Wild Bill was caught!
CHAPTER XVI.
HELD BY THE ENEMY.
Wild Bill was a terribly surprised man. He didn’t mind the jolt of his fall, nor the roughness with which the cattlemen treated him, but the blow to his confidence was a hard thing for him to get over.
He fought as long as he could, and only ceased his struggles when ropes made it impossible for him to move.
The set-to had disarranged his entire make-up, and had even caused him to lose a portion of it. Under the ragged garments he wore his usual costume, and the amazement of Lige Benner was great when he discovered that his prisoner was no less a person than Wild Bill himself.
“You came here in disguise to spy on me, did you, Wild Bill?” scowled Lige Benner, looking down on his captive and wondering what he should do with him.
“I came here to find out what I could about your criminal doings,” answered Wild Bill, “and it’s dollars to chalk marks that I’ve seen and heard enough to put a rope around your neck. A nice sort of respectable cattle baron you are!”
“He’s too blame’ mouthy!” growled Red Steve. “The thing ter do with him is ter put him whar he kain’t bother us.”
“I’ll do that,” returned Benner.
“How’s my horse?” asked the Laramie man.