Suddenly the expected signal yell came and the charge was on. Nearer and nearer the ponies thundered and then out from the stone chimney of the cabin shot a rocket that lighted up the scenery for rods around.
The Indians struggled with their ponies in amazement, but before they could pull up:
“Crack! bang!” came two shots almost as one, and two saddles were empty. The settler and his wife had both scored.
“Give ’em a parting shot, boy, to let ’em know the settler has friends,” said Buffalo Bill, as he sent a pony tumbling by the light of another rocket that soared upward from the chimney. The boy also dumped a horse and rider.
This must have surprised the settlers almost, if not fully as much, as it did the Indians, but a surprise was also coming for the scout and the boy themselves.
As the Indians fled in dismay little spurts of flame appeared in the grass as they darted by, and “bang! bang! bang! poppity bang!” rang shot after shot.
And then above the other tumult arose the voice of old Nomad:
“Thar! ye tarnation helgomonian heifercats! take thet atween yer teeth an’ take ther kinks out ov et! What yer kihootin’ round hyar for, anyways, disturbin’ honest critters, an’ keepin’ ther babies erwak?”
The scout laughed. It was apparent that front some commanding position in the mountains old Nomad and Cayuse had seen the danger of the settler and his family, and had hastened thither.