“Yes, Bill.”
“You are able to drive on to the station?”
“I am.”
“Then continue on your way, and report your having been held up on the road, and all that you can remember that occurred.”
“I will.”
“I must return to the fort at all speed, and I am going to take one of your horses, to enable me to give mine a rest, for I shall stake him out in the Deep Dell Brook Valley, for the trail is to be taken up from there. You can rig one horse in the lead, can you not?”
“Easy, to oblige you, Bill, for I sees that you is hot for scalps.”
“I am, so give me your best horse.”
“I’ll do it.”
“If I kill him I’ll replace him, but I can make good time to the fort, make my report, have my scouts and a troop follow, and ride a fresh horse back to Deep Dell Brook. There I will find my horse well rested, and, leaving the other animal for the scouts to pick up, I can get along on the trail of the outlaws who did this deed a long way before night, marking my way for those coming after me to follow rapidly.”