CHAPTER V.
A SQUARE BACK-DOWN.
The Texan paid no heed to the words of the desperado, but bending forward on the horse with his full weight, drove his spurs deeply into its flanks.

Startled and stung with pain, the noble animal, at one wild bound, leaped far beyond where Bill and his friends stood, and in a second more sped in terrific leaps along the street.
"The cowardly cuss is running away!" yelled Bill derisively.
"It is false! He is _no_ coward! He will tame the horse first and then _you_!" cried a voice so close that Bill turned in amazement to see who dare thus to speak to him, the _"Terror of the West."_ "A woman!" he muttered, fiercely, as he saw a tall and queenly-looking girl standing there, with flashing eyes, which did not drop at his gaze.
_"Yes_--a woman, who has heard of Wild Bill, and neither fears nor admires him!" she said, undauntedly.
"Is the fellow that rode off on the horse your husband or lover that you take his part ?" asked Bill, half angrily and half wondering at the temerity of the lovely girl who thus braved his anger.
"He is neither," she replied, scornfully.
"I'm glad of it.

I shall not make you a widow or deprive you of a future husband when he comes under my fire, if he should be fool enough to come back." "He comes now.

See for yourself.

He has tamed the horse--now comes your turn, coward and braggart!" Bill was white with anger; but she was a woman, mind no matter what he felt, too well he knew the chivalry of the far West to raise a hand or even speak a threatening word to her.