Quickly the cowboys obeyed and while, with guns ready, Pinky and Ki Yi stood guard at the head of the stairs, the other two hastened to the opposite end of the tier and began to work with might and main at the stone which formed the trap door.
The Midnight Raider, however, heard them and, taking his position behind a pillar, waited for a form to appear through the opening.
But the aged scout was more than his match in cunning. Anticipating this very act, as soon as he and Deadshot raised the trap, he took off his vest and lowered it cautiously.
In the darkness, the murdering Indian was only able to distinguish some object descending—and blazed away at it, again and again.
“Howl! Yell!” urged the old half-breed of his companion. “Make believe you hit! Me lower vest some more. You count shot. When get ten tell me. Louie gun empty, then we drop and git um!”
Marveling at the cunning of the aged scout, Deadshot obeyed.
And not until he had emptied both his guns and heard his pursuers as they dropped to the floor did the Indian fiend realize he had been outwitted!
But though unable to use his six shooters, Scalping Louie did not give up!
Dashing to the ground tier, he awaited his chance to dart out onto the plains.
“Paleface watch out! Louie coming! Set um fire up front of tombs! He no got shells in guns!” shouted Nig, going to the front of the catacombs.