“Tonio Pass is dead away from Tres Alamos Gulch,” said he. “Geronimo can’t be in both places. The boy must be mistaken.”
“I’d believe him before I would an Apache scout,” returned Buffalo Bill.
Markham stood for a moment thinking.
“Perhaps you have more faith in the Piute than in the Apache,” he said finally, “but my opinion inclines the other way. Cayuse is only a boy, and a Piute at that. Likely enough he doesn’t know Geronimo as well as Chico does.”
“Cayuse is the lad that gets my gilt, all the same.”
“I think the Tres Alamos trail the most promising.”
“Very good,” said the scout calmly. “Merely a matter of divided opinions.”
“That’s all. Either of us may have the wrong pig by the ear, but that remains to be seen. Are you traveling with me?”
“I’m going to the pass,” said the scout decidedly.
“Very well. It may not be a bad idea to cover both points. I can’t spare many men for you, Cody, as I’m taking the bulk of the force I have left here. A hundred bucks under Geronimo is a gang not to be sneezed at, and there’ll be brisk work if we come up with them. However, take Lieutenant Doyle and ten troopers, if you wish——”