“Pa-e-has-ka no save himself from Nuzhee Mona.”
“We’ll see. How many men has Lawless with him?”
“So many,” and Wah-coo-tah held up seven fingers. “Clancy, Seth Coomby, Tex, Andy, all same three Injun—Cheyennes.”
“Lawless fixed up this mine for a trap, eh?”
“Mine been fixed for many moons. Lawless got bad heart, do bad things white man no like. Him fix mine so he get away when white pony soldiers come to ketch um.”
“This ‘plant’ of his was originally devised for his own safety, then? Well, I reckon he thinks he is putting it to good use now. If you had come to me in Sun Dance, Wah-coo-tah, and had told me about the layout here, I would have taken extra measures looking to the safety of my pards and myself.”
“Pa-e-has-ka great brave, but him no can fight Lawless. Lawless Wah-coo-tah’s father, but Wah-coo-tah no like um. Wah-coo-tah know, when Lawless driven by Pa-e-has-ka from gulch, that Lawless make try kill Pa-e-has-ka. So Wah-coo-tah go to Lawless, learn what he try to do, then warn Pa-e-has-ka. Pa-e-has-ka no pay any ’tention,” and rebuke and sadness lurked in the last words.
“Had I known more, Wah-coo-tah,” said the scout, “I should have paid more attention. Are Wild Bill and Nomad bound?”
“Ai. Lawless no let um get ’way.”
“Are all of the outlaws watching them?”