Warmly were the young officer and his men welcomed. Having listened to the plan of defense adopted by Major Conrad, and stationed his troopers at advantageous positions, the dragoon commander said:
“It is a mere accident I reached you, for after my leaving your train, day before yesterday, you changed your course to the southward.”
“Yes; that traitor guide, Dick—or, rather, Red Dick, as he is known in these parts——”
“What! Was your guide the notorious Red Dick? Now I know why he always seemed to avoid me,” said Captain la Clyde, with surprise.
“Yes, he was Red Dick, the renegade leader of the Dog Soldier Sioux, I believe.”
“Yes, they made him chief of their tribe, major; but what an escape you had, for in changing your course he was doubtless leading you into his hornets’ nest.”
“It is just what he was doing, and would have succeeded, had not my daughter and Howard Lawrence been captured by a band of regular Sioux warriors, and rescued by Buffalo Bill, who informed us of the character of our guide.”
“Major Conrad, you surprise me; Miss Sibyl captured, and also Howard Lawrence?”
“Yes, captain; they had ridden ahead to look up a camping ground, and——”
“And were captured by Sioux Indians?”