This lake is located to the east of Spider Gorge, not far from Coulter Village. Unlike Lake Isabella, this lake is frozen all year round due to the severe cold. The solid ice surface created by years of cold can even allow people to live on it.
.
If they hadn't been chasing the injured legendary white buffalo, Brandy and Lenny might never have come here. What's gratifying about this pursuit is that the footsteps left by the white buffalo became more and more messy, and the area of each blood stain gradually increased.
It became larger, which showed that the two shots did cause great damage to it, but the closer they got to Shijie Lake, the more they felt something was wrong, because they found obvious human settlements.
"Brandy, are there people living in this area?" Lenny asked.
"I've never heard of it," Brandy said, taking the repeating rifle off the saddle and loading it, "that even the Native Americans would not choose to become permanent residents of this area."
"Could it be O'Drisco?" Lenny also became nervous.
Brandy observed with a telescope and said: "I'm not sure, I can't see what they were wearing here, but I can't rule out this possibility."
"The only thing that's certain is that the traces of the bison disappeared here." Lenny also loaded his repeating rifle.
"There are five or six people on the opposite side, and there is no suitable bunker nearby. There are only two of us. We can only be considered half-assed in combat. We should not act rashly," Brandy analyzed calmly. "Where is Arthur? He hasn't caught up yet.
?”
Just as Brandy was asking, the familiar sound of horse hoofs came from behind. Not long after, Arthur came on horseback, looking the same as usual. No one could tell that he had fallen so badly before.
"Arthur, are you okay?" Lenny asked with concern.
Arthur smiled nonchalantly and said: "Fortunately, I wore thick clothes and the snow was thick, otherwise I wouldn't be able to bear it. Where are you here?"
Brandi pointed to the human settlement in front and said: "The traces of the white buffalo have been pointing in that direction, but there are people there. We are not sure whether it is an enemy or a friend. If it is the O'Drisco Gang, it will be difficult, so
We are waiting here for you to go together."
Arthur nodded, approving of Brandy's caution. He looked in the direction of the crowds of people and asked, "How many people over there know?"
"Five or six." Brandi answered truthfully.
"Easy to deal with," Arthur checked his revolver and said, "Come on, let's go take a look."
Having made up their mind, the three of them rode towards the crowds. After running a few steps, they saw a snow-white "peak" lying on the frozen lake - that was the legendary white buffalo. Three or four of them were dressed in very cute clothes.
Mexican-style men were surrounding the white buffalo with guns in hand, seemingly at a loss to deal with such a big buffalo.
The three dismounted and approached. Everyone in the simple camp became alert and immediately turned their guns around to target the three uninvited guests.
"Hey!" one of them said, "You're in the wrong place! Get out of here right now!"
"Oh oh oh, don't be nervous, guys, don't be nervous," Arthur raised his hands to show that he was not carrying weapons, and at the same time gestured for Brandy and Lenny to put away their guns, "Guys, we are hunters, this one
The bison is our prey. It accidentally hit your camp and we just chased it all the way."
These people looked at each other, and the person who just spoke said, "Well, what do you want?"
"How about we take it away, and then we turn the road to the sky, each side?" Arthur said.
The people on the opposite side exchanged glances with each other again, and suddenly laughed. After laughing for a while, the guy who had been acting as the spokesperson said: "We only know that this bison that broke into our place is our trophy. As for it,
Whose it was before, it has nothing to do with us. If you have any questions, you can talk to it." After saying that, he patted his gun.
A smile appeared on Arthur's lips: "It seems there is nothing left to talk about."
Before he finished speaking, Arthur's revolver had already fired. The revolver stuck in his waist spurted out tongues of fire like snakes, and five thunderous gunshots seemed to be connected in one. Some of the five gunmen were hit.
Some were shot through the chest and abdomen, and their heads were shot through. After the gunfire stopped, they all became silent.
Brandi couldn't close her mouth as she watched this scene. The above process only happened in less than 3 seconds. In these 3 seconds, Arthur used an ordinary single-action revolver to
Theoretically, the rapid waist shooting with extremely low shooting accuracy killed five people, with five shots hitting five targets. This kind of marksmanship can only be described as miraculous.
Arthur blew away the black smoke remaining in the muzzle and holstered the gun.
"Let's go and collect our loot." Arthur said.
Brandi and Lenny reacted for a while before realizing that Arthur was calling them. Both young people were shocked by Arthur's unique skills.
At this time, a Mexican-like shout suddenly came from the wooden house in the camp: "Stranger, do you want to just walk away from the person who killed me?"
Arthur's hand immediately touched the handle of the gun. He said loudly: "What's the point of hiding? Come out and speak if you have the guts."
"Put away your weapons, otherwise we will remain in a stalemate like this." This man seemed to be acting rogue.
"Damn Mexicans..." Arthur cursed in a low voice and signaled the two young men behind him to put away their weapons. He also took his hand off the handle of the gun and said, "Okay, we don't have weapons now."
"Yes, you are a cooperative person. I always like people like this." The people in the room opened the door while talking.
This is a middle-aged man wearing a Mexican wide-brimmed hat, a Mexican mustache, and two exaggerated bullet belts on his body. Arthur looked at this man who looked like a Mexican gangster and asked: "Now
What? Do you want to avenge your people?"
"Revenge? No, no, no, those losers are inferior to others and deserve to die in your hands." The Mexican looked nonchalant, but his hand slowly reached for the revolver on his waist.
Arthur's spirit was highly concentrated at this time, paying attention to every move of this Mexican. He instinctively felt that this Mexican had a temperament, which he had also felt in Dutch, John, Micah and others.
, he knew that he also had the same temperament.
This kind of temperament belongs only to sharpshooters.
Suddenly, the Mexican drew his gun. He drew his gun very fast. At least Brandi, who was watching the fight, couldn't keep up with his hand speed. But it didn't matter, because Arthur caught up and was faster than him.
.
Two gunshots echoed in the mountains.
Arthur stood there, with black smoke curling from the muzzle. The Mexican fell to the ground, with extremely transparent holes in his head and hat.
Arthur blew away the black smoke from the gun and holstered the gun. The difference from before was that a drop of cold sweat of fear flowed from his forehead.
Although this Mexican is not as good as Arthur, he is still a fast shooter. The moment he pulls the trigger is only one step slower than Arthur. Although the slowness of this step makes him crazy, he still fires the shot. Fortunately, Asia
The shot aimed directly at Arthur's head caused the muzzle of his gun to deflect, and the shot that should have penetrated Arthur's head flew behind him, grazing Arthur's scalp.
Arthur looked calm on the surface, but in his heart he was filled with fear and happiness that he was superior in skills.
Lenny was also a little scared, because the Mexican's shot almost hit him. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he sighed: "He is really a strong man."
Brandy didn't speak, but his heart was still full of surprise. He remembered who the Mexican was, but what he didn't expect was that it turned out that the Mexican didn't have a false reputation but actually had two brushes. At least if it was him
Facing the confrontation just now, it was definitely him, not the Mexican, who had his head pierced.
"It seems that it's not that the gunmen are too weak, but that Arthur is too strong." Brandi sighed secretly.
At this time, Arthur was already standing next to the dead white bison, looking at the huge beast up and down, and said: "I don't think the three of us can bring it back."
"How about I go back and call someone for help?" Lenny asked.
Arthur thought for a moment and said, "Okay, it would be better if we could bring a carriage."
"No problem." Lenny said as he mounted his horse and left the place in a short while.
Arthur moved his shoulders, looked at the corpses lying on the ground, and said to Brandi: "Okay, let's deal with these guys."
"They don't look like the O'Drisco gang." Brandi said as he squatted down and groped in the pocket of a corpse.
"That's right," Arthur said, "The O'Drisco Gang is an Irish gang, and most of its members are Irish immigrants, and they are very xenophobic, especially Mexicans. I guess these people should be from the Howling Wolf Gang.
.”
"Howling Wolf Gang?"
"A large gang composed of Mexicans mainly operates on the US-Mexico border and the western region. It is very powerful and behaves in a very arrogant style. Even the local army is afraid of it." Arthur introduced.
Brandi wondered: "Then why did they show up in Ambarino?"
"I don't know," Arthur shook his head, "but it's not surprising to meet them anywhere. The Howling Wolf Gang is very powerful. It can be said that in this country, wherever there are Mexicans, they have their influence.
.”
The two of them chatted while searching for corpses. After a while, they found the leading Mexican.
"This guy's gun is pretty good." Arthur picked up the Mexican revolver and looked at it carefully. The shape of this revolver is a classic cowboy revolver, and it is extremely well maintained, with exquisite patterns all over the gun body.
, the ivory gun handle is also engraved with a special image of an eagle, which is undoubtedly the work of a master.
Arthur held the gun and looked at it for a while, then threw the gun to Brandy and said, "It's yours."
"Ah?" Brandi was caught off guard, "Arthur, this is your trophy."
"You are still using an old gun, right? This gun is just right," Arthur said indifferently, "I am already comfortable with my own gun. There is no practical significance in using this gun again. Why don't I give it to you? You will be able to use it in the future."
It is our powerful combat power that is worthy of it."
"This..." Brandy looked embarrassed, but in fact he was happy. He tried his best to hide his joy, pretending to be embarrassed, and said, "Since you said so, then I will..."
"Haha, brat, stop pretending to me," Arthur slapped Brandy on the shoulder and smiled boldly, "You think I can't see it? You kid has been eyeing this gun for a long time, right?"
Brandi felt a little embarrassed when her inner thoughts were seen through at a glance, and she laughed sheepishly.
After putting away the exquisitely crafted revolver, Brandi then fumbled around on the Mexican. After a while, he fumbled for a roll of paper. When he unfolded it, it turned out to be a reward order:
"wanted:
No matter life or death!
Flaco Hernandez
A veteran member of the Howling Wolf Gang, he committed multiple robberies and murders in eight federal states and counties. He later broke away from the Howling Wolf Gang and his whereabouts are unknown.
Reward: $1000”
Arthur turned his head and glanced, and said: "If you are really sorry, this guy's bounty will be mine. How about that?"
Brandi glanced at Arthur and asked, "You are also wanted criminals. Is it okay to go to the police station to collect the reward?"
"Don't worry," Arthur said, taking the reward warrant and stuffing it into his coat, "We are only wanted in the West. In this land, we are free cowboys."
"The laws of the United States..." Brandi sighed inwardly.
"Speaking of which, I just found this in his house," Arthur said, taking out a somewhat torn piece of paper from his pocket, "I didn't understand the content on it. You are more educated than me. You
come and see."
Brandi took the paper, looked at it for a while, and said: "This seems to be a treasure map. This is just one of them. It indicates the hiding place of the next map. Only by finding all the treasure maps can we know the final result."
Where is the treasure?"
"So troublesome?" Arthur felt dizzy upon hearing this.
"It's really troublesome, but judging from the information revealed on this treasure map, the treasure should be very tempting," Brandy said. "I now understand why this Mexican named Flaco broke away from the gang and came here.
, it seems that he wants to monopolize this treasure."
"I'll leave this thing to you for safekeeping first," Arthur rubbed his brows and said, "I feel overwhelmed when I hear these things. The gang still has many things that I need to worry about, and I don't have time to worry about that."
"Okay, if I find the treasure, I will give you half of it. After all, this is our common loot." Brandy knew that Arthur didn't like to be long-winded and polite, so she didn't shirk.
At this time, the sound of rolling wheels and the messy sound of horse hooves came from the distance. Arthur and Brandi turned around and saw Lenny, Bill and Javier driving a carriage. Lenny waved to them and shouted: "
Hey! Here we come!”
"Well done!" Arthur shouted.
The carriage stopped next to the carcass of the white bison. Bill looked at the hill-like carcass and exclaimed: "Hey, boy, this is not a bison. If you add a long trunk to it, I will believe it if you say it is an elephant."
"Good guy, Brandy, it turns out this is a surprise." Javier was also shocked and couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear.
Brandi smiled and said: "How about it? This big guy will be enough for us to eat until next year, right?"
A few people chatted and laughed, and spent a lot of effort to move the white bison to the car. Lenny specially took out the biggest carriage in the gang, and now it seems to be just right. Arthur moved Flaco's body.
After getting on his horse, he prepared to take the corpse to earn the bounty after leaving this place.
The team returned to Coulter Village not long after. The people in the gang were surprised to see such a big bison. Pearson's face almost broke out with a smile. After a week, his wait finally got the result, and it even exceeded the expectations.
expectations.
Dutch and Hosea also came out to watch the fun and were shocked when they saw this scene.
"What an amazing beast," Dutch said. "Is this your trophy?"
Arthur immediately told the story of the incident and the unexpected gains at Shijie Lake.
Hosea nodded and said, "I didn't expect that there would be gang members entrenched so close to the gang. Fortunately, you guys discovered them this time, otherwise the camp would probably be attacked by them."
Dutch was also afraid of this fact: "Flaco Hernandez, I have heard of him. He was also a famous fast shooter on the road back then. Fortunately, his marksmanship is not worthy of his reputation, otherwise
We are in big trouble this time."
"Ladies and gentlemen," Dutch found a conspicuous place to speak, "We have been here for half a month. Fortunately, not only did we not lose our partners, but we also established a firm foothold in this land.
Today we also harvested prey that will sustain us for a long time. Let us thank Mr. Morgan, Mr. Summers, and Mr. Munny. Especially Mr. Munny. Without his hunting experience and excellent plan, our gang would not be able to survive.
There will be such a big harvest.”
For a time, there was thunderous applause. For the first time, Brandy received sincere gratitude from so many people. Apart from being a little overwhelmed, she was more happy from the bottom of her heart.
After a brief applause, Dutch said: "As I said before, as long as we work together, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome. Remember, guys, one day, we will rise again!"
After saying this, he looked at Pearson again and said, "Pearson, let's cook a good meal for everyone today without any secrets! I've had enough of your stew without seasoning."
Everyone laughed. Pearson also changed his usual fussy attitude and said boldly: "With this excellent beef, are you afraid that I can't make something good? Today I will put back the blood and cook a steak dinner for everyone!"
Everyone laughed. The air around them was full of joy and happiness. This chapter has been completed!