For three hours Buffalo Bill plodded through the loose footing in the dismal gully. The rim along both sides was outlined against the heavens, but in the shadowless realms between the high walls the darkness could be felt, almost. The scout feared he might pass the men he was seeking. On the other hand, if they attempted to escape under cover of darkness he would stand two chances to their one of hearing them first. He might pass them, and he might walk into the very muzzle of their rifles.
Suddenly the scout paused and listened. He could hear something moving a couple of rods ahead, so he crouched low and waited. He hoped if it were men approaching on horseback that he would be able, by looking up toward the light of the sky, when they were near, to discover who they were.
He heard the movements continued, but they came no nearer.
At last the scout could curb his impatience no longer, and began to make his way stealthily toward the sound. Inch by inch he approached, lifting his feet noiselessly and softly setting them down in the yielding mass. Then he felt that he could almost reach the thing that was causing the slight rustling; he discovered that it was a pony.
Carefully reconnoitring the situation, the scout found the animal was anchored to a point of rock and was hungrily attempting to find a nip of green along the wall.
Passing this one, the scout came upon a group of three others, their heads tied together in such manner that they could proceed in no direction.
The scout believed that he had come upon the four ponies of Price and Ike, and felt sure the human portion of the sextette must be near. He determined to ascertain, even at the risk of making of himself a target for their bullets.
Pressing between the ponies, the scout struck a match, and, so holding it behind the neck of one of the ponies that it would not throw its light in his own face, he scrutinized the place thoroughly for a rod or two.
He was behind an angle in the wall, and beyond that perhaps the outlaws were hidden.
As the light flickered and went out, he caught a glimpse of something that caused a chill to run down his spine, and genuine grief touched his heart.