“Pro tem?” repeated Buffalo Bill. “Why not permanently?”
“Because there was a Comanche in the line of succession. The fellow was in Mexico, and a messenger had been sent there to notify him that he could be chief of the Yelpers if he cared to undertake the job.”
“You accepted—your position here shows that, Hickok. But what induced you to do so?”
“A desire to assist the United States government. The Apaches are giving trouble again, and the soldier boys are having hard work to find them. Now, my Yelpers know all the Apaches’ holes, and they are the sworn enemies of the Apaches. Already we have had one brush with the enemy, and it was a win-out.”
“Why have you not descended on Black-face Ned and his gang?”
“For the very good reason that none of the gang were in this neighborhood until two days ago. We are now preparing to light down on the murderous outfit and wipe it off the face of the earth.”
Buffalo Bill, having heard Wild Bill’s explanation, astonished the tall border fighter by telling him of the abduction of pretty Sybil Hayden and the events of the past twenty-four hours.
“We must move just as soon as my Yelpers get back with Thunder Cloud,” said Wild Bill resolutely. “I’ll make Thunder Cloud tell me where the outlaws are, and if we don’t give them a hot surprise, I’ll resign my job and go to herding squirrels.”
Before the expiration of an hour the three Comanches returned. The Apache chief was not with them. They had found the camp of Buffalo Bill, but it was deserted.
“Rescued by Black-face Ned,” was Buffalo Bill’s sour comment. “I half expected it.”