_ CHAPTER XXXIX. THE OUTLAW'S CONFESSION
When Buffalo Bill went on his way down into the Grand Canyon, he continued on until he discovered just where the outlaws had made their retreat. This done, he retraced his way as rapidly as possible, and at once went back on the trail to where he had left his horse.
The sun was just setting as he neared the spot, and he approached carefully, for he was not sure that some one had not been there and discovered the animal.
Just as he caught sight of his horse he also saw that there was some one there, a horseman who had just ridden up to the spot.
The face of the horseman was masked, and this told the story in an instant.
But Buffalo Bill had been also discovered, and up to the outlaw's shoulder went his rifle, at the same instant that the weapon of the scout was leveled.
The two rifles cracked almost as one, and the outlaw reeled, tried to spur his horse in flight, and fell to the ground. The scout at once advanced toward him, revolver in hand, when in faint voice came the words:
"Don't fire again! Your shot is fatal!"
The scout put his revolver in his belt, bent over and took the mask from the face of the wounded man, his horse following him to the spot.
The face revealed was not a bad one--that of a man of thirty, with mustache, imperial, and hair worn long.
The scout made him as comfortable as he could, for he saw that he had told the truth, that the wound he had received was fatal.
Then he sat by the side of the wounded man for a while, the light of a full moon falling full in his face, and the scout heard him say:
"I am glad that I missed you, for I have done evil enough in my time."
"Who are you?" kindly asked the scout.
"My name is Alvin Wolf, and I had just resolved to lead a different life, for I am an outlaw, one of the masked chief's band."
"Yes, I thought as much."
"I changed my life when I met a young girl who was the chief's captive, and I intended to thwart his plans to again capture her, for we gave her up for ransom two days ago, and, acting for him, I received the gold.
"He gave me a written order to take the gold to a spot near Last Chance, and turn it over to him, which I did last night, for he met me there, and then he arranged to get a large ransom for a poor crazy fellow, the lover of the young girl, I believe, and so I had decided to act to protect her; but you can do so now, for I will tell you all, and then I can die content."
"Yes, it is best to die with a free conscience."
"I believe you, and more, I will tell you of one whom I helped to ruin in life, though he is dead now. He was a soldier at Fort Faraway, and his name was Wallace Weston.
"We were boys together, though he was older than I, and I was led into temptation by others, the Mayhew brothers, and we robbed the bank we were working in, were discovered by the watchman, and Manton Mayhew killed him, and we had so planned that the robbery would fall upon the assistant cashier, Wallace Weston.
"He fled, for we intended to hang him by our testimony, and then Hugh Mayhew forged letters and caused his sweetheart to believe him guilty, and she married him, Mayhew, to in the end lose her life at his hands.
"Manton Mayhew always swore to me that he would kill Weston if he ever met him, and he said he had heard he was in the army, and so I suppose, when they met at Fort Faraway, he attempted to do so, and was killed himself.
"Poor Weston did not dare tell of the past, so had to suffer; but you can make the real truth known to clear his name, for I have it all written out as it is in my diary, which I have always carried with me and will now give to you."
"I am glad to learn all this; but let me ask you about your outlaw band?"
"Yes."
"How many are in it?"
"Nine, without counting the chief."
"Your retreat is in the Grand Canyon."
"You know this?"
"I do."
"Yes, our retreat is there."
"And your chief?"
The outlaw did not reply, and a shudder passed through his frame.
The scout spoke again, and, leaning over, he heard a few whispered words from the dying lips which a moment after were sealed forever by death. _