Buffalo Bill was willing to be questioned. He might find out what Black Bill had so far not made known to him. So he answered:
“You know this country belongs to the Indians, and the government wishes to protect them in it, and will not send troops here, unless compelled to do so to punish murdering redskins.
“You men, and others like you, are aware that the Big Horn is rich with gold finds, care nothing for the government’s pledges to the Indians, and invade the mountains and valleys as gold boomers.
“This keeps the Indians restless, revengeful, and hostile, causing them to kill bands of whites where found, raid settlements away from their lands, and thus force the military to punish them severely for what you gold boomers have driven them to do.
“You are, therefore, lawbreakers, and become murderers, for you kill the Indians, and they in turn kill the gold boomers and many innocent whites as well.
“Now, I know that there is a settlement here, and, though they may have done no harm to the Indians, they are still lawbreakers, and must leave the country.”
“You’ll have a lively time getting ther people of ther Lost Valley out of this country, Buffalo Bill.”
“It may be; but they must go,” was the determined rejoinder of the chief of scouts.