Steve Hathaway came with them.
When he saw the tracks he shook his head.
“Boss,” he said to Buffalo Bill, “you might as well count your friend and Norfolk Ben dead and the girls safe in the hands of those fellows. Bill Harkness, the boss of the Death Riders, has been here. Do you see that track? That big track? His foot is the biggest in the gang.”
“I’ll soon have the measure of it,” said Buffalo Bill, springing from his horse.
“Be a little easy, mate, and listen to me, for I may help you more than you think of. These chaps are strong, and they can lay for you in a dozen places between here and Nick’s Tavern, where they quarter.”
“Let them lay, Steve,” said Buffalo Bill. “We’ll lay them out as soon as we get within range!”
“I can’t see him ride right into the jaws of death!” cried Steve Hathaway. “He saved me once, and I’ll save him now!”
And he rode on at a gallop to join Buffalo Bill at the head of the column.