CHAPTER VI.
THE OLD SHAFT.
The Black Cañon trail, up to the point where the road to Castle Creek Cañon broke away from it, was familiar ground to the king of scouts. He and Nomad had had some exciting experiences in this part of the country—experiences which impress land-marks and topography indelibly upon a man’s mind.
Therefore, although the scout and the baron traversed the Three-ply road during the earlier half of the night, the scout’s knowledge, added to that acquired by the baron, was sufficient to keep them on the right course.
As the scout had stated, it was his intention to camp out somewhere in the vicinity of the Three-ply Mine, prosecuting his work of apprehending the bullion thieves, unknown even to McGowan.
The Black Cañon trail was to be followed until they were hard upon the Three-ply camp; then they would break from it and establish themselves in some favorable locality where water could be had, and where they would yet be in touch with the mine.
As to what he intended to do, the scout’s plans were rather vague, but he was hoping for good results from the work of Nomad and Cayuse.
If the trapper and the little Piute trailed Bernritter and Jacobs according to instructions, they would sooner or later arrive at the Three-ply camp. When they arrived there, the scout felt sure he would have little difficulty in getting into communication with them. Undoubtedly Nomad and Cayuse would themselves be hunting quarters among the neighboring hills, as it was part of their instructions to keep their surveillance of the super and the cyanid expert a secret.
Completely oblivious of the Apaches, gathered under the leadership of Bascomb, Buffalo Bill and the baron dropped easily into the trap they had spread.
The blow was struck swiftly, suddenly, and effectively. Not a sound heralded it.