When they reached the trail they saw only a woman running about in distraction. The stage and the outlaws were gone. The woman was Lena Forest.
“The robbers have taken her emeralds!” was the conclusion of Buffalo Bill, as he dashed up to her, with Pawnee Bill and Nomad at his heels.
She stared at him wild-eyed, and then rushed to meet him.
“Bruce!” she cried. “They have carried him away.”
It was not the gems she thought of, but her lover.
“And the emeralds?” said Buffalo Bill.
“They are here,” she said. “I concluded to carry them myself. The stage was attacked right here by masked men. They took my watch and purse, but didn’t know of the emeralds; but they carried away Bruce! He must be—be followed at once.”
Buffalo Bill slipped out of the saddle.
“Where are the other passengers?” he said. “What became of them?”
“They went on in the stage, after the holdup. The driver whipped up his horses and drove on; but I threw open the coach door and leaped out. I couldn’t go on, for Bruce had been seized and carried away by the road agents. I wanted to do something to help him; but when I got back here the road agents were gone. They seemed in a great hurry, and did their work quickly.”