“T’other was a woman——”
“A woman!” exclaimed both the scout and Gentleman Jim, becoming mightily interested.
“Exactly,” said Billings.
“Did the woman disappear with Little Cayuse?” asked the scout.
“Nary, she didn’t. I wisht it had been thet away, but it wasn’t. Lawless had her kerried off, second time he come down on us.”
“The scoundrel!” muttered the scout between his teeth, his eyes flashing. “What was the woman’s name?”
“She didn’t say what her name was.”
“Why was she coming to Sun Dance?”
“Lookin’ fer a man, I think, jedgin’ from somethin’ she said; an’ I reckon, also, jedgin’ from somethin’ else she said, thet she wasn’t more’n half-expectin’ ter find the man.”
“Well,” said the scout briskly, “tell us the whole of this, and tell it quick. You, Hotchkiss. Time is scarce, and we want the important points.”