CHAPTER IX.
WORSTING THE RED THIEVES.
Bascomb and his Apaches were almost at the laboratory before the mill-whistle sent out its warning peal. They saw the men rushing from the bunk-house and the mill in answer to the signal, and they realized at once that their attack was no surprise. For a second they halted, on the verge of a panic.
Bascomb saw Buffalo Bill, whom he had put down in the old shaft during the night, and whom he believed to be safely out of the way. The sight of the scout naturally astounded the ruffian; then, apparently realizing that his failure to take the camp by surprise was due to Buffalo Bill, Bascomb’s rage rushed through him and found vent in a wild oath.
“Come on!” he yelled to the redskins. “Kill the long-haired warrior! A hundred pesos ter the buck that does fer Buffler Bill!”
If Bascomb failed to get the gold, he was determined to play even with the man who had caused the failure.
It had been the scout’s intention, as soon as he had given the signal to the engineer, to join the men from the bunk-house and lead them in the battle with the reds.
He now found this plan impracticable.
Acting under Bascomb’s instructions, the fleet-footed Apaches turned the corner of the laboratory and rushed at the tanks.
Not all of them reached the tanks, for Bascomb was obliged to divide his party so as to take care of the force coming from the mill. Much as Bascomb himself desired to come into battle with the scout, he found that he was barred from doing so by a flank movement of the millmen.
He used his revolver, and one of the millmen dropped. Before he could use the weapon a second time, a bullet through the arm caused his revolver to fall from his hand.