As he drew near it, after a brisk ride, Buffalo Bill was glad to discover that there were innumerable hiding places for Texas Jack and his men, and their approach could not be seen by any one in the hacienda. Some of the cowboys herding cattle gazed at the scout with interest as he rode along, but he seemed neither to avoid nor care to meet them. One, however, rode in such a way as to cross his trail, and he said, as he drew near: “Going to the hacienda, señor?” “Yes.” “The cowboy king is not there.” “I wish to see the Señorita Suelo.” “She receives no strangers, señor.” “I shall at least try to see her.” “It will be useless.” “Has she not cattle and horses for sale?” “Yes, señor, but the cowboy chief attends to that.” “In his absence who does?” “You will have to come again, señor.” “I will ride on, however, and request to see the señorita.” “It will only be refused.” “Very well, I can then turn back. But when will the cowboy king return?” “To-night, señor.” Thanking the man, Buffalo Bill rode on, and soon approached the heavy gate of the hacienda. A man stood within, looking through a small window, and said, somewhat rudely: “The señorita entertains no strangers beneath her roof.” “I have not asked it, my man. But you will go and say to the señorita that the Señor Cody desires to see her for a few minutes.” “I’ll go, señor, but she will not see you.” He returned within ten minutes and said: “The señorita regrets to decline to see the señor, and that she is not able to offer him hospitality beneath her roof.” Buffalo Bill smiled, and, taking from his pocket a notebook, he tore out a leaf and wrote upon it: “‘If taken from the wrist the charm is broken.’ The Señor Cody begs to restore the charm.” “Hand this to the señorita, my man.” A silver dollar slipped into the hand prevented any reply, as the man had upon his lips a refusal to bear the message. But he walked off, and Buffalo Bill waited with no show of anxiety as to the result. This time the gatekeeper was gone for a much longer time than before, and when he returned there was a puzzled look upon his face, as he said: “I’ll allow you to enter, señor, for the señorita will see you?” “I felt that she would see me,” was the quiet reply of Buffalo Bill. “She has done so, but----” “But what?” asked Buffalo Bill, looking the evidently greatly surprised gatekeeper straight in the eye. “The señor is doubtless an old friend of the señorita?” This was ventured as though the man was cautiously feeling his way. “I may and may not be a friend.” The man halted at this and said: “Well, I am very sure of one thing, señor.” “It matters nothing to me what you think; do as you were told to do--lead me to the presence of the señorita.” The man had a dogged look and manner. He appeared as though he meant not to obey the bidding; but there was that in the look of the scout which commanded obedience. And so he moved on once more.