The whites were now almost at the north end of another ridge that ran away toward the southwest, and would soon pass from view. The Indians suspected that they had been tricked by the seemingly unconcerned white riders. They would not be fooled so again, and, as soon as the fugitives had passed out of sight, turned their ponies and urged them with all speed toward the divide and up its long, wind-breaking rise. At last they had reached the top, but instead of discovering their prey just down the other side, swinging into the south again, they were nowhere in view. The Indians were puzzled, but urged their tired ponies along the high land toward the point where the scout and his pards had last been seen. At the end of the bluff the party was still undiscoverable; but there was their plain trail leading away into the southeast, and back from behind another ridge, a mile away, came the clear notes of a bugle. The red men had been hoodwinked by an old trick of their own. CHAPTER XXXVIII. WILD BILL’S WILD RIDE. Wild Bill made the acquaintance of all the officers and mingled freely with the men at the fort. From the latter he soon got several hints regarding the officers, without seeming to have any desire to do so. One officer, he discovered at the start, was unpopular with the men of the ranks, and it soon became evident that this man was disliked by his brother officers. Wild Bill immediately made it his business to cultivate the acquaintance of this man. For reasons which will be obvious later in this tale, the true name of this officer will not be given. We will call him Captain Smith for convenience, simply because that was not his name. Captain Smith well knew that he was generally disliked, and when the distinguished and daring plainsman appeared to favor his society, the captain hastened to meet his new-found friend halfway. In card games that day Hickok found opportunity to size up all the officers, and skillfully led to some reference to the missing Lieutenant Avery. In the conversation that followed he remarked: “I wonder if this Avery isn’t the same man I saw up Callatin way a few moons ago.” “The same,” answered another; “that is where he found his wife.” “Oh, yes; by the way, he must be the one who had a falling out with the Indian agent up there.” “Yes. Did you meet Price?” asked Smith. Wild Bill affected not to exactly remember the name. “Let’s see,” he said, “was this Price the Indian agent?” “The same.” “Yes, I met him several times at the hotel--pleasant fellow, evidently.” “You bet he is; Price is all right,” avowed Captain Smith enthusiastically. The others made no comment. Wild Bill shuffled the cards and dealt new hands. “I may have this Avery mixed with some other man,” he said. “Was he of medium height and fairly stout?” “No; as tall as you are and about your build,” said Cook.