CHAPTER XXI.
TO THE RESCUE.
Feeling that he was on a trail of rescue, Black Bill rallied so fast that he began to scout on ahead, and one day as Buffalo Bill came near to where the negro lay full length upon the ground, he had reached the summit of a range and was gazing over at something he had discovered on the other side.
Creeping up to the side of the negro, Buffalo Bill peered over cautiously, and he, too, lay low, and motioned to the coming scouts to come quietly and see the discovery that Black Bill had made.
“Massa Bill, jist look a-yonder, sah, and see what I found,” said the negro.
“You can have them, Black Bill, for I don’t want them,” answered Buffalo Bill, as he looked in the direction the negro pointed.
The discovery was an Indian village. There it was in the valley, a hundred tepees, at least, and with a large herd of ponies feeding near. It did not look like a permanent village, and the experienced eye of Buffalo Bill now told him that it was not. It was an Indian village upon the march, and apparently halting there in the valley for rest and game for a few days.
One by one, the black scouts came up and dropped down at full length by the side of their chief to peer over the range.
They had expected some important discovery, but they saw more than they cared to see.
Not a word was spoken other than a low ejaculation of surprise or a whistle at the startling discovery.
Every eye was upon Cody, every ear waiting to catch his words. But he had taken his field glass from its case and was already surveying the river, the valley, the Indian village through it. What he was thinking his face did not reveal.