Vol. V.] [No. 59. SEPTEMBER 30, 1876. THE TEXAS HAWKS; OR, THE STRANGE DECOY. BY JOS. E. BADGER, Jr. NEW YORK: BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, 98 WILLIAM STREET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by FRANK STARR & CO., In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. CONTENTS I The Strange Rider 9 II The Lottery of Death 19 III The Midnight Conflict 31 IV The Baranca Mystery 40 V The Maiden’s Peril 50 VI The Lost Trail 60 VII On Guard 70 VIII At Bay 78 IX A Strange Proposal 85 X The Clew 93 XI A Double Surprise 96 THE TEXAS HAWKS; OR, THE STRANGE DECOY. CHAPTER I. THE STRANGE RIDER. “Bah! for my part, I believe it sheer nonsense—nothing but a hoax.” “So said I until lately; but now I _know_ there is something in it.” The sentences just noted were spoken in very dissimilar tones: the first one careless and slightly scoffing—the second low and earnest. Both speakers were young and of prepossessing appearance. The scene was an attractive one, though somewhat similar ones have been described time and time again. In fact it was the bivouac of a hunting party. One glance would decide this. The soiled and blood-stained garments of the half-score figures gathered around the cheerful, crackling fire, in attitudes of careless ease, for the most part with pipe in mouth, the half-picked bones and fragments of meat scattered profusely here and there, telling of a hearty meal just passed by. The horses, rudely hoppled, grazing eagerly hard-by, their sides still wet with sweat; the plentiful supply of rudely-butchered meat that hung suspended from the trees around, mostly of buffalo and deer, all told plainly that this was the bivouac of hunters, resting after a successful day’s chase. In conscious security they had kindled their camp-fire, and now, without a thought of danger, were enjoying that indispensable luxury of a true plainsman—pipes and tobacco.