It appeared that the Shawnees had fled from the wrecked wagon train because one of their scouts had signaled the approach of a strong war party of Utes, far outnumbering their own. As the Utes, like the Apaches, had their hands against almost all the other tribes, Evil Heart had feared to meet them. The Utes had not seen them, apparently, but they had done all they could to hide their trail, without knowing that the white men were after them. But, nevertheless, quite by accident, the war party of Utes had sighted them later on the prairie and ridden up to them, compelling them to halt. This explained the mystery of the two converging trails. The Utes were under the command of a famous chief named Bear Killer, and they were out on the warpath against the Snake Indians, having traveled far from their own lodges for that purpose. Bear Killer and Evil Heart had held a palaver, the result of which was that the Ute chief had demanded that the two white maidens should be handed over to him as the price of his letting the Shawnees go on their way without a fight. Evil Heart had been loath to grant this, but his braves had prevailed on him to do so, for the Utes so far outnumbered them that a battle would have meant their almost certain extermination. The Ute chief had ridden away with his followers, saying that he would hunt for the Snakes, and after he had vanquished them he would return to his home far across the great mountains, and make the eldest white maiden his squaw, while his brother, who was with his war party, would take the other to his lodge. This was valuable information, and Buffalo Bill did not grudge the captive his liberty as the price of it. Grateful at having saved his life, even at the price of showing cowardice, White Feather departed on foot to seek the lodges of his people. Buffalo Bill gave the word to ride as swiftly as possible back to the point where the Utes had met the Shawnees. When they got there the scouts scattered around and examined the tracks carefully in order to estimate the strength of the Utes as nearly as they could. The result was to show that it was a party of such strength as it seemed almost foolish to try to tackle. While they were busy in this work Wild Bill heard a low moan coming from a small clump of bushes near by. He called Buffalo Bill to him, and together they hastened to the spot. There they found a man lying on the prairie. He had been staked out on the ground, so that he would perish of hunger and thirst. Buffalo Bill cut him loose, helped him to his feet, revived him with a drink, and asked: “How long have you been here?” “About five hours, I reckon, pard.” “Who did it?” “Utes.” “A large party?” “No.” “Any white girls in it?” “No.” “How many braves?” “Ten.” “That can’t be Bear Killer’s gang,” said Buffalo Bill, turning to Wild Bill. “There are Utes all over the country,” said the rescued man. “Several bands. They are spread all over, looking for the Snakes.”