“Well, I would like to go,” replied the colonel slowly, “but not under your conditions.”
The argument went on, and finally the colonel capitulated.
The quartet reached the grove in front of the castle just before dark. There was found the greater part of Wild Bill’s force. Two Comanches had been detailed to watch the mouth of the tunnel, and three others had their station at the rear of the building.
“You are sure, Hickok, that the Apaches are inside, are you?” asked Buffalo Bill.
“Yes. Several shots have been fired from the windows.”
“What is your program?”
“To stay here and starve them out. Can you suggest a better one?”
“I will tell you in a minute. Did those shots from the windows do any damage?”
“No. They were fool shots, fired to annoy us, I suppose, to give the impression that the inmates of the castle defied any attempt to rout them out.”
“You’ll have to stay here a month, Hickok; that is, if you are allowed to stay, before the garrison will be out of provisions.”