“The settlers have much to thank you for, miss, I assure you, and it is noble of you to thus warn them of danger, at the risk of your life, for I feel that you are an inmate of the village of the Sioux to thus know their plans. This, I hope, will not be our last meeting, and in full sincerity I say, if in any way I can befriend you, command me. My name is Edwin Archer, and I am a captain of cavalry, now on the prairie border.”
Pearl made no reply, waved her hand pleasantly, and away bounded her steed on the return to the Indian village.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE FAIRY GLEN.
When Ruth Ramsey returned to the stockade she found the whole settlement about to turn out in search of her. Her friends were delighted at her return, for they had believed her lost, or captured by the Indians, as her father and brother had returned some time before, and reported that she had started home.
Ruth made known her startling adventure with Kansas King, her rescue by a strange white girl; but the coming of the cavalry she kept to herself, as the officer had requested her to do. The settlers were all in a state of fermentation at the hostile position assumed by the Sioux, and the coming into the hills of Kansas King and his band.
Buffalo Bill had made known the enmity of the Indians and advised that the settlers should move over to the miners’ fort until after the battle they knew must come with the Indians.
There were some who declared against the move, unwilling to leave off their gold digging, and thus a war of words was progressing, when suddenly Buffalo Bill again appeared in their midst, and at once his report settled the matter.
Two hours after, the stockade was deserted by one and all, and the men at once set off for the miners’ camp, excepting those designated to go with the women and children into the Haunted Valley. A mile from the stockade the party divided, with many tears, kind wishes, and tender farewells, and Buffalo Bill led his precious charge by the nearest route to the valley where Red Hand awaited them.