The conversation, carried on in the Indian tongue, was overheard by the listener. The translation follows: “Why is the chief back?” asked Wason. “Because Black Wing is a deceiver.” “How’s that?” “He promised to get the Comanches out of the holes so that a treaty of peace could be made, and instead he has put on the war paint and defies the Apaches.” “Did you try to rout the Yelpers from their holes?” Thunder Cloud hung his head. “We fired at the cliff,” he said shamefacedly, “and the Comanches fired back and killed four of my braves. Then we retreated to seek the wise counsel of Thunder Cloud’s friend and ally, Black-face Ned.” “You’ll find him in the cellar. He is flat on his back.” The Apache chief gazed at the speaker in startled inquiry. “Has he met with an accident?” he asked. “Yes. An enemy, the most dangerous man in the West, nearly killed him.” “The great white warrior, Pa-e-has-ka?” Bat Wason nodded. Thunder Cloud shivered. “Where is he now, this dreaded foe of the Apaches?” “In the castle. If you like, you may go in and lay him out.” The Indian looked puzzled. The little outlaw grinned, and then explained the situation. “I was in the cellar and got Ned out of a hole. Buffalo Bill had gone from the room where I found Ned, but I didn’t care about hunting him up. He is inside, though, and has the run of the castle above stairs, and thinks the game is in his own hands. Fool! The provisions are downstairs, and if we can’t kill him any other way, we will starve him to death.” Buffalo Bill heard, and smiled. There was enough in his wallet to last him three days, and much might be done in that time. The Apaches and Wason disappeared around the side of the building, and the scout left the front and hastened to the kitchen. Here were utensils for cooking, but there was nothing eatable in the room. But there was a bucket of water, the diminutive outlaw in his haste having forgotten to take it away. There was a spring in the inclosure, and Buffalo Bill, finding neither sink nor pump, concluded that the water came from the spring, and that the spring was the sole source of supply for the building. He could see the spring from the kitchen window, and was gratified to find that it was far enough away to permit a line shot from the window. Here he resolved to take his stand. He would keep an eye on that spring until there should be serious menace from another part of the castle. Half an hour passed and no one had come into the inclosure. Apaches were camped in the grove in front of the castle, and presumably the two outlaws and their prisoners were in the cellar. Buffalo Bill was looking beyond the spring, when he saw the head of Alkali Pete show itself at the top of the wall. A moment later appeared the shoulders, and soon the lanky plainsman was astride of the wall.