Buffalo Bill was not so sure of it that he was willing to take the risk.
“Now we’ll see some fun,” whispered Nomad, as the Utes and their guides came up to the cache which contained nothing but whisky bottles filled with creek water. “It’ll be like deprivin’ children of their promised candy. They won’t be willin’ to stand et.”
They saw Benson and the apelike man stop, and Benson point to the ground. The Utes swarmed round the spot, forgetting their caution, and talking, with furious gestures.
“Plenty stung up with excitement, when they thinks they’re goin’ ter git er drink!” Nomad commented.
“They’ll be stung up a heap more when they discover that they ain’t goin’ ter git none,” said Bill Betts. “Woosh! Wouldn’t I jes’ like ter turn my umbreller gun loose on them varmints now.”
He pushed the singular weapon out in front of him.
“I reckon that would be too much like murder,” urged the man from Laramie; “they’re heathen brutes, but still they’re human.”
Benson seemed to be talking to the Utes.
They were too far off to get the words; but they saw Gorilla Jake drop down and begin to scratch away the sand with his huge, clawlike hands. He went into the ground with the rapacity of a scared badger.
The excited Utes stooped over him, getting in his way; and there was a great chattering, showing that they had lost their caution.