The man at the trap was Black-face Ned, and as soon as the bullet sped, Sybil Hayden, scarcely realizing what she did, sprang to the edge of the hole, and began to kick the villain in the head. As he howled and tried to turn so as to shoot her, she changed her tactics and jumped with all her force upon Black-face Ned’s hands. This was more than he could stand, and he dropped back to the floor of the cellar.
Buffalo Bill was not a witness to the commendable actions of the colonel’s daughter. He was occupied with Thunder Cloud, who had followed the throwing of the tomahawk by a savage rush forward.
One hand was practically useless, but he made the best possible use of the other. Sybil Hayden watched the struggle first with anxiety, then with delight. The Indian, even at his best, would have been no match for the muscular, scientific king of scouts. Two minutes after the assault the Indian was lying on the stone floor, and the victor was banging the red man’s head against the stone.
There were no cords about with which to tie up the chief, so Buffalo Bill coolly proceeded to cut strips from the skin suit of the Indian. A sufficient number, tied and knotted, served the scout’s purpose, and when he arose to his feet, Thunder Cloud was powerless to accomplish further harm.
Buffalo Bill glanced at the open hole in the floor, and shook his head sadly. “I am afraid my comrade has been killed,” he whispered. “That villain fooled him and fooled me. I had no reason to suspect that he was in the cellar. I don’t understand why he came back.”
“I do,” replied the girl, with a little shiver.
The king of scouts nodded. “Yes,” he said, “he hated to give you up. He is more courageous than I had given him credit for.” As he spoke, the scout moved toward the hole.
“You mustn’t go down there,” expostulated the girl. “It would mean death for you, for, of course, he is waiting, and his pistol is ready.”
Without having appeared to hear the girl, Buffalo Bill stood near the edge of the trap and called down: “Pete, are you there?”
There was no answer.