“What you have just told me, Colonel Cody, is certainly rather strange, but I am sure you must have some good reason for saying it.”
“I have,” replied the border king. “The great plains are very unsafe for wagon teams at present—more unsafe, I think, than they have ever been before in my experience.”
Mr. Doyle looked surprised.
“I was assured by the officials of the War Department in Washington that the soldiers at the various posts in this territory had the Indians under complete control,” he said.
Buffalo Bill smiled.
“What they don’t know about this part of the country in Washington would fill a big book,” he retorted. “The troops do their best—they do wonderfully, indeed. But they can’t be everywhere at once. Sometimes they are too late to protect, and can only avenge.”
The old man looked grave, but at the same time obstinate. He had made his plans, and he was not of the kind to give them up readily.
“Of course, I know that there is always a certain amount of risk on the overland route,” he said. “That must be taken for granted. We have reckoned it in the plans we have made, and the girls are not at all afraid, I can assure you.”
“Indeed we are not, father!” exclaimed May, glancing at Buffalo Bill with some indignation.
“What is the special danger at present?” the old man asked.