As the desperado swept by a rifle crashed from an upper window, but Wild Bill's sudden and unexpected change of course had destroyed the marksman's aim and his bullet flew harmlessly over the rider's head.
Like a flash, Bill threw down his gun on his assailant who stood in plain view up there in the window, with rifle poised for another shot.
Rising in his stirrups the outlaw took a quick pot shot back at his adversary, uttering a savage yell of triumph and challenge as the man lunged head first from the window with a bullet through his heart.
Still, the outlaws off under the trees, divining his purpose, held their fire, and Wild Bill made safe cover with his second capture.
A shout of triumph from the assembled outlaws was quickly suppressed by Frank's stern command.
It was his purpose to leave those in the cabin, if persons there were there, in ignorance of their presence until the moment for action should have arrived.
It came too, unexpectedly. Two men, who somehow had managed to leave the place unobserved, were driving toward them on fleet horses that they had quickly taken from the corral.
"Well, of all the tarnation fools," exclaimed Wild Bill as he observed them coming.
"This simplifies matters," breathed Frank.
"Halt!" he commanded stepping to the edge of the clearing.
A fusilade of revolver shots greeted his order.
The desperado's Winchester crashed twice. The two foolhardy horsemen toppled from their mounts dead. And to complete the coup, Wild Bill dashed from cover and skillfully roped the two animals, leading them in triumph to the outlaws' hiding place.
"If we wait long enough things will come right to us," he laughed tethering the horses in the bushes.
"Never sot eyes on 'em before. They don't belong in these parts. I shouldn't be surprised if they was in here on a raid of some sort. And I'll gamble too that the fellow what own's the place ain't there. If he is he ain't takin' any part in this ruction."
"Well, what do we do next? Want some more nags?"
"Yes, better go back. We'll draw the rest of them out, if there are any more in the place. I would charge it, but it would be sure death to Jess and suicide for the rest of us. We must draw them out without showing our hand if possible. Failing in that we shall have to wait until night. Jesse is a captive and--"