As the Indians fled in dismay little spurts of flame appeared in the grass as they darted by, and “bang! bang! bang! poppity bang!” rang shot after shot. And then above the other tumult arose the voice of old Nomad: “Thar! ye tarnation helgomonian heifercats! take thet atween yer teeth an’ take ther kinks out ov et! What yer kihootin’ round hyar for, anyways, disturbin’ honest critters, an’ keepin’ ther babies erwak?” The scout laughed. It was apparent that front some commanding position in the mountains old Nomad and Cayuse had seen the danger of the settler and his family, and had hastened thither. CHAPTER XXIX. THE SCOUT VISITS SITTING BULL. The Indian band--what was left of it--was gone, not to return. The braves had good cause to believe that the settler had a small army of men hidden behind every hillock and every clump of sage brush. The settler came out to thank the scout and his pards and to express his wonder at their presence. It seemed to him almost as if they had dropped from the sky to his assistance. He said it was the largest band of Indians he had ever seen in the valley and he had lived there six years, and had twice before been attacked by red marauders. That he was watchful and prepared for them, the scout had seen, but he cautioned the settler to be doubly careful in future, for the Sioux were on the warpath and were centring in the Big Horn country. This valley was out of the natural course, but some tribes might send delegations this way. The settler had made a trip to Fort Phil Kearney the previous year and was well supplied with the latest in arms and ammunition. He was prospering, he said; his herd was increasing, and he easily provided vegetables for his family by cultivating along the bank of the creek. Buffalo and antelope were plentiful and fish and fowl an everyday dish. He would not be driven out; he had come here to live and rear his family, and only death would drive him out. He and his wife and children loved the wild, free life. Of such were the builders of the West--hardy and brave, and determined. They blocked out the frame of the vast and rich country that can feed nations. Buffalo Bill made himself known and introduced his pards and the boy. He also told the settler of the miners in the mountains to the east--his neighbors. An invitation was sent to them to call at the settler’s cabin and partake of an old-fashioned Eastern dinner. The scout assured the settler and his wife that he would gladly bear the message and could promise an early visit from the miners, who appeared like honest and respectable men. Letters were hastily prepared to send to friends in the East, and then the pards were persuaded to remain at the cabin till daylight, when they could make much easier progress across the mountains. At the first streak of day a bounteous repast was spread by the settler’s wife, and all did honor to it.