“I hope so, for if he should escape me now I would almost give up hope; but he cannot, for fate will yet bring him face to face with me, whom he has so bitterly wronged.” She had spoken the last words more to herself than to the scout, and he remained silent, not wishing to pry into her sorrows of the past until she suddenly asked: “Did you ever hate any one?” “Oh, yes, and I’m a good hater when I try.” “So am I; I hate as I love, with all my heart and soul, and I now hate where I loved, for once, in the long ago, Kenton Kingsland was the very idol of my heart; but now, Mr. Cody, I hate him more than I ever loved him, and I have sworn to track him to death. “It was to find him that I came to Border City. I heard he had left but a few days before for Colorado, and I determined to await his return; now, at last, it seems as if I could keep my oath, for you will not stay my hand in my revenge, which is so sweet to me! You will not, Mr. Cody, will you?” “You would not kill him, would you, Panther Kate?” “As I would a snake in my path,” she answered fiercely. Before she could say more, Ben Tabor and his comrades came out of the tavern and joined them. “Now to the cabin of Daly; and this man says he will guide us,” Tabor announced. “Yas, I knows ev’ry crook an’ hole near Border City, don’t I, Buffalo Bill?” said the man. “You do, indeed, Old Negotiate.” “I also know that Dandy Daly, the card sharp.” “A precious rascal, too; where is your horse, Negoshy?” “Chewin’ grub in ther stable; I’ll go footback.” “No, jump up behind me, for my horse will carry double.” “She’ll carry a awful load o’ sin with me on her back,” answered Negotiate, and with a nimble spring he mounted behind the scout, and the Texans having returned with their horses, the party set off at a gallop, Old Negotiate remarking: “Is yer huntin’ in company with gals now?” and he cast a sly glance at Kate Kearney. “Yes, Negoshy,” Buffalo Bill answered. “You are not opposed to pleasant company, are you?” “Nary; I likes her, an’ she gits a pinch o’ my dust ev’ry night at ther theater. Soon as she hes slinged her pretty feet, an’ sung a song, I skips, fer durn ther balance o’ ther crowd, they is so doleful; she’s jist ther gal I’d like ter splice with fer life.” “Why don’t you ask her to marry you, old man?” “Ask her to marry me? I’d fight the Sioux nation fust; but thar’s ther cabing o’ Dandy Daly, the card sharp.” Negotiate pointed to a log cabin standing alone, and about a hundred yards back from the road. After a short conversation it was agreed to approach the house on foot; and that Old Negotiate should knock and tell the stranger that Dandy Daly wanted to have him come back to the hall. It was planned that when he stepped out of the door they were to seize him, but under no circumstances to take his life. “He must not be hurt, for I have to deliver him to Captain Dash, who will take him to Texas to be hanged,” said Tabor.