“Dat’s him, sah.” “I thought he went East.” “He did went dere, sah, but he come back.” “Where is he?” “Whar de debble c’u’dn’t fin’ him, sah, fer he do be los’.” “Lost! Where?” “In de Big Horn country, sah, whar I left him an’ t’others. Dere’s a heap ob ’em, Massa Buf’ler Bill, men, wimmens, an’ chil’en.” “When did they go there?” “Months ago, sah. Yer see, sah, I ust ter b’long ter Doctor Miner, a gent from de Souf, who hed los’ his fortin by de war; but I didn’t leab him, sah, an’ we was comin’ West ter hunt gold, when we come across a outfit of folks as was also gold huntin’, fer Massa John Hill hed met ’em an’ tole ’em he know’d whar ter git it. “So, sah, we all comed along an’ he guided us inter de Big Horn country, an’ we go down inter a valley an’ make home dere. “But dere was bad men in dat outfit, and four ob ’em one night tuk blastin’ powder we fotch along an’ blow up rocks ter stop de only path down a cañon we hed leadin’ inter or out ob dat valley. “It were beautiful when we got dere, but dere were no way ob gittin’ out, sah, fer it were all around wid mount’in cliffs, an’ mount’in sheep c’u’dn’t git out. “Yer see, all de gold we hed dug was done by day an’ left up in de cañon, de men goin’ home to de valley at night. “Dat’s why dem four bad men got dat powder an’ blow up dat cañon, an’ we c’u’dn’t git out.” “Yet, you did.” “I has been a sailorman, sah, an’ I don’t git dizzy, an’ I said as how I’d climb dem cliffs, an’ I did, by buildin’ ladders wid poles I cut, choppin’ down a tree here an’ dere, an’ arter weeks of work I got out, an’ den I fetch up my weepin an’ some grub, an’ Massa John Hill he told me ter go ter Fort Fettermore an’ fine you, an’ tell you he sent fer yer ter come an’ save dere lives; but ter tell no one else but you, an’ when you come wid your scouts, you was ter bring ropes in plenty, so as ter git ’em out of dat lonesome valley.” “And those four men?” “Dey overdid it, sah, fer dey didn’t git a horse, mule, or waggin out ob de valley fust, an’ dey hed ter hoof it wid dere gold, or de gold we all hed got, an’ carry it, an’ I guesses it were mighty slow work. “I guesses, sah, dey set off de blow-up business afore dey was ready, fer all de pervisions were in de valley, sabe what was kept in de cabin on de cliffs fer de men’s dinner.” “How long have you been on the trail, Bill?” “’Bout a month, sah, fer I hed to reckon as how ter go, an’ got los’, so my grub gin out, my ammunition, too, an’ I has hed a terribul time, sah, so I had.” “You look it; but you met white men on the way?” “One, sah an’ heerd others. Dey was gold hunters, sah.” “Not the four men who left the valley?” “No, sah, dat one I seen wasn’t.” “This is a strange story you tell me, Black Bill, but I believe you.” “Praise de Lor’, sah, fer now you kin sabe ’em all.” “I will try,” said Buffalo Bill firmly. CHAPTER XVII. TWO SHOTS.