“Thanks, but I do not often drink; the Señor Otega never does, and you must excuse us. But you will send over after the bodies, for we shall leave camp to-night.” “Yes, I will return with you, with two of my men, and take them in charge.” Señor Otega was again surprised when the alcalde and the scout came out together, and as Texas Jack saw them approaching he and his comrades hastened back to camp. The alcalde had two men and a wagon to follow him, and the bodies of the three robbers were taken back into the settlement, where there was already plenty more work for the landlord in his magisterial capacity, there having been a riot in the Fandango Hall, and half a score of men lay around dead, while many more were wounded. “Those three dead from our camp will fit in with the ones slain at the fandango,” said Señor Otega, as he rode with Buffalo Bill as they started on their homeward trail just before dawn. “Oh, yes, the alcalde will fix things up all right, and I have Blue Jacket Bob’s acquittal paper here,” replied Buffalo Bill. “And, señor, how did you manage it?” “Easy enough.” “Well, you played the boldest game I ever saw, and you are the first one who ever frightened Alcalde Riel, I assure you. Why, not one of those men made a confession.” “No, but if he thought they did, and he was guilty, it was just as well as though they had.” “Yes, just as well.” Señor Otega was lost in admiration at the bold deed of Buffalo Bill in bringing the alcalde to terms. Back to his ranch went Señor Otega, while Buffalo Bill and his men returned on the trail that would take them by the way of the temporary camp where poor Rio Grande Dick had lost his life. The chief of scouts found that his orders to get ready to return to the haunted hacienda had been carried out, and all were in readiness for the move. Rio Grande Dick had been given decent burial, and the men felt that their chief had been doing some splendid secret-service work during his short absence from them. “Pards, I have found out enough to convince the most skeptical of you, that is the most ardent believer in ghosts, that every spook we will have to deal with can be brought down with a bullet,” said Buffalo Bill. “I have gleaned certain information that fastens the crimes in this valley upon a man, yes, men whom no one suspects; but what we do now will bring the guilty to the end of their rope. “Though you did not know it, there was one of our band left alone and in hiding in the haunted hacienda, and what he discovered proved that we are on the right track.” Though Buffalo Bill did not even hint as much, the men were sure that their chief had been that lone watcher in the ruins of the fatal ranch. Continuing in his easy way, Buffalo Bill said: “Now, men, we return to that old spook nest next, and we stay there until we lay the ghosts, mark my words. “All I ask is for each man to give me his full support, and we’ll soon strike the end of our trail.”