Buffalo Bill reached the hotel at Bozeman late that night, and learned that Little Cayuse had not returned. He also, by careful inquiry, discovered that the doctor was in Virginia City.
After a brief halt for food and rest for himself and horse, the scout pushed on to the mountains southward, for he was anxious regarding Wild Bill’s condition, and he half hoped that Little Cayuse had returned there.
It was halfway from midnight to daylight when the scout was challenged by the stern:
“Halt, dar! Who be yeh?”
“It’s all right, Skibo.”
“Bless my soul; it’s Mars’ Billyum hisse’f! We’s pow’ful glad, too, Mars’ Billyum; dat’s what we is.”
“What is going wrong, Skibo?”
“Eberyting jes nachally gone to de debil, Mars’ Billyum.”
“What is it, Skibo; is Hickok worse?”
“No; but he’s so mad he jes’ can’t hol’ him skin ober ’is bones.”