“Let me explain. I’ll mount his horse—or the one he rode. I know the splendid fellow well, as I told you. He belonged to Colonel Miles, and a faster or better enduring animal is not now on the frontier.
“I’ll put Oak Heart on my old black. The poor fellow is foundered and will never again be of much value. We will ride out side by side.”
“You will!”
“Somebody must return Oak Heart to his people, you know. And I crave permission to do that.”
“All very well, Cody; but I don’t see your plan.”
Cody laughed again.
“I’ll make it plainer then, sir, by saying that I propose to paint and rig up as old Oak Heart himself, and put him in my togs.”
“Jove, scout! That is a perilous scheme.”
“It’s a good one.”
“But you’ll be shot when they find you out.”