Straight to headquarters he rode, dismounted, turned his horse loose to go to the stable, and was met by Colonel Carr on the piazza, so glad was that officer to welcome the great scout back again. “Come in, Cody, and I feel as though I was welcoming you back almost from the grave.” “Not so bad as that, colonel, though I have been on a long trail, and a strange one, sir.” “I do not doubt it--you show it in your face, and I was sorry that I allowed you to go on the search.” “And I am glad that I went, sir, for I found the secret valley, and I discovered enough to know that the inhabitants need looking after. But I have a new plan to submit to you, sir. I’ve found a mystery that must be uncovered.” “Well, tell me about your trip.” “I went on the trail, after leaving Fort Aspen, which a Mexican who died there told me to take, and it led me into a country seldom traveled, down in the land of an old deserted fort, Rosal. “I struck the Rosal range and found there a large lake in a most beautiful valley, situated by itself, for all approaches to it are desert lands, beyond which no one would suspect to find a garden spot of beauty.” “Yes, I have heard only indirectly of such a country there, but not that it was settled.” “Well, it is settled, as you shall hear: “The valley is beautiful, fertile, the surroundings well timbered, grass abundant, and there is a large, deep lake of clear and icy water. “I was surprised, I can tell you, sir, when I saw it, and yet my suspicions were only beginning with the first view from the range summit. “But first, sir, two days ago I ran upon an adventure and a strange one. “As I began to enter the unknown and beautiful lake land, I came unexpectedly upon what had been once the home, doubtless, of some old Spanish or Mexican don; but it was in ruins, almost, and seemed to have been long deserted. “Halting to gaze at it, I was startled to hear voices, the first I had heard for days, and in English. “There was a shot, a cry in a woman’s voice, oaths in Mexican, and I knew that some one was in trouble, so I rode to the rescue. “It didn’t last long, for I saw a man in Mexican uniform lying on the ground, a young girl near him, their horses close by, and they had been held up by several outlaws. “One I dropped, the others skipped, and I found I had rescued a Mexican officer and the young girl, who, while on a ride had been attacked by road agents, who had not expected help near. “A glancing shot on the head had stunned the officer, knocking him from his saddle. “As the men dashed off and escaped me, for I didn’t press them close, I admit, there being more than I wanted, one called out: ‘I’ll remember you for this, Buffalo Bill.’” “This showed that he knew you.” “Yes, sir.” “But go on with your strange story.”