Familiar with the habits of the redmen, he believed from the fact that he had seen no ponies in the canyon that the bucks were not far from some of the villages of their tribe.
Convinced of this, the bandit reasoned that the braves would return for re-enforcements with which to avenge the slaughter, and it was to learn if there were any campfires to be seen below, over the farther side of the top of the cliff, that he had left his companions.
To the east, as he peered through the bushes that lined the edge of the cliff, he caught sight of a flickering light that came and went like the spasmodic radiance of a fire-fly.
For a few minutes he had stood staring at the curious sight, in bewilderment.
Of a sudden, its meaning came to him.
When it did, he turned on his heel and made his way to his chief, eager to tell him of his discovery.
"What is it, Tony?" asked the world-famous desperado, as he caught sight of the excited countenance of his chum. "You look like a woman who's just heard a choice bit of scandal!
"What did you discover? I saw you sneaking into the brush."
The fact that his scouting expedition had been known to his master caused the old Indian fighter's face to fall, for he had thought that his going had been unnoticed.
"Poke fun at me if you want to," he retorted. "You may not git the chance to laugh again for some time."