With his aid, and he was a splendid soldier, strong as a giant, and an all-round good man, the twenty-four colored scouts were selected, the entire squad of Sergeant Buck’s original escort being taken along, save the wounded, for all wished to go with “Massa Buf’ler Bill.” The scout took along extra rifles for all, carried on the pack animals, every horse was picked for speed and endurance, a large supply of provisions was taken, with every rope and lariat in the command, and a big supply of ammunition and cannon powder. Within two hours, as Buffalo Bill had said, the band of black scouts mounted and rode away from the command, all wondering what the reason might be for the strange expedition. Buffalo Bill rode at the head, the sergeant following with fourteen men, and then came the corporal with his ten men as a guard to the pack animals and a reserve force. Buffalo Bill felt proud of his black scouts, and determined to push rapidly on to the lone camp of Black Bill, where a halt for a couple of days’ rest was to be made, and to enable the wounded and half-starved negro to recuperate. Buffalo Bill also intended to take this time to mount his own pack animal, which would be fresh, and try and strike the trail of Ginger Sam, who would not be expecting him back from the fort for some days. He had by no means given up hope of capturing that gallows bird. So Buffalo Bill pushed rapidly on with his scouts, and halted only when it was near sunset, for dinner and supper combined, and the men turned in for sleep until after midnight. Then a start was made, and early that afternoon the camp of Black Bill was reached. To the sergeant and corporal the scout had told of his coming upon the starving and wounded negro; but to the men the surprise was very great, upon coming across the lone camp. Black Bill greeted the chief of scouts with a shout, saying that he was getting well fast, and he knew he would be ready for the trail at once, if need be. “No, take a couple of days more, for I do not wish you to move until really able to do so.” The chief of scouts did not remain long in camp, but started, mounted on his pack animal, to go to the place where he had left Ginger Sam and try to pick up his trail. He was confident that the man had a cabin somewhere near there, as he had known the cliff trail so well, and by leaping from it into the stream he could make a landing and escape. The scout felt sure that Ginger Sam was in that country looking for gold, and doubtless allied with the Indians, while again he might have another comrade with him. He was determined to know and capture the outlaw if he could, to kill him if he had to do so. He reached the place where the man had landed from the stream, and, to one of his great scouting skill, he readily trailed the tracks of the large and heavy boots, soaked as they had been with water.