“Of course he came upon the scene where the coach had been held up, and where were the bodies of the rescuer and of Horseshoe Ned, if the latter was killed, which I doubt.”
“I think I see your meaning now.”
“Yes, for Buffalo Bill coming upon this scene read it like an open book. He returned to the fort and got a force with which to follow the rescuers, and he did so with all the promptness for which he is famous. That is the way I read it, anyhow.”
“And that means that he will come here?”
“Yes, and very soon.”
“But my brother guarded against that by dividing the men, as you know, and covering up the trails as well as he could.”
“Your brother did not guard against the fact that Buffalo Bill was upon his trail. He supposed that it would, perhaps, be a couple of days before the rescue was known, and so the trails would be in a manner stale before there would be any one on his track. What became of his rescuers he doubtless did not care, so long as he reached you in safety and found a hiding-place.”
“I fear such is the nature of my brother, Doctor Powell.”
“I merely judge him by his actions in the past, and, though I feel that he deserves hanging, and should be hanged without any hesitation if taken, as he will surely be, for your sake I give you this warning.”
“It is most kind of you.”