Away dashed the major; and, with a strange smile upon his face, Howard Lawrence rode on, muttering to himself: “He sees I do not like Buffalo Bill any too well. Well, my gallant major, when you have removed the scout from your path, I’ll devote my attention to you and that handsome captain, for all that cross my love trail must die. An arrow or rifle shot from the cover of a motte will easily make those two officers food for wolves. “Now, I must go on and improve my time with the lovely Sibyl, who is the cause of so much mischief.” Putting spurs to his horse, he dashed away, to find upon his arrival at the stockade that the coast was not wholly clear, for Percy la Clyde was sitting by the side of Sibyl Conrad. With a smothered curse, Howard Lawrence turned away, and the next moment met Ruth Whitfield with one of his sweetest smiles. “Well, Mr. Lawrence, one of your rivals has just gone,” said Ruth, with a malicious smile. “True, and left another even more dangerous; but it is Buffalo Bill that I fear most. He has such a way of upsetting plots and schemes. If he were dead, I should feel happier and safer.” “You wouldn’t harm him, would you?” she asked, noting the deadly flash of his eyes. “Leave that to me; he shall be captured and taken to a distant tribe of Indians, whom I know well, and held there where he can’t interfere with any of my plans.” He spoke as if such a matter would be easy of accomplishment. “She will not marry you, if she hears of the trick!” It will be seen that Ruth Whitfield had in some strange manner fallen under this man’s deadly influence, which was something like that of a hypnotist. “Well, I am playing a deep game,” he answered, “but I will win. I can lie to Sibyl, and say that an Indian killed the scout.” And then he turned away, muttering to himself. “Yes, I’ll have to play some desperate game. And all will come right; it must come right, or I am ruined, and Many Faces, as the Indians call me, will have to pass in his checks, or get out of the country.” CHAPTER LI. CAPTURING THE SENTINEL. As has been stated, Buffalo Bill picked up the trail of the Branded Brotherhood, and followed hard after the human bloodhounds, who had carried Rose Carter and her father into captivity. The scout was mounted on his splendid horse Midnight, an animal so well trained and obedient that it seemed to have almost human intelligence. Buffalo Bill was sure that the infamous desperado, Ricardo, was the leader of the men who had committed the outrage. Though he pressed on rapidly, night was at hand when he approached the hills, wherein he was sure the Branded Brotherhood had their secret hiding place. Fearing discovery if he rode into the hills before nightfall, he took shelter in a great wash in the prairie, into which he and his horse descended with some difficulty, and there he remained until darkness fell.