BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER--THE DARK SKULL'S REVENGE

This magical cape, named "Tatanka," the Indian word for buffalo, would give the wearer the power of invisibility. White Eagle saved the best for last. Billy was given a ceremonial mask, simple and made from hand carved wood. But this mask gave the wearer the incredible power to become any living thing the wearer can imagine, human or animal, real beast or mythological creature, past or present-all Billy had to do was use his imagination to become whatever and whomever he wishes.

While Billy thanked his mentor and teacher, The Sidewinder and his gang prepared to draw their guns on not only Billy Steele, but also White Eagle, for The Sidewinder had been led to believe that White Eagle destroyed his birth parents’ wagon and was their killer. The Dark Skull had poisoned his son’s mind into believing that White Eagle represented the savagery of the Indian race and he was responsible for the execution of The Sidewinder’s birth parents. And Lester had polluted The Sidewinder’s mind, convincing him that Billy Steele had stolen all that belonged to him.

The merciless Sidewinder had stalked Billy and White Eagle for days. Soon, The Sidewinder and his "owl hoots" surrounded the cave’s entrance their firearms ruthlessly targeted the cave’s unwary inhabitants. The gang had their bullets poised in their guns’ breaches, ready to draw a bead on their unsuspecting targets. As Billy was just about to start using his new gifts, he and White Eagle were alarmed by ‘Lasses’s bark. Billy’s flop eared puppy tried to warn them of the danger that lurked close by.

The brown puppy’s yapping sent a shiver down Billy’s back. The Christmas Day like joy of relishing his new gifts gave way to a doomsday dread. Like human locusts viciously gnawing at their prey, The Sidewinder and his outlaw army stormed Billy and White Eagle’s solitude of stone.

The outlaws’ guns blasted at the boy and his elderly mentor in an evil unison, so thunderous in its fury, hanging rocks began to drop and boulders became dislodged. Billy and White Eagle dropped to the ground as the outlaws invaded the cave. The elderly Indian shielded his student with his body as the bullets flew by their heads. White Eagle’s hand made jewelry, given to him by his long deceased mother was scattered to the ground and crushed under the outlaws’ boot heels. Billy soon felt a sharp boot heel drive into the back of his neck as Billy’s face became buried in dirt. Billy was now at the mercy of The Sidewinder.

"Remember me, squirt," The Sidewinder sneered, "We met in town. If you don’t remember me, maybe you remember my father?"

"Your father," Billy questioned, as he tried to speak with dirt stuck in his mouth.

"You killed my father in cold blood, Billy Steele," The Sidewinder screamed in an angry rage. "Lester, The Dark Skull was my pa. You killed him and stole the black coin and the map to the mine that rightfully belongs to me. Your filthy Injun friend killed my family years ago."

The Sidewinder’s men began to ransack the cave while they searched for the shimmering black coin. Sacred symbols of a pious people were desecrated by the merciless outlaws. Once he found the map and coin, The Sidewinder would then silence his victims.

"Where’s the coin and map," The Sidewinder screamed to Billy. "I know how to make him talk, " he continued.

Several outlaws had dragged the elderly White Eagle outside and bound each of the Indian wizard’s arms and legs to their horses.