“After the capture you went to the cellar and found that Black-face Ned and the prisoners had gone, eh?”
“The prisoners had not gone. They were in the room where lies the dead body of the white man they called Pigeon-toed Ike.”
The king of scouts stared at the Indian in amazement. “They did not go off with Black-face Ned and Bat Wason?” he said, incredulity struggling with surprise. “How did that happen?”
Thunder Cloud shook his head. “Can guess why, but don’t know for sure,” he replied.
“Well, give a guess.”
“Black-face Ned and his friend were scared. They wanted to get away, and they thought they couldn’t go fast if they took the prisoners with them. The prisoners might hang back, and they could not be carried.”
“I see,” returned Buffalo Bill, with a nod. “So they hoisted the colonel and his daughter into the castle room where I was confined, and then lit out through the tunnel. This action must have been taken just after the appearance of Alkali Pete. Pete must have been shot at, and not knowing how many enemies were in the cellar, he ran around to the front, expecting, probably, that some one would come out of the front door.”
“He expected the great white warrior to open the door,” said Thunder Cloud. “He told me so.”
“I don’t see how he figured out that I would come that way when I was at the rear, for he had seen me. However, there will be an explanation when we meet.”
This was said calmly, and the Apache chief could not withhold an admiring grunt.