“I understand,” said the scout to his companion, “that hound Holmes has locked the trap. We’re caged, all right.”
“Maybe we aire an’ maybe we ain’t, Cody. I’ve shore corralled an idee that we aire goin’ ter beat this game. Let’s mosey to ther other eend an’ take a squint at that crevice whar ther light comes from.”
They went into the inner chamber, carrying with them the two prisoners.
Buffalo Bill looked up at the crevice.
“I am afraid escape in that direction is barred, Bart,” he said. “The redskins must have investigated the break, and found it a case of no thoroughfare, or they would never have allowed it to remain unguarded.”
Bart Angell scratched his head. “I hev shore a prize memory. I loses it, an’ now an’ ag’in it comes back ter me. It’s comin’ back now. Cody, I’ve shore struck it. I know all about this yer hole. It’s a double-ender. We’re in one part of it, but thar’s a bigger part, an’ it’s on t’other side of that crevice.”
Buffalo Bill ceased to be in a state of gloom. “Are you sure?” he asked eagerly.
“Plumb sure. Ther hull business, descrip’ an’ everything hev come back ter me. Squat, an’ I’ll eloocerdate.”
They sat down, and after filling their pipes Angell began. “I wouldn’t take ther time now ter do any talkin’ ef I didn’t feel that we need a little rest afore tackling what’ll be a tough job. Five year ago I war down in Taos visitin’ a half-breed who war related ter Kit Carson. Ther cuss war weak-minded; not a shore-ernuff fool, but mighty near ter one. He hed been a member of a gang of desperadoes, Injun an’ white, that had made things mighty hot fer ther good people of ther Territory. Ther gang had been broken up, an’ Manuel Larios, the half-breed, hed saved his bacon by turnin’ State’s evidence.
“It war shortly arter ther trial that I visited him. You wanter understand, Cody, that Manuel hed a sister, an’ that I had a sneakin’ admiration fer ther gal.” The big scout’s mouth twitched, and his eyes sought the floor. “She’s dead now, an’ I—I, waal, I thought a heap of her.”