The four left the saloon and walked over to the pa.s.s.

Though it was now quite dark, they had no trouble in seeing the sign that was posted at the entrance.

It consisted of a barrel-head nailed together, and the words upon it were as follows:

"FORBIDDEN Pa.s.s!"

"Travelers must pay toll, or go some other way."

"Private Road!"

Jim Dart struck a match so the inscription could be read, and when they had made it out our three friends looked at each other and nodded, while the miner waited to hear what would be said.

"I reckon that's what I call putty good," said the scout, a smile creeping over his bronzed face. "'Private Road,' eh? Well, I wonder who is ther owner of it!"

"We'll find out all about it, Charlie," said Wild, a.s.suringly. "Just wait till to-morrow morning. We'll take a ride through the pa.s.s, and don't you forget it!"

"Well, it might be that yer won't be bothered now, fur it's jest likely that ther outlaws has quit ther pa.s.s an' gone somewhere else," Sedgwick remarked. "If them cowboys is all right, an' they kin go through without bein' bothered, it are most likely that you fellers kin."

"But I don't believe they are all right," our hero answered. "I think that they belong to the outlaw gang, and that they came over here and talked that way just on purpose to get the people here to use the pa.s.s, instead of going by the roundabout way to Silver Bend."

"It looks that way, I'll admit, Wild."

"Well, no matter how it is, we'll go through the pa.s.s to-morrow, I reckon. And we'll come back, too, if it takes a whole day to do it."

It was just then that the sounds made by a approaching horse came to their ears.

"Somebody is coming through now," said the scout, as he listened.

"Get behind the rocks here," Wild whispered. "We will watch him as he goes past, and see what he does, if anything."

A few seconds later a horseman came in view.

Our friends could distinguish the outlines of both horse and rider, and when they saw the man halt right at the end of the pa.s.s they were not a little interested.

The rider turned and looked at the sign, and, nodding when he found that the sign was there all right, he started on for the little collection of shanties.

"That's Cap Roche, ther storekeeper over in Silver Bend," Sedgwick whispered, as he went on.

"Is that so?" Wild queried. "Well, I reckon we'll go back to the saloon and find out what kind of a fellow Cap Roche is."

CHAPTER V.

CAP ROCHE MEETS YOUNG WILD WEST.

Chuck Snivel was not long in telling Cap Roche all that had taken place over in Big Bonanza.

The face of the leader of the outlaws wore a troubled look as he listened, and when the man was through he shook his head and said:

"I reckon I'll have to go over and have a look at this dangerous boy, boys. I have heard of him, and I have reason to believe that he is a hard one to beat. Though he is mighty young, he has spent his time looking for trouble ever since he was big enough to shoot a gun, and he has had so much luck that I suppose now he thinks that he is invincible."

"He's a regular terror, Cap," spoke up Bob. "I know what I'm talkin'

about. I've seen him, an' I've seen what he could do. He's jest as cool as a chunk of ice, an' yer can't no more scare him than yer kin a mad grizzly. If he's after us you kin bet that he'll git us, unless he's catched afore he gits a good start on."

"Well, I reckon he'll have the hardest time of his life getting us, though," the leader answered. "But I'll ride over, anyhow and try and find out something. Told you to tell any outlaws you met that he was after them, eh, Chuck?"

"Yes; that's right, Cap."

"Well, we'll see about that. I won't be long in findin' out what he's up to. If he gets through Forbidden Pa.s.s without paying toll he's got to be a good one, that's all. His life will probably be the price demanded for toll, too. I reckon that's what I'll make it."

After a few minutes further conversation on the subject the leader of the gang, who was posing as an honest business man in Silver Bend, left the cave, leading his horse out under the curtain that was rolled up by one of the men for him.

He rode along in the direction of the little mining camp at an easy gait, and in a short time he reached the end of the pa.s.s.

He paused long enough to see that the sign he had himself painted was in place, and then he made for the saloon, never once thinking that there was any one so close by watching his movements.

Cap Roche was well known in Big Bonanza, and he was satisfied that no one dreamed that he was anything else but an honest man.

He made up his mind to tell the miners that he had decided to ride through the pa.s.s just for the purpose of finding out if the outlaws were still there.

"I'll have no trouble in making them think that it is safe to go through now," he muttered, as he rode up to the saloon.

Dismounting, he entered the shanty and found the biggest part of the population gathered there.

"h.e.l.lo, boys!" he called out, familiarly. "How are you all? I took a notion to ride over to-night through Forbidden Pa.s.s. I did not let the notion get out of my head, and came right away. How is business, anyway?"

Several of the men hastened to shake hands with him, and soon a lively conversation was taking place.

"So yer come through ther pa.s.s, eh?" observed Hoker, after there came a lull. "A putty risky thing ter do, I reckon."

"Well, I don't know. You see, I have had the place watched pretty closely the last few days, and not the least sign of any one has been discovered there. I feel that the outlaws, if there were any there, have left for some other parts."

Just then Cap Roche happened to set eyes on Hop Wah, who was sitting at a table, showing half a dozen miners some tricks with a pack of cards.

"h.e.l.lo! You've got a heathen here, eh?" he exclaimed. "When did he strike here!"

"Late this afternoon, Cap," answered Hoker. "He's a great Chinee, too.

He's a sleight-of-hand feller, an' he kin handle dice an' cards any way he wants ter. A man don't stand no more show winnin' from him than he does walkin' on air."

"Ah! He must be a curious sort of a heathen, then. Did he come here alone?"

"Oh, no. He come here with Young Wild West. You've heard of him, I reckon?"

"Yes, I believe I have. A sort of dashing young fellow, who can shoot well, isn't he?"

"Well, I should say so! You oughter been here a couple of hours ago an'

seen what he done ter three cowboys! He sartinly did take ther starch out of 'em in no time."