The bearer of the white flag had a proposition.
“Release Panther Pete, and we’ll stop our shootin’,” he said, “and we’ll git out of the country. You can keep the girl. Just give us up the prisoners you’ve got.”
“How did you know who we’ve got?” the scout demanded, somewhat surprised.
“One of us has got a field glass, and he saw Panther Pete and t’others down here. Surrender ’em to us, and we’ll cut out of this fight and leave the country.”
Buffalo Bill’s answer was a defiance.
“No,” he said; “come and get us!”
“We’ll wipe the whole of ye out, if you don’t surrender ’em,” the outlaw threatened.
“Proceed with the process,” said the scout. “We’ve got Panther Pete, and a fellow whose name is Garland, and we mean to hold them. If you want them badly, come and get them.”
The outlaw retired, and was no sooner behind the rocks than the sharpshooters opened again. But having discovered that their leader was held there, they were more careful, and their shooting did no damage.
More men were coming, for the outlaws had sent runners back to the camp, and these were hurrying up reënforcements.