“They’ve hit Red Steve’s trail, have they?”
“Hit um trail man on foot. Mebbyso Red Steve, mebbyso somebody else. Quien sabe?”
The boy shrugged his shoulders and grunted.
“How far away are Wild Bill and the baron?”
“Mebbyso ten mile.”
This was too far. The scout could not send Cayuse after his missing pards with any hope that they would be able to reach the Star-A ranch before the mob of cowboys arrived. Anyway, if they were on Red Steve’s trail, the scout preferred to leave them to run it out. It was of the utmost importance that Red Steve be found.
Something of what was passing in the scout’s mind was divined by Perry.
“If you could get your pards here, Buffalo Bill,” said the rancher, “it might be a good idea.”
“I doubt whether Cayuse could cover the ten miles and bring them here before the mob arrives,” answered the scout. “Besides, Perry, it is almost as important that Red Steve be apprehended before he can get out of the country. I think we had better leave Wild Bill and the baron to take care of that part of the work. From what Cayuse tells us, I believe luck has been with them, and that they are on the right scent.”
Cayuse was deeply interested in the mysterious state of affairs at the ranch. He was not given to asking questions; it was rather his part to keep his ears and eyes wide open and pick up what he wanted to know from the ordinary course of events.