more, but both worked away as fast as they
could.

It was not long before the supper was cooked, and then all hands did
fall justice to it.

"Now, boys," said Wild, as he finished eating, "I reckon a good cigar
wouldn't go bad, so we will go over to the saloon and buy some. The
girls will be all right here, since we won't hardly be out of sight of
them. Come on!"

The three soon took their departure, and they had scarcely done so when
Hop, the clever Chinaman, sneaked around a clump of trees and took a
course that would fetch him around to the rear of the saloon.

It was hard to keep him away from such places, for he loved gambling and
practical joking, not to speak of "tanglefoot," to such a degree that he
could not be held back.

CHAPTER III.

THE OUTLAWS OF FORBIDDEN PASS.

The three cowboys were just getting ready to leave when Young Wild West
and his two partners reached the saloon.

They had loaded up pretty well with "tanglefoot," and they were doing
some very loud talking.

But when they saw the young deadshot they became suddenly silent.

"Hello!" called out Wild, speaking in his cool and easy way. "So you are
going back to the ranch, eh?"

"Yes," answered the one he had handled so roughly. "I reckon we've about
had our spree, so we'll go back now."

"How far is your ranch from here?" queried Wild, as he stepped up closer
to them.

"About thirty miles, I reckon," was the reply.

"Why, I heard there were no ranches within a hundred miles of here.
That's mighty queer."

"Whoever told yer that don't know nothin' about this part of ther
country, I reckon."

"Well, it was the boss of the saloon who told us. Perhaps he isn't much
acquainted around here."

Neither of them said anything to this, but went on buckling up their
saddle-girths.

"Which way are you going?" Wild asked, as they were ready to mount their
horses.

"Right out that way," was the reply, and the speaker pointed toward the
pass.

"What! You are not afraid of being held up in Forbidden Pass, then?"

"No. I reckon that's all rot what's said about that. Some galoots named
it Forbidden Pass, jest fur fun, an' since then there's them what's
afraid of their own shadders what's added enough to it ter make folks
think it's dangerous ter go through there. We come that way, an' I
reckon we'll go back that way. I don't believe there's any gang of
outlaws hangin' around there than there is right in this camp."

"Well, I am sorry