“There is nothing to settle,” said Bear Killer gravely. “I have had a big fight and have killed many men. I have lost a great many braves, too. My brother is among them. I do not want to lose any more. The palefaces can go their way in peace, and I will go mine in the same way if they will let me.” “We have no war with you,” said Captain Meinhold. “Only when the red man raises the hatchet to strike at us do we strike back.” “It is well. Bear Killer will go bury his dead, and then he will go back over the mountains to the Wasatch, for there will be great mourning in all his villages. But we have many scalps to carry back.” The chief rode away, and then Captain Meinhold joined Buffalo Bill again. The latter had just returned from an unavailing search for the trail of Mainwaring and the others, but Wild Bill and the other scouts were still looking for it. “I’m afraid Mainwaring has met with bad luck, or we should have heard from him before now,” said the border king. “Brave and rash, he has hurried on, and perhaps been shot down by those villains who have now got the girls in their power. I dreaded to keep on looking, for I feared that I would come across his body.” A shout from Wild Bill, who came hurrying back, told them he had news of some sort for them. “I’ve found where they took their horses,” he said. “It was a pretty strong party, for some of them remained behind while the rest went forward and attacked the four Indians.” “Have you seen any sign of Mainwaring?” asked Buffalo Bill eagerly. “Yes; he and Norfolk Ben have been taken and carried along. Their tracks are plain where the horses were kept.” “It is strange that they were not killed on the spot. But we must take the trail at once--that is if Captain Meinhold will do it.” “Of course,” answered the brave officer. “I came to help you out of a scrape, if you were in one, and I and my men will see this business through.” “Thank you, captain. Some day I hope to repay you. The safety of Mainwaring means more to me than I can say.” “I never knew Buffalo Bill forget to pay a debt, either to a friend or an enemy,” said Wild Bill. “But we are losing time. Suppose I take the scouts and get along on the trail? I don’t believe there are more of those rascals than we can handle if we should chance to come up with them.” “I’ll join you with the rest of our fellows, and then the captain and the troopers can come along at their leisure,” said Buffalo Bill. “We had better all try to keep together,” suggested the captain. “They cannot have much start, and we surely can overtake them.” “We’ll do it!” said Buffalo Bill, with grim determination; “or there’s one of us here who’ll break his neck trying! If young Mainwaring has been lost or killed I won’t be able to forgive myself easily for letting him go off in that way, with only Norfolk Ben to accompany him. I made a serious error in judgment in not crediting what he said about seeing the girls.”