Then Buffalo Bill told his story, and let the scouts understand what discovery he had made, and what Señor Otega, the ranchero down the valley, had made known to him, though he did not say where he had got the information. “Now, boys, we are here to find out where these secret outlaws are. They are doubtless leagued for gold alone, but revenge may play a part in their actions also. That they have a retreat is assured by their keeping their captives as hostages. Where this retreat is we must find out. Who they are we must know, and when we have set our trap we must spring it in a way that will leave escape for none. A dozen there may be, perhaps more, to work so well and successfully. “The landlord--Riel is his name--I do not trust, so beware of him; yes, and every one else, even the Padre Juan in Silver Lake, as he, too, may be a wolf in the garb of a sheep, though I think not. Trust no one, but keep your eyes and ears open, and be prepared at any time to fight for your lives. “I am, remember, an American ranchero, and you are my cattlemen. We are here to stay, you can tell the inquisitive, and secretly we are here to ferret out the mysteries of this valley. “The curse that rests upon it is a mystery, the secret band of robbers and kidnapers is another, my having met that Mexican officer and maiden is a third, while the masked man and his four unmasked followers is a fourth mystery. Then there is this deserted and haunted hacienda, and let me warn you that it has begun its underhand work already, for human hands led that mountain lion in where I found him, and the white-robed form I fired at was no apparition, and you are all too sensible to believe that such a thing could be. “Now come up and see our quarters, and get the packs off the mules and unload the wagon, for I wish to get lanterns, and, first of all, make a thorough search of the old place. Where are the two wagon drivers?” “Back with the men I left with the herd, for nothing would induce them to come any nearer to this hacienda, so one of the boys brought the wagon on, and when it is unloaded, will drive it back and let them skip, for they wish to be well on their way before night overtakes them, and swear they would not have come a step had the landlord told them where they were to take their load.” Buffalo Bill laughed at the fears of the two Mexicans who had come with the wagon, and Texas Jack went on to say: “And, chief, those two fellows vowed that there was not a man in the valley you could get to come to this hacienda, day or night.” “All right. We don’t want any to come. But we are men, and here we remain until I accomplish what I came for.” CHAPTER XXXV. THE SEARCH OF THE RUIN. The corridor of the hacienda was first entered through the wing the chief of scouts had selected for occupation, and it was seen that all, save the door through which he had made his entrance and exit, was securely fastened.