“He came back to see Thunder Cloud. Something had occurred on the march to the stronghold of the Yelping Crew. An important discovery had been made, or there was a slip of some kind. Maybe he became suspicious of Black Wing, and came back to urge Thunder Cloud to come to the cliff and boss operations.” This speech was directed to Alkali Pete, who at once replied: “Let’s get ther kunnel an’ light out fer ther cliff. Ef thar’s goin’ ter be a mix-up, an’ it shore looks thataway, I’m hankerin’ ter take a part.” Buffalo Bill was seized with a cold fear. He had, for the moment, forgotten about the colonel. “I haven’t yet told you,” he said gravely, “that the colonel went with the Apaches and Black Wing.” “What fur?” Surprise and dismay were in the tone. The king of scouts repeated the appalling statement made by Thunder Cloud. Alkali Pete groaned. “I shore sees ther p’int, Buffler. Ther ’Pache this yer Black Face downed moseyed back ter tell Thunder Cloud that ther order ter hang ther kunnel to ther cottonwood hed been carried out.” “I won’t believe it,” returned Buffalo Bill, hoping against hope. “Some other reason brought him back. I’m going down to the cottonwood immediately. But first I’ll get speech with the girl.” Black-face Ned had brought his rifle to the tunnel, and the king of scouts thumped on the trapdoor with the muzzle of the weapon. “Ye won’t get ther girl ter open ther trap, Buffler,” said Alkali Pete. “She’ll think ye aire Black-face Ned, fer sure.” As the door did not open, the king of scouts yelled at the top of his voice: “Open. It is Cody who speaks.” If the sound penetrated to the room above, no indication of the fact was given. “I’ll have to go around and into the front door of the castle, Pete. It’s a waste of time, but it can’t be helped.” “Goin’ ter leave Black-face Ned hyer?” asked the lanky plainsman. “No, we’ll take him along with us.” The bound outlaw was conveyed to the outer air, and there set on his feet and conducted to the front of the castle. Leaving the prisoner with Alkali Pete, Buffalo Bill entered the building. As he stepped into the hall he saw that the door of the room with the trap was open. The circumstances induced a feeling of uneasiness, for the scout had closed the door when he went out of it less than half an hour before. At the threshold he stopped in amazement. Sybil Hayden had gone, and Thunder Cloud lay as if dead upon the stone floor. The king of scouts walked to the body, and his amazement was intensified. The Apache chief was dead, and there was a bullet hole above the right temple. His hands, freed from the leathers that Buffalo Bill had used to secure them, were stretched out and clenched. No time was wasted in the room. Hastening back to Alkali Pete, the king of scouts announced his astonishing discovery. “Ther Injun got shet of the leathers, and was aimin’ ter do up ther gal when she plugged him. O’ course that’s the way it happened, Buffler.”