After several days' stay at the fort, Buffalo Bill started upon his return to his secret camp near Last Chance trail. He took with him another packhorse, well laden with bedding and supplies, for the weather was growing steadily colder and winter would soon be upon the land.
He knew that little snow generally fell as far down as the Last Chance trail, but it would be well to be prepared for any emergency, and as the coaches ran through the winter, the road-agents would by no means take a rest.
Riding leisurely on the back trail, not caring to push his horses too hard, Buffalo Bill reached his basin camp in the mountains on the third day, and the animal he left there pranced like a colt at seeing him come back.
His first work was to make his quarters more secure and comfortable, and this took him a day, and the following, having strengthened the barrier in thepass, to prevent his horses from breaking out, he started off on foot for the W—— and Last Chance stage-trail.
He would not ride, as he did not wish his trail to be seen by any prowling road-agents, and on foot he could accomplish more and be concealed far better than if he had gone mounted.
Before parting with Surgeon Frank Powell at the fort, Buffalo Bill had drawn a map of the country, marking the trail the surgeon-scout was to follow, and also just where he was to meet him, the place of rendezvous being the deserted camp where was the grave of Black-heart Bill.
When Buffalo Bill approached the trail, at the scene of the Dead Line tragedies, he went most cautiously. But no one was there, and going up to the little cross, the scout bent over and thrust his hand into the spot where, as old Huckleberry, he had his "post-office" with Harding.
He took out a slip of paper, and read it with clouded brow. It was as follows:
"I slip away at night from Last Chance to leave this here for you. It was unfortunate that you shouldhave had to go to the fort when you did, as on my run back I was held up here by the agents."I had taken your advice, and pressed through the other end at night, thus escaping men lying in wait for me."On my return I had a young lady passenger, a Miss Celeste Seldon, coming out here to find her father, a miner, and a young man whom she had sent in search of him. It was the young man I told you of who had been wounded and had never regained his reason."I had a large sum of money, which was taken, and Miss Seldon was carried off as a captive, to be held for ransom."The miners have subscribed the ransom money, and she is to be released. I will let you know particulars more fully as soon as I get the opportunity, endeavoring to have a letter here for you when I come to make the exchange, paying the ransom and receiving the lady from the outlaws."Doctor Dick will come with me; but the outlaws threaten to kill Miss Seldon if others come, or if any one else leaves Last Chance to pursue them, and that chief will keep his word.Harding."
"I slip away at night from Last Chance to leave this here for you. It was unfortunate that you shouldhave had to go to the fort when you did, as on my run back I was held up here by the agents.
"I had taken your advice, and pressed through the other end at night, thus escaping men lying in wait for me.
"On my return I had a young lady passenger, a Miss Celeste Seldon, coming out here to find her father, a miner, and a young man whom she had sent in search of him. It was the young man I told you of who had been wounded and had never regained his reason.
"I had a large sum of money, which was taken, and Miss Seldon was carried off as a captive, to be held for ransom.
"The miners have subscribed the ransom money, and she is to be released. I will let you know particulars more fully as soon as I get the opportunity, endeavoring to have a letter here for you when I come to make the exchange, paying the ransom and receiving the lady from the outlaws.
"Doctor Dick will come with me; but the outlaws threaten to kill Miss Seldon if others come, or if any one else leaves Last Chance to pursue them, and that chief will keep his word.
Harding."
Then there followed a postscript, which read:
"The young messenger, Bernard Brandon, has most mysteriously disappeared, and no search can find him."H."
"The young messenger, Bernard Brandon, has most mysteriously disappeared, and no search can find him.
"H."
Buffalo Bill read this letter over twice, and said in a musing way:
"Those outlaws are becoming bold, indeed, when they deliberately rob a young girl and make her their prisoner. The man Brandon was her messenger, sent in search of her father, and his mysterious disappearance,to me, means that he has been captured by the road-agents.
"Now, I dare not halt the coach on the way to receive the girl, if the road-agents give her up; but I will be on the watch, see it go by, and be as near this spot when the ransom is paid as I dare be, for from here I may be able to track those devils to their lair."
So saying, the scout set out upon his return for his basin camp.
When Buffalo Bill returned from the Dead Line to his secret camp, it was to prepare himself for several days' absence from it, for his intention was to hang about the Last Chance trail, discovering all that it was in his power to do.
He found a retreat upon a cliff, where there was a thicket of pines, giving him a view in both directions of the trail for a mile or more.
He saw from there the coach coming to the rendezvous, with the ransom money for Celeste Seldon's release, and upon the box beside the driver was Doctor Dick.
Yet the scout did not know who might be inside the stage, so dared not make any sign of his presence.
On went the coach, and Buffalo Bill at once started down from the cliff, and followed in its trail at an Indian trot, which kept him well up with it, yet just out of sight.
As he approached the Dead Line, he went more cautiously, and, reaching the entrance to the pass, made a flank movement and climbed to the top of the ridge.
It was after continued search that he at last found a point of observation, and he risked his life by reaching a spot where he would be dashed to death, hundreds of feet below, should his foot slip or nerve fail him.
From this spot, where he clung to a tree, he turned his field-glass down the pass, and could see the coach standing at the Dead Line, a quarter of a mile away. He saw that the coach had been turned to the right-about, the team being headed back for Last Chance, and Doctor Dick was standing near it, Harding being still on the box and grasping the reins.
Watching, with every nerve strung, the scout saw the masked road-agent appear, and later the fair captive. Then followed two other road-agents bearing the baggage of Celeste Seldon, and soon after the coach started upon its return.
Buffalo Bill could not have reached a point to head it off had he tried, and he felt that he must stillbe cautious. But he was determined to reach the Dead Line and take up the trail from there, for certainly the road-agents had not allowed Celeste Seldon to walk to the scene of the exchange.
After half an hour he gained a point just over the Dead Line, and from there saw that all was quiet. The outlaws had left, beyond all doubt.
It was an hour before the scout could make his way around to the Dead Line, and there he felt in the little "post-office" for a letter from Harding. But none was there.
"He dared not attempt it," he muttered.
Then taking a leaf from his note-book, he wrote:
"I am again on the trail. I saw the lady returned to you. I will take the outlaws' trail from here, and hope to track them to their lair."In a few days, now, I will have the surgeon-scout with me in my work, so the end is not far away."Keep me posted as before, as I will you."Yours,B. B."
"I am again on the trail. I saw the lady returned to you. I will take the outlaws' trail from here, and hope to track them to their lair.
"In a few days, now, I will have the surgeon-scout with me in my work, so the end is not far away.
"Keep me posted as before, as I will you.
"Yours,
B. B."
This was placed in the receptacle near the cross, and, shouldering his rifle, Buffalo Bill set out to look for trails.
It took him a long while to satisfy himself thathe was on the right track, but at last he struck off at a lively step along a trail which only a man of his frontier skill could have discovered.
After a walk of a mile he suddenly came upon a spot where there were the tracks of a horse visible. These he followed a mile farther, and the scout saw that the ground was trampled down, but not by hoofs.
The track he had followed thus far had been that of one hoof only, showing that the other three had been muffled, but one had lost its covering.
The trampled grass and ground revealed that the horses had been left there, and all had had their hoofs muffled in some way.
But the keen eyes of the scout picked up the trail, and he followed it quite rapidly until he came to a small stream.
"There were eight horses along, as their tracks show here, but how many men I do not know. When they have gone some miles farther they will remove the muffles from their horses' hoofs, and then the trail will be easy to follow, and it now looks to me as though I will be able to track them to their retreat, and that means the end.
"But night is coming on now, and this is just the place for me to branch off and go to my own camp, following the trail to-morrow on horseback."
Buffalo Bill quickly decided what course he would pursue. He would walk to his camp, get some provisions and an increased outfit, return there for the balance of the night and go into camp, so as to make an early start in the morning directly on the trail.
So he set out at a rapid walk, and within three hours' time had reached his basin camp. He quickly set to work to look up some provisions and get ready for his trail, and in an hour was ready to start, mounted upon his best horse.
It was after midnight when he reached his camping-place, but he was soon asleep, wrapped snugly in his blankets, while his horse was resting and feeding.
With the breaking of dawn he was up and ready to start, and a few miles away discovered the spot where the outlaws had removed the muffles from the hoofs of their horses.
From there on he felt no further anxiety about the trail, so cooked his breakfast, ate it leisurely, and again started on his way.
He understood now thoroughly why the outlaws had left no trails going to and coming from the Dead Line and other points upon the Overland Trail. The muffled hoofs of the horses explained this, and they stuck to their determination to leave no tracks until they got far away from the scene of their evil deeds.
Buffalo Bill did not believe that he would have to go very far from the Dead Line before he found their retreat, and was expecting to find out where they were in hiding within half a day's ride from his starting-point.
But noon came, and still the trail led him on. He had plenty of time, so did not hurry. He could do nothing alone, other than to discover the retreat, and then he would make for his rendezvous with the surgeon-scout, and together they would plan their future movements.
But night came on, and found him still on the trail. He was compelled to go into camp, for he could not follow it by night, and he soon made himself comfortable.
Again he started after daybreak, and a ride of several hours caused him to say:
"This trail is surely leading direct to the Grand Cañon of the Colorado. Can they have sought that weird land for a retreat?—yet why not, for no safer one could be found."
Within an hour more he felt that the country had a familiar look, and he was not long in discovering upon riding a few miles farther, that he had ridden right along there with Doctor Dick when on the trail of Andrew Seldon.
Suddenly he came upon the grand vista of the cañon, and at once drew rein. There before him was the mighty view that had so impressed him on his former visit, and he knew that the outlaws must have found a retreat in the depths of the Grand Cañon.
Not daring to go farther on horseback, he rode off the trail to find a hiding-place for his horse, and, after a search, discovered a little glen where he felt that he would be safe, unless his trail was discovered and he was tracked there.
There was a pool of water in one end and grassabout it, so he staked his horse out, feeling that he could at least subsist comfortably there for a couple of days, should he be kept away that long.
Hiding his saddle and bridle he set out on foot, with a couple of blankets strapped on his back, his bag of provisions, rifle, lasso, and belt of arms.
He went back to the trail and again took it up where he had left it to hide his horse. Every step forward now was one of caution, for the country was open in places, and he did not know what moment he might come upon a party of outlaws and have to fight for his life.
But he reached the rim of the cañon by dark, and a short search revealed to him that the trail down into the depths of the tremendous chasm had been discovered also by the road-agents, and their tracks led down into it.
The night passed with a cold supper and breakfast, and then he set off on foot down the dizzy pathway leading to the bottom of the cañon, for now he felt sure that he would discover the lair of the outlaws, and that done and his own presence unknown to them, he could arrange for an attack upon them at his leisure.
The gold-hunter, Andrew Seldon, rode on his way from his retreat in the cañon, determined to risk his life by returning to Fort Faraway and reporting the presence in the Grand Cañon of the masked outlaw band.
If recognized as Sergeant Wallace Weston, under sentence of death, he would be at once arrested and his execution would follow.
But he knew that Wallace Weston was believed to be dead, reported as dying of starvation in the desert at the time of his escape.
As Sergeant Weston he had been an erect man of martial bearing, with a face smoothly shaven and hair cut short. As Andrew Seldon he wore his hair long, and his beard fell half-way down to his belt, while he further had a pair of spectacles to disguise his eyes with, and had manufactured a hump in the shoulders of his coat that gave him a changed form, like one who stoops badly.
"But come what may, I shall risk it," he said firmly, as he went on his way.
After his night in the deserted camp where was the grave of Black-heart Bill he struck out for Fort Faraway. Suddenly he drew his horse to a halt as he saw a dust-cloud far ahead. It was approaching him, and it was made by horses crossing a sandy part of the country.
Out of the dust suddenly emerged a horseman, and behind him followed a pack-animal.
Hidden in a clump of timber Andrew Seldon saw that it was a white man, and that the trail he was following would bring him near his position.
"I believe that it is Buffalo Bill," he muttered, as he saw that the horseman was clad in buckskin and wore his hair long. But as he came nearer he said eagerly:
"It is the surgeon-scout—Doctor Frank Powell!"
The coming horseman eyed the timber carefully as he approached. Something had evidently made him suspicious of danger there, and, turning to the left, he was about to flank it, when Andrew Seldon rode into view and waved his hat.
Then he rode forward once more, but cautiously, for the chances were that the man he saw might be a foe, he well knew.
But Andrew Seldon raised his hands above his head, in token of peace, and Surgeon Powell rode straight toward him.
"I dare not let him know who I am, though I would trust him, Heaven knows. He knows me as well as any man, and I'll see how I stand the test of his piercing eyes," muttered the gold-hunter, and, as the surgeon-scout drew nearer, he called out:
"Are you Buffalo Bill, sir?"
"No, I am Surgeon Frank Powell, of the army."
"I see now, sir, that you are not Buffalo Bill, for I met him once when he was in a tight place with road-agents. Are you from Fort Faraway, sir?"
"I am."
"I was on my way there to see Buffalo Bill, when I saw you coming, sir."
"And I am on my way to seek Buffalo Bill, for I have an appointment to meet him not many miles from here at a deserted camp, where there is a grave."
"I know it well, sir, for I made the grave, and I stopped there last night."
"You made what grave?"
"The grave of Black-heart Bill, the desperado, who is buried there."
"You killed him, you mean?"
"I did, sir, for he had wronged me greatly."
"Who are you, may I ask?"
"My name is Andrew Seldon, sir, and I am a miner."
"It seems to me that Buffalo Bill has spoken to me of you, in fact, I am sure of it now, for you it was who saved him from Headlight Joe and his outlaws."
"Yes, sir."
"But Cody believes you to be dead."
"How so, sir?"
"He wished to find you, so tracked you into the Grand Cañon, to find your house buried beneath a fallen cliff, and he thought you were beneath it all."
"No, sir, I escaped; but as you are going to seek Buffalo Bill may I join you?"
"You may join me, Mr. Seldon, and I shall be gladto have your company," said Surgeon Powell, as he rode along by the side of the gold-hunter.
"I will be your guide to the deserted camp, sir; but do you expect to find Mr. Cody there?"
"I hope so, but should he not be I shall await him."
"I am glad to hear you say that, sir, for I am most anxious to see him, and I will tell you why."
"If you care to."
"I know your secret, Surgeon Powell, and am delighted to feel that I will have your aid as well as Buffalo Bill's in what I wish to do."
"And what do you wish to do, Mr. Seldon?"
"I will have to ask you to keep my secret, sir."
"I will do so."
"Well, Surgeon Powell, I am a miner, and I strolled into the Grand Cañon of the Colorado in my prospecting tours, and there discovered several rich gold claims. On my way there it was that I came upon a camp, and in it I found an unfortunate fellow who was wounded, yet bound securely.
"He had gone out in search of gold with a desperado by the name of Black-heart Bill, and, finding gold, the other sought to rob him of it, so shot him.Failing to find it, he was anxious to have his victim recover and show him where it was, intending then to kill him.
"It was while Black-heart Bill was away from his camp that I came to it, and I heard his victim's story. Upon the return of the man I recognized him as an old foe of mine, one to whom, with others, I owed a wicked life.
"I forced him to fight me a duel, and he fell. I buried him and cut his name on the quaking aspen near his grave, and then, nursing the wounded man to life, we went to his gold find. It did not pan out very rich, so I went to one I knew of, down in the Grand Cañon.
"While I was away at W—— to get provisions, my partner heard the cliff cracking, and so moved away, up the cañon to another mine we had. He was just in time to save his life, for the cliff fell, and Buffalo Bill was in the valley that night with a comrade and heard the terrific roar of the falling cliff.
"They believed that my comrade and myself were buried beneath the mountain of rock, but we were gazing at them the while and watched them ride away.Some time after I found that others had come into the cañon, and I discovered that it was a camp of outlaws, while more still, I saw that they had a female captive.
"I crept near enough at night to hear and see all, and I saw a young and beautiful girl, and the outlaw lieutenant held her a captive for his chief, until a large ransom was paid for her by the miners of Last Chance.
"I at once decided to act, and, having seen them start with her to give her up for ransom, I came on my way to find Buffalo Bill and guide him to the retreat of the outlaws. That young girl, sir, gave the name of Celeste Seldon. She is my daughter.
"Now, Surgeon Powell, you have my story, and my comrade is in my camp, awaiting my return!"
Frank Powell was greatly impressed with the story of the gold-hunter, to which he had listened with the deepest attention. After he had heard all he said:
"My dear pard, you have made a very valuable discovery indeed, and Buffalo Bill will be only too glad to have you guide him to the outlaw camp, for thatis his mission and mine here. I sincerely hope that your daughter will be given up in safety to the miners, and that her ransom will be recovered."
"She will be given up in safety, sir, I am certain, for I have perfect confidence in the outlaw lieutenant, who told his story to Celeste, and I only ask that he may not share the fate of the other outlaws," and the gold-hunter made known what had occurred between Wolf and Celeste, and Doctor Powell replied:
"I agree with you, and if he acts squarely toward Miss Seldon, I will urge that he be allowed to go free, when his comrades are to hang."
When the surgeon-scout was guided to the deserted camp by Andrew Seldon, he at once saw that Buffalo Bill had not reached there. But there he was to wait for him, and so the horses were staked out and the two made themselves at home there.
Doctor Powell went to have a look at the grave of Black-heart Bill, and the inscription upon the white bark of the aspen-tree, and said, as he read the name:
"Hugh Mayhew was his name."
"Yes, sir."
"There was a Sergeant Manton Mayhew killed at Fort Faraway by Sergeant Wallace Weston, who was sentenced to be shot for the deed, but escaped the very moment of his execution."
"Was he never captured, sir?"
"Poor fellow, he went to an even worse fate than being shot, for he wandered into the desert and died of starvation there. I knew that he was guilty ofkilling Manton Mayhew, but I am sure he had some grave reason for so doing, but which he would never make known.
"He was a splendid soldier, brave and true, and he would have been commissioned had not that sad affair occurred."
"Did he give no reason for his act, sir?"
"None; he simply accepted his fate, though it was said to clear himself he would have had to compromise others, and this he would not do."
"Poor fellow!"
"Yes, I often think of his sad fate."
An antelope was killed that afternoon, and after enjoying a good supper the surgeon and the gold-hunter lighted their pipes and sat down for a talk, both anxiously awaiting the coming of Buffalo Bill.
After sitting in silence for some minutes the gold-hunter said:
"Surgeon Powell, you were speaking of Wallace Weston to-day?"
"Yes."
"You may have noted that the name of Mayhew is upon yonder aspen-tree?"
"And referred to the fact."
"I put it there."
"Yes."
"Then I knew who Black-heart Bill was."
"That is so. I had not thought of that."
"He was the brother of Manton Mayhew, the sergeant."
"Indeed!"
"Yes, sir."
"You knew Sergeant Mayhew, then?"
"Intimately, for we were boys together."
"Ah! tell me of him."
"We lived near each other, sir, and Manton Mayhew was my rival at school, and also for the love of a pretty girl whom I idolized. He did all in his power to ruin me, and when I obtained a position in a bank, where he also was a clerk, he did wreck my life, for I was accused of robbery, and worse still, of murdering the watchman, who caught me in the act.
"I would surely have been hanged but for the girl I spoke of, who forced me to fly for my life, aiding me to escape. I fled, to prove my innocence, and became a wanderer.
"Then I received a letter from the woman I loved, telling me that she had discovered that I really was a thief and a murderer, and that she abhorred where she had loved me.
"And more, when, in my despair I wrote to one who had been my friend to hear from home, I was told that Manton Mayhew had been the means of ruining my father financially, and the blow had driven him to suicide, while my poor mother, heart-broken, had died soon after my flight.
"Nor was this all, for Hugh Mayhew, the brother of Manton, had married the girl I had loved.
"Several years after other news came to me from my old home, and to the effect that Manton Mayhew had gone to the bad and in a drunken brawl had wounded a companion fatally as he had believed, and he had fled no one knew where.
"His brother Hugh had wrecked his father's bank, and in a drunken frenzy had shot his wife one night, and he, too, had become a fugitive. Well, to end the story quickly, for I hate to dwell upon it, Manton Mayhew had joined the army, and, a good soldier, had become a sergeant."
"Ordered to Fort Faraway he had met there Sergeant Weston, whom he recognized, and, fearing to be exposed in his crimes, he had at once attacked him, telling him he would kill him, and say that it was on account of his insubordination.
"But Wallace Weston was armed, having just been given a revolver by an officer to take to his quarters, and he killed Mayhew as he was about to drive a knife to his heart.
"Rather than bring out the old story, and, perhaps, be carried back East to be tried for the murder of the bank watchman, of which he was innocent, Sergeant Wallace Weston submitted in silence to his trial and accepted his fate, feeling that his life was one of despair."
"And do you know all this to be as you have stated?" asked Surgeon Powell, when the gold-hunter had finished his story.
"I do, sir."
"Knowing it, you did not come to the rescue of poor Weston?"
"I did not, sir."
"May I ask why?" and Frank Powell spoke sternly.
"I will tell you the reason, Surgeon Powell, if you will pledge me your word to receive it in sacred confidence."
"I will so pledge myself, Mr. Seldon."
"Because, sir,I am Wallace Weston."
Frank Powell was always a calm, cool man, but now he sprang to his feet, dropping his pipe, and cried:
"Do you speak the truth?"
"I do, sir."
"Upon honor?"
"Yes."
"Now I recognize the look that has so haunted me since I met you this morning. Upon my soul, Weston, I am glad to see that you are not dead, that you can clear up the story of Mayhew's killing and announce yourself once more a guiltless man."
"But I cannot, sir, for you forget that I am accused of murdering the watchman and robbing the bank."
"Is there no way in which you can disprove that?"
"Only by the confession of the guilty ones."
"Who were they?"
"The Mayhews, and one other."
"They were guilty?"
"Yes, sir."
"And who was the other man?"
"A clerk in the bank and devoted friend of the Mayhews."
"Where is he?"
"I do not know, sir."
"And they are dead."
"Manton and Hugh Mayhew are dead, by my hand, but where proof of their crime can be found I cannot tell, and so I am forced to hide under an assumed name—yes, Doctor Powell, the name of a dead man, Andrew Seldon, the one whose body was found by the rock in the desert and buried for mine."
"You have had a remarkable escape, Weston——"
"Seldon now sir, for that is the name I have taken, and let me now tell you how that poor man, the real Andrew Seldon, was plotted against."
"I shall be glad to hear all that you are willing to tell me, Seldon."
"Well, sir, it was while escaping from the pursuing soldiers, that I came upon a stray horse. He led meback to where his dead master lay upon the desert, and upon the body I found papers telling who he was, that he had left home under a cloud, had left a wife and child and riches, and come West to hide himself and hunt for gold until he dared return.
"There was a map of gold finds he had discovered, and he had struck it rich and was on his way home. So I dressed him in my uniform, took his traps, and went my way, and he was buried as Wallace Weston.
"It was when I was returning to the gold find of Andrew Seldon that I came upon Black-heart Bill's camp, and, finding in him Hugh Mayhew, I killed him. My intention was to take Andrew Seldon's name, dig his gold, and, to ease my conscience, give half to his family.
"I imitated his writing and wrote to his lawyer and best friend, and little daughter, for his wife was dead, as letters told me which he had with him. In answer, at W—— I learned that I, as Andrew Seldon, dared not return home, that my daughter Celeste was dead, and my fortune gone.
"When Celeste Seldon was captured, from her own lips I learned as she told the outlaw lieutenant,that all had been a plot to keep her father away, and, discovering the plot, she had come out here to find him, after the messenger had failed to write home to her later than on his arrival in W——.
"Now, you know, Doctor Powell, why I was seeking Buffalo Bill, and it is my intention to seek that young girl, tell her all, and give her one-half of the fortune in gold I have found, through her father's maps and directions, in the Grand Cañon."
"And then?"
"I suppose I shall drift about the world, sir, unknown, leading an aimless life, or, perhaps, return to my gold-digging again."
"No, Weston, such must not be your fate, for I shall take your case in hand and prove your innocence of robbing that bank and killing the watchman, for I believe your story, and then with Sergeant Mayhew's character proven, you can readily secure pardon for taking his life as you did in self-defense."
"Heaven bless you, Surgeon Powell!"
"I only make one request, Weston."
"Yes, sir."
"That Buffalo Bill hears your story as I have, forhe believes in your innocence most thoroughly, and will be most happy to welcome you back to life."
"I will be guided by you, sir, but some one is coming."
"It is Buffalo Bill," cried Frank Powell, and just then the scout rode into the camp.
When Buffalo Bill went on his way down into the Grand Cañon, he continued on until he discovered just where the outlaws had made their retreat. This done, he retraced his way as rapidly as possible, and at once went back on the trail to where he had left his horse.
The sun was just setting as he neared the spot, and he approached carefully, for he was not sure that some one had not been there and discovered the animal.
Just as he caught sight of his horse he also saw that there was some one there, a horseman who had just ridden up to the spot.
The face of the horseman was masked, and this told the story in an instant.
But Buffalo Bill had been also discovered, and up to the outlaw's shoulder went his rifle, at the same instant that the weapon of the scout was leveled.
The two rifles cracked almost as one, and the outlaw reeled, tried to spur his horse in flight, and fell to the ground. The scout at once advanced toward him, revolver in hand, when in faint voice came the words:
"Don't fire again! Your shot is fatal!"
The scout put his revolver in his belt, bent over and took the mask from the face of the wounded man, his horse following him to the spot.
The face revealed was not a bad one—that of a man of thirty, with mustache, imperial, and hair worn long.
The scout made him as comfortable as he could, for he saw that he had told the truth, that the wound he had received was fatal.
Then he sat by the side of the wounded man for a while, the light of a full moon falling full in his face, and the scout heard him say:
"I am glad that I missed you, for I have done evil enough in my time."
"Who are you?" kindly asked the scout.
"My name is Alvin Wolf, and I had just resolvedto lead a different life, for I am an outlaw, one of the masked chief's band."
"Yes, I thought as much."
"I changed my life when I met a young girl who was the chief's captive, and I intended to thwart his plans to again capture her, for we gave her up for ransom two days ago, and, acting for him, I received the gold.
"He gave me a written order to take the gold to a spot near Last Chance, and turn it over to him, which I did last night, for he met me there, and then he arranged to get a large ransom for a poor crazy fellow, the lover of the young girl, I believe, and so I had decided to act to protect her; but you can do so now, for I will tell you all, and then I can die content."
"Yes, it is best to die with a free conscience."
"I believe you, and more, I will tell you of one whom I helped to ruin in life, though he is dead now. He was a soldier at Fort Faraway, and his name was Wallace Weston.
"We were boys together, though he was older than I, and I was led into temptation by others, the Mayhew brothers, and we robbed the bank we were working in, were discovered by the watchman, and Manton Mayhew killed him, and we had so planned that the robbery would fall upon the assistant cashier, Wallace Weston.
"He fled, for we intended to hang him by our testimony, and then Hugh Mayhew forged letters and caused his sweetheart to believe him guilty, and she married him, Mayhew, to in the end lose her life at his hands.
"Manton Mayhew always swore to me that he would kill Weston if he ever met him, and he said he had heard he was in the army, and so I suppose, when they met at Fort Faraway, he attempted to do so, and was killed himself.
"Poor Weston did not dare tell of the past, so had to suffer; but you can make the real truth known to clear his name, for I have it all written out as it is in my diary, which I have always carried with me and will now give to you."
"I am glad to learn all this; but let me ask you about your outlaw band?"
"Yes."
"How many are in it?"
"Nine, without counting the chief."
"Your retreat is in the Grand Cañon."
"You know this?"
"I do."
"Yes, our retreat is there."
"And your chief?"
The outlaw did not reply, and a shudder passed through his frame.
The scout spoke again, and, leaning over, he heard a few whispered words from the dying lips which a moment after were sealed forever by death.
When Buffalo Bill rode into the camp where Surgeon Powell and the gold-hunter sat, it was seen that he was leading two horses, one carrying a pack-saddle, the other a heavy load.
The surgeon-scout at once arose and greeted him, and said:
"Ho, Bill, what game is that?"
"A dead outlaw, the lieutenant of the band, whom I killed. But you are not alone, Frank?"
"No, it is your old rescuer, who was on his way to the fort to see you, when he met me. He was going to tell you that the outlaws have their retreat in the Grand Cañon."
"I have been to it; but how are you, Pard Seldon, and let me say that I have good news for you, as your daughter has come West to meet you and is now at Last Chance."
"Thank you, Mr. Cody, but I am aware of that fact,as Surgeon Powell can tell you; but come, look me squarely in the face, and see if you know who I am."
Buffalo Bill gave a fixed look, and then cried excitedly:
"By the gods of war,you are Wallace Weston or his ghost."
"I am a very healthy ghost, sir; but I am Wallace Weston, and I leave it to Surgeon Powell to tell my story to you."
The scout seized the gold-hunter's hand and wrung it hard, while he said:
"Thank God you are not dead, Weston, for only this night have I heard the truth of your story from the lips of the dying outlaw, Alvin Wolf."
"Ha! once my friend, then my foe, for he sided with the Mayhews against me."
"He did, and I have his diary, which tells the whole story; but now let me tell mine, and then we can compare notes and decide what is best to be done."
They first had supper, after staking out their horses, and afterward buried the body of the outlaw, Alvin Wolf.
Then, until after midnight, they sat talking together, the surgeon, the scout, and the gold-hunter, about all that had happened, after which they retired to their blankets.
It was just dawn the next morning when Wallace Weston rode away from the old camp to make all speed to Last Chance. His mission there was to take a letter to Driver Harding, which was as follows:
"Trust the bearer with your life. Pick out eight of the best men in the camp, whom you can trust, and have them pretend to start for W—— on business, going in your coach."See that no one else goes. Have two leaders that are good saddle-horses, and smuggle into the coach seven saddles."I will meet you at Dead Line with horses, and prepare to lose your leaders then, for four horses can readily pull your empty coach on to W——."Your men must be the best, and fully armed."The bearer will bring your answer to me.""Yours,B. B."
"Trust the bearer with your life. Pick out eight of the best men in the camp, whom you can trust, and have them pretend to start for W—— on business, going in your coach.
"See that no one else goes. Have two leaders that are good saddle-horses, and smuggle into the coach seven saddles.
"I will meet you at Dead Line with horses, and prepare to lose your leaders then, for four horses can readily pull your empty coach on to W——.
"Your men must be the best, and fully armed.
"The bearer will bring your answer to me."
"Yours,
B. B."
Pushing rapidly on, Wallace Weston arrived in Last Chance that night and at once sought out Harding. Giving him his letter, he received his answer, after the two had had a talk together, and then, mounted upon a fresh horse furnished him by thedriver, he started upon his return, having attracted no particular attention.
It was the next day that the coach rolled out for W—— and it carried eight miners as passengers. Arriving at Dead Line, it was met there by Buffalo Bill, Surgeon Powell, and Wallace Weston, and the eight miners joined them and went up to the scout's basin camp.
Then, with the two leaders taken from Harding's coach, they had, with Wolf's horses and the pack-animals, enough to mount the party.
The next morning the start was made for the Grand Cañon, and the descent was made on foot in the darkness of night, the horses having been left on the rim.
The party were led by Wallace Weston, who knew the trail perfectly, and at midnight they rushed in upon the outlaw camp, giving them a complete surprise.
Revolvers rattled, cries of alarm and pain were heard, cheers were given, and then silence reigned supreme, for the battle was won and four outlaws had been made prisoners—the rest were killed.
One miner had been killed, and others wounded, though slightly, and these were cared for by Doctor Powell.
In the camp the prisoner, Bernard Brandon, was found safe, but still unconscious of all about him, apparently.
Wallace Weston had asked Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Powell to go on with him to his camp, and there they found Lucas Langley on guard, he having heard the echoes of the firing far down the cañon, and supposed that it meant an attack planned by his pard.
Without letting the secret be known, that there was gold in the cañon, Buffalo Bill ordered an early start for Last Chance, and it was made by all except Lucas Langley, who remained at his cabin to await Weston's return.
Upon nearing Last Chance Buffalo Bill halted the party, to follow on a few hours later, while he rode on with Surgeon Powell and Wallace Weston.
The scout was recognized by the miners and warmly greeted, and, as he dismounted at the hotel and was welcomed by Landlord Larry and Harding, who had returned, Doctor Dick came forward and said:
"Delighted to see you, Mr. Cody, again in Last Chance."
"Yes, Doctor Dick, I am here to find Richard Mayhew, alias Doctor Dick, and, more still, the masked chief of the road-agents—hold! you are covered!"
But Doctor Dick saw that all was lost, saw that the rope would be his end, and, in spite of the warning of the scout, he drew his revolver.
But ere his finger touched the trigger he fell, a dead man, at the feet of Buffalo Bill, Celeste Seldon having come forward just in time to see him fall his length upon the earth.
To the excited miners Buffalo Bill turned and made a speech, for he had killed their hero, the idol of Last Chance.
He told them how the mask of the gambler had been torn off, by the confession of the outlaw Lieutenant Alvin Wolf, and how he had had his suspicions aroused, as had also Landlord Larry and Harding, by several things that had occurred.
The whole story was made known, and, as the rest of the party came in, bearing the booty of the outlaws and the prisoners, and in Doctor Dick's cabin wasfound the very bag of gold that had been given for Celeste Seldon's ransom, and the money before taken from the coach, there was no doubting his guilt, and a howl of rage arose against him and his followers.
Later, while Buffalo Bill, Surgeon Powell, Wallace Weston, and Landlord Larry were at Celeste Seldon's cabin, telling her the true story regarding her father, the storm broke in fury, and Harding rushed in to say that the miners had seized the outlaw prisoners and were hanging them.
An attempted rescue was made by Surgeon Powell and Buffalo Bill, but in vain; that mob would not, could not, be stayed in its madness, and the work of revenge was accomplished.
The next day, as Surgeon Powell had said that the reason of Bernard Brandon could be restored by an operation, Celeste begged him to make the attempt, and, to the joy of all, it was crowned with perfect success.
With his reason once on its throne, and learning all that had taken place, Bernard Brandon told how he had been the young partner of Lawyer Edgar Stone,who had kept his friend, Andrew Seldon, away from home by false letters, had written him that Celeste was dead, intending in the end to marry her and get the large fortune for himself, for the estate had greatly increased in value since the departure of its owner.
He had at last decided to go to Celeste and confess all, and, learning that he had done so, Edgar Stone had fled to save imprisonment.
In atonement Bernard Brandon had come West to find Andrew Seldon, and, not hearing from him, Celeste had followed him.
Bernard Brandon hoped that his atonement might win the heart of Celeste, but instead she dismissed him with liberal payment and placed herself under the guardianship of Wallace Weston, who had taken her father's name.
Bidding adieu to their pards at Last Chance, after sending Harding to the Grand Cañon to join Lucas Langley at the mine, Wallace Weston went East with Celeste, and going to his old home, he told the whole story of his life, and submitted letters from Doctor Powell, Buffalo Bill, and the diary of the outlawofficer as proof of his innocence, so that the charges against him were at once ended by legal process.
Armed with proper papers, he presented himself before the President and received his pardon, after which, with Celeste Seldon as Mrs. Wallace Weston, he went to Fort Faraway and received a welcome from all his old officers and comrades that made his heart glad.
As the mines in the Grand Cañon had ceased panning out as expected, Wallace Weston gave up his interest there to Lucas Langley and Harding, and returned East with his beautiful wife.
THE END.