“Where did you discover this?”
“Me ride down trail, see two Yellow Eyes, Coomby and Clancy, riding up trail. Me hide in bushes while Yellow Eyes pass. When they pass, they talk. Me hear um. From what they say me know Wild Bill ride to Forty Thieves Mine last night with Fire-hand.”
This information of Wah-coo-tah’s was of immense importance. It was a lucky bit of gossip that had come the girl’s way while she was hiding in the bushes to let Coomby and Clancy pass.
If Wild Bill had gone to the mine with Lawless of his own free will, he would have taken his horse. Force had been used to compel Hickok to go to the mine, Buffalo Bill was sure of it.
“Are Seth Coomby and Clancy friends of Fire-hand?” asked the scout.
“Ai. They come many times to Fire-hand’s lodge among the Cheyennes. Me know um. Pa-e-has-ka see um Big Thunder?” inquired the girl, an anxious light coming into her eyes.
“No,” answered the scout. “That Ponca is the least of my worries.”
“Him ride up gulch while Wah-coo-tah wait behind rocks. Me take down blanket while he go. Me sure he go to Sun Dance, find Pa-e-has-ka.”
“He wasn’t in Sun Dance. Will you go with me to the mine, Wah-coo-tah?”
“Me stay here, watch for Ponca.”