ise of sun to its going down, and yet
plunge forward in the chill of the coming night.

"You want the Black Hawk horse you spoke for this morning, don't you?"
asked the stableman, as Jack dismounted.

"Of course I do. I've got the change; there is his price. Three hundred
dollars you said?"

"Yes; but there's been a chap here looking at that horse who told me to
tell you his name, and that he intended to take that horse. I told him a
man had bought it, but he said: 'Tell him Wild Bill wants it, and that
Wild Bill will come at sunset to take it.'"

"He will?"

It was hissed rather than spoken, while the young Texan's face grew
white as snow, his blue eyes darkening till they seemed almost black.

"He will! Let him try it! A sudden death is too good for the
blood-stained wretch! But if he will force it on, why let it come. The
horse is bought: let him come at sunset if he dares!"

And the young man handed the stable-keeper three one hundred-dollar
greenback notes.

CHAPTER IV.
"GIVE UP THAT HORSE, OR DIE!"

Leaving the livery-stable, the young Texan went directly to the German
restaurant, and asked for Willie Pond.

He was shown up to the room, recently engaged by the traveler, and found
him engaged in cleaning a pair of fine, silver mounted Remington
revolvers.

"Getting ready, I see," said the Texan. "I have bought you a horse--the
best in this whole section; I gave three hundred dollars. There is your
change."

"Keep the two hundred to buy stores with for our trip," said Pond.

"No need of it I've laid in all the stores we need. You can buy yourself
a couple of blankets and an India-rubber for wet weather. A couple of
tin cans of pepper and salt is all that I lay in when I'm going to rough
it on the plains. The man that can't kill all the meat he needs isn't
fit to go there."

"Maybe you're right. The less we are burdened the better for our horses.
Are we likely to meet Indians on the route?"

"None that will hurt _me_--or you, when you're in my company. The Sioux
know me and will do me no harm."

"That is good. The Indians were my only dread."

"I've a favor to ask."

"It is granted before you ask it--what is it?"

"I want to break your horse to the saddle before you try it. You are not
so used to the saddle, I reckon, as I am. I will take a ride at sunset,
and bring him around here for you to look at."

"That is right. I am only thankful to have you ride him first, though
you may find me