Having finished their mission, the Vigilantes returned to Nevada.
CHAPTER XL
EXECUTION OF HUNTER
Soon after the transactions recorded in the last chapter, the Virginia City Vigilantes were informed that Bill Hunter had been seen in the Gallatin Valley. It was reported that he sought a covert among the rocks and brush, where he remained during the day, stealing out at night and seeking food among the scattered settlers, as he could find it. His place of concealment was about twenty miles from the mouth of the Gallatin River. A number of the Vigilantes, under the pretence of joining the Barney Hughes stampede to a new placer discovery, left Virginia City, and scoured the country for a distance of sixty miles or more, in search of the missing ruffian. Hunter was discovered during this search.
As soon as it became known that he was at the spot indicated, four resolute men at once volunteered to go in pursuit of, capture, and execute him. Their route lay across two heavy divides, and required about sixty miles of hurried travelling. The first day they crossed the divide between the Pas-sam-a-ri and the Madison, camping that night on the bank of the latter river, which they had forded with great difficulty. The weather was intensely cold, and their blankets afforded but feeble protection against it. They built a large camp-fire, and lay down as near to it as safety would permit. One of their number spread his blankets on the slope of a little hillock next the fire, and during the night slipped down until his feet encountered the hot embers. The weather increased in severity the next day, during most of which the Vigilantes rode through a fierce mountain snowstorm, with the wind directly in their faces. At two o’clock P.M. they halted for supper at the Milk ranche, about twenty miles from the place where they expected to find the fugitive. Under the guidance of a man whom they employed here, they then pushed on at a rapid pace, the storm gathering in fury as they progressed. At midnight they drew up near a lone cabin in the neighborhood of the rocky jungle where their game had taken cover.
“This storm has certainly routed him,” said one of the Vigilantes. “Ten to one, we bag him in the cabin.”
“Very likely,” replied another. “He would not suspect danger in such weather. It will save us a heap of trouble.”
One of the men rapped loudly at the cabin door. Opening it slowly, a look of amazement stole over the features of the inmate, as he surveyed the company of six mounted armed men.
“Good-evening,” said one, saluting him.
“Don’t know whether it is or not,” growled the man, evidently suspicious that a visit at so late an hour meant mischief.
“Build us a fire, man,” said the Vigilante. “We are nearly frozen, and this is the only place of shelter from this storm for many miles. Surely you won’t play the churl to a party of weather-bound prospectors.”