Author: shadymccoy1

Will The Boys fulfill a dying man’s last wish or join the hunt for the man’s hidden riches?

The Silver Pick Mining Company has $2,500 on a stagecoach headed from Globe to Winslow, Arizona. To safeguard the cargo, the company hires The Oak Hill Boys: Ezra Greely, Jack Kollath, Louis Toadvine, Royce Hyatt and Shady McCoy.

The coach sets off from Globe, carrying the money and a few passengers. Two days outside of Cow Spring, they’re ambushed. The Boys notice the stagecoach bushwhackers focus their gunfire on the stagecoach instead of returning fire. Bullets rip through the wood roof and into the carriage. Ezra, Jack, Louis, Royce and Shady eventually take down the would-be robbers. 

But the damage had been done. One of the passengers, an older businessman, stumbles out of the stagecoach. Bleeding profusely, it’s clear he is a goner. As he lays on the desert floor, he tells the fellas about his past…

Twenty-five years ago the dying man, Cole Wright, robbed the bank in Winslow with two other men: Buck Thompson and Wes Ribbon. After the crime, the robbers get into a disagreement. Buck and Cole end up shooting Wes. Leaving Wes for dead, the men leave. 

Fearing the law to be hot on their trail, they decide to hide the money deep in the Tusacana Mountains. They inscribe clues to the money’s location on two ivory-handled, silver colt pistols. Buck carries one pistol. And Cole carries the other. When the two pistols are together, they offer a complete trail to the cash. The two men go their separate ways, vowing to some day reunite to retrieve their ill-gotten gains. 

Coughing up blood, after sharing the tale Cole gives his precious silver pistol to Louis. But on one condition. That the boys get the money and deliver Cole’s half to his wife, Lydia. Cole tells them Buck Thompson has a farm near Privilegio. Buck will no doubt have the other pistol and they can then retrieve the stolen money.  

After cleaning up the stagecoach scene, the Boys ride back to Cow Spring. There, they inform the local authorities of the attack and give the mining company’s money to the sheriff to sort things out. The Boys ride off for Privilegio. They are welcomed into town with open arms because they previously saved its inhabitants from Wyatt Cooley and his gang. Royce learns the Thompson farm is nearby. So the men set off.

They trot past a field of sparse crops baking in the Arizona sun. It was so dry the bushes followed the dogs around. And from a short distance, the men see a rundown farmhouse that clearly had seen better days. In the middle of the small group of buildings, The Boys see a woman being harassed by a gang of men. Looking through his rifle scope, Ezra spies black bandanas around the men’s necks. This rings a bell with Louis, as he remembers seeing black bandanas on the men that shot up the stagecoach. 

One of the men sees the boys, yelling at them to leave. Taking positions surrounding the farm, the heroes open fire. Their foes scramble for cover around a well, building corners and horses. The woman flees inside the farmhouse. Amid gunfire, the boys use terrain cover and inch ever closer to the harassers. While it seemed as though Royce couldn’t hit a bull’s rump with a handful of banjos, the Oak Hill Boys eventually drop their enemies. They take their enemy leader prisoner. And under threat of death, the prisoner sings, albeit a bit hoarsely. The darkly accessorized men were sent to get Buck’s pistol by a man named…Wes Ribbon. Once they had the pistol, they were to meet Ribbon in Winslow. 

The Oak Hill Boys found the prisoner to be particularly ornery and uncooperative. So once they learn a thing or two, Louis sends the man to meet his maker.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Royce sees a curtain move in a front window of the farmhouse. They encourage the woman hiding inside that all is safe. Jessica Thompson introduces herself, telling the boys Buck hasn’t been there for a week. The farm has fallen on hard times and Buck went to see his friend Cole about some money in Clearwater. Jessica hopes Buck returns soon. Because the farm is behind on its payments to their landowner, a man named Bill Cooley. 

Bill Cooley is known all too well by the Boys. While posing as an upstanding war hero, the Boys understand who and what Bill Cooley is. A criminal mastermind behind some of Arizona’s biggest capers, shrewd and greedy land deals, and general malfeasance.    

Hearing all this, hot on the trail to find the other ivory-handled pistol, the Oak Hill Boys saddle up for Clearwater…  

The Oak Hill Boys (Royce Hyatt, Ezra Greeley, Jack Kollath, Shady McCoy and Louis Toadvine) rode out to the Bellamy farm to investigate the family’s mysterious disappearance. Just like the deputy said, the place was all tore up. Like the had of God reached down, tore off the roof and took the family. 

The boys investigated what was left of the family’s belongings and by counting the beds, figured out the Bellamys were a family of four. They also came across a brooch, $86 and a letter to Mrs. Bellamy from one of her old students, Absalom Mecketts. The letter, written about two years ago, proclaimed the student’s unrequited love for the teacher.

Royce spies a plume of smoke northeast of the farm. They also see tracks leading to and from that general direction. Finding no other clues at the farm, The Boys ride through the Arizona scrubland towards the smoke. As they get closer, they see three largish plateaus rising from the desert floor. The smoke that drew them to this place comes a large campfire on one of the plateaus. Unbelievably, they see a giant of a man, hunched over the fire, roasting what looks to be a cow.

The Boys take cover and begin thinking through what to do next. They watch the brutish creature call out. Another giant appears out of a cave from the other plateau. Supper time! The second giant lumbers over to the other plateau to join his companion.

While the giants sup, Jack and Louis sneak over to the seemingly now unoccupied cave. Inside, they find two children: Gregory (12) and Sadie (9). They’ve been tied up and are huddled in a corner, crying. Jack cuts their bonds with his bowie knife, telling them where to go for safety. The Boys learn Gregory and Sadie’s parents were also taken and must be in in the other cave.

Meanwhile, as Royce sneaks ever closer to the first plateau…from a distance, Ezra takes careful aim at the giants. His shot rings out from the darkness, squarely catching one of the giants in the shoulder. The dinner is forgotten as the giants defend their stronghold. 

Their boulder throwing proves to be fairly effective against The Boys. But Royce, Jack, Ezra and Louis eventually fell the aberrations of what’s natural. Parents Carey & Rubie are freed from the cave. And the family is united. 

But how were the giants created in the first place? Maybe the answer was on top of the third plateau, where a mysterious, rune-covered obelisk was discovered. It gave all who were near it a sick feeling…and an unnatural desire…to stay close to it. These feelings went away, though, once Shady blasted the obelisk with dynamite. Nearby, the group also found an old, broken down buckboard wagon.  

The Boys gave the family a ride back into Globe. Carey and Rubie were grateful The Boys leaned into their better natures to save the family.

Looking for another tale or two? More exploits of The Oak Hill Boys can be found here, here and here.

As Told By Jack Kollath…

The boys and I had an uneventful trip escorting the payroll to Fort Apache with Col. Willcox and the U.S. cavalry.  It was a welcome respite from murderous contest.  And it was an easy one hundred dollars each.

Upon our arrival at Fort Apache, Col. Willcox introduced us to a local sheriff Grant Henslee, the law in nearby Globe, Arizona. Henslee explained his small town is overrun with opium. His son has developed the habit. While I do not personally have an issue with folks finding their pleasures wherever they may, we decided to help. We were not doing anything at the time. And we had some previous run-ins with Chinamen.

When we got into Globe we decided the best course of action would be to head to the upscale whore house, Chez Ami.  As a group we doubted it would live up to its name.  But it was not actually a bad place. The owner, Amy, introduced herself to the group when we walked in. She wasn’t French, which disappointed Royce a little. Amy thought adding a Parisian flair would be good for business. She had a point. The place was full up and it was only noon.    

The madam also made sure we knew the rules of the establishment. 

Lewis and I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered drinks. Royce sat at the bar and chatted up a soiled dove, while Erza sought out the company of a young lady named Lacey.

Ezra found out from Lacey that the bartender, a young Chinaman named Sam, sold something to make people “feel more comfortable.” This was the Chinese molasses connection we were looking for. 

Meanwhile, Louis and I chatted up Sam and Louis ended up buying opium from the bartender. Louis then eventually went upstairs to spend time with an attractive lady. (I was told later she wasn’t French either, but good at her job.)

Eventually I was joined by Ezra and we compared notes. Ezra used his arcane clothing to charm Sam and learned the drinkslinger’s source for the drugs: Fung Yap. Turns out Fung Yap was upstairs with one of his favorites, Lela.

Never underestimate the value of five dollars. I was able to convince Amy that I wanted to see Lela straight away and was willing to pay a premium for the privilege. This got me understanding which room Fung Yap was in upstairs. With some time – and after interrupting Louis – a striking figure in his skivvies – we followed Yap to his nearby dry goods store. He was apprehended. And under continued threat of pain and stress, we learned there were three places that sell opium in town and that at midnight tonight, a large shipment was being picked up at Utter Freight, a local business run by a Derek Utter. We gave Sheriff Henslee a report and Fung Yap was taken to jail.

We head to the No. 10 Saloon, one of the opium distribution points. After covertly talking up Derek and his associates, Philando Childs and Emiliano Overturf at the saloon, we scout the warehouse. Posing as one of the drug smugglers, Ezra talks his way into the warehouse before midnight and we take two guards into custody.

Five Chinamen show up at midnight in a buckboard. Derek and his men are also present. We wait until the drugs change hands. And to ensure the safety of the locals, as well as avoid a gunfight in town, we follow the Asian smugglers out of town. 

They head east, then north.  We struck in the wee hours after they had set up camp. While we sustained some injuries, four of the Chinamen were fatally wounded. After binding the fifth smuggler and threatening him with the same fate as his associates, the man told us the drugs were headed to William Cooley’s ranch. We are very familiar with Cooley.

We discussed several different options on what to do next. But eventually, we hauled the the wagon, bodies, opium and the remaining smuggler back to Globe. 

Sheriff Henslee appreciated us getting to the bottom of what has happening in his town. He had heard of Bill Cooley and told us that dealing with him was above his pay grade. So we needed to wait for orders on what to do next. 

However, there was something else that needed some further investigation: schoolteacher Rubie Bellamy didn’t show up for class yesterday. And when the deputy rode out to her family’s homestead, he found it had been destroyed. The family, missing. 

Henslee asks us to learn more. And we weren’t doing anything at the time…

As told by Jack Kollath…

The blood was not even dry in the boxcar when Col. Willcox and the U.S. cavalry arrived to inquire about the payroll we were hired to guard. We got the assignment details from Austin Sellmeyer, via Thom Pullman of Central Pacific Railroad. 

Louis, Ezra, and I explained the strange events to the Colonel: a spectral bandit could be heard and was then dealt massive damage from Colt Peacemakers and sawed-off shotguns. The bandit was heard to say ‘home’ and was gone. Wilcox and his men were pleased to hear the payroll was safe. And the Colonel offered to hire our crew as additional guns on the way to Fort Apache.

Austin suggested we go speak with the local law, Sheriff Selbridge. All things considered Louis and I thought this was a terrible idea and decided to pass. Ezra and I took the opportunity to talk to a juggler who had distracted the crowd, suspecting that he was in on the attempted heist.  Royce recalled his all-seeing bird and met us on the train station platform. I read somewhere when I was attending the University of Wisconsin that in the middle ages people called these “familiars.” But I may be mistaken.

As we were leaving the train station, we saw a notice tacked onto the wall for a shooting contest.

Turns out the blessed event was that next day. And Wilcox was going to stay in town to give some of his men a chance to participate. More on all that later.

We had a drink and spent the night at Big Jim’s. During that time, Ezra bewitched the juggler, Alverado Garmon, to learn more about how he got to being on the train platform. We suspected him to be involved in the robbery scheme. But he was innocent. Alverado said he was asked to show up there by a man Alverado considered to be his friend.

The next day after breakfast, the shooting contest was set up just outside Big Jim’s. It seemed to turn out the whole town. 

Louis went to check on the shooting contest. Royce went to check out a big top that advertised ‘Gentleman Bill’s Oddities of the World.” 

I recognized Pharis and Mayberry as the two vultures who were selling seats to Shady’s hanging. I do not like those guys. 

Ezra saw the juggler had situated himself nearby. Ezra asked Alverado to point out the friend that suggested he juggle on the train platform the day before. But Alverado had no luck. 

While walking back to meet up with the group me and Erza ran into Burt Devore, from the vampire saloon. He was doing well and was pleased to see us, thanking us again for saving his life.

So, the boys met up at the entry tent.  Louis and I entered the contest. We decided Louis was a shoe-in and we all bet on him to win.  The format was three shooters per round, the highest scoring shooter making it to the next round.  I watched Louis shoot in the first round and then moved to the fence by the payroll wagon, fearing another robbery attempt. Erza moved to the copse of trees to the north of the big top. Royce stayed close.

During the third round of the contest, all hell broke loose. Up on the firing line, the crazy wench next to Louis turned and shot him in the face. One of her hayseeds winged me, shooting from the crowd. At least six bastards then drew and commenced to firing specifically at me and Louis. The crowd scattered as the U.S. Cavalry guards moved to secure the payroll.  

God love them, these shooters really should have known better. Ezra, the master of the hunting rifle, showed his mettle and skill, repeatedly hitting the overmatched foes.  Royce, almost as good with his pistols as I am, dealt some crucial hurt. Louis had his revenge. After taking serious injury from the woman who shot him, he used his skills as a scofflaw to deal her deadly damage.  

Less than two minutes later there were six corpses in the dust. We were a bit beat up. But we’ve had worse.

Sheriff Selbridge was looking to blame someone for the ruckus, and since we were new in town, he was looking at us. Burt Devore and Col. Willcox soon disabused him of that notion, vouching for us.

Ezra and Royce confronted Pharis and Mayberry, demanding their bets be returned. Soon after, everyone else demanded their bets be returned. The gunslingers entering the contest soon demanded their fees back. Amazingly, the sheriff had to get involved before Pharis and Mayberry got their just desserts.  

We hired on to escort the payroll to Fort Apache. I do not care much for Hoosiers or Apaches but at least you know where they stand.

I’m sure Louis will fill us in if he has any idea why he got shot in the face. 

(Hastily written reporter’s notes for a Daily Bugle article)

The Boys are sent to Liberty, Arizona when Jack Kollath gets a telegraph from his employer, Central Pacific Railway.

The Boys see Austin Sellmeyer, the depot manager in Liberty. He’s happy to see them and gives them the following brief:

• The #23 train is due tomorrow carrying $5,000 payroll for Fort Apache. It’s been robbed at this location, it’s final one, before being taken via coach by the US Cavalry to its final destination.
• They know the robbery happens somehow at this particular stop.
• People who have been guarding the safe with the contents – right there in the boxcar – have been found sleeping. (And the money is gone from the safe). The men merely remember falling asleep once they arrive at the station. Nothing unusual happens before that time.

Can The Boys prevent the payroll from being lifted?

The Boys get on #23 at Billings. Jack, Ezra and Louis station themselves inside the boxcar with the safe. Royce takes position in the adjoining passenger car. Royce’s bird takes up a place on a crate in the boxer, keeping a careful eye on the situation.

The train pulls into the Liberty station. Everyone readies themselves. Louis cocks his revolver. 

A shell falls into Jack’s shotgun while Ezra lifts up his rifle…

Royce scans the passengers.

No one sees a thing.

And then, right beside him, Jack hears a soft footfall…

But sees nothing…

(from Shady McCoy’s journal)

Dear Diary…

So, after taking down Father Rastus at that old church near Black Horse, we needed a drink or two. The deputy, Booley McClain, suggested he knew a place not too far. So we all rode off.

We should have known better.

We arrived at the Last Chance as it started to get dark out. It was raining, too. Hitched up to the post near our horses was a merchant’s cart reading, “Burt’s Beeswax, Tonics & Sundries.” 

Inside was seemingly cozy establishment. A roaring fire from the east gave the room some warmth and light. We saw two men, nursing drinks and playing cards. As we came in, the bartender was straightening a chair.

We settled in for a drink. Sheriff Herko Merrit and his deputy, McClain, grabbed a table for us. Louis and Royce talked up the gentlemen. One of them answered to the name Burt. Eventually, Louis excused himself due to the call of nature, heading to the outhouse from the back door. Royce started playing cards. 

Louis explored the cellar, breaking in through a door on the back side of the building. In it, he found a man that had been recently beaten unconscious. He was lying directory under a trapdoor.

While Ezra and Jack went outside to check things out, Royce seemed to get awful friendly with the two gentlemen. Royce then went outside to ask Ezra and Jack to come back into the tavern.

When Louis came back, as the bartender served us a drink…things took a turn…

The bartender suddenly tried to attack one of us…

And at the same time, the deputy lunged at the sheriff!

The gentlemen, the bartender and Deputy Booley McClain were vampires. The fight broke the charms placed on Royce, who began firing from the porch into the saloon.

Claws, bites and bullets were quickly exchanged. They were tough. And not all of us made it. The sheriff fell after Booley sank his teeth into the sheriff’s neck. But Ezra caught Booley with a well-aimed silver bullet. Eventually, we dropped them all. But then the vampires turned into wispy vapors and slipped through the trapdoor underneath one of the tables.

We all caught our collective breaths as they disappeared. Once we healed up a little, we all went through the cellar door and roused the unconscious merchant. He was the real Burt. And he told us he’d come in earlier for a drink. The men tried to charm him (like they had Royce). But it didn’t work. So they overpowered him, knocked him and unconscious and dumped him through the trapdoor. Just as we were arriving. Burt was happy to be saved. And once we told him what we were up against, he suggested Jack go out to his wagon. He had something he’d come across in his travels that could help. A vampire kit, complete with holy water, symbols and twelve wooden stakes. 

Once we knew Burt was safe, we investigated the rest of the cellar. After making a few gruesome discoveries of their victims, we came upon four coffins. The vampires were inside, resting and regenerating. 

We staked those sons of bitches something good! We also took a trinket or two, and then blasted the cellar. For good measure, we torched the saloon. But not before making sure we all got a good pint of whiskey or two.

The Daily Bugle, January 7, 1876

Finally, the town of Black Horse gets their justice.

Sheriff Herko Merritt, Deputy Booley McClain and a deputized posse disposed of Father Graham Rastus and over a dozen of his followers in a gunfight of epic proportions on January 3, 1876. The siege, attack and eventual conflagration took place in a church about a day’s ride from Black Horse.

The fire priest and his group, townspeople and seekers of additional meaning in their lives, were squatters on the property, a long-abandoned place of worship. Investigations had proved they were responsible for the death of the pastor in Black Horse and a fire that destroyed several buildings in that town, including a place beloved by primarily male clientele, Cantrell’s Hotel & Livery. 

Unfortunately, this was to be Sheriff Merritt’s last official act as Black Horse protector and keeper of the peace. For he was shot and killed in the gunfight as he attempted to bring in Rastus and his followers.

Black Horse is currently accepting applications for a new sheriff. 

This reporter suggests they should also be looking for some fire equipment, too.

The Last Chance Saloon burned down on or about the same time as the church. The Last Chance Saloon was located at the intersections of roads to Liberty, Black Horse and Dry Gulch. 

It’s been awhile since I’ve had the chance to write down some of my adventures. But wanted to make sure I took the time on this one. ‘Cause to this day, I continue to be grateful to Jack, Louis, Royce and Ezra for coming to my aid in Cow Spring. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be writing!

Here’s what happened in Cow Spring…

I sent a letter to the boys in Dry Gulch, care of the Hard Knocks Saloon. Louis gave it to me later…

When the boys arrived, I was being kept in the jail there in Cow Spring. The Boys ended up chatting with people in town, including the local sheriff (I forget his name) and learned what had happened: there was a gunfight at the saloon during a card game and that I killed a local merchant, the fella running the store next door to the saloon. Like I told the sheriff and boys, it was an honest disagreement. And the Asian Gentleman was there! I figured this was my one chance to get him. And I didn’t mean to shoot the local man. That was unfortunate.

I learned the chinaman was gonna be there from another person of his persuasion: that pretty woman we’ve seen at the Hard Knocks in Dry Gulch. I jumped at the chance to finally get my revenge for when the Asian Gentleman cheated me years ago.

Anyways, it looked like I was pretty well guarded at the jail, so there was no way of busting me outta there. Also, there were quite a few people there in town.

So springing me might have caused a whole lot of consternation, fuss and attention, which is exactly the opposite of what The Boys want. So Louis ended up giving me something to drink with some exact directions: to drink it just before the took me out of the cell. Which I did.

So, the deputies come to get me and lead me out. Seems like the whole dang town is there. They lead me up on a platform, say a few nice words about me…put the noose on. And whammo, they pull the lever. My body fell…and…well…I didn’t die! Seemed like my body was made of stone or something. 

But I went ahead and pretended to die. And put on a good show, too. Even kicked my legs a little as I made out like I was shuffling off this mortal coil. 

They cut me down and was preparing to bury me behind the church there in Cow Spring. Had the grave dug and everything. But Ezra pretended to be a distant cousin of mine, suggesting that my mother wanted my body so it could be buried in the family plot. The sheriff and preacher-man didn’t seem to object, so The Boys threw my body over one of their horses and we rode out of town. 

About an hour later, my body no longer felt like stone. I was free. And like I wrote before, pretty thankful to The Boys for rescuing me.

We rode for Dry Gulch. And that night, we were bushwacked by the oddest damn thing. Two men – twins – who had been keeping their eyes on The Boys as they were in Cow Spring. One wore a white hat and the other wore a black one. These men were tough. And everyone was shooting at each other in the dead of night. 

But eventually, we dropped ’em. And continued on to Dry Gulch. And then, took on Father Rastus and his followers. But I’ll save that for a different time.

(From the Dry Gulch Bugle) Small time gambler Shady McCoy was hanged last week in Cow Spring. The drifter and ne’er-do-well shot Hopkins Magle on December 10, during a card game at the Sunrise Saloon & Hotel. In the card game was Mr. McCoy, Mr. Magle, Weldon Showers, esquire, and an unnamed Asian Gentleman. There were plenty of witnesses and Shady was caught dead to rights.

The gunfight broke out after an hour of playing. It’s unclear who shot first. But the bartender saw Mr. McCoy shoot Hopkins. Weldon Showers confirmed the basic facts. The mysterious man of Chinese ancestry could not be found for questioning. 

Men and women from throughout the state traveled to town for the public event. Hotels were at full occupancy, as were the town’s two saloons. A viewing area before was the gallows was erected by Hal Pharis and Mayberry Faye. When Mr. Pharis was selling tickets to enter the viewing area, he did so saying, “This is a once in his lifetime opportunity to see Shady McCoy die.” 

For additional support during the hanging, crowd control, five men were deputized. For the most part, there was no trouble. McCoy was kept in jail, behind bars and under guard. The prisoner visited with townspeople and out-of-towners until his fateful day. 

Mr. McCoy’s sentence was carried out December 21, 1876 in the town square. Sheriff Tex Springmeier oversaw the hanging. Before McCoy was brought out, the Sheriff said the following to the crowd:

“Per a jury of his peers, Shady McCoy has shot and killed Hopkins Magle and must now be hanged to death. He was born under a tree and must die under one. The sun has set on Shady’s life. May God help his soul.”

The noose was applied. The crowd grew silent. The prisoner looked into the crowd and shrugged. A lever, pulled. A trapdoor, released. A life, ended. The body hung from the rope, gently swaying from the sudden weight put upon it.

The body was taken down and was to be buried behind the church. However, it was ultimately claimed by Ezra Greely, distant cousin to Mr. McCoy. Ezra took the body to be buried at the McCoy plot out of town.

Leaving Black Horse, Ezra, Jack, Louis, Royce follow the map found in Lloyd Watsbough’s travel bag to something the Apache Indians call the Dreamcatcher temple. (Lloyd stole the map from Retired Colonel Bill Cooley). The Boys ride three days, eventually winding through steep canyons, thankful for the shadows cast over narrow paths.

After a turn or two, they find the ancient temple. Four 25′ high pillars frame the entrance to an antechamber. Along the back wall is a huge, faded and aging tapestry depicting Apache Indians camping under a night sky. Near the center are stairs descending into darkness. After killing a large fire breathing lizard, the boys light a few lanterns and head down…

The main hall is a fifty-feet-square area. Two rows of stone pillars flank the north and south sides. The ceiling in between both pillar rows glows magi­cally and portrays the night sky. The impression is so good it looks like there’s no ceiling. 

A ray of white light comes from a narrow passage to the east and hits a strange mechani­cal device. The contraption features three standing round mirrors and one floor-mirror with a dragon sigil emblazoned on it. The mirrors reflect the light between them and then to the one on the floor. This mirror projects the light upwards to the ceiling. There are gears, le­vers, and rails so that each one of the three standing mirrors can move around to adjust the flow of light.

In each of the corners of this large room are four slightly larger than man-sized stone statues of Apache Indian warriors. In the center of the chamber is a stone structure that looks like a table. A clear outline of a body is carved on the top of it. Runes are along the edges. The table radiates magic.

The Boys explore the temple, eventually battling a spirit that roamed between the stone statues and three wraiths in a burial chamber. 

Finding a secret room through a fireplace, they come across a variety of potions and instructions for how to use the contraption in the main hall. Each one of them takes a lie-down on the stone table in the center of the main hall. Each of the men have a vision as they take turns sleeping on the altar under the night sky:

1. Someone picking the lock of a chest
2. Shady McCoy on a gallows, about to be hanged
3. The Boys riding up to a place nestled in a scrub pine forest
4. A woman looking at a framed picture of a man (Jack and Louis recognize him as one of two train robbers)
5. A dainty hand grabbing a wanted poster of Oak Hill Gang written in Chinese
6. Father Rastus on top of a tower, preaching around a large fire brazier

What do the visions mean? 

Exploring the area further, they also come across a large obelisk surrounded by snakes. Ezra translates the Apache symbols inscribed on the obelisk that warns of dire consequences should anyone disturb the dreamcatcher necklace placed over the obelisk. 

They decide to leave it be.

And packing up, eventually the boys ride to Dry Gulch.