Wild Bills Last Trail | Page 8

knows nothing of what you would say if I did not interrupt you.
Nor do I intend he shall at present. It is enough that you know it, and
will care for both my body and my good name, should I fail."
"You know I will. But you must not fall."
"I do not intend to. I think I can crush him by a look and a word. I shall
try, at least. If all goes well, I will be here by eight to-night to arrange
for our visit."
"I hope you will come, and safely."
"I will, Addie. Until the cup of vengeance is full. Heaven will surely
spare me. But I must go. I have no time to spare."
The young Texan glanced at the chambers of a handsome six-shooter
which he carried, to see if it was ready for use, replaced it in his belt,
and then, with a cheerful smile, left the room and house.
Hastening to the stable, he selected a saddle, lengthened the stirrups to

suit himself, took a stout bridle from among a lot hanging in the
store-room, and accompanied by the stable-keeper, approached the
newly purchased Black Hawk horse.
"I may as well have him ready," he said; "for if Wild Bill is to be here
at sunset, that time is close at hand. You say the horse has not been
ridden?"
"No," said the stable-keeper. "My regular breaker was not here when I
bought him. Black Joe tried to mount him, but the horse scared him."
"Well, I'll soon see what he is made of, if I can get saddle and bridle on
him," said the Texan.
They now together approached the large box stall in which the stallion
was kept. The horse, almost perfect in symmetry, black as night, with a
fierce, wild look, turned to front them as they approached the barred
entrance.
"Steady, boy--steady!" cried the Texan, as he sprang lightly over the
bars, and at once laid his hand on the arched neck of the horse.
To the wonder of the stableman, the horse, instead of rearing back or
plunging at the intruder, turned his eyes upon him, and with a kind of
tremor in his frame, seemed to wait to see what his visitor meant.
"So! Steady, Black Hawk! steady, old boy!" continued the Texan,
kindly passing his hand over the horse's neck and down his face.
The horse uttered a low neigh, and seemed by his looks pleased with
his attentions.
"That beats me!" cried the stable-keeper. "Old Joe had to lasso him and
draw him down to a ringbolt before he could rub him off."
"Hand me the saddle and bridle," said the Texan, still continuing to
"pet" the beautiful and spirited animal.
In a few seconds, without difficulty, the same kind and skillful hands

had the horse both saddled and bridled.
The Texan now led the horse out on the street, where quite a crowd
seemed to be gathering, perhaps drawn there by some rumor of a fight
in embryo.
And as he glanced up the street the Texan saw Wild Bill himself, with
his six-shooters in his belt, come striding along, with California Joe and
a dozen more at his heels.
In a second, the Texan vaulted upon the back of the horse, which made
one wild leap that would have unseated most riders, and then reared on
its hind legs as if it would fall back and crush its would-be master.
At this instant, Wild Bill rushing forward, pistol in hand, shouted:
"Give up that horse, or die!"
CHAPTER V.
A SQUARE BACK-DOWN.
The Texan paid no heed to the words of the desperado, but bending
forward on the horse with his full weight, drove his spurs deeply into
its flanks. Startled and stung with pain, the noble animal, at one wild
bound, leaped far beyond where Bill and his friends stood, and in a
second more sped in terrific leaps along the street.
"The cowardly cuss is running away!" yelled Bill derisively.
"It is false! He is no coward! He will tame the horse first and then you!"
cried a voice so close that Bill turned in amazement to see who dare
thus to speak to him, the "Terror of the West."
"A woman!" he muttered, fiercely, as he saw a tall and queenly-looking
girl standing there, with flashing eyes, which did not drop at his gaze.
"Yes--a woman, who has heard of Wild Bill, and neither fears nor

admires him!" she said, undauntedly.
"Is the fellow that rode off on the horse your husband or lover that you
take his part?" asked Bill, half angrily and half wondering at the
temerity of the lovely girl who thus braved his anger.
"He is neither," she replied, scornfully.
"I'm glad of it. I shall