Jack, dashing forward with clubbed gun, and with his huge form towering above his companions, rushed at him. In vain the Trailer endeavored to elude the descending weapon; in vain he darted back; the gun descended full on his head, knocking him backward and prone to the earth, senseless.
Just then a man appeared, running, with a bag in one hand and a long, beautiful rifle in the other; it was Pedro Felipe with his recovered treasure, which he discovered in the new chamber. Finding that the apparition that had haunted him was none other than the ex-robber lieutenant, and that, like himself, he was probably in search of the treasure, he had burned with rage at his theft and crime, and was now seeking his life.
“Dog of a robber—fit associate for your old captain; coward, villain, I have come for your blood! Where is he? Let me reach him.”
But they held him back firmly, and after being made cognizant of Cimarron Jack’s desire to keep him alive, he calmed himself, and proceeded to bind the senseless robber securely. This he did with his lariat, which he brought from inside, keeping the precious bag with him wherever he went. Then after he had bound him fast, and given the body a slight spurn with his foot, he said:
“When he recovers, we will kill him.”
“When the Trailer recovers, he will be shot dead!” added Cimarron Jack.
“Ay, ay!” was the general response.
“All right, boys—let us go and see the pretty girl, and leave the two Robidouxs to stand guard over him. My eye; ain’t she beautiful, though?”
“You bet!” responded Burt, proudly.
Inside they found Kissie quite recovered, with her father and young Carpenter sitting jealously by her. Though pale and thin, she, in her joy, looked, to the eyes of the men, more charming than ever before.