CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE CAVE NEAR THE PASS.
Tonio Pass was a gap through one spur of the Chiricahuas. Old Nomad retraced his way to it easily, and on the journey no Apaches, locoed or otherwise, were encountered.
Descending into the pass by means of the blind gully, already mentioned, Nomad brought the scout and the girl to a spur of rocks which interposed itself between them and the cave.
“We’ll have to scout and see how many Apaches have been left with Bascomb,” counseled the scout, during the brief halt behind the spur. “I don’t believe Geronimo would leave more than two or three, at the most. With so many troopers in the field against him, the wily old chief will find himself short-handed in the matter of bucks. Should there be no more than two or three at the cave, our work of getting in will be easy.”
“Want me ter go ahead an’ see how things lie in ther cave?” asked Nomad. “I’m dryer’n ther desert o’ Sahary an’ plumb anxious ter git at some water, ef thar’s any thar.”
“Go ahead, Nick,” said Buffalo Bill. “Dell and I will wait here. If you get into trouble, a couple of shots will bring us.”
“Thet’s me,” answered the old trapper, crawling around the edge of the spur.
Pausing with the mouth of the cave in sight, Nomad inspected the surroundings carefully. Evidently there were no redskins on guard at the entrance, for he got up and hastened noiselessly and swiftly forward.