In this manner Hendricks was firmly bound to his horse, and his horse was firmly secured to Bear Paw.
Banks was treated in identically the same manner.
Now, as a matter of fact, the scout had no intention of taking the two prisoners to Phœnix. What he wanted from them was information, and he was willing to give them their liberty if they would tell him what he wanted to know.
Hendricks and Banks were the kind of men, however, who understand nothing but the “iron hand.” The scout wanted overtures to come from them.
“Get into your saddle, Dell,” said the scout, when both horses ridden by the prisoners had been made fast to Bear Paw. “If we start now, we ought to be able to reach Phœnix some time before midnight. The quicker we get these scoundrels behind the bars, the better.”
So well was the scout playing up his “bluff” that even Dell was deceived.
“Hadn’t we better wait, Buffalo Bill,” she returned, “until after——”
“We’ll wait for nothing,” he cut in, at the same time telegraphing her a message with his eyes. “We have a dead open-and-shut on these two men. Hendricks met Annie McGowan at Phœnix, and Banks and Hendricks were both mixed up in the theft of the team and buckboard.”
The girl started toward Silver Heels and the scout placed one foot in his stirrup.