One hand was practically useless, but he made the best possible use of the other. Sybil Hayden watched the struggle first with anxiety, then with delight. The Indian, even at his best, would have been no match for the muscular, scientific king of scouts. Two minutes after the assault the Indian was lying on the stone floor, and the victor was banging the red man’s head against the stone. There were no cords about with which to tie up the chief, so Buffalo Bill coolly proceeded to cut strips from the skin suit of the Indian. A sufficient number, tied and knotted, served the scout’s purpose, and when he arose to his feet, Thunder Cloud was powerless to accomplish further harm. Buffalo Bill glanced at the open hole in the floor, and shook his head sadly. “I am afraid my comrade has been killed,” he whispered. “That villain fooled him and fooled me. I had no reason to suspect that he was in the cellar. I don’t understand why he came back.” “I do,” replied the girl, with a little shiver. The king of scouts nodded. “Yes,” he said, “he hated to give you up. He is more courageous than I had given him credit for.” As he spoke, the scout moved toward the hole. “You mustn’t go down there,” expostulated the girl. “It would mean death for you, for, of course, he is waiting, and his pistol is ready.” Without having appeared to hear the girl, Buffalo Bill stood near the edge of the trap and called down: “Pete, are you there?” There was no answer. “I’ll soon know how the land lies,” said the scout quietly. He replaced the door over the hole, and then held out a revolver. “Take this,” he said to the girl, “and stand by the trap. I am going out for a little while. When I return, I hope your father will be with me.” Sybil Hayden took the pistol and sat down by the trap. “You may rely on me,” she declared firmly. Buffalo Bill went out, and, reaching the rear door of the castle, threw back the bars and opened it. Stepping out, he looked along the back wall of the building. There were no Comanches there, nor anywhere in the inclosure. Surprised and ill pleased, the scout walked around to the front. No one there. The front gate of the wall was open, and Buffalo Bill went through the grove of trees and looked down the valley. No sign there of a human being. He thought he understood the situation. While he was talking with Thunder Cloud in the side room with the trap, Wild Bill and the Yelpers had stolen along the other side of the castle, and gone out into the valley, their objective point being the cliff home of the Comanches. How Wild Bill had learned of the departure of the Apaches the king of scouts could not guess, but he must have known that the Apaches had deserted the castle, otherwise he would have remained to besiege the building.