CHAPTER XXXI.ANOTHER STRANGE STORY.

CHAPTER XXXI.ANOTHER STRANGE STORY.

About a week later, Cody returned to Fort Advance one night from a lone expedition, just as all the garrison were looking upon him as dead, believing that he had at last met the doom so many had predicted he would, and wondering why he had not long before done so.

“Corporal of the guard! Cody is returning,” repeated the sentinel, as he recognized a horseman coming at a lope over the plain.

And such a cheer as went up at the words of the sentinel was seldom heard, for that Buffalo Bill had discounted all predictions and again proved his title to “bearing a charmed life,” was a joy to one and all in the fort.

He looked worn and haggard, and his horse was gaunt and weary, as they passed in through the stockade; but the greeting was a grand one.

Even Colonel Carr had begun to regard the scout as dead, for many anxious days had passed since he had left the post on his recent mission.

Straight to headquarters he rode, dismounted, turned his horse loose to go to the stable, and was met by Colonel Carr on the piazza, so glad was that officer to welcome the great scout back again.

“Come in, Cody, and I feel as though I was welcoming you back almost from the grave.”

“Not so bad as that, colonel, though I have been on a long trail, and a strange one, sir.”

“I do not doubt it—you show it in your face, and I was sorry that I allowed you to go on the search.”

“And I am glad that I went, sir, for I found the secret valley, and I discovered enough to know that the inhabitants need looking after. But I have a new plan to submit to you, sir. I’ve found a mystery that must be uncovered.”

“Well, tell me about your trip.”

“I went on the trail, after leaving Fort Aspen, which a Mexican who died there told me to take, and it led me into a country seldom traveled, down in the land of an old deserted fort, Rosal.

“I struck the Rosal range and found there a large lake in a most beautiful valley, situated by itself, for all approaches to it are desert lands, beyond which no one would suspect to find a garden spot of beauty.”

“Yes, I have heard only indirectly of such a country there, but not that it was settled.”

“Well, it is settled, as you shall hear:

“The valley is beautiful, fertile, the surroundings well timbered, grass abundant, and there is a large, deep lake of clear and icy water.

“I was surprised, I can tell you, sir, when I sawit, and yet my suspicions were only beginning with the first view from the range summit.

“But first, sir, two days ago I ran upon an adventure and a strange one.

“As I began to enter the unknown and beautiful lake land, I came unexpectedly upon what had been once the home, doubtless, of some old Spanish or Mexican don; but it was in ruins, almost, and seemed to have been long deserted.

“Halting to gaze at it, I was startled to hear voices, the first I had heard for days, and in English.

“There was a shot, a cry in a woman’s voice, oaths in Mexican, and I knew that some one was in trouble, so I rode to the rescue.

“It didn’t last long, for I saw a man in Mexican uniform lying on the ground, a young girl near him, their horses close by, and they had been held up by several outlaws.

“One I dropped, the others skipped, and I found I had rescued a Mexican officer and the young girl, who, while on a ride had been attacked by road agents, who had not expected help near.

“A glancing shot on the head had stunned the officer, knocking him from his saddle.

“As the men dashed off and escaped me, for I didn’t press them close, I admit, there being more than I wanted, one called out: ‘I’ll remember you for this, Buffalo Bill.’”

“This showed that he knew you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But go on with your strange story.”

“In a few words, sir, the officer had revived, and from the young girl I learned that she lived some distance away, and the outlaws had sought to force from her some secret, what I did not know, and, as I felt that the villains believed I had help near, and finding out that I had not would return, I urged a quick movement to a place of safety.

“The girl and the officer quickly mounted, the latter still half dazed from his wound, and I told them I would remain behind to check pursuit and then follow upon their trail.

“I did remain for a while, then left, but I stuck to the trail I had been traveling, thinking that they might think there was a crowd if I followed the girl and the officer.

“As I rode along I suddenly spied a glittering object on the ground, and picking it up I was surprised to find that it was a bracelet studded with gems. I will show it to you later, for I have it.

“Feeling sure that the lady had dropped it, I retraced my steps and picked up their trail, only to lose it, and I am certain that they covered up their tracks to throw me off the track.

“Search as I might, I could not pick up the trail of the officer and the girl, so I gave it up at last andwent on to the valley, to halt at a fine ranch I came upon and there ask hospitality.

“But to tell you first of this strange valley and its people.

“The settlement numbers a thousand people, is an adobe village, and the dwellers there are Mexicans, with a mixture of Americans and Indians.

“From Silver Lake’s settlement the ranches branch out in the valley, and there are some fine haciendas among them, the rancheros being rich in cattle and horses, and a mixture of Americans and Mexicans of the better class.”

“You surprise me, Cody, and interest me greatly,” said Colonel Carr.

“I was greatly surprised and interested myself, sir, during the two days and nights I was in the valley.

“All seems peaceful there, too, and yet upon that valley rests a cruel curse, for it is under a ban of outlawry that is most mysterious, and the more terrible because the actors are unseen, unknown, and therefore secret foes.

“Upon this strange community hangs my mission of duty that I ask to go upon.”

“Well?”

“I was struck with the beauty of the valley, the apparent wealth of the rancheros, and where I stopped was the home of an American, who was half Mexican,for he had had a Texan for his father, who had married a lady of Mexico. He received me with the greatest hospitality, and we became so friendly that he told me that night, as we sat together, of the ban upon the fair valley.

“I questioned him closely, for I wished to know all that I could discover, and he made known, though with considerable dread at doing so, that the curse upon the community was from the deeds of a secret foe or rather foes. Who that foe was no one could tell, and yet he was most in evidence at every ranch in the valley, upon which he levied tribute or blood money, I may say, and got it.”

“But how did he do this?”

“By a placard stuck on the gate of a ranch house, or hacienda, demanding a certain sum to be placed in a designated spot on a day or night named, under the penalty, if refused, of a death in the family.”

“This must be looked to, Cody.”

“That is just what I am after, colonel.”

“But why do not the rancheros have the nerve to put this unseen robber to the test?”

“They have, sir, and to their bitter cost.”

“He has carried out his threats, then?”

“He has, sir, promptly and without mercy, and that is why they no longer refuse the demands upon them.”

“I can hardly wonder at it, when an unseen foe strikes at those they love.”

“He does more, sir, for he has taken from each home a hostage, keeping them comfortably, as they are allowed to write home, but holding them against refusal of his demands, and threatens to thus keep them until he gains the purpose for which he is striving, a certain amount of money, I take it, sir.”

“There is no doubt of it, and it is a novel way of gaining his ends; but still I believe he can be checkmated.”

“I feel confident of it, sir, and for that reason I wish your permission to go to that valley and solve that mystery, hunt down that unseen and unknown foe.

“You know that Scout Texas Jack brought with him a dozen Texans as scouts, and they are all saddle sharps, superb lassoists, dead shots, speak Spanish more or less fluently, and are utterly fearless.”

“They are all that you say, Cody.”

“Now, colonel, I wish to take Texas Jack and his Texans and go to that valley and take possession of a deserted hacienda I saw there and turn ranchero, buying cattle and horses, and establishing myself there for the one purpose of discovering the daring leader who thus threatens, robs, and persecutes these people, and I am sure, sir, that I can unearth a mystery that will fully compensate for our time.”

“Cody, you can go, and take the men you ask for. You have been there, understand the situation, and know what you are doing, so I leave all to you.”

“Now, colonel, as the owner of this bracelet dodged me, beyond all doubt, I have it to return to her and will do so. Here it is, sir.”

“Why, it is worth a small fortune, Cody,” said the colonel, gazing earnestly at the handsome bracelet.

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