BILLY STEELE CHAPTER FIVE: MENACE OF THE MOLE PEOPLE

He might die in prison."

"I have to take him in, that's my job, that's what I'm sworn to do. But I will see he gets a fair trial," Tim assured Billy.

Billy and his adopted father had a visual standoff. Billy's frozen stare of defiance chilled the blazing campfire between them. The Col. felt some pangs of pain upon seeing the rebel stance tightly held by the son he loves.

"Come on, Col.," Whipjaw yelled in a depraved tone. "The only good Indian is a dead Indian and I want to make White Eagle good before he goes on the warpath again."

Billy then looked suspiciously at Whipjaw. He remembered how he and Slade led a hanging posse to hunt down White Eagle and The Lightning Warrior some time ago. Billy knew in his heart of hearts that once the Col. returns White Eagle to Paradise Valley, Slade, Whipjaw and their cruel mob would see the Indian wizard dance at the end of a rope. Tearfully breaking his commanding officer's orders, Billy jumped on his pony's back and galloped off into the night. "I've got to warn my teacher," Billy told himself. The kid ranger vowed to warn White Eagle before it's too late.

"Come back, Billy," Tim shouted, but Billy was deaf to the his father's pleas and high tailed it to White Eagle's camp like a bat out of hell. As he rode faster and faster Billy could hear the Col.'s mighty stallion gaining on him. To avoid capture, Billy galloped through a dark maze of underbrush and soon found himself alone on an unmarked, unknown trail.

Billy's pony almost collapsed from exhaustion as he raced through the fearsome, thorny field. Billy glanced back to see if his pursuers were still on hi tail. Just as he thought he eluded the Col., Billy became shaken from his saddle by an ominous rumble that trembled the ground beneath him.

From the Earth's still surface, a monstrous, worm like creature broke through the ground. Rocks, dirt and boulders became scattered as this tremor of terror uncoiled its scaly, serpent like structure and raised its dastardly diamond shaped head as it poised to strike. Billy became frightened as this creature opened its fanged jaws to swallow him alive.

Meanwhile, miles away in Pinto Basin, Col. Tim, the rest of Holt's Rangers and Sheriff Whipjaw arrived at White Eagle's tepee. Whipjaw insisted the Col. arrest White Eagle before he conjures up more evil magic and the Col., thinking Billy would be found with White Eagle, galloped to the Indian wizard's camp. White Eagle, deep in meditation, could not understand why guns were drawn upon him suddenly.

"You've broken your promise, White Eagle," the Col. stated with authority.

"You filthy heathen Injun, you're making some kind of spell to take over our town and you've already used it to destroy Whiskey Flats," Whipjaw screamed. "I outta get a rope and finish the job now. What do you say, Col."

"This man is getting a fair trial. He's entitled to it and I swear he'll get nothing less," Col. Tim answered angrily while grabbing Whipjaw's wrist preventing his hand from reaching for his pistol. "I have the full authority of the USA behind me, Whipjaw. You break the law, and I'll see you wind up in a federal prison, and that goes for Slade as well."

But Whipjaw had a second gun hidden under his vest and he drew it defiantly. Whipjaw then cocked his gun's barrel while pointing it at the ancient medicine man. The sheriff hated his tin-star authority questioned in front of one whom he believed to be of an inferior race.