“Sergeant Patterson.”
“I reckon you had a hard time getting through with your despatches.”
“That’s the size of it. Wouldn’t have got through, either, but for that girl pard of yours. Say, she’s a brick.”
“She is,” agreed the scout. “What did she do in your case?”
Patterson went into the matter at length, beginning with the way Dell scampered off from Fort Grant. Then he followed the recital on down to the fight, and the way Dell and Little Cayuse had brought him in.
The doctor interfered, once or twice, to say that Patterson was talking too much. But Patterson wouldn’t stop until he had finished all he had in mind.
“Certainly Dell should have stayed at Grant,” said the scout, “but fate usually knows best when it takes such matters in hand and regulates them. If Dell had stayed at the post, you’d be on the hogback now minus your scalp; and Geronimo would have had Grayson’s despatches. The wily old red would have given a lot to get hold of those papers.”
Buffalo Bill went back to the table and seated himself. Ten minutes later, Dell and Cayuse reappeared.
“Sit down now,” said the scout, “and give me the whole of this thing. You first, Dell, and then Cayuse can open fire.”