As they progressed they noticed that their course was leading them up and up, further and further, and with each rise of the trail their spirits ascended proportionately.
"Hooray! I see moonlight," cried Texas. "By gad we're getting out as sure as you're alive."
Dew Drop turned and laid a warning finger on her lips, and bent her head in a listening attitude.
"What is it?" they demanded in bated breaths.
"Indians," muttered the desperadoes, and "Colts" were quickly unsheathed.
Every rifle was turned on the prostrate man.
The captain peered suspiciously at the form of the great desperado for a moment, then nodded his satisfaction.
Placing a whistle to his lips the officer blew a short, shrill blast. Two troopers in response, came dashing up on their ponies, saluted and sat at attention awaiting their leader's commands.
"Boys, we have got him at last," he said, addressing the two troopers. "That's Jesse James over there on his back. Sorry we had to kill him. But it's my opinion he's safer that way. I knew we should get him in time. Outlaws may fool posses indefinitely, but when it comes to beating the United States Cavalry, that's different. Young man," he continued, "let this be an object lesson to you in persistance. Four times within the past twenty-four hours I am free to confess we have been outwitted by the world's greatest desperado, but each time we came back stronger than ever and as full of fight. You see the result. We have done our full duty."
"Yes, but what shall we do with the body, bury it or roll it into the gully somewhere hereabouts?" asked the Lieutenant, stepping over toward the body of the outlaw, then turning back.
"Neither. Have some saplings cut and make a litter between two ponies. We must get him to the fort immediately before it is too late. No one would ever believe we had killed the world's greatest bandit unless we had something better to show for it than our mere word. It is not that they would doubt our word, but the rub is they know Jesse James," he grinned. "And so do we," he added grimly.
"Make haste now. We'll surely have the redskins down on us after all this racket, and we've made a lot of it, I reckon."
"I'll attend to it at once, sir," responded the Lieutenant.