Cayuse started up to take a part in the fight, rushed out toward the scene of the scrimmage, and was grabbed by a quick hand and flung to the ground. A knee dropped on his chest, and a hand with a knife was lifted above him.
“Wild Bill!” the boy gasped breathlessly.
“Well, what do you think of that!” exclaimed Wild Bill. “Blamed if it ain’t Cayuse, and I came within a hair of giving him his send-off! How do you happen to be right in the thick of this gang o’ thieves, boy?”
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A HAPPY REUNION.
The fight between the three outlaws and those who had just come into the gully was brief but decisive. The newcomers were piloted by Gentleman Jim, and consisted of the gambler, De Bray, Nomad, and Wild Bill.
This party had kept their uninterrupted way along the right-hand fork of the valley. Coomby had seen them, and had hastened toward the gully to give the alarm. Before he had rounded the base of the bluff he encountered Hank Tenny. Tenny had come, on orders from Buffalo Bill, looking for the rest of the scout’s pards. Having a prisoner along, Tenny was anxious to avoid trouble; but when he saw one lone outlaw coming in his direction through the moon and starlight, he dismounted, bided his time, and was having it nip and tuck with the outlaw when Gentleman Jim and the others reached the scene.
The outlaw was captured, and Tenny had time to explain where and why the scout and Dell had left for Chavorta Gorge and Pima before the attack on Cayuse carried the pards into the gully.
So, while the fight in the gully was going on, Tenny remained at the foot of the bluff, with two prisoners to watch, instead of one.
“Me follow stage-robbers,” Little Cayuse explained, in answer to Wild Bill’s demand for information.
“Cayuse, hey?” cried Nomad, coming to the spot where the boy and Wild Bill were standing. “Ye’re a reg’lar brick, son!” he went on, dropping an approving hand on the Piute’s shoulder. “Ye kin tell us how ye come ter be hyar later, but jest now we’re anxious ter find the white woman thet was taken from ther stage. Hev ye seen her, Cayuse?”