A fusilade of revolver shots greeted his order.
"Then take your medicine," he snarled.
The desperado's Winchester crashed twice. The two foolhardy horsemen toppled from their mounts dead. And to complete the coup, Wild Bill dashed from cover and skillfully roped the two animals, leading them in triumph to the outlaws' hiding place.
"If we wait long enough things will come right to us," he laughed tethering the horses in the bushes.
"Know that bunch?" demanded the leader.
"Never sot eyes on 'em before. They don't belong in these parts. I shouldn't be surprised if they was in here on a raid of some sort. And I'll gamble too that the fellow what own's the place ain't there. If he is he ain't takin' any part in this ruction."
"Well, what do we do next? Want some more nags?"
"Yes, better go back. We'll draw the rest of them out, if there are any more in the place. I would charge it, but it would be sure death to Jess and suicide for the rest of us. We must draw them out without showing our hand if possible. Failing in that we shall have to wait until night. Jesse is a captive and—"
"But what's the game?" asked Texas. "I never see such a queer one in my time."
"We will find that out later. Mebby the answer won't please us and mebby it will," was Frank's enigmatic reply.