Buffalo Bill waited for no more, but rushed from the cabin. The Pimas, attracted by the excitement of fresh arrivals, had left the shade and were clustered, with several troopers, about three horses—a pinto, a white cayuse, and a big, raw-boned army mount. From the latter the wounded courier was being lifted.
But the scout, for the moment, did not see the courier, his attention being entirely taken up by the two who had come with the wounded trooper.
“Dell!” cried Buffalo Bill, in amazement; “and Little Cayuse! Well, here’s a bit of luck, anyhow.”
Dell Dauntless sprang toward the scout and caught him by the hand.
“It’s mighty good to see you again, pard!” said the girl, her blue eyes dancing. “Before the military wire to Grant was cut, we got word that Geronimo and some of his bucks had gone on a raid, that Bascomb, the deserter, had been rescued, and that the escort with Bascomb had all been killed. I knew you, and Nomad, and Cayuse were to return to Fort Apache with Bascomb, and I was afraid that—that——”
The girl hesitated.
“That Geronimo had played a trump card and got rid of us, eh?” finished Buffalo Bill. “I left the escort very soon after we had quitted Phœnix, being summoned to Bonita on account of prospective Indian troubles. Cayuse and Nomad stayed with the escort. The same news that reached you also reached me, and I had begun to do a little worrying about Nomad and Cayuse myself. But here’s the boy, as chipper as ever! Do you know anything about Nomad?”
“No.”
“Does Cayuse?”
“He says Nomad was captured—but I’ll let him tell you, Buffalo Bill.”