“Wait a minute, Nick,” demurred the scout, “and don’t be in such a rush. What are you afraid of?”
“This hyar is ther Forty Thieves Mine, an’ it’s ha’nted. I been layin’ hyar in er cold sweat fer ther last two hours. Waugh! I kin stand flesh-an’-blood enemies, but when ye come down ter ghosts an’ whiskizoos, I’m shy my ante. Let’s hustle, Buffler!”
“Nick,” said the scout sternly, “pull yourself together and try and corral a little common sense. I came down here looking for Wild Bill, and I find you. Sit down, and tell me how you got here. What happened, anyway? You needn’t worry about those who captured you coming along and taking us by surprise. Wah-coo-tah is on the ore-dump, keeping watch for us. She’ll fire a couple of shots if anything goes wrong.”
Nomad, after casting a wild look around him, into the dark, hunched up on the floor of the level, close to Buffalo Bill.
“Et ain’t nothin’ human I’m afeared of, Buffler,” he declared, “but spooks an’ whiskizoos sartinly gits onter my narves. Waugh! I wouldn’t stay alone in this hyar pizen mine ef ye was ter pay me fer et. When ye found me I was tied up an’ couldn’t git erway, an’ I’m tellin’ ye I come mighty nigh kickin’ ther bucket jest on account o’ bein’ skeered. Br-r-r! Keep right alongside er me, Buffler.”
“What happened to you?” demanded the scout curtly.
Nomad rubbed his eyes, took another look around, and then replied.
“I come out o’ our room when ye went ter tork with Wah-coo-tah, and thet feller Smith was sneakin’ off inter ther bresh alongside the hotel. I hadn’t no idee what he was up ter, but his actions was mighty suspicious, so I made up my mind I’d foller him and see what was ther matter with him. He——”
Nomad gave another gasp and grabbed at his pard’s arm.
“D’ye hyer anythin,’ Buffler?” he demanded.