In front of the Star-A ranch, that night, the scout and his pards sat long with the Star-A ranchers. It was to be their last chat together, for in the early morning Buffalo Bill and compadres were to fare toward Hackamore, turning their backs permanently on the Brazos country.
“It has peen a mighdy valuple nighdt’s vork for Hickok und me,” piped the baron, shaking a bag of gold. “I ditn’t t’ink, ven Vild Pill und me vas following dose dracks oof der feller on foot, dot ve should make fife hundert each oudt oof der pitzness. Sooch,” added the baron with great complaisance, “is vat dey call luck.”
“It was a hard job we had, pards, all the same,” said Wild Bill. “We found the steer first—tumbled over those two ropes by pure accident. After we found the steer, we went hunting for the man who owned the saddle.”
“Und mitoudt looking indo der sattlepags,” cut in the baron.
“It was an easy trail to follow—that one left by Red Thunderbolt. The trailing saddle had gouged its way over the earth, and any one could have taken that back track. But we lost the gouge marks in the trail by that gully. I was trying to pick them up when I found the ’dobe and Red Steve inside. That was enough for me. I left the baron with Red Steve while I went to the Star-A to tell Buffalo Bill, and when Pard Cody came back with me we arranged that little surprise party. It was a question whether Red Steve could last until the scout got back with his party, but fortune favored us.”
“I vas sent py der sgout to see dot nopody tampered mit der lay-oudt vere Red T’underboldt was,” added the baron. “Und dere ve vas ven ve vas foundt.”
“It all worked out very nicely for Nate,” said Mrs. Dunbar.
“With the scout and his pards to help in the working out, Hattie,” dropped in Perry.
“We’ll none of us ever forget Buffalo Bill and his pards,” declared Nate Dunbar, with much feeling.