“Straight up this gulch a quarter of a mile; then take the side gorge; ye can’t miss it.” “What sort of a place is it?” “A lot of log houses. Chief’s is the biggest, and the fust one ye come to.” “And where are the prisoners kept? That’s what I’m after--those prisoners.” “Ain’t but one here.” “Which one?” “Ther gal.” “Where is she held?” “In a room of Ricardo’s cabin.” “And the man--her father; he was the other prisoner, wasn’t he?” “He’s held in another cabin, out in ther hills.” Question after question the scout thus put to the trembling wretch, until he had pumped him dry of information. “Thank you,” said Buffalo Bill, at last. “I’m glad I fell in with you.” “Can’t say thet I recipercates,” the fellow grumbled. “No, perhaps not. Now, I’m going to leave you again, but I’ll call and see you later.” “Say, boss,” the man called, as Buffalo Bill was about to apply the gag again, “who aire ye, anyhow? You’re a good un; and you’re fair, fer an enemy. If I was on your side, I’d tie to ye.” “Likely you’ll know who I am later,” was the answer, as the scout stole away. Buffalo Bill now pushed on up the gulch, finding no further obstruction. Without mishap he made his way along the side gorge, until he came at length in sight of the cabins, several of which were lighted by fires that leaped and flamed in the wide-throated fireplaces, for the nights up there in the hills were cool and fires were needed. CHAPTER LII. BUFFALO BILL’S DARING. In front of the cabin which he knew to be Ricardo’s, and where the sentinel had said Rose Carter was held a prisoner, another sentinel paced slowly up and down, with military tread, bearing a rifle on his shoulder. He seemed to be more alert than the sentinel whom Buffalo Bill had captured. “Not a good outlook,” thought the scout, as he lay at one side of the gorge trail and made this discovery. “But I’ve attempted more difficult things.” So, undaunted, he crawled on. The gorge ended a hundred yards or so from the nearest cabin, leaving the way absolutely open before him. The camp of the outlaws had been well chosen. Apparently the only approach was through that narrow gorge, which a dozen men could have held easily against a regiment. The cabins occupied a bowllike area, that was level and of considerable extent. Behind the cabins some horses were grazing. All around tall mountain cliffs shut in the place.