Nomad, obeying a motion from Buffalo Bill, had hitched back, and was now circling round the base of the ridge, to get on the other side.
But at a risk, the scout took a shorter cut to knowledge.
“Your men may not be in there,” he said to Betts.
He stood up quickly, inviting a bullet, and saw the hole made when Gorilla Jake heaved aside the stones.
“The nest is empty!” he shouted; and started toward it with drawn revolver.
“Iss dot so-o!” howled the baron, tumbling right after him. “Den ve haf peen wit-oudted!” He meant out-witted.
The others followed.
“Thunder and carry one!” exploded the man from Laramie, as the deserted hole in the rocks was reached and he looked about.
Bill Betts was stupefied.
“May I be doggone!” he said. “I reckon I’m about forty different kinds of fools, fer not suspectin’ that. But, ye see, I didn’t suppose them rocks could be lifted; fergittin’ that Gorilla Jake is a human steam engine, when it comes to strength.”