During the flight and pursuit, the scout had lost track of the Indian girl. She now came around the base of the ore-dump and hurried toward him.
Dell Dauntless and Cayuse scrutinized the girl curiously.
“Who is she, Buffalo Bill?” asked Dell.
“Wah-coo-tah is her name,” the scout answered. “She is the daughter of Fire-hand, otherwise Captain Lawless.”
“Ugh!” muttered Little Cayuse.
“His daughter!” echoed Dell.
“She’s a friend of ours, though, for all that,” said the scout, taking in a kindly grip the hand Wah-coo-tah held out to him.
With a swing, he landed the girl on Bear Paw’s back at the saddle-cantle.
“You see,” explained the scout, “Nomad and I saved Wah-coo-tah from a Ponca warrior who had bought her from Lawless for five ponies. Wah-coo-tah was not pleased with her father’s arrangement, and broke away from the Ponca. Nomad and I happened to be near enough to interfere in her behalf. She did not forget what we had done for her, but has rendered us good service in this affair of Wild Bill’s. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Wah-coo-tah, it is probable Wild Bill would have lost his life, and perhaps Nomad, too.”
Dell Dauntless spurred her white cayuse, Silver Heels, alongside of Bear Paw, and took Wah-coo-tah’s hand.