“Give no further thought to them; they shall not suffer.”
“I thank you, Miss Mona, for what you have done, and I wish you to remember to call on Buffalo Bill or any of his pards, if you are ever in trouble or we can in any way be of service to you. Do not hesitate, especially if you should desire to visit the outside world; then our advice might save you from many pitfalls.”
“I thank you. When I meet you again I may have a request to make, or, at least, may wish to ask your advice concerning the future. Good-by.”
She turned away, and the scout and his pards led their steeds out of the cleft and rode away. They had proceeded barely a hundred rods when, looking back, they saw Little Moonbeam waving to them from the mountain top.
“Wouldn’t thet make yer guess some?” exclaimed Nomad. “I’d like ter see little Yaller Hair when she flies up thar!”
“Don’t be impatient, Nick. We are getting acquainted much faster than we expected. Perhaps she will give us an exhibition of her aërial prowess some day. Restrain yourself, pard; she is too rare a bird for any of our cages.”
“Thet’s all right, Buffler; but when I see er bird thet I cyant ketch, et do my eyes good ter look at um.”
“I think,” observed the scout quietly, “that we are to have a long, hard ride to-night.”
“What’s ther sign, Buffler?”
“A party of horsemen came over a ridge to the north of the butte and are heading this way. I caught but a momentary glimpse of them before they disappeared, but I think they are Sioux and have seen us.