CHAPTER X.
LITTLE CAYUSE CAPTURED.
Ominously the words sounded in the hush that followed the pronunciation of the death sentence on Buffalo Bill—“One, two, three!”
The scout had been dazed by the long flight through the air and impact with the water. He scarcely realized the import of the words.
“Four, five, six!” the counting continued slowly, while the arms of four men settled into rigidity, holding four frowning rifle muzzles on the human target.
“Seven, eight, nine!” the counting went on relentlessly, while four checks settled more firmly on the rifle stocks and four eyes gleamed along the shining steel.
“Ten, eleven, twelve!” and the scout had begun to understand the situation.
“Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen!”
Standing waist-deep in the muddy water, the scout suddenly realized that four shining rifles were aimed at his heart, and a sonorous voice was saying:
“Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen!”