“Mebbyso; but Wah-coo-tah Injun. If she get well, go back to Cheyennes, mebbyso her sold again to some Injun she no like. Better Wah-coo-tah die, better Yellow Hair stay with Pa-e-has-ka, be Pa-e-has-ka’s pard.”
“Wah-coo-tah,” interposed the scout, “will Lawless and his men stay in the other part of the mine?”
“No; him leave when him think flood come. Him think Nuzhee Mona come into other part of mine, too, you sabe?”
“Then we can get out through that secret door?”
“Ai.”
“The quicker we get out the quicker we can take you to Sun Dance; and the quicker you get into the doctor’s hands, the more chance there is of saving your life.”
Wah-coo-tah smiled a little at that.
“You like to save Wah-coo-tah, but Wah-coo-tah no care. Ou, di! Take me to secret door, Pa-e-has-ka. Me show you how to get through.”
Cody looked at Dell, and nodded. Thereupon Dell picked up the candle, and the scout gathered the Indian girl in his arms. With the coat under her arm, Dell led the way along the level to the place where she and Buffalo Bill had seen the glare breaking through the wall.
Here the scout laid Wah-coo-tah down, took the candle, and hunted over the wall for the crevice that would mark the edge of the stone door. So cleverly was the door fitted into the rock that it defied detection.