Black Bill was then allowed to eat all he wished, and the scout gave him a change of his clothing to put on, and looked after his injuries.
“Now, Black Bill, you are not fit even to ride, but you soon will be. This is a good camp for you, and you will be comfortable. I will leave you my pack horse, make you comfortable, give you plenty of food and ammunition for your weapons, and I’ll kill a deer before I go. Then you can fish and take it easy.”
“Whar is you goin’, Massa Buf’ler Bill?”
“To Fort Aspen, with all speed, for I shall get there a number of negro scouts I want with me, the ropes John Hill says we will need, pack horses well laden with provisions, and I’ll be back here in four days.”
“Yas, sah.”
“Now, I do not think you will see any Indians here, for they have skipped for their villages, and this camp is on no trail. If you should, you must mount my pack horse and get away, for I will leave my compass, and you must keep directly west.”
“Yas, sah.”
“It might be that the white men may be trailing you; but, if so, you must make your escape, and be on the watch for any danger.”
“Yas, sah, I kin do pretty well ter take keer o’ myself.”