“I’m off for town, amigos,” said he, “and I may be gone for two days. There are supplies to be bought, cowboys to be hired, and plenty of other business to be looked after. Dick thinks I’m the one to go. It was hard for Hattie to agree, but she always comes to time when she understands a thing is for the best.” As the scout got up and wrung his hand, Dunbar bent forward to whisper: “And there’s the wedding present for Hattie, you know. I didn’t have time to attend to that yesterday, when we were spliced on horseback, at twenty miles an hour! But now,” and he withdrew his hand to slap a jingling pocket, “I’ve both the time and the money, and Hattie’s going to have a ring with a hundred-dollar ‘spark’ in it. Oh, I’m sure one happy man, pards, and we all know we have Buffalo Bill and his friends to thank for it!” “It has been pleasure enough for me and my pards to get you out of your tangle here, Nate,” said the scout. “Which is no dream at all, Dunbar,” laughed Wild Bill. “When Pard Cody puts up a talk like that, he reflects the feelings of all his pards. May your shadow never grow less, amigo mio, and may you never say a word that clouds the bright face of the girl in yonder cabin. She’s the biggest prize that will ever come to you in this life.” “Truer words were never spoken!” declared Dunbar, flashing an affectionate glance at the cabin. “I’m hoping, Buffalo Bill, that you and your pards will stay here till I get back. I feel positive all our troubles are behind us, but my mind will be easier about the Star-A ranch if I know that you are here until I get back with an outfit of cowboys.” “Don’t worry, Nate,” said the scout reassuringly. “We’ll have to stay. The baron, old Nomad and Little Cayuse have gone to Dinkelmann’s ranch for a day or two, so Hickok and I will have to stay here till they come back.” “Gracias!” Deep feeling throbbed in Nate Dunbar’s voice as he added: “No man ever had better friends than Buffalo Bill and pards, and neither Hattie, nor Dick, nor I will ever forget what we owe you. I’d crawl the length of the Lone Star State to do any of you a good turn. Adios!” Nate Dunbar jumped for his saddle, his spurs rattled, and he vanished along the trail through the timber, laying a course for Hackamore. “That lad’s the clear quill, Pard Cody,” declared Hickok, gazing after Dunbar and wagging his head. “He’ll go far and do well, mark what I say. But he seems to think that he’s not through with the hostile cattle barons.” “I don’t think he has any cause to be worried,” said the scout. “Hank Phelps, if what I hear is true, has thrown up his hands and will have nothing more to do with the lawless element on the Brazos. Lige Benner is the only source of possible trouble; but, with public opinion setting in strong for the Perrys, I don’t believe Benner will dare let his animosity show itself. He----”