With wishes for their success, the colonel saw them depart hastily for their respective quarters.
The long ride they had had was forgotten by both men, for what did they care for fatigue when it was to save Lucille from the power of the hated outlaw chief?
Buffalo Bill hastened to his quarters to change his clothing, and order two of his best horses brought out, for the scout was noted for the splendid animals he always had ready for use.
One of them he intended to ride, the other to be used as a pack animal, and he ordered a good supply of provision put in the pack saddle, and within an hour after leaving the colonel’s quarters he was ready for the trail. He had his supper, and just at dark rode up to the sergeant’s quarters.
“Time, sergeant, time!” he called.
The colonel’s magnificent roan, Spur, was there, with the sergeant’s saddle and bridle on, and there was a place in the pack saddle for what the soldier wished to carry along.
These were stowed away, and the two friends rode out of the fort side by side, the pack horse traveling behind.
The traps of the horsemen had been so divided up that the saddle horses had only the weight of the riders, the pack animal carrying the balance.
They were gazed upon as they rode away back on the trail they had come, the soldiers wondering at their going so soon after their return.
As they left the gate, the scout urged his horse into a slow canter, the sergeant’s and the pack horse settling down to the same steady pace.