With a grunt he withdrew himself from Dell’s arms.
“How does it happen I find you here, Cayuse?” went on the overjoyed Dell.
The fact that Cayuse was there proved that he, at least, had escaped the slaughter of Bascomb’s escort; and, from this fact, the girl argued that Buffalo Bill and Nomad had likewise escaped.
“No time for powwow,” returned Cayuse gruffly. “Plenty ’Pache in hills. ’Pache who git away tell um other ’Pache. We ride quick, or mebbyso we lose um scalp. Where you go, Yellow Hair?”
“To Bonita.”
“Who white soldier?”
“A trouper from Grant with important despatches. He is baldly wounded. We must take him with us.”
Cayuse flashed his eyes over the limp trooper.
“Wuh!” said he. “Yellow Hair wait till Cayuse git um pinto.”