Yet before the desperadoes were out of their saddles, they received still another surprise.
The fires vanished.
With a suddenness that savoured of the magician's art, the two balls of flame disappeared before their very eyes.
"It's the Devil's work," gasped Bud Noble.
"Devil nothing!" snarled the world-famous desperado. "Come on! We must rescue Comanche!"
Little relishing the task of advancing down the canyon whose jagged sides seemed alive with men, so excited were the imaginations of the outlaws, they hastened on, stumbling and tripping over the rock-strewn trail.
With Wild Bill beside him, Jesse led the way.
Every few yards they stopped to listen.
But all was as silent as the tomb.
"I reckon we're purty close to whar the fires were," whispered Wild Bill, at last. "I can smell the smoke from 'em."