Then there was another shot from seaward, ’ which carried away the forctopmast, and the fog shut dowu on the doomed brig in a thick, blinding mass. CHAPTER III. “ir‘s MY TURN xow!” THE brig had by this time l‘ecfcd in and come to a standstill, so far as making any progress through the water was concerned, as being about the only thing she could do until the fog should lift. She simply rose and fell on the swells, awaiting the seemingly magic shots from out the bosom of the mist, few of which missed their mark, and not knowing what one might send her to the bottom. , And now at this juncture, when the fog shut down upon her So thickly that the men could hardly distinguish each other an arm’s length apart, Lieutenant Romney found himself nio- mentm‘ily left alone on his quarter-deck. \Vhat could it mean! Never in his naval experience had he seen or heard of anything like the predicament in which the little brig was placed. How could she thus be made the visible target of an enemy invisible itself? His superstitions began to be excited, yet never for an instant did he think of surrendering as a way out of the ap~ parently insurmountable dilemma. True, the brig was nothing more than a merchantman turned into a gunboat for coastwise exigencies: still, she was commissioned in the king’s service. And one of his Majesty’s cruisers, however in- significant, to surrender to a rascally little coast wasp like this Mist Witch! And yeah—what was to be done? Even as he reflected there came another shot, followed by the crash of something else giving way aloft there in the cloudy obscurity. He could hear the voices of his officers hoarsely calling to the men to stand to their posts and trust in God. Could there be more absolute or tragic helpless- ness than this? Midshipman l-Iurker came back from the cockpit with the report that seven of the ship’s company were dead and thirteen badly wound- ed on the surgeon’s hands. The brig’s entire crew consisted of but seventy men. Romney made no comment on the report, but ordered the midshipman on a tour of investiga— tion forward. The young man made a shadowy salute, faded off forward in the mists, and Romney was once more left to the solitude of his bitter and bar- assing reflectiOns. Suddenly he became aware of two figures ap- proaching him from the port side of the poop. One of them paused, the other and taller ad- vanced until his features could be dimly dis- cerned through the thick mist. The British commander drew himself up to his full height, and was about to demand the meaning of this intrusion upon his ofiicial pri- vacy—deeming the man one of his own jack« tars—when the latter spoke. “ Look to your forecastle magazine,” he said. “ In two minutes it will blow up.” . ~ Romney reeled back, at once recognizing the voice and face. And yet he demanded, in a sort of hoarse gasp: " Who are you?” “The man you would have so cowardly hanged,” was the response. “ It’s my turn now!” Then, with a single crashing blow of the fist, Dauntless Dick dashed the British commander to the deck. Then there was a flitting of the two figures toward the starboard rail, a double splash, and both men had leaped into the sea! Romney had giVen a yell upon oing down, which at once brought several of his officers to his aid. “Treason! villainy!" he cried, while being assisted to his feet. “ The forecastle magazine ———look to it 1” But the two minutes had elapsed! There was a roar forward, the brig trembled; then fol- lowed a tremendous flash, illuminating the white mist, and half the deck between fore- mast and fore-chains was seen to be torn to atoms. This was accompanied by the yells of man- gled or frightened men, while almost instantly great tongues of flame shot up from below and began to wreathe the foremast like ruddy snakes. Dauntless Dick had done his work well! “All hands forward to extinguish flainesl” yelled Winsted, seeing that his commander was still too dazed to grasp the situation. “ Steady, there!” And, followed by his fellow-officers, he rushed forward to set the paralyzed crew a brave ex- ample, just as a shot from the mist-curtained enemy ripped the combings off the main-hatch and sent a good six feet of the midships port bulwark into kindling-wood. Fortunately, at this juncture, the fog began to lift and drift off with amazing rapidity, so that the work of extinguishing the flames Was greatly faCilitated. But the explosion had tumbled the brig’s bow- gun backward into the gaping cavity it had paused, so that she was now practically power- ess. In the mean time, Dareall and Simmons had climbed into the brig’s yawl towing at her stern, and, cutting the painter, the latter at once made good use of the pair of oars stowed along the thwarts. Luck favored them at first, the clearing mist afterward, and, ten minutes later, they were picked up by the Mist Witch! “What, Captain Dick!" cried a rough, but honest-looking old sailor, who was in command, as he sprung forward to grasp Dareall's hand; “it is really you! We had given you up for lost ever since you drifted off in the small boat last night. Where are you from f” “ From aboard the brig,” was the reply “ But, no more questions at present, Junk. And never mind the fog lifting. The brig” is de- fenseless. Where is Fog-eye Flinders, the gun- ner?’ The crew, about thirty in number, had gatL- ered around their young skipper, thus provi- dentiallv restored to them, as it were, and were cheering voci ferously. But a silence fell as the young captain held up his hand, and there stepped forth from among them the man he had asked for. This was a tall, lean, lanky, but very muscu- lar, Jersey fisherman, upon whom the phenom- enal success of the Mist Witch in many a blind- ing coast fog had mostly depended. Under Sam Junk, Dareall‘s second in com- mand, he was both sailing-master and gunner on board the little schooner, with its one rusty twenty-four-pounder rigged at the stern. His eyes could hardly be seen, they were so small, gray and bead-like, and set so far back into his head. But, impenetrable, indeed, must have been the mist that they could not pierce to a vast distance; and it was to this exceptional quality that he owed his sobriquet of Fog-eye, his real Christian name being Hezekiah. “ Fog-eye, you’ve done magnificently” ex- claimed Dareall, grasping the man’s and. “ We’ve yonder British armed brig as good as whipped into our hands, and it has been chiefly owing to you.” “Yes,” assented old Sam Junk, gruffly—he was often called ‘Salt’ Junk for a change—- “Hez Flinders never did better than today, Cap. He just centered the brig for me, so that I could sail around her, like a cooper around a barrel, while he let fly with old Tom Barker onder.” “VVal, Cap’n Dick,” replied the lanky owner of the exceptional optics, scratching his head and rolling the enormous quid in his cheek, “ ye see, I jest peeked an’ peeked, an’ then let Barker go at ’em. But ef I’d knowed you was aboard the Redcoat I mought hev did still better.” “ That would have been hardly possible,” ob- served Dareall, With a laugh. He then formally introduced Jack Simmons to his ship's company, and briefly reported his own extraordinary adventures since drifting aWny from the schooner the previous night. The crew of the Mist Witch Were furioudy indignant. _ “They would have hanged V our captain!” ronred a dozen voices. “ We’ll yard-arm every Britisher aboard the brig.” “ N 0, you won’t!” cried Dick, conimaudingly. “We are not in that. cowardly business, if the Britishers are. Besides, Romney would have hang ed me for personal reasons, more than for mere fighting in the patriot cause. As for Tory Collingford—well, I may have somethin differ- ent to say regarding him, should he all into our hands. But,yonder’s the brig. We’ll wear in on her, and make an ending of this business at once." Indeed, the fog had by this time lmost wholly disappeared, and the Hector was road- ly visible about a mile away, cracking on what sail she could in her disabled condition, and with an appearance of having got the fire in her forecastle under control. But the Mist “'itch—once the pride of the coast fishing fleet——was a skimmer of the seas no less in clear weather than in thick. Dancing lightly over the leaping crests before the fresheniiig north wind, she soon had the brig overhauled, ,and, with the patriot flag streaming from her gaff, ran close in under her lee. CHAPTER IV. “ NO MORE SMALL Far!" “ Do you surrender?” bawled Dauntless Dick, from his little quarter-deck. “ See you further first!” roared Romney in re- sponse, with a volley of oaths. “ All right, boys!” said the captain of the Mist Witch, turning to his men. “ They evi- dently want a little more dressing down. W ear her around, Salty, and let go with Mr. Long Tom Barker. No more small fry for the Mist Witch, with a king’s ship at her mercy!” The maneuver was duly and swiftly executed; but before the contemplated raking shot could be delivered—and it would have been a terrible one at such close quarters—the British com- mander, after a hurried consultation with his officers, was seen to hold up his sword. “ Hold OE, Fog—eye!” ordered Dareall, as the lanky gunner, having sighted his piece, stood with lighted fuse in readiness to touch it off. “ The Britisher evidently intends to take his gruel without further cooking." Then, springing again to the taffrail, he shout- ed once more: “ Do you surrender?” “ Yes,” was this time the surly response. , “ Strike your cursed flag, then, or I’ll shoot it out of the halliards l” The daunting Union Jack was slowly and re- luctantly lowered,and his Majesty’s brig Hector was a rice to the erstwhile Yankee fishing— smack ist Witch. , Dick Dareall at once boarded her and received the formal surrender, which was made with a bad enough grace by the British commander, both of wh‘osc eyes were badly blackened by the knock-down blow he had received an hour or so previous. “Allow me to ask, Mr. Dareall,” said Ron]- ney, after the American flag had been run up on ‘ the captured brig’, “if your schooner is in com- mission?” “ She is not, sir,” was the reply. “ Thus far we have been fighting everything British on our own book.” V . ‘ “ Then on cannot demand my sword of me!" exclaim Romney, with an air of relief. Dareall laughed in his face. “But I do demand it of you just the same,” he retorted with a look that was significant enough. “ 0 hand it over on the spot.” This was reluctantly done. “ These other gentlemen are at liberty to re- tain their swords,” continued Dareall, with a glance around upon Romney’s subordinate offi- cers, “ as brave men, albeit the enemies of my country. And,asfor you. Lieutenant Romney, in that you are likewise doubtless a brave and capable officer in the service of your king, I might also request you to swept the return of your sword at my hands.” He paused, looking the lieutenant steadily in the eye with his falcon aze. The latter, anticipating the return of his Sword, bowed stiflly, and held out his hand. “ But,” continued the young man, sternly, “ in that you are likewise a murderous hound, who would so willingly have hanged me, a rescued castaway in yourhands, through personal mo- tives, and in violation of the immomorial hos- pitalities of the sea, it suits me to make an ex- ception of you in this case—thus!” He broke the sword in twain between his strong hands, and cast the fragments into the sea. Romney turned livid, but merelv steppedlover to j om the group of his fellow-officers, without saving a word. His reticence was wise, inasmuch as there was something in Captain Dick’s look and manner that promised badly for his personal safety, should he have been less prudent. It was now past noon, the strange enghgement in the fog having lasted something more than two hours, and the day was a magnificent one, with the wind shifting to the east. The crew of the brig were quickly disarmed, after which a prize—crew, consisting of more than half the schooner’s ship’s—company, with Dauntlcss Dick himself in command, was clap- ped abOa rd, and sail at once made for Barnegat Bay, with the Mist Witch leading the way. But, in the course of an hour or two, Lieuten- ant Romney, who felt himself to have been ter- ribly humiliated before his fellowocaptives, so far lost control of himself as to say: - “ Captain Dareall, you yourself weara sword.” With a contemptuous glance at the rusty wea- pon with which the young commander had pro- videdhhimself on resuming command of the Mist W itc . " True,” was the cold reply. “ And I am happy to say that I am acquainted with its use ’ “ I am glad of it. When we get ashore, with- in the jurisdiction of the British lines under Sir Henry Clinton, it will enable me to demand of you the satisfaction that is my due.” A peculiar smile flittod over Captain Dareall’s ps. “With pleasure, when we are within those lines together,” was replied. “But,” with a glance that included all of Romney‘s compan- ions as his auditors, “it is very ev1dent that you gentlemen are not well up with the latest war news.” “ What is it, sir?” called out Midshipman Harker, who had been treated with exceptional kindness by Dareall since the capture. “ We had been to sea for more than a fortnight, and I,‘for one, am just pining away for informa- tion.” “ It is just this: Clinton is in full retreat from Philadelphia to New York, and General Wash- ington is pursuing him across the State of New Jersey, in the hope of bringing him to battle. There is yet more than this: Definite news has arrived of a treaty of alliance, offensive and de- fensive, effected by Dr. Franklin in Paris, be- tween the United States and France, and of the departure of a French fleet and army for America.” There was the ring of truth in the announce- ment—which, indeed, accurately set forth the military situation at that time—and Dareall, having made it, turned and left the group to their reflections. ‘ Barnegat Bay was entered at Barnegat Inlet, between Long Beach and Island Beach, and then, with a favoring wind, they made the lit- tle port of Tom’s River before sunset. This was the home of Dauntless Dick and the majority of his men, and was, moreover, held by two companies of New Jersey militia, under Captain Sedley. Great was the rejoicing when the news of the brig’s capture became noised abroad. Bonfires were lighted, and the countryfolk came troop- ing in from far and near to behold the prize l . . ’ . f and shower their congratulations upon the v1c- tors. But, after turning over his prisoners to the custody of the militia captain, Dareall, leaving Sam, or Salty, Junk in command of both schooner and prize, set out at once for his mo- ther’s cottage, which was on the upper bay shore, about a mile away. He was an only son, his father having ished by shipwreck some years before. at, brought up though he had been among rough sailor and fisher folk, Dick Dareall had been an- abled to obtain an education far in advance of his surroundings, his family being an excellent one and of considerable means. And, seller that he was, his quiet boast of his ability to use the sword had been no empty one. An old Spaniard, now no more, who had lived at Tom’s River for many years, had taken a fancy to Dick when the latter was a mere boy (he was now twenty-six), and instructed him in the art of fence and many other things, including a knowledge of several of the foreign languages; while several years’ schooling at Philadelphia had furnished the youth with an educational groundwork which a miscellaneous reading of all the solid literature within his reach had greatly Widened, notwithstanding that mest of his life was spent upon the water. The Mist Witch was his Own property, inherited from his father, and from the very first he had been a leader and a. person of consequence along the coast, though still regarded disdainfully as “only a fisherman” by the landed gentry of the interior, of whom “’Squire " Collingford, already alluded to, was a representative. The Widow Dareall was a stately woman of more than middle age, with an old-time dignity of manner, and, as the owner of several slaves, besidesa considerable estate, lived in no little style for the period. She received her son, whom she idolized, with the earnest but controlled tenderness to which he was accustomed, and then listened in silence, but with glistening eyes, to the story of his re- cent adventures. “God be praised that I still have you with me!” she murmured, fervently. “ But tell me, Richard, do you not apprehend further trouble from Mr. Collingford, who is so rich and pow- erful, besides being your inveterate foe? And will not this capture of the brig aggravate him yet more against you?” “ He had better apprehend further troyble from me I” replied the young man, clinching his “ Still, he is so influential with the Britishers, should they once get full control of New Jer- sey, and of the coast-line hereabouts. And when” he mentioned your name this morn- mg— “ What l” interrupted Dick, indignantly; “ did the dastard venture here,'after lashing me upon the derelict to die!” (To be continued.) BE CHEERFUL. BY MAY LESTER. If life is shorn of brightness, Or, we see but its gloom—— If flowers we loved in childhood ' Have lost for ustheir bloom— hy need we fret? Grieving ne‘er brings back pleasure; ’Tis but an added woe; . "l‘is not the fault of Nature That we see not her glow ;— It is there yet. _ If veers have traced the wrinkles n brow oncesmooth and white, 0r mingled threads of silver With tressos dark as night; Best not to fret, - - For worry carves its pathway Deeper than age, or care. And leaves far sadder traces . Than silver in the hair; Then—why regret? L°ave time to work its changes; Just do the best you know; There‘s quite as much of brightness Within the world, as woe. ~ Peace will come, yet. The Three Bills ; [Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and Bandbox Bill,] on, THE BRAVO IN BROADCLOTH. A Story of Deadly Trails. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM. CHAPTER XXVIII. WON oven. ‘ THE major soon rallied from his fainting turn, and which his loss of rest and grief had brought upon him, though the words of Jack Crawford, as to Buffalo Bill’s view of the case of his daughter’s disappearance, evidently had something to do with it. So thought Colonel Roylston and Captain Taylor, though they said nothing at the time to show what their suspicions were. The major said after a moment: “ I believe I am 10sing my grip, my nerve, for I was never weak this way before.” “ You have had much to disturb you, major; but I hope n0w all will come well in the end, as I have unbounded confidence in Cody,” said Colonel Roylston. “ As I have, sir, and he agrees with me that my poor child was kidnapped,” eagerly said the major. “ Yes, sir,” said Courier Crawford, “ Buffalo Bill said that perhaps you would know if there was any one who had a. motive in kidnapping Miss Heloise.” , I The courier had spoken as though he had not known that these very words before had caused the major to faint. But he looked innocently at him, as though expectin an affirmative answer. ’ The co onel and Captain Taylor, however, had seen that J uck Crawford was probing, and yet they said nothing. After a moment Major Hembold remarked in a low tone: “ Crawford, Buffalo Bill aimed well when he said that there must be some motive for my child being kidnapped, and that I should know. “ There is a motive, and I do know, but I wish this to go no further. “ The letters, colonel, with your permission, we will now examine, after I have gone to my $ughgier’s room and had a thorough search of em. With this, the major left headquarters, and half an hour after returned. Courier Crawford had gone to seek much- needed rest, but Captain Taylor was still with the colonel, and they had been closely examin- ing the forged letter sent to Captain Willis. “ Colonel Roylston, I found my daughter’s keys in-the pocket of a dress she wore the day of her departure, and they let me into her desk, bureau and a trunk. “ A small jewelcase, with what she wished to wear at the post entertainment, went with her and returned on the coach in her box; but all her other jewelry. some important papers, let- ters, and about six hundred dollars in bank- notes were in a strong box locked in one of the bureau drawers. “ There is evidence that some one has searched through her rooms, but nothing that was locked was disturbed. . “ Now, here is the writing-paper from her desk, and envelopes and ink, and you will see, though left in her room, the note to me is in bluish ink, and not written on a piece of paper or put in an envelope similar to what she had. “ Again, by a c10se study of her handwriting, for here are a number of specimens of it, you can see that this note is an imitation of it, and I would say written by a man. “ Some one in this fort is a spy, and one of her kidnappers, and that one had means of access to her rooms. ’ “ Colonel Roylston, more than ever am I con- vinced that my child never left of her own will, and more, 1 will say this much in confidence to you and to Captain Taylor. “ My child’s mother was a Mexican, and were I willing to give her up to her kindred this day, she would become an heiress, while more, with- out her consent, or death, the next heirs after her Would neVer be able to touch one dollar of the inheritance, for it would go to the Church in Mexico. “ My child knew all this, and she preferred to be an American, to remain a poor girl, an army officer’s daughter, than to go to Mexico and be- come an heiress. “ Now you know why I dread that she has been kidnapped, and God bless that fellow Buf- falo Bill who saw the matter as it really is." The ma jor’s manner had changed, his eyes had brightened and he looked like a different man, now that he knew others believed as he did, and that Buffalo Bill had taken the trail of the mystery to follow it to the end. “ I confess I am completely won over, Major Hembold,” said Colonel Roylston earnestly. “ As I am, sir, and I congratulate you that Buffalo Bill and lVild Bill have picked up an end of the trail,” Captain Taylor rejoined. “ Yes, but we must help them out, so, Captain Taylor, by to-morrow Crawford will be well rested, so take half of your troop and go with him to a spot where you will be within easy reach of Cody should he need you.” “ I will, Sir, and I only wish we had Surgeon Frank Powell and Texas Jack, to aid the two Bills and Crawford, for those five are worth a regiment of Soldiers for secret border work, in fact they are natural detectives.” get Surgeon Powell and Texas Jack for gays, and so must give them up. “ Now, major. use your own will as to going with Captain Taylor, or not, or leaving the master in his hands. “ I shall have Cnitain “'illis go, and also Ames, as aide? to Captain Taylor, for they have wise heads, and I know that you wish them, captain.” “ Indeed I do, sir, and Major Hembold being along as my guest might often give a valuable suggestion, knowing the full situation as he does at both ends of the trails,”responded the gallant captain. “Then I Will be ready to start at dawn, but pardon me if I suggest the idea that it be re- ported that I take the stage East, for to-mormw is coach day, and that Captain Taylor is sup- posed tbgo on a scouting expedition to the In- dian country, for then thespies that are here will be thrown 03 their guard.” “ Major Hembold, ygu are yourself again,” said the colonel, cheerfu ly, and so the plan was arranged, both the commandant and Captain Taylor being now firmly convmoed that Heloise Hembold had been kidnapped—but by whom? CHAPrEa’xxix. A MIND READER. BACK to Hallelujah Cityl take my reader, upon the day following the departure of Jack Crawford. _ Jack Crawford woodman of iron frame and endurance, and he had a horse very much like himself in that respect. ' ' Having seen to the animal’s comfort after his arrival at Kate’s Kitchen, and given a man a dollar to rub him down to: an hour and then feorLéhim, he had sought his ovm dinner and That ni ht he and the scouts had had a long . talk to at or, and the courier-had gone towest, while ufl’alo Bill had written his letter to Cap- tain Taylor. ' , Wild Bill, an hour before dawn, had gone out and given J ack’s horse a good feed and rubbing down, and the cook had been paid to have a breakfast ready just at daylight for the courier. So Jack Crawford and his horse, perfectly rested, well fed and anxious for the trail, were on the way back to the fort again before the sun looked over the mountain range down into the valley in which lay Hallelujah City. The scouts arose later, had breakfast, and mounting their horses, went 011‘ for a ride, more to have a talk together where they would be wholly out of earshot of any one else. The news from the fort had distressed them. They both liked Major Hembold immensely, and remembering the grief of Heloise, if in the power of lawless men, they were anxious to go to her rescue. Told by Jack Crawford that all at the fort believed Heloise to have run away, it would be a fine feather in their sombreros to prow t3 the contrary by restoring her to her fa- t or. They were convinced in their‘own minds that she had been captured to be held for ransom, her kidnappers supposing that a large sum would readily be paid for er restoration. If such was the case, who but the Toll-Takers of the Trails had been the plotters of the deed? ’ The scouts were more than ever convinced that they were right in their surmise that Hallelujah City was the head center of the Toll- Takers. They were not so sure that the two mysterious women, Kate Fenwick and Louise Gray, were not leagued with the outlaws. Then, too, they held a slight suspicion against , the Bravo. Another thing that bothered them was the presence there just at that time of the old trap- per and his Indian pard, and those two worthies really seemed to be “ shadowing ” them, the scouts. v That no time was to be lost was evident, so the two Bills rode out for a. talk, and to plan juslt how to begin work to get back the missing gir . They were riding along the valley. plotting and planning, when they came upon Bandbox Bill, mounted upon one of his jet-black horses, and u n his way to the tavern. He ooked as serene as a May morn and as handsome as a picture, and raised his sombrero at meeting them with the courtly manner of a born cavalier. “ I was just going to Kate’s Kitchen to see you,” he said. “ Is there any way in which I can serve you, sir?” Buffalo Bill asked. “ Oh no, thank you, only I expect to have to go away for a few days, and not knowing how long you would remain in our country, I wished to say good-by and express the hope of meeting you again some time.” “ The hope is mutual, I assure you, Bandbox Bill, but I cannot tell how long we will be here, for our movements are uncertain.” “ Any news from the fort of late?” asked 'the Bravo in Broadcloth, looking Buffalo Bill squarely in the eyes. The scout felt his face flush in spite of him- self, but answered: “ Well, yes; a lady friend of ours has run away from her father, we learned.” “ Miss Heloise Hembold ?” Wild Bill uttered an oath in a low tone and looked at the Bravo in a way that plainly said: “ How the deuce did you know that?" “ Yes, it was Miss Hembold; but may I ask how you knew ?” “ I have been to Fort B———, and then I happen to get considerable hows floating around; but let me say to you that the lady did not run away.” \, “ What I” . And both the scouts asked the question in the same breath. “ I repeat it, Miss Hembold did not go of her own accord, and if you have decided to take the trail to find her, my advice to you is to go into the Valley of the Shadow of Death and seek there the one kn0wn as the Wom in Black. “ You will have to surprise her to get within speaking distance, and, as you both throw a lariat well, that might be a good way to catch “They are indeed, Taylor; but we could not. v ‘1 her horse, once you have found out her haunts and trails. _- . "She may beable to tell you of Miss Hein- ld ‘ 3“ And more let me suggest that on find some hiding-place for your horses, in do not take them into the Shadow Valley with you, for if. so you will be tracked, while on foot you can hide your trail. , “ Besides, there is more in the Shadow Valley to fear than you have anyidea of, and I am not one to give an idle warning.” The two scents looked at the Bravo in won- der. He seemed to be a man who could read their thoughts, and yet that stern, handsome fair, with its large, sad, deer-like eyes seemed 5 hard to read as though carved in stone. At last Wild Bill blurted out With: “ Who the deuce are you man!" The Bravo smiled, and, With no show of anger, responded: " Bandbox Bill, the Bravo in Broadcloth, sir, very much at your service.” “ And do you expect us to take your ad— vice?" “ I expect you to do only that which your own good sense prompts you to do. “ I am a mystery to you, I know, as I am to others, and I will prove now by a prediction that I know a. great deal of What is going on around me, for you will go on the trail to find Miss Hembold, and, if brought to bay on the track, you will find friends near of whom you little dream. “ You are anxious to hunt down the Toll Takers, to diScover the Woman in Black, and now to find Miss Hembold ; so start on the trail to accomplish all. “ Now permit me to add that I knewdyou be- lieved that I had hanged the man foun at my cabin the other night. “ ()n the contrary I discovered that he was a friend of mine, and had been llssoed and banged under the impression that it was I, while his inur- derers, hearing the approach of my horse, fled. “ I have their lariats, however, so know them, and the trail they took is shadowed, for I have doomed them to death. “ But I detain you, so will say farewell, and add, we shall meet again.” He raised his sombrero and rode away, leav- ing the two Bills looking at each other in speech— less amazement. . Wild Bill first found utterance, and what he said was to the point: “ Buffalo, that fellow is the devil on horse- back!” CHAPTER XXX. KNOWN AND STILL UNKNOWN. THERE were two individuals at Kate’ Kitchen who were by no means unobservant be elders of what was gomg on about them. They had seen the arrival of Jack Crawford, whom both knew, and they had seen him depart at early dawn. These two were Surgeon Pawell and Texas Jack. They had a room in the rear wing of the hotel, and they kept their eyes open upon the fair landlady, Gambler Lou, and the frequentkrs of the place. ut they were more particular in their atten- tion to the two scouts. They were~determined that neither Buffalo Bill nor Wild Bill should slip away without their knowing it. So close was their observance of the move- ments of the two scouts that the latter began to feel that the old trapper and the Sioux chief, as they belieVed them to be, were watching them. - There was another person too whom the two disguised men were anxmus to know more about, and that was the Bravo in Broadcloth. They had discovered that the two men, over whom he held some strange secret power, had really gone away from Hallelujah City, left by the command of a man who had shown bluiself their master. The gang, too, of Six-Shooter Sam, who had accepted Giant Bruce as a second leader, had been remarkably quiet the next night in the sa- loon of the Queen of Hearts, and this surely had some meanu' 1g in the minds of men who read every sign as did Surgeon Powell and Texas Jack. They could of course haVe made themselves kn0wn to Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill, well know- ing that the scouts would only be too happy to have them as allies. But they decided that they could aid them the more by remaining unknown, and yet would be close on their trail when they left the mining- camps. That Jack Crawford had brought important tidings from the fort they were assured, and they were anxious to know if anything had gone wrong, yet were unable to find any means to find out. When the Two Bills rode away that morning Surgeon Powell from behind his blanket, which hung against the window overlooking the stable- vard, saw that they did not depart on a trail, as they left their traps behind them. Still, they must know which way they were going, so they soon after mounted their horses and rode out up the valley. They saw from a distance the two scouts meet Bandbox Bill and have a talk with him, and when he left them he come directly toward the sur con and Texas Jack. “ ell, my friend, you and your Indian pard are not leaving Hallelujah City, certainly?" “ No, Pard Stranger, we ,is jist a—knockin’ around a leetle,” responded Texas Jack. “ Well, I feel a friendly interest in you both, from the very plucky manner in which you stepped to my side against odds the other night, and I wish you well." “'l‘hankeo, pard; but I seen yer a-talkin’ to them two fine scouts git now; be they goin’ awa from Hallelujah? “ think so; and it might be well for you to follow their trail.” “ ordy, pard, we hain’t got nothin’ ag’in’ ’em.” “ No, but they are going to take a rather dan- gerous trip up into the Shadow Valley country." “yhew! what that Woman in Black hangs out. “ Yes, and as they may have. a number of en- emies, some of whom might get behind 'them and do them harm, it would be a good thing to havetwo such good friends as you and Red Chief are, to keep just out of sight behind them. “ You might camp on their trail,and beready to help them in time of need.” Texas Jack gavea hasty glance at his com— panion and said cautiously: ' “Yer seems ter think we is bosom pards 0' them two Bills.” “ Yes, I have got that idea, I confess.” “ Hain’t yer a le: tle off tber trail, pard?” “ Let us see if I am. You came from Fort L--— on a secret mission." :: Whonther mischief says we did?” It Wan]??? “ You went into the Shadow Valley country, and but for the warning of the Woman in Black you would now be dead men.” 65 l” “ You came here to throw your enemies of! your trail, that you might get another chancoto enter the Shadow Valley, solve the mystery about the Woman in Black and also got at the fact of who the chief of the Toll-Takers is. and how you can track him and his men to death.” “ Pard, yer is eddicated complete, or yer thinks so,” and Texas Jack did not dare glance toward Surgebn Powell, whose face was as emo- tionless as marble. and who appeared not to un- derstand a Word that was said. “ I know more,” was the quiet reply. “ Give it to us, pard.” . “ I Will merely say, Texas Jack, that the dis- guise of yourself and Surgeon Frank Powell is complete.” “ You know us, then i” almost gasped the Tex- an', in his amazement. It I do.” “ Then Buffalo Bill and o . . Wild Bill haveknown . .