Like a pursued mountain lion, the "Kid" sprang into the jungles of a steep cliff. Foot by foot his way was made to a place of concealment.

The Indians seeing him leave the trail, scrambled up into the bushy cliff.

Now the "Kid's" trusty pistol began to talk, and several young braves, who were leading the chase pa.s.sed to the "happy hunting ground." The "Kid"

said the body of one young buck went down the cliff and caught on the over-hanging limb of a dead tree, and there hung suspended in plain view.

Many shots were fired at the "Kid" when he sprang from one hiding place to another. One bullet struck a rock near his head, and the splinters gave him slight wounds on the face and neck.

Reaching the extreme top of a high peak, the young outlaw felt safe, as he could see no reds on his trail. Being exhausted he soon fell asleep. On hearing the yelling and shooting, Tom O'Keefe stampeded, leaving the "Kid's" mount and the pack mule where they stood.

Reaching a high bluff, which was impossible for a horse to climb, O'Keefe quit his mount and took it afoot. From cliff to cliff, he made his way towards the top of a peak. Finally his keen eyesight caught the figure of a man, far away across a deep canyon, trying to reach the top of a mountain peak. He surmised that the bold climber must be the "Kid."

At last young O'Keefe's strength gave out and he lay down to sleep. His hands and limbs were bleeding from the scratches received from sharp rocks, and he was craving water.

Being refreshed from his long night's sleep, the "Kid" headed for the big red sun, which was just creeping up out of the great "Llano Estacado,"

(Staked Plains), over a hundred miles to the eastward, across the Pecos river.

Finally water was struck and he was happy. Then he filled up on wild berries, which were plentiful along the borders of the small sparkling stream of water.

Three days later the young hero outlaw reached a cow-camp on the Rio Pecos. He made himself known to the cowboys, who gave him a good horse to ride, and conducted him to the Murphy-Dolan cow-camp, where his chum, Jesse Evans, was employed. In this camp the "Kid" also met his former friends, McDaniels, Baker, and Morton.

Here the "Kid" was told of the smouldering cattle war between the Murphy-Dolan faction on one side, and the cattle king, John S. Chisum, on the other.

Many small cattle owners were arrayed with the firm of Murphy and Dolan, who owned a large store in Lincoln, and were the owners of many cattle.

On John S. Chisum's side were Alex A. McSween, a prominent lawyer of Lincoln--the County seat of Lincoln County--and a wealthy Englishman by the name of John S. Tunstall, who had only been in America a year.

McSween and Tunstall had formed a co-partnership in the cattle business, and had established a general trading store in Lincoln.

It was now the early spring of 1877. Jesse Evans tried to persuade "Billy the Kid" to join the Murphy-Dolan faction, but he argued that he first had to find Tom O'Keefe, dead or alive, as it was against his principles to desert a chum in time of danger.

For nearly a year a storm had been brewing between John Chisum and the smaller ranchmen. Chisum claimed all the range in the Pecos valley, from Fort Sumner to the Texas line, a distance of over two hundred miles.

Naturally there was much mavericking, in other words, stealing unbranded young animals from the Chisum bands of cattle, which ranged about twenty-five miles on each side of the Pecos river.

Chisum owned from forty to sixty thousand cattle on this "Jingle-bob"

range. His cattle were marked with a long "Jingle-bob" hanging down from the dew-lap. In branding calves the Chisum cowboys would slash the dew-lap above the breast, leaving a chunk of hide and flesh hanging downward. When the wound healed the animal was well marked with a dangling "Jingle-bob."

Thus did the Chisum outfit get the name of the "Jingle-bobs."

Well mounted and armed, "Billy the Kid" started in search of Tom O'Keefe.

He was found at Las Cruces, three miles from La Mesilla, the County seat of Dona Ana County, New Mexico. It was a happy meeting between the two smooth-faced boys. Each had to relate his experience during and after the Indian trouble.

O'Keefe had gone back to the place where he had left the "Kid's" mount and the pack mule. There he found the "Kid's" horse shot dead, but no sign of the mule. His own pony ran away with the saddle, when he sprang from his back.

Now O'Keefe struck out afoot, towards the west, living on berries and such game as he could kill, finally landing in Las Cruces, where he swore off being the companion of a daring young outlaw.

"Billy the Kid" tried to persuade O'Keefe to accompany him back to the Pecos valley, to take part in the approaching cattle war, but Tom said he had had enough of playing "bad-man from Bitter Creek."

Now the "Kid" went to a ranch, where he had left his n.o.ble "Gray," and with him started back towards the Pecos river.

CHAPTER IV.

THE STARTING OF THE b.l.o.o.d.y LINCOLN COUNTY WAR. THE MURDER OF TUNSTALL.

"BILLY THE KID" IS PARTIALLY REVENGED WHEN HE KILLS MORTON AND BAKER.

Arriving back at the Murphy-Dolan cow-camp on the Pecos river, "Billy the Kid" was greeted by his friends, McDaniels, Morton and Baker, who persuaded him to join the Murphy and Dolan outfit, and become one of their fighting cowboys. This he agreed to do, and was put on the pay-roll at good wages.

The summer and fall of 1877 pa.s.sed along with only now and then a sc.r.a.p between the factions. But the clouds of war were lowering, and the "Kid"

was anxious for a battle.

Still he was not satisfied to be at war with the whole-souled young Englishman, John S. Tunstall, whom he had met on several occasions.

On one of his trips to the Mexican town of Lincoln, to "blow in" his acc.u.mulated wages, the "Kid" met Tunstall, and expressed regret at fighting against him.

The matter was talked over and "Billy the Kid" agreed to switch over from the Murphy-Dolan faction. Tunstall at once put him under wages and told him to make his headquarters at their cow-camp on the Rio Feliz, which flowed into the Pecos from the west.

Now the "Kid" rode back to camp and told the dozen cowboys there of his new deal. They tried to persuade him of his mistake, but his mind was made up and couldn't be changed.

In the argument, Baker abused the "Kid" for going back on his friends.

This came very near starting a little war in that camp. The "Kid" made Baker back down when he offered to shoot it out with him on the square.

Before riding away on his faithful "Gray," the "Kid" expressed regrets at having to fight against his chum Jesse Evans, in the future.

At the Rio Feliz cow camp, the "Kid" made friends with all the cowboys there, and with Tunstall and McSween, when he rode into Lincoln to have a good time at the Mexican "fandangos" (dances.)

A few "killings" took place on the Pecos river during the fall, but "Billy the Kid" was not in these fights.

In the early part of December, 1877, the "Kid" received a letter from his Mexican chum whom he had liberated from the jail in San Elizario, Texas, Melquiades Segura, asking that he meet him at their friend's ranch across the Rio Grande river, in Old Mexico, on a matter of great importance.

Mounted on "Gray," the "Kid" started. Meeting Segura, he found that all he wanted was to share a bag of Mexican gold with him.

While visiting Segura, a war started in San Elizario over the Guadalupe Salt Lakes, in El Paso County, Texas.

These Salt Lakes had supplied the natives along the Rio Grande river with free salt for more than a hundred years. An American by the name of Howard, had leased them from the State of Texas, and prohibited the people from taking salt from them.

A prominent man by the name of Louis Cardis, took up the fight for the people. Howard and his men were captured and allowed their liberty under the promise that they would leave the Salt Lakes free for the people's use.

Soon after, Howard killed Louis Cardis in El Paso. This worked the natives up to a high pitch.

Under the protection of a band of Texas Rangers, Howard returned to San Elizario, twenty-five miles below El Paso.

On reaching San Elizario the citizens turned out in ma.s.s and besieged the Rangers and the Howard crowd, in a house.

Many citizens of Old Mexico, across the river, joined the mob. Among them being Segura and his confederate, at whose ranch "Billy the Kid" and Segura were stopping.