The man addressed as Captain Ramsey turned to a young man, who rode by his side, and a fair young girl, who had reined her horse slightly back.
Buffalo Bill glanced first into the face of Captain Ramsey, and beheld a man of fifty years of age, with a noble face and stalwart form; but though he appeared like a borderman, his manner indicated that his earlier life had been passed amid far different scenes.
His son, Burton Ramsey, was about twenty years of age, and possessed a good-looking face and handsome form, and was clad like his father in a suit of gray homespun.
Ruth Ramsey, the daughter, seemed like a ray of sunshine in that group of stern men.
The scout looked at her a moment in earnest admiration before he turned to Tom Sun, and said:
“Tom, what brings you into this wild land?”
“My horse, of course; but, joking aside, Cody, the captain here was in the army some years ago, and, resigning his commission, settled down upon the border of the Southwest on a ranch; but he concluded he would do better up in these hills, and so his whole neighborhood up stakes, and here they are, I being the guide of the expedition.”
“There is no more beautiful country to settle in if the Indians will only let you alone,” remarked Buffalo Bill.
“Yes, and no richer country in minerals, I am convinced, Cody, and I believe we can get a hold here and soon get the government to support us.”
“I doubt the support of the government, captain, and it is a dangerous country into which to bring women and children.”