Writing with a pencil upon several pages of his notebook, Buffalo Bill put them in his handkerchief, wrapped it around a large stone, and tossed it down into the valley. There was a wild rush for it at once. “I told them that we were here, planning to get them out of their valley. “That I had noticed that the winding trail along the face of the cliff had been blocked up where the rocks had fallen below, and also that it would readily be reached by lariats from here, and we would find a way to rescue them.” “You’ll do it, Massa Bill, and I kin see now, sah, dat a few lariats tied together will reach de old trail yonder.” “We can blast the rocks out that fell and choked up the trail, and we can bring that whole outfit out of that valley, though it may take us a week, perhaps longer, to do so. “I will write them what to do.” Another note was written and thrown down as before. Captain John Hill himself picked it up, and his voice reached those on the cliff: “God bless you, Buffalo Bill.” “If you will spare us some powder, we can blast this end clear.” “There is another pass farther along, which you can blast out down to the trail.” “Good!” “We will begin work to-morrow, for all my men will be here then,” was shouted back in the clear tones of Buffalo Bill, and a great cheer told him he had been heard, and hope filled every heart. Within one week the scouts slept in the valley, and the next morning all hands went to work repairing wagons, harness, and shoeing the horses and mules, while preparations were made by the women for leaving the place, which had so long been to them a living tomb. Just two weeks after the arrival of the scouts, the march was begun. One wagon at a time was taken up the ledge trail; the women and children followed, then the extra horses, and next the cattle, sheep, and all that could be carried along. CHAPTER XXX. OUT OF DEVIL’S DEN. The march from the Devil’s Den, as Buffalo Bill called the sunken valley, was a long one and slow, with wagons, stock and all on the move, for chasms had to be bridged. Ten miles a day was a fair rate of travel at first. Buffalo Bill led the way by the spot where Don Miller’s gold had been buried, and this was recovered. In fairly good time Fort Aspen was reached. When nearing the fort, Buffalo Bill appointed Don Miller as guide to the wagon train, and, with his black scouts, he started on a secret expedition. The chief of scouts had a certain object in view, and he wished each one of his men to share the honor with him, if the expedition proved to be the success he hoped it would. Of course, Black Bill also went along, for he had become the very shadow of Buffalo Bill, and was the hero of the whole band of black scouts. The object of Buffalo Bill was to capture Ginger Sam, whom he felt sure he would find at his cabin in winter quarters.