Note: A novella-length Western, possibly a paste-up of unpublished material and edited shorter fiction, of Deadwood Dick, the black cowboy/buffalo soldier who features in some of his shorter fiction (see "Hide and Horns" and "Soldierin').

Synopsis: Although Black Hat Jack is white and Nat (aka Deadwood Dick) is black, the difference in their skin color matters little to them as they ride into Adobe Walls, Tex., after discovering a man killed by Comanche Indians. Soon violence breaks out as the Indians attack the town. While their ammunition may run low, Nat's keen wit stays fully loaded throughout the skirmish...