explosion. - -And, indeed, it did come, but in a manner totally unexpected by them. - -There occurred a sudden rattle of fine stone from above that pelted -down on the rocks like a volley from a gatling gun. - -"Crash!" - -A heavy body landed in a broad-topped tree that grew out of a deep -fissure in the rocks some twenty paces to the south of them. Then -sudden silence in the tree. - -Up above them they could hear the Indians chattering volubly, but so -far away were they that the outlaws could make nothing of what they -were saying, nor could any of the men have understood them if they had -heard them. - -"What the--" began Texas. - -Frank pushed his elbow viciously into the outlaw's ribs, to silence him. - -"What do you make of that?" whispered Tony. - -"Somebody's gone over the cliff. Or something has--I don't know." - -"In that tree?" - -"Yes. Wait till they go away up there." - -For several minutes the savages continued their talking, then their -receding voices told the anxious outlaws on the ledge far below, that -they were retracing their steps. - -"We must find out what's in that tree," spoke up Frank with emphasis, -after assuring himself that all the savages had left. - -"Hadn't we better wait till daylight," suggested Comanche. "We'll break -our necks or worse in this blackness." - -"No. That's what the redskins are going to do. At the first touch of -dawn the whole pack and parcel of them will be up on the edge of the -cliff there peering down. We've got to act now and quickly for it's -near morning." - -"Yes, the dawn breaks all of a sudden up here," added Wild Bill. - -But how to reach the tree was another matter. A wall of smooth -perpendicular rock lay between them and the tree whose outlines they -could only faintly make out in the darkness. - -"A fly couldn't walk that," averred Harry with his usual facetiousness. - -"No, we must find another way," agreed Frank. - -"Anybody got any suggestions to make?" - -"Not bein' a bird I don't know how I'd git over there," replied Harry. - -"We might cast a lariat and the lightest of us go over," suggested -Texas. - -"No, it is too far, and besides no lariat would hold us that way. -You've got to think of something better. Perhaps we can--" - -"I say, I've got an idee," interrupted Wild Bill. "I remember that when -we first came out, it being lighter, I seen a shelf of rock right above -that tree. It was twenty feet wide I opine. Now if we can manage to git -up on the rock we can turn the trick." - -"Now you are talking," commented their leader. "Bill supposing you make -the try for it. Be careful, and don't send any rocks rolling down or -you'll have the Indians back on us. Give the owl call if you make it -and then we'll try to follow you. Or better still, come back here and -show us the way. It will be safer." - -Anxious to be off, Bill threw off his coat, tightened his belt and -disappeared in the shadows silently. With cat-like movements he -scaled the jagged side of the mountain without a sound or so much -as disturbing a particle of shale from the rocks over which he was -creeping. - -To the waiting bandits down below him it seemed an age, as they stood -with strained ears to catch the signal agreed upon. - -Suddenly Wild Bill appeared before them. So quietly had he approached -that not a man of them had heard or seen him. They clutched their guns -instinctively. - -"It goes," was Bill's succinct summing up of the result of his trip. -"You've got to crawl. A snake couldn't get over that trail without -falling off," he concluded. - -"Could you make out anything in the tree?" demanded Frank impatiently. - -"Nary a thing. Blacker'n an Alabamy coon down there. And about as -slippery along the trail," he added. - -"How we going to work it, Cap'n?" asked Comanche as the outlaws, with -Wild Bill in the lead, began their perilous climb over the side of the -mountain, a single misstep in which would precipitate them to the rocks -more than a hundred feet below. - -"We will see when we get there. Be careful there Harry. Do you want -to pull the whole bunch of us down? Your feet are as clumsy as an -elephant's." - -At last the hardy outlaws stood upon the shelving rock peering down -curiously into the dark abyss below them. It was not an inviting -outlook, but Frank was determined to learn who or what it was down -there in the tree top. After looking over the ground with a critical -eye, he told the men to braid their lariats into one single rope. This -done he tested its length by letting it down over the edge of the -cliff. It reached the tree as nearly as he could make out, then he made -an end fast around a projecting arm of rock on the ledge where they -were standing. - -"Well," he demanded, "who is going down? I am not going to ask any of -you to take the risk. I would do it myself only I am afraid I shouldn't -be much good with my game leg." - -"Let me take a chance at this game, Captain," urged Comanche Tony. - -"No, you're too heavy," objected Frank. - -"I'll try it," said Texas. - -"Very well, you will do." - -They bound the rope tightly about his waist. All hands took strong hold -of it and Texas sitting down on the edge of the cliff, boldly slipped -off into space. - -The end of the rope had nearly been reached when a short sharp whistle -from below and a slacking off of the weight told them that he had -gained the goal and found for himself a foothold. - -"Hey, up there," he called softly after several minutes of aggravating -silence. - -"Yes," answered Frank quickly, lying down on his stomach and peering -over the edge. "What is it?" - -"I've made the lariat fast around his waist. Pull him up then send the -rope down for me. He can't help himself--" - -"Who can't--who is it--do you know him?" - -"It's Jess," came the answer faintly from the dark pit below. - -"Pull boys, it is Jesse," exclaimed Frank springing up more excited -than they ever had seen him before. - -"Is--is he dead?" asked Comanche apprehensively. - -"I don't know. Don't stop to ask questions now, but pull." - -Their new burden was a dead weight and it was all the outlaws could do -to get him up to the edge, where the body awkwardly caught under the -shelf of the ledge. - -"Make it fast around the rock!" commanded Frank, sharply. "Bill, you -get your arm around the rock and all join hands. All lie down." - -Quickly was the human chain forged, and with Harry holding him by the -feet, Frank leaned far out over the dizzy height and exerting every -ounce of strength that he possessed pulled the body of the great bandit -over onto the rock. - -"He's bound!" hissed Frank. - -It was but the work of a moment to sever the thongs that held him. -The elder brother already had slipped his hand over Jesse's heart and -learned that he still lived. - -"Bill where's that flask?" he demanded. - -Wild Bill passed it over and a large draught was quickly forced down -the throat of the great bandit. - -The result was gratifying. He began to choke and at a signal from Frank -they picked him up and carried him just within the mouth of the cave. - -"Hey," hailed a voice from below. "Going to leave me down here all -night? This tree's liable to give way and send me to kingdom come." - -"Pull him up," directed Frank, redoubling his efforts to bring his -brother back to consciousness. - -In this he was aided by the wonderful recuperative power of his outlaw -brother. And in a few moments Jesse sat up and rubbed his eyes, -blinking in the light of the fire they had started in the cave. - -"Hello, boys," he greeted. "What's happened?" - -"That is what we want to know," responded Frank without the suspicion -of a smile, though the others were grinning broadly. "You fell off the -mountain, that's all we know about it. We heard the redskins hitting -the trail of some one, and the next thing you did a high dive and -landed in the tree." - -At the mention of the word "redskin" Jesse's face suddenly was filled -with an expression of terrible, malignant rage. He swore a fearful -oath, and rising, rather unsteadily paced back and forth in the narrow -cave while he related all that had befallen him. Black were the faces -of the hardy band and many were the curses that the men uttered under -their breaths as they listened in strained silence. - -"And I'm going back there and wipe the curs off the face of the -mountain," concluded Jesse. - -Frank objected emphatically, to any such proceeding. He argued that -they all were worn out with the hardships they had been subjected to, -and to such good purpose that Jesse began to lean toward the point of -view of his men. - -"Well," he began when a sudden thud outside the entrance caused him to -wheel sharply, whipping out both his "Colts" as he turned. "What in--" - -The desperado chieftain sprang out and was down on his knees in a -flash. And the others followed just in time to hear him swear a -blood-thirsty oath of revenge. - -Without another word he picked up the object that had fallen in front -of their hiding place and carried it into the cave. There he laid it -down, kneeling beside it with his head bent low. - -"Who--," began Texas drawing near. - -"Why it's--" interrupted Harry. - -"By the great pizen snakes, it is." - -"It's a girl," marveled Frank, bending over the inanimate body. - -"Dew Drop," answered Jesse, in a strange voice of constraint. - -He opened the child's mouth gently and peered within. - -"The little Indian maiden's tongue has been cut out. She was then -thrown over the precipice after me," announced Jesse in a voice that -brought a chill to every human being within hearing of it. - -All the great outlaw's bodily ills were forgotten now, and in the -stress of the moment his strength had come back. He was the man of iron -once more and vengeance was written in the stern lines of his face. - -"What are you going to do?" demanded Frank. - -Jesse pointed to the body of the child. - -"There is your answer," he retorted. - -"But," began his elder brother. - -"Am I the master here or are you?" he demanded, an ugly glitter -flashing into his eyes. - -"I'll take it back; you are right, Jess," apologized Frank. - -"Any of you got any dynamite? I left some in the cave, where is it?" - -"I reckon we can't git that now," grinned Tony sheepishly, "But I 'low -we can scare up a few sticks." - -From various receptacles in their clothing, the desperadoes drew little -white sticks of the harmless-looking, but deadly explosive, all of -which they handed over to their chief. Next came a coil of fine copper -wire and a small compact battery. - -Jesse took the collection and examined it closely. - -"Good," he exclaimed. - -"Are we with you in this?" asked Wild Bill. "I allow the boys would -like to pay off a little of your score," pointing to the livid marks on -his shoulders, discernible through the bandit chieftain's torn shirt. - -"I reckon we would," added Comanche Tony. - -Jesse looked at them steadily for a moment, the lines of his face -softening almost imperceptibly. - -"No boys. This is my kettle of fish. And I'm going to fry them alone. -If I should fail to get back in an hour and you don't hear anything -doing, send Bill up to the Indian village to size things up. You will -know what to do after he gets back." - -"Be careful, Jess." - -"Put the little one in a hole in the rocks some where hereabouts and -block it up with stone so she can rest easy. We don't want any buzzards -nosing around her tender little body," was the great desperado's -parting injunction as he passed out from the circle of light and strode -away on his mission of death. - -Very tenderly they bore the body of Dew Drop, deeper into the cave. -Finding a suitable place they laid her away, blocking the opening -as directed by their chief. Then these hardy men--these men to whom -murder was merely an incident in following their vocation of rapine and -plunder, with one accord clutched their hats from their heads and stood -bowed before the shrine of the child who had given her life to save -them. - -"I reckon she war no less'n twenty-four carat fine," opined Tony, -turning away slowly. - -"She war that," chorused the others solemnly, nervously crushing their -sombreros in their awkward hands, and following slowly after him. - -Just within the entrance they paused and with one accord squatted down -on the hard rocks where they lighted their pipes. - -Few words, were spoken, for the thought that was in the minds of all -was not one to be lightly discussed, nor could they form the sentences -to frame the thought itself. - -"I reckon it's about time we heard something from Jess," suggested Tony -after a long silence. - -Frank consulted his watch anxiously. - -The men relapsed into silence again. But somehow the deadly stillness -seemed to get on their nerves and one by one they rose and began pacing -back and forth on the narrow platform of rock that hung over the great -canyon. - -Suddenly the earth began to tremble beneath their feet. - -They grasped the projecting rocks fearful that they would be thrown -over the precipice. - -A great sheet of flame lighted up the sky. And a report that seemed -as if earth and sky had suddenly been rent asunder crashed on their -expectant ears, and went thundering off from mountain peak to mountain -peak. - -"Get inside!" commanded Frank sharply. - -They obeyed the summons in the nick of time, for in a few seconds more -a rain of rocks and debris began to shower down on the ledge in front -of them. - -Comanche stepped out again, once the shower had ceased and curiously -picked up an object that had caught his eye. - -He brought it within the circle of light, holding it at arm's length -and gazed at it with fascinated eyes. - -What he held was a battered human head. The cruel, blood-thirsty, -malignant eyes of a savage redskin were gazing out at him from the -tangle of hair and lacerated flesh that he held in his hand. - -"Bah!" exclaimed Tony in a tone of disgust as he threw the horrible -object far from him over the precipice. - -Tony wiped his hand gingerly on his trousers, holding the hand up to -the light to see that no traces of his recent burden remained. - -"Ugh! It makes me feel hollow under the belt," averred Harry, turning -away and knocking the ashes from his pipe. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE BATTLE OF THE BLADES. - - -"Well, boys," greeted Jesse suddenly appearing among them. - -"That was a clean up for sartin," answered Texas, grinning. "One of 'em -come down here and Tony here picked him up. He was going to kiss the -fellow, but we wouldn't let him. Ha, ha." - -Tony went outside for a breath of fresh air. - -"Tell us about it, Jess," urged Frank. - -"There isn't much to tell," informed Jesse. - -"The fools didn't even have pickets out. I managed to shove a stick of -the stuff under the chief's wigwam--" - -"Who, Great Bear?" interrupted Wild Bill. - -"Yes. The rest of the stuff I distributed around where it would do the -most good and crawling under a rock back of the village I let 'er rip." - -"I should say you did," interjected Frank. "How many of them do you -think you blew up?" - -"I'll gamble my pistols that there isn't enough of that community left, -if patched together, to make six whole men--maybe even less than that. -It rained Indians and pieces of Indians for ten minutes steady. And you -know a lot of redskins could rain down in ten minutes. What's left of -them will never trouble Jesse James again. Eh, boys?" - -The gang nodded their approval of the sentiment. - -"What are your plans now?" asked Frank. - -"That's what I was coming to," answered Jesse. "First of all I want to -corral a side of beef or a leg of mutton. It has been so long since I -had anything to eat that my pipes have nearly growed shut. How is your -appetite, Harry?" - -"Me?" replied the homely one. "I could eat a sheep, from hoof to wool. -I've drawed my belt so tight already that the end of it trips me up -every time I try to walk. I'--I'm ready to be one of them fellers--what -do they call them fellers that eat men?" - -"Cannibals?" suggested Jesse. - -"That's the breed. That's what I'd be if I had half a chance." - -Jesse laughed good-naturedly. - -"I move we get out of this place as soon as possible. We shall probably -not be able to get a meal before morning, but as soon as we decide -on what direction we shall take, we can be on our way and out of the -canyon before morning. The first thing for us to do, it seems to me, is -to get some horses. Ours have gone. Either the soldiers or the Indians -got them. Most of the Indian ponies went up in my little explosion, and -those that did not, ran away. - -"I know where there was some ponies yesterday," spoke up Comanche. "I -saw a whole bunch of them grazing on the mountain on the other side of -the canyon over there." - -"We'll see about that later," replied Jesse. "The question is, what -direction shall we take? It won't do to go north, for we are liable to -run into more of the troops. The fort is off in that direction, and -they would be glad to see us. - -"How about it, Bill? You know this country. Is there any place near -here where we can lay up for a while and not get sold out--a good safe -hang-out where the grub is plenty and not too many babblers around?" - -Wild Bill considered the question carefully for a moment. - -"I opine I could find such a shack," he answered with a grin. "I know a -fellow who would take us in and be danged glad of the chance--" - -"Is he all right?" demanded the desperado. - -"Well, they'll all bear watchin', I reckon. He makes his living out -of a stage coach now and then. When business is poor he catches a -prospector or something of the sort. Guess he'll do though." - -After long and laborious effort the outlaws succeeded in picking their -way down the steep mountain side. Instead, however, of following on -down the canyon toward its foot, they turned abruptly south, and the -dawn was appearing in the eastern sky, when, foot-sore and weary, as -well as ill-tempered, they finally ascended to the broad plateau to the -west of the canyon, but as they looked across, nothing was to be seen -of the Indian village where the stirring incidents of the previous day -had occurred. - -"Any almost-food places hereabouts, that you know of?" demanded Jesse -of Wild Bill. - -"No, but there's a ranch about two miles west of here. And the fellow -used to have a fine bunch of Kentucky thoroughbreds. Probably stole -them at that, but they were dandies--" - -"Good. Me for the ranch," exclaimed the great desperado as the men -settled down in a long lope with anticipations of a steaming breakfast -at the end of their journey. - -It was just sun-up when the bandits finally approached the ranch, and -Jesse announced his intention of going to the rancher's cabin alone, -while the others remained in the background. But upon second thought, -he told Wild Bill to accompany him. - -No sign of life was observable about the place, and the outlaws were of -the opinion that the household had not yet awakened. - -The great desperado struck the door of the cabin, several thunderous -blows with the butt of his revolver. But there was no response to his -noisy summons. Stepping back a few paces he gave vent to a roar that -should have awakened the soundest sleeper. - -"Hullo the house!" he shouted several times, but without result. - -Having failed to bring any response at all, the outlaw adopted a more -drastic method of arousing the inmates of the place. He heaved a rock -through an upper window, then set to with a will kicking the door with -his heavy boots. - -Then a most surprising thing happened. - -The door suddenly flew open. A brawny hand grasped the outlaw by the -collar and jerked him violently inside. Then the door was slammed to -behind him. - -At the instant of the occurrence, Bill's attention was directed in -another direction. He had observed a bunch of likely looking horses -grazing in a large corral on beyond the cabin. He was watching them -with envious eyes. And his surprise was therefore great, when, upon -turning he found that Jesse had suddenly disappeared. Not twenty -seconds had elapsed since he first turned his attention to the horses, -and he had heard no sound of voices nor the opening and closing of -doors. - -Bill did not like the look of things, and dodged behind a tree to wait -further developments, though just what he expected might occur, he was -unable to define to himself. There had been no commotion within the -cabin so far as he had been able to observe. He could not relieve his -mind of the feeling, however, that his chief was inside and that he -was in difficulty of some sort. But what to do under the circumstance, -he did not know. Perhaps the bandit-chieftain was working out some -suddenly laid plan of his own, and to interfere with which would be -fully as serious for Bill as would be the leaving of his chief in -danger. - -Wild Bill finally made up his mind to hurry back for consultation with -his companions. Acting upon this impulse he turned and ran swiftly -back, dodging in among the trees to screen his movements as much as -possible, from any prying eyes that might be about. Seeking out the men -he quickly made known to them the strange situation. - -Frank's keen perception reached a solution of the problem instantly. - -"Of course Jess is inside. They opened the door and pulled him in. -That's what there is to it. You heard no shots?" - -"Nary a shot." - -"Then there is a bunch of them in there," he emphasized conclusively. -"Can we get near the place without being seen from the cabin?" - -"Yes, the trees run down pretty close to it on one side. At the back -they are further away. The corral is in back and there is a bunch of -fine nags there too." - -"Ah," exclaimed Frank, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Come on -boys, we have got some more work on hand." - -"And danged little grub," added Homely Harry ruefully. - -"I calkerlate we'll corral some of that too," grinned Comanche Tony. - -"Yes, but we will be lucky if we don't get a belly full of lead," -warned Frank with his customary pessimism. - -By this time they had come within sight of the cabin, but still, no -sign of life was discoverable to their keen eyes. The place might have -been deserted for aught they could observe. - -The leader decided to wait, and, placing a man on either side of the -clearing so that no one could leave the place without being seen by one -of them, the bandits settled down as patiently as their empty stomachs -would permit. They were well supplied with rifles and ammunition, -provided for them by Dew Drop, and so far as fire arms were concerned -were in position to do effective work. - -"Why not give 'em a volley?" suggested Comanche Tony. - -"Yes, and probably kill Jess," growled Frank. "That would be a fool -thing to do for sure." - -"I've got a plan," suggested Wild Bill. "If there's any duffers inside, -it'll smoke 'em out sure enough, I reckon." - -"Quick, out with it," commanded their leader. "We must do something." - -"It's this. Supposing one of us goes over to the corral there and cuts -out a hoss. Let him bring the critter along and tether him out here -somewhere in the bushes. I reckon they'll show their hand about that -time if there's anybody there," grinned Bill. - -Frank appreciated the force of the argument. - -"I should imagine they would," he agreed. "Better leave your rifle -here, but see to it that your side arms are in working order. We will -support you from the bushes with our rifles if necessary." - -Wild Bill, skirting the clearing, kept well within the line of trees -until he had arrived opposite the corral. The latter now being between -him and the cabin, effectually screened his approach to the horses. - -There still was no movement about the place, and the bandit, crouching -low, roped a fine, rangy thorough-bred and led it out through the rear -of the corral where saddles and bridles were hanging in a row on the -fence. - -"This is like gittin' money from home," muttered Bill as he saddled and -bridled the supple-limbed animal. - -All being in readiness, the hardy desperado swung himself into the -saddle. But instead of adopting the safer course and cutting into the -forest at his right, Bill dug the rowels of his spurs into the sleek -sides of his mount, and with a wild whoop dashed straight across the -clearing to where his companions were waiting with guns trained on the -cabin. - -To their surprise and mystification, however, not a word nor protest -was raised from the mysterious cabin. - -"Well, I'll be--" began Bill, pulling up and surveying the clearing in -perplexity. - -"Try it again," suggested Frank. - -"We have got a good horse, anyhow. Go back the way you went before, -don't hurry. If they see the performance is not to be repeated they -will turn their attention this way." - -The desperado's plans had been laid with savage cunning, but the -fruition of them seemed as far away as when they began. - -Again had the clever outlaw reached the corral without being detected. -And as before, he made a choice of the best animal in it, which he -quickly roped, led out and mounted. But before setting out on his -journey to the other side of the clearing, he drew one of his trusty -"Colts," grasped the reins firmly and dug in the spurs. - -This time, however, the outlaw rough rider adopted a different plan -acting on his own initiative. He drove the animal first straight over -the course previously followed, but when almost opposite the cabin, -suddenly whirled toward it, passing within a rod of it at express train -speed. - -As the desperado swept by a rifle crashed from an upper window, but -Wild Bill's sudden and unexpected change of course had destroyed the -marksman's aim and his bullet flew harmlessly over the rider's head. - -Like a flash, Bill threw down his gun on his assailant who stood in -plain view up there in the window, with rifle poised for another shot. - -Rising in his stirrups the outlaw took a quick pot shot back at his -adversary, uttering a savage yell of triumph and challenge as the man -lunged head first from the window with a bullet through his heart. - -Still, the outlaws off under the trees, divining his purpose, held -their fire, and Wild Bill made safe cover with his second capture. - -A shout of triumph from the assembled outlaws was quickly suppressed by -Frank's stern command. - -It was his purpose to leave those in the cabin, if persons there were -there, in ignorance of their presence until the moment for action -should have arrived. - -It came too, unexpectedly. Two men, who somehow had managed to leave -the place unobserved, were driving toward them on fleet horses that -they had quickly taken from the corral. - -"Well, of all the tarnation fools," exclaimed Wild Bill as he observed -them coming. - -"This simplifies matters," breathed Frank. - -"Halt!" he commanded stepping to the edge of the clearing. - -A fusilade of revolver shots greeted his order. - -"Then take your medicine," he snarled. - -The desperado's Winchester crashed twice. The two foolhardy horsemen -toppled from their mounts dead. And to complete the coup, Wild Bill -dashed from cover and skillfully roped the two animals, leading them in -triumph to the outlaws' hiding place. - -"If we wait long enough things will come right to us," he laughed -tethering the horses in the bushes. - -"Know that bunch?" demanded the leader. - -"Never sot eyes on 'em before. They don't belong in these parts. I -shouldn't be surprised if they was in here on a raid of some sort. And -I'll gamble too that the fellow what own's the place ain't there. If -he is he ain't takin' any part in this ruction." - -"Well, what do we do next? Want some more nags?" - -"Yes, better go back. We'll draw the rest of them out, if there are -any more in the place. I would charge it, but it would be sure death -to Jess and suicide for the rest of us. We must draw them out without -showing our hand if possible. Failing in that we shall have to wait -until night. Jesse is a captive and--" - -"But what's the game?" asked Texas. "I never see such a queer one in my -time." - -"We will find that out later. Mebby the answer won't please us and -mebby it will," was Frank's enigmatic reply. - -Suddenly Wild Bill held up his hand for silence, his head extended -forward in front of his body in an intense listening attitude. - -"By heavens they're shooting!" he cried. - -"To horse, all that have them!" roared the leader. "The rest jump on -behind. Unsling your rifles as you go. - -"Half go to the rear and the other half to the front. Smash the door in -and shoot quick and fast." - -By this time they were half way down the clearing. But those within -were too busily engaged with their own affairs now to notice the -bandits sweeping down upon them. - -"You fellows in the rear duck and look out for our bullets if we get -in first. If you break in before we do, we'll lay low!" was Frank's -parting injunction to his men as they separated. - -Leaping from their saddles the outlaws rushed on the door which went -crashing in under their combined weight. - -The room was so full of powder smoke that at first they were unable to -distinguish a single object. - -"Here I am over in this corner," roared Jesse. "Shoot the other way!" - -And they did. - -A volley of rifle shots rang out from both sides, but the bandits had -dropped to their knees and fired up at their adversaries, whose bullets -had whistled over the newcomers' heads and buried themselves in the -logs of the cabin. - -"Once more!" thundered Jesse. - -Again the outlaws poured their deadly fire into the ranks of their -enemy. And just then the door of the cabin at the rear crashed in and -Wild Bill and the rest of the bandits rushed in. - -With them came the sunshine and the gentle morning breeze that swept -away the smoke. - -Seven men lay dead and groaning on the floor. - -"Jess, where are you?" cried Frank, peering over the ghastly array of -faces. - -"Here," answered Jesse. "Come and release me." And sure enough the -notorious outlaw lay over in one corner. His hands were free, but his -feet were securely bound, and in this condition he had been holding his -desperate adversaries at bay, after surreptitiously freeing his hands. - -Wild Bill's revolver cracked spitefully, and one of the fellows who had -scrambled to his feet and sought to sneak away, went down with a bullet -in his leg. - -"Get him Bill!" roared the desperado chief. "He's the leader of this -gang. But don't kill him." - -And while Frank was releasing his brother, the others turned their -attention to the men on the floor, all of whom were dead save two, -besides the fellow Bill had winged in his attempt to escape. - -Jesse's face was stern and those of his followers who chanced to -observe the expression knew that the blood lust was once more strong -upon their leader. - -"Bring that fellow here! He seems to be the leader of this gang." - -Tony jerked the cowering wretch to his feet and turned his face so the -full morning light shone upon it. - -"Hello, Sam," greeted Wild Bill with a grin. - -"Know him, do you?" questioned Jesse. - -"Know him? I should say yes. He's Sagebrush Sam, one of the orneriest -coyotes that ever pulled a trigger." - -"He is the fellow that laid me out with an iron bar when they jerked me -into this place," announced Jesse grimly. "Now Mr. Sam, I reckon you'll -answer a few questions." - -"I ain't answerin' questions for the likes of you," snarled the captive. - -"There is a ring up there in the joist boys, trice him up by his -thumbs." - -They did so, so that only the fellow's toes touched the floor. In a few -moments he was writhing in agony. - -"Did you know me when you saw me coming up to the cabin?" demanded -Jesse. - -No answer. - -"Trice him up higher!" commanded the great desperado. "He'll come -around in a minute or two." - -Great beads of perspiration were rolling from the victim's face and -signs of weakening were already noticeable in his agonized features. -Jesse grinned appreciatively. - -"Let me down! Kill me! I can't stand this!" groaned the unhappy wretch, -his head dropping forward listlessly. - -"Let him down. He's fainted," announced Jesse. - -They forced a draught of whiskey down the man's throat after having -laid him on the floor. - -"Now get up!" commanded Jesse administering a vicious kick as Sam came -back to consciousness. "Where is the man who owns this joint?" was his -first question. - -Sam pointed to the floor. "Down cellar." - -"Dead?" - -"No. We tied him up and left him there yesterday." - -"What for?" - -"We allowed we'd take his money and his horses. He sorter didn't take -to the notion, so we put him away--" - -"Wait a minute. Texas, go down cellar. Now go on. What next?" - -"That's all." - -"You lie!" roared Jesse striding forward and pressing his bowie against -the fellow's throat. "You wanted those horses--what did you want them -for? Quick!" - -Jesse's keen mind had instinctively divined that the fellow had -possessed some motive that he did not want to make known to them, and -therefore, the desperado reasoned that this self-same information -might prove useful to Jesse James. - -"For to go to Silver City." - -"Silver City? What for?" - -"We 'lowed we'd stake out a claim thereabouts." - -"String him up again boys," commanded the bandit chieftain. "He can't -tell the truth any other way." - -"I'll tell, I'll tell," cried Sam. "Kill me, for God's sake don't do -that again." - -"I am waiting. Go on." - -"It was this way," began the captive hesitatingly. "They's been some -big strikes in the mountains there and the bank we'd heard was keeping -a lot of the dust and like, for a big shipment east in about a week." - -"So, you were going to soar high--you were planning to rob a bank, eh?" -sneered Jesse. - -Sam nodded wearily. - -"Where is this bank?" - -"It's in the half of the building where they has the postoffice. It's -an easy job if a fellow's got the nerve to go in in the daytime when -the safe is open--" - -"So you got a gang of cutthroats together and were going to steal the -horses to go down there and try it, hey?" - -"I could do it as well as Jesse James--" - -"That will do," warned the notorious outlaw. "How many banks are there -in Silver City?" - -"Two. But I reckon the other one don't amount to much. It's in the back -of a store about two streets down." - -"What is the name of the first one?" - -"The Silver City National. It's run by a man named Kemp from the east. -But they do say he's stole more money by giving the miners underweight, -than the whole pack of 'em has got out of it. I reckon it wouldn't do -no harm to trim up that kind of a skunk." - -"No, one skunk is as bad as another," returned Jesse significantly. -"How much money or how much gold did you figure old man Kemp would have -in his money bags?" - -"We figured there'd be close onto fifty thousand," was the startling -reply. - -The bandits pricked up their ears and evinced a sudden interest in the -conversation, but Jesse continued with his examination as carelessly as -if the matter were of no moment to him at all. - -"How do you happen to know all about this, Sagebrush Sam?" - -"I wuz over there last week--" - -"And of course you blabbed your plans to your cronies. Oh, you make me -sick." - -"No, no, honest to God, I didn't. I never told a living soul -except--except a fellow that helps around the post office. He was to -meet us when we got there and tell us how the wind blew--" - -"And he was to get--how much?" - -"We 'lowed we'd give him ten per cent of the rake off." - -"H'm," mused Jesse. "What is the fellow's name?" - -"Jake Fowler." - -"Well, what next?" - -"There ain't no next. I've told you all there is." - -"I'll tend to you in a minute. Where's that rancher?" - -"Here," answered Texas, leading in a very much bedraggled and sullen -individual. - -The notorious desperado related to him what Sam had just told them in -so far as it concerned the rancher himself and asked the man if it were -true. The latter said that it was. - -"Then you haven't got any particular love for Sam here, eh?" chortled -the desperado. - -His men knew that their leader had some scheme in mind, but what it was -they could not imagine. - -The rancher's face suddenly filled with murderous hate. - -"I'd like the chance to show you--and him," replied the other, turning -a malignant look on their prisoner. - -"Mebby we'll give you the chance. But first I want to make a little -bargain with you. We want some horses. We're prospecting through here, -and the Indians attacked us on the other side of the gulch, stampeding -our ponies, and we barely got away with our lives." - -The rancher nodded. - -"I hearn them tell there was doings across the gulch." - -"We will give you a thousand dollars for six, our own pick." - -The owner started to protest. - -"And here's your money," continued Jesse, without giving the fellow -an opportunity to object. "Not a cent more. You've had one experience -today and you'd better take the offer." - -The rancher looked from one to the other of the stern faces about him. - -"And besides we have saved your life, eh?" - -"I'll take it," was the terse reply, as he reached for the roll of -bills that the desperado extended in his open palm. "What about the pup -over there?" - -"Got a gun?" asked Jesse. - -"They took 'em away from me." - -"Here's mine. Use it if you want to," replied the outlaw carelessly. - -"You, you mean--" - -"Oh hurry up, or give me back the gun," retorted Jesse. - -"You ain't goin' ter kill me be yer?" begged the miserable captive. - -The rancher was fingering the gun at his side with convulsive fingers, -his face growing more malignant with deadly hate from moment to moment. - -"Bang!" - -Sagebrush Sam wavered and plunged forward on his face, dead. - -"Good job," commented the desperado. - -The rancher had fired the fatal shot without so much as raising the -revolver from his hip. - -"You ain't no slouch on the trigger," commended the bandit chieftain. -"There are two more fellows over there who haven't had enough medicine -yet. I observe they are trying to crawl away now. Wait, don't shoot. -Bill, straighten them up. Can they stand?" - -"I reckon they can," grinned Wild Bill. - -Jesse strode over to them and handed each a keen-edged bowie. - -"Fight," he commanded tersely. - -The horror of it sent a shiver down the spine of every man in the room. - -The men were friends, and the hands bearing the knives settled slowly -to their sides as they looked into each other's eyes. - -Two guns in the notorious outlaw's hands barked viciously at the same -instant and each of the unwilling combatants lost a portion of one ear. - -"By Judas that was a shot," exulted the rancher. "Mine ain't in it with -that. Fight, you measly spalpeens!" he roared and Jesse smiled as he -noted that the blood lust had taken supreme possession of the man. - -"Yes, fight," added Jesse, notching the ends of the arses of both men -with another of his wonderful shots as if to emphasize his command. - -In blind despair the unhappy wretches raised their knives and with -tightly closed eyes struck blindly out into the air. - -"Close in," commanded Jesse sternly, sending a bullet ploughing through -the upper lip of either man. - -And now in blind consuming rage the victims began to strike. Their eyes -were wide and in the desperateness of the moment, friendship turned to -un-dying hate. - -Each proved an expert with the knife. Their blades flashed in the -sunlight whose rays slanted down through window and door. - -It was thrust and parry as they leaped from side to side, forgetful of -the wounds that the bandits had inflicted on them in the earlier battle. - -Now and then a bowie would come away stained half way to its hilt. - -Not a word was spoken. - -The labored breathing of the combatants and the chilling clash of -blades, were the only sounds that broke in upon the sweet-scented -stillness of the mountain morning. - -The scene held the spectators breathless. Even the great outlaw found -himself interested in the desperate battle. - -Blood was over everything, but the desperadoes heeded it not. The -rancher's eyes were strained and the eyelids, drawn far up against the -forehead, never once closed in a wink. - -The blade of one antagonist went through the other's scalp, and a -crimson stream spurted half way across the room. The faces of each were -scarred with crimson rivulets that were constantly fed from the blood -springs above. - -The blade of the other sheathed itself in the shoulder of his -antagonist, and in the next second each was tugging at the hilt of a -knife in his opponent's shoulder. - -The shirts of the desperate combatants were hanging in ribbons where -the keen blades had been drawn in hopes of finding a human path and -through the rents livid streaks showed in strong relief against the -white flesh. - -Weak from exertion and loss of blood, the fighters staggered together -and with arms thrown about each other's necks, hung resting each upon -the other. - -"Break away!" thundered Jesse. - -His voice seemed to rouse them suddenly--to renew the hate that for the -moment had been allowed to slip like a mantle from the hearts of the -two friends. - -Their movements were slower now and less certain. - -Finally each with a hand upon the other's shoulder began swinging the -free arm to give it momentum and even then their blades did not reach. - -"Thrust!" roared the blood-thirsty bandit chieftain. - -Exerting a supreme effort a hand swung away from each body and -returning empty hung listlessly at its owner's side. - -Each had buried his blade in the abdomen of the other. - -For a full moment the antagonists stood with hand on each other's -shoulders. - -At last their bodies began to sway. - -They toppled and fell. - -The body of one lay sprawling upon that of his friend. - -And neither man moved again. - -"I guess that will be about all," said the notorious outlaw in a harsh -rasping tone that chilled them through and through. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE FIGHT IN THE "GOLDEN ARROW." - - -Silver City lay at the base of two great mountain ranges. - -It was, like most mining towns of that time, filled with a floating -population of gamblers, prospectors, miners and bad men. However, a -semblance of law and order had been established by the new sheriff, -Ben Teall, whose courage and quickness on the trigger had gained for -him no little respect among the gun-toters of that rough country. Some -who had doubted both these qualities, were now occupying six-foot -claims in Silver City's graveyard. - -Ben never pulled a trigger unless convinced that his own life was -in danger, and then he shot to kill. The fact that he still lived -was evidence that he had never yet failed of accomplishing that much -desired result. - -Bill was standing back to the bar in the Golden Arrow saloon one -evening two days after Jesse and his companions had departed from the -cabin of the rancher, headed for Silver City. - -The green baize door that was the pride of the Golden Arrow, swung in -and two strangers entered, who attracted Ben's attention instantly. -They were well set up, sharp-featured and clear-eyed fellows, and -though there was nothing about their dress to distinguish them from -the other habitues of the place, Ben mentally put them down as secret -service men; but what mission they could possibly be bent on there, he -could not understand. - -The two sat down at a table and ordered whiskey with "rain water" on -the side, and the keen-eyed sheriff noted that while they only took one -sip of the fire-water, they took down the "rain water" with evident -satisfaction. The rest of the whisky was dumped onto the floor. All -this he noted under half-closed eyelids. - -"If they ain't service men, they'll bear watching," was his comment. - -After a little the newcomers and the sheriff's eyes met, and each saw -in the other something of interest. - -"That's the sheriff over there sizing us up, or I'm a goat," mumbled -Jesse to his companion, who was none other than his elder brother. - -"Is he next, do you think?" asked Frank. - -"No, he don't know us. He's looking for somebody and he ain't sure -whether we are the ones or not." - -"Hadn't we better make believe we have finished and walk out? I don't -like the idea of hanging around and letting the whole town spot us, -anyway," growled Frank. - -"You can go. You ain't tied," sneered Jesse. "But come on, let's be -good-natured. There ain't no call for you and I being sore on each -other." - -"No, that's so," agreed Frank swallowing his resentment toward his -brother for the time being. But try as he honestly did, not to hate -his brother, at times the old feeling would come out. Yet on the other -hand, between the two was a strong bond, perhaps due more to the -strenuous scenes through which they had passed together, than to any -tie of brotherly love. - -"That man and I are going to mix it up some day," mused the sheriff. - -"Say," said Jesse to his companion, "if that fellow don't quit boring -into me with his eyes I'm going over and hand him something hotter than -the fire-water he gits over the bar of the Golden Arrow. It's beginning -to get on my nerves. - -"But watch out. He's got something else on his mind now I reckon," -warned Jesse suddenly. - -The green baize door had swung in and the man who was entering let -it close to behind him with a snap, as he quickly stepped inside. -His hands fell to his holsters as he swept the room in one quick -comprehensive glance. - -"One of Silver City's bullies," decided Jesse under his breath. - -"I know the breed. I believe the pup is going to shoot." - -At that moment Jesse's glance alighted appreciatively on the sheriff. -He was standing with folded arms gazing at the bad man with a challenge -in his eyes. - -"Steve," said the sheriff in a quiet voice, "I've told you to get out -of town before sun-up tomorrow; I've told you to keep out of the gin -mills tonight. If you're here five minutes from now I'll kill you." - -With that the sheriff turned away. - -"Jim," he said to the bartender, "give me a cigar." - -But the move came near to being a fatal one for the little officer of -the law. - -The instant his back was turned, one of the bad man's guns came out -with a flash and his eyes blazing with terrible rage he was throwing it -down on the man who had given him his final notice to quit. - -But he was not quick enough. - -"Bang!" - -The notorious outlaw's trusty "Colt" had spoken first, and the bad -man's gun fell to the floor, as its owner uttered a howl of mingled -rage and pain. - -He reached for his other gun with the left. - -"Hands up!" commanded the desperado in an even voice. "I reckon we -don't 'low curs like you to shoot men in the back." - -Instantly the room was in an uproar. There were those present who, -though they had not deemed it wise to express their sentiments in the -presence of the sheriff, were Steve's cronies on the side. - -Their hands flew to their guns. - -"Hands up, every mother's son of you!" roared the desperado in a -terrible voice that thrilled every man in the room. "Come over here," -he said jerking his head to one side for the sheriff to join them, and -while Jesse's eyes swept the evil faces about them the sheriff calmly -walked over to where the two outlaws were standing, and took his place -beside them. - -"Thanks, pard," he breathed. "You winged him. He won't use that hand -again right away." - -A gun flashed at the far end of the room. - -Jesse's 44 barked viciously and the other's bullet buried itself in the -wall behind him. But his assailant fared not so well. He sank to the -floor with a dull red mark placed fairly between his eyes. - -Now guns crashed everywhere. The sheriff worked his weapons with the -rapidity of a gatling gun. But Jesse and Frank fired now slowly. They -were at a disadvantage. They were unable to distinguish friend from -foe, while the sheriff knew every man there. So the two outlaws kept -their sharp eyes dancing from face to face and at the least sign of -treachery, the man went down with a bullet well placed somewhere in his -anatomy. - -By now the battle was getting too hot for most of the miners and bad -men and they took to the windows like a flock of frightened sheep. The -temptation was too great for the notorious outlaw to resist. He was in -a devil-may-care mood this night, and his recent exploits had whetted -his appetite for more desperate deeds. - -He discharged a quick volley after the fleeing men, and though not -once shooting to kill, inflicted wounds from which many an unfortunate -fellow never recovered. - -The firing ceased. - -Jesse laughed harshly. - -The bar tender poked his head above the bar cautiously. - -"Gentlemen all finished?" he asked, peering suspiciously at the three -men on the other side of the room. - -"That depends," answered the desperado easily, "upon whether there are -any other gentlemen in need of pills around here. If you know of any -more would-be bad men go out and get them. We might as well clean out -the whole danged town while we are at it, eh, sheriff?" - -Suddenly Jesse wheeled and sent a bullet crashing through the green -baize door. - -This was followed instantly by a yell of pain and one of the bad man's -friends, plunged headlong into the room dead. He had been taking -careful aim at the great desperado, who suddenly sensing that danger -lurked beyond the door, had fired. - -"Say pard," glowed the sheriff, "I've seen some pretty tall shooting in -my time and I'm something on the trigger myself, but you fellows have -got anything in Silver City backed clear off into the gulch. Shake." - -Jesse extended his hand and bowed with mock gentility. - -"There's only one man that I ever heard of who could handle a gun like -you do," continued the officer of the law. - -"And he?" smiled the outlaw. - -"And he is Jesse James." - -"_And it is Jesse James who stands before you_," was the outlaw's -startling and unexpected reply, one of those devil-may-care impulses -that now and then stirred him on to acts that from their very daring, -overcame all obstacles and brought him out victorious. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE DOUBLE BANK ROBBERY. - - -For a moment the sheriff stood like a man stricken suddenly dumb. Jesse -faced him with a mocking smile on his face. - -"You--you are--Get out of here! Vamoose quicker'n a streak of greased -lightning. Don't you know I'm an officer of the law?" exclaimed the -gamey little sheriff suddenly turning his back on Jesse and Frank. -And the latter two with a laugh walked from the scene of carnage and -disappeared in the night. - -"Well," snarled Frank, "you have put your foot in it this time -everlastingly." - -"Oh, I don't know. We'll see," was his laconic answer. - -The two men walked across a vacant lot, picked up their horses, -mounted and rode out to a mountain gulch nearby, where they joined -their fellows. It was no unusual thing for horsemen to be seen on the -streets of Silver City, and therefore it excited no comment when seven -men rode in from different directions on the following morning. The -uniform quality of their horseflesh, however, did attract the attention -of the mountaineers, but though each carried a Winchester in his saddle -holster, the men excited no more than ordinary interest. - -So changed in appearance were the notorious outlaw and his brother -that it would have been a keen eye indeed, that would have been able -to discover, under their disguises, the men whose guns had done such -deadly work in the Golden Arrow on the previous evening. - -None of the newcomers appeared to be traveling together. Now and then -one would drop from his horse and visit a saloon, two visited the -postoffice and others took in a general store below in which was the -second bank. - -But had one been suspicious he might have noted a certain method in the -actions of these newcomers who seemed to be everywhere at once, and yet -acting without any apparent motive. - -After a time the band seemed to have formed in two sections--one at the -north end of the main street and the other at the south, the latter -section consisting of fewer men than the northern group. - -On the north might have been found the great outlaw, his brother having -cast his lot with the band to the south. - -Jesse sauntered carelessly into the postoffice and asked if there was -any mail for Jim Howard. - -While the postmaster was looking over his letters Wild Bill slipped -behind the case and dealt the postmaster a terrific blow with the butt -of his revolver. - -While the act was in plain view of the street through the large front -window, there chanced to be no one passing at the moment, and neither -was the brutal assault observable to those in the bank on the other -side of the partition. - -"Who are you?" demanded Jesse as a fellow, hideous in his hunchbacked -deformity leered up into his face. - -"I reckon I don't know you either?" was the enigmatical reply. - -"You're Jake Fowler. I know you." - -"But you ain't Sagebrush Sam. What do you want here?" - -"S-h-h," whispered Jesse. "He sent me here. How many men are over there -behind the counter of the bank?" - -"Two, the owner and the cashier," informed the other, his eye twinkling -with intelligence. - -"Call them over here. Tell them the postmaster has been hurt. They -won't see me, but my pard here will cover them the minute they get -behind the case, and we'll hold you in here till we get through. No -tricks or I'll shoot you full of holes," hissed the desperado, dropping -behind a barrel and motioning to Bill to make himself scarce, as Jake -ran to the bank counter in great excitement. - -"Come quick!" cried Jake. "The postmaster has been hurt or else he's -fallen in a fit." - -"What--where?" cried the two bankers excitedly. - -"Over here. Hurry." - -Jake was playing his part as if he had been studying it for months and -Jesse grinned approvingly. - -The three had stooped to raise the body of the prostrate man when they -were startled by the sudden command: - -"Move an inch and you're both dead men." - -The owner of the bank started to utter an exclamation, but the words -froze in his mouth as looking sideways he found himself gazing along -the black, menacing barrel of a heavy "Colt's." - -Jesse, not wasting the time to go around into the enclosure, had leaped -the counter and was down on his knees in front of the large open safe -whose doors were swung wide, displaying their glittering contents to -his avaricious gaze. - -Gold, bills, little sacks of precious dust were swept with ruthless -hand into the yawning gunny sack like meal from a miller's hopper. - -Meanwhile two mounted men in front had dismounted and were busily -engaged in tightening their saddle girths, apparently oblivious to -anything that was going on around them. - -Not a soul save those directly connected with the daring robbery had -been disturbed. - -With a sweeping glance around him, Jesse, observed with a grin that the -coast was clear, and came around the counter with the bag of precious -loot in his hand. - -Not a word was spoken as he passed around to the rear of the Postoffice -case. - -Raising his gun by the barrel he brought it down with terrific force, -first on the head of one and then on the other of the bankers. They -fell forward groaning. - -"Follow me and guard the rear," announced Jesse to Wild Bill. "Here's -a drunk for you baby," he added, tossing a thousand dollar bill to the -hunch-back. "Better mosey or they'll be stringing you up before the sun -is over the gulch. You'll get drunk and that'll be the end of you." - -"Can't I go with you?" leered the outlaw. "I ain't no tenderfoot." - -"Not unless you are ready to die," retorted Jesse - -"Then I'll peach," was the sudden and unexpected reply. - -A sudden rage leaped into the eyes of the outlaw. - -Throwing his gun down on the horrible dwarf he pulled the trigger. "I -guess that'll hold him a while," decided the outlaw with a cruel smile, -as the dwarf fell over dead. - -"Shall I get the money you gave 'im?" asked Bill - -"No," snapped the desperado. "Jesse James does not rob dead men's -pockets. It's his. Let him have it." - -Strangely enough to the outlaws the shot had attracted no attention. -And mounting they rode leisurely up the street toward the store where -the second bank was located. He could see the remaining members of the -band lounging recklessly about in the street in front of the place, and -wondering at the delay. - -"Something must have gone wrong," he muttered, urging his horse along a -little faster. - -Just then the ground under them was shaken by a dull heavy explosion. -People came flocking from shop and saloon and curious scared faces -appeared at the open windows of upper stories. - -"Dynamite," he growled. - -"It's the bank!" was the startling cry, taken up from mouth to mouth -and passed along down the village street, as a shouting, gesticulating, -yelling mob rushed to the store where the second bank was located. - -The desperado saw his men coolly swing themselves into their saddles -and face the mob with leveled Winchesters. - -A rain of scattered shots began to patter about those in front of the -bank. But the men held their fire, ordering the people back on the pain -of instant death. - -A thirty-two stung Comanche Tony in the cheek. - -Throwing his Winchester to his shoulder he shot the man who had wounded -him, dead. - -The citizens answered with a volley. At that the desperadoes pumped -their magazines, into the crowd, until they were emptied and then -released their revolvers from their holsters began fanning the mad mob -with deadly effect. - -Jesse, having secured the gunny sack firmly to his saddle, and so that -it might not impede his movements, rode still leisurely along. - -Suddenly he espied Frank running down the steps of the store. Like -his younger brother, Frank also bore a gunny sack and from the manner -in which Frank was carrying it, Jesse understood that his brother had -succeeded in his mission of plunder. - -Frank swung into his saddle under a perfect storm of bullets. - -With a wild whoop and a savage yell the great desperado and his -immediate companions dug the rowels of their spurs into their horses -and charged down on the crowd. - -The mob taken suddenly by surprise at this attack on their flank, -ceased firing and fell swiftly back. - -"Forward!" roared the great desperado. - -Frank and his men heard and understood. - -Their horses sprang away under the pressure of the cruel spurs. - -Now Jesse and his companions thundered down on the crowd in the wake of -the first line of fleeing desperadoes. - -All at once a slight, wiry figure sprang out into the middle of the -street. - -"Halt! I know you, Jesse James." - -But the desperado threw himself suddenly forward on the neck of his -horse as the sheriff's bullets sang over him so close to his head that -he could feel the hair on the top of his head, slightly pulled back by -the sudden suction of air from the leaden pellets. - -Both his revolvers flashed up on either side of the horse's neck. They -barked in unison and the sheriff fell dead. - -The outlaw's horse leaping over the body of the fallen officer of the -law, sped away. - -Jesse rose in his saddle and sent a volley of shots from his Winchester -into the crowd in his rear. Then he was obliged to cease firing because -of the fear of hitting one of his own men, whose bodies were now -between him and the mob. The men had swung half way round in their -saddles, reins on their horses' necks, and were pumping lead into the -mad mob with deadly effect. - -Jesse fired a signal shot high into the air. - -Their fusilade suddenly ceased. - -With a wild, blood-curdling yell, the desperadoes dug their spurs deep -into the sleek sides of the sensitive thoroughbreds and sped off like -the wind headed for the protection of the mountain fastness. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -CONCLUSION. - - -Not until the shadows of night were falling did the desperate band halt -to make camp. - -So far as they had been able to observe there had been no organized -pursuit of them attempted. But they knew full well that they would not -be permitted to escape without some effort being made to apprehend them. - -But instead of following on south as they had started, Jesse after an -hour or so changed his course and turned due east, thus carrying them -away at right angles to the scene of their late operations. This, he -reasoned shrewdly would send any posse that might follow them, off on a -blind trail for a long distance before they discovered their mistake. -To accomplish this the men had to dismount and lead their horses up a -steep mountain side where the least misstep would have precipitated -them to certain death on the rocks below. - -But the hard rocky sides of the mountain left no trail for the -mountaineers to follow. - -It was with intense relief that the men dismounted after their trying -ride, and their appetites, whetted by the day's strenuous doings, were -soon satisfied with a hearty meal of bacon and potatoes, sizzling hot -from their improvised stone stove. - -And by the light of the camp fire, Jesse and Frank spread out their -ill-gotten gains on a slab of rock. - -The eyes of the bandits glowed avariciously as package after package of -bills was thrown out, to be followed by many bags of rich, yellow gold -dust. - -A careful count of the money and a rough estimate of the gold dust was -made, Jesse figuring the total by marking on the slab of rock with a -sharp stone. - -"How much?" asked Frank. - -"It'll run better than a hundred thousand, I reckon," answered Jesse, -calmly. - -The desperadoes gave a long, low whistle of surprise. - -"I calkerlate I'd be willing to go hungry for three days any time -for such a bunch of the long green as that," averred Homely Harry -facetiously. - - -THE END. - - -Be sure to read the next story, JESSE JAMES MIDNIGHT ATTACK, or THE -BANDIT'S REVENGE ON THE VIGILANTES. In this story will be chronicled -a series of startling adventures in which the noted outlaw turns the -tables on the man-hunters who are on his trail, to their complete -undoing. It is No. 32 in the Adventure Series. - -_TO THE READER._ - - -Only in the _Adventure Series_ can you get the absolutely true and -authentic history of the lives and exploits of the - - JAMES BOYS, - YOUNGER BROTHERS, - HARRY TRACY, - THE DALTON GANG, - RUBE BURROW, - -and the other Notorious Outlaws of the Far West. - - * * * * * - -We are the authorized and exclusive publishers for Jesse James' only -son, - - JESSE JAMES, JR. - - and are the publishers of his great book, - - JESSE JAMES, MY FATHER, - -which is for sale everywhere. 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