The body of the dead Mexican was buried in the walled inclosure, while Winfield prepared breakfast and put things to rights.
After the meal was over, he and six of the scouts took the cattle to graze, while Texas Jack and the others started upon a thorough search of the old mission ranch. They were anxious to find out just where their disturbers of the night before had hidden, or, if concealed in the place, how they had got into it, and made their exit.
Having posted men here and there on the watch, one in the tower, one upstairs, one in the grounds, and seen the others start in the search, Buffalo Bill put on his best rig and rode away, his men wondering where, and why he had dressed up. He rode his best horse, carried a rifle slung to his saddle, and seemed prepared to meet friend or foe.
That he carried no provisions along, after saying that he would not return until night, was also a surprise to the scouts, who knew that their chief was not one to miss a meal except on compulsion.
Down the valley rode the scout, and, following the lake shore its length, he turned, after going half a score miles, in a trail leading to the left toward the mountain range on the eastward.
Up among the foothills he saw a fine hacienda which he knew was the place where he had spent the night in passing through the valley a month before.
Toward this he wended his way, for he wished to talk with Señor Otega.
The señor it was who had told him of the secret band of robbers in the valley, of the curse that rested upon the people, and this had influenced him in coming there to solve the mystery, to hunt down the outlaws.