Buffalo Bill was gazing at the window, when Black-face Ned said, with an evil smile: “No chance of escape, William. You are as secure as if you were in a dungeon.”
The speaker was walking toward the door, when the prisoner asked quickly: “Where are your other prisoners, Colonel Hayden and his daughter?”
“In another room. Would you like to see them?”—showing his teeth maliciously.
“Yes, of course.”
“I am extremely sorry that I cannot take you to them. But I will be pleased to convey a message. Shall I say that you are here, and that you are so busily engaged in making your will that you cannot come to them?”
Buffalo Bill glared at the villain, but vouchsafed no answer.
The two outlaws went out, the door was barred, and the king of scouts was left to his reflections, which were far from pleasant ones.
He did not doubt that his death had been decreed. The reputation of Black-face Ned was such that the scout had no hope that leniency would enter into any of the villain’s calculations.
Shortly after noon, the outlaw, who had had the disastrous encounter with the prisoner, and who had been addressed as Pigeon, entered the room with a tray of eatables.
Buffalo Bill was hungry, and he ate until nothing was left on the tray but empty dishes.