CHAPTER XXXV.THE SEARCH OF THE RUIN.
The corridor of the hacienda was first entered through the wing the chief of scouts had selected for occupation, and it was seen that all, save the door through which he had made his entrance and exit, was securely fastened.
Whoever it had been the chief had fired at, could only have entered by that single door, as far as could be seen.
The rear window was opened then, and showed that it had been closed for a long time. So did the wide front doors, which filled almost the other end of the corridor. But the other doors, save that one through which Buffalo Bill had entered, showed plainly that they had not been opened for a long while.
That door the chief himself had opened from within the wing, and yet the lion had been found in the corridor, as also had the white apparition, whatever it was.
“Well, if a mountain lion could get in here, a ghost ought to. The lion was certainly not a specter brute, as I have proof,” said the chief, with a grim smile. “We will now look over the rest of the building.”
And they did so, going into each wing, the chapel, and the basement in the solid rock beneath it, the second story, and up to the tower.
This done, and finding nothing more than that it had been the haunt of owls and bats, the party blew out their lanterns and returned to the wing where their comrades had been hard at work.
With water from the stream, and brooms, they had cleaned up the rooms well, a fire had been built in the large open chimney, the tables got out, chairs set around, the cooking utensils put in the fireplace, the bedding placed in the sleeping rooms, and in little more than three hours the hacienda, in that wing at least, presented a very comfortable appearance.
Then the wagon was returned to the two waiting Mexicans, and the broken-down plaza entrance was repaired, as it was decided best, for a few nights at least, to drive the horses and cattle into the walled grounds about the hacienda, so that they would begin to understand that it was home.
Just before sunset the stock was driven up, and the gateway having been finished, so as to make it strong again, it was closed for the night, and the scouts went to get supper.
Two guards were appointed for the night, one in the hacienda, one at the entrance to the grounds, and Buffalo Bill selected men whom he knew were not of a superstitious turn of mind, remarking to Texas Jack:
“If we put on a man who was looking for ghosts, this is the very place to find them, and he would bealarming us constantly with challenges of apparitions, so I just put on men who have no fear of the dead.”
“You are right, for though there is not a man in the band who would not fight big odds if he knew he was facing men, several of the boys would skip at the sight of anything in this ruin they did not understand. I am sorry that you told them the ghost story.”
“No, it was best, for if this hacienda is the haunt of outlaws as I believe it has been, it will be by springing the supernatural upon us, that they will endeavor to frighten us away.”
“Yes, that is so, and from that standpoint it was best; but the cleverness of that apparition act shows that they have some means of getting in and out that we are not on to yet, chief.”
“Well, it won’t be long before we are, if the men are not stampeded by a supposed ghost,” was Buffalo Bill’s answer.
In the band of brave men congregated in the hacienda that night, about half of them had a superstitious dread of the old deserted mission ranch.
Buffalo Bill saw just how these men felt, and he read the faces of those who had no dread. So he said, as all were seated in the ranch waiting to retire:
“Remember, pards, I believe that efforts will be made to drive us out of here to-night. Not by directforce, for, with our numbers, they will not attempt any attack.
“But this hacienda is very old. Strange deeds have been done here, crimes committed, and most mysterious happenings have occurred.
“Now, there is no such thing, as all of you know, as spooks and ghosts, for the dead never come back to earth in spirit form. But, relying upon the fears of many that believe in spooks, wicked men play the ghost act to frighten all away from this place for a purpose of their own.
“My idea is that this place has been the abode of outlaws, and our coming here thwarts their game to keep hidden. As they dare not attack us openly, they will play the specter game and try and stampede us.
“But that will not go with you, and as an extra precaution to-night I will keep four men on duty instead of two. Two of you can be together: a couple in the hacienda, the others about the grounds.
“But, remember, neither of the guards must move into the domains of the others, for my orders are to shoot everything on two legs you see prowling about, be it ghost or man.
“Now, Jack, you go on duty with three men until midnight, and I will relieve you then with three more.”
This plain talk quieted the foolish dread of those who had been feeling anxious as to what might happen,and Texas Jack went on duty with three men whom he called to follow him, being careful to select two of the three whom he knew had an uncanny fear of the place.
One of them he left on guard at the hacienda with a comrade who had no fear of ghosts, and the other he took out in the grounds with him, though showing no sign that he suspected either.
The horses were huddled together in one corner of the walled-in plaza, and the cattle were in another, all quiet and apparently wondering why they were penned up.
As the guards left the hacienda the others turned in for the night, and were soon fast asleep, Buffalo Bill setting the good example by dropping off instantly into a deep slumber.
Soon after the guards had gone on duty, the horses began to grow uneasy, just why Texas Jack could not understand. As they still continued their restlessness, he told the man who was with him to stand guard at the gateway while he went among the restive animals.
But the man preferred to go with him, and he said no more.
The two quieted the horses, to find that the cattle also were getting restive, and, cowboy fashion, Texas Jack began to sing to them, for, as he muttered to himself:
“If they stampeded they may break out, and about half the nags will go with them.”
The cattle also became quieted under the weird chanting of the Texan, and then the horses once more became restive.
“Say, Pinto Paul, you stay about the horses while I soothe the split-hoofs with the melody of my voice, which can lull them to rest,” said the Texan, in a light vein.
“Jack, give me an order to tackle the mate of that mountain lion the chief killed, or to brace up against a couple of outlaws, and I’ll do it, but don’t expect me to play a lone hand, for I don’t intend to do it.”
“You are surely not scared, Paul?”
“I tell you that this is no place for living men when the dead are prowling about.”
Texas Jack saw that Pinto Paul was in deadly earnest, and he said no more, merely remarking:
“Well, Paul, if you think I am a foil to the ghosts we’ll stay together, and we’ll keep by the gate, so as to head the cattle if they make a break for it, and I’ll keep up my song.”