It may be interesting to note here, while we are awaiting the recovery of Wild Bill, that the trial of Red Dick had ended in acquittal and the cattlemen were consequently jubilant and proposed to celebrate in honor of the event. The sheepmen and their friends withdrew, but many threats were made, and everybody realized that the end was far away and might yet embrace many tragedies. Red Dick proposed to celebrate in his own way. He made a great amount of loud talk about hunting down and filling Fighting Dan with cold lead. “I’ll fix him so he can’t swim,” raved the would-be terror of the town. Fighting Dan was said to be hanging out near Three Fork, and his friends hastened to send him word that Red Dick was on his trail. Red Dick first proceeded to organize a gang of his satellites to accompany him to Three Fork--“to see him ‘do up’ Fighting Dan.” A dozen men on horseback galloped away on their avowed mission of murder, Red Dick dashing ahead and proclaiming in fearful language the things he would do to Fighting Dan. Some of those who knew Red Dick best declared that he was blowing his horn much louder now than when he considered himself within hearing distance of Dan Grey. Buffalo Bill, standing on the heights and looking northward, saw a party of horsemen galloping away from Bozeman to the northwest. The scout’s interest was aroused at once. He wondered where this strong party of riders were going and what could be their mission. He could see an occasional white puff of smoke and knew that the men were firing. The scout’s first thought was that it was a party sent out by Price to run down his own--Buffalo Bill’s--party. If that was the case they were on the wrong trail at the start. Watching the party well out of sight, the scout returned to the camp ground and ordered Cayuse to saddle Bear Paw and Navi and prepare the bags for a long ride. He told Nomad and Skibo to keep constant watch over Hickok and the prisoner until his return; then briefly outlined what he had seen and his decision to look into the matter. In half an hour the scout and Little Cayuse were galloping northward at a brisk pace, keeping well to the westward of town, so as not to attract attention. They forded the Gallatin, then rode along the valley, keeping the river in view. The scout hoped by hard riding to get within view of the horsemen before dark. The sun was barely two hours high, and from a slight elevation where they had pulled in to allow the horses to breathe the scout was scanning the plain through a field glass. “Ah!” he exclaimed at last. “I was searching too far for them. Cayuse, I think we are in for some fun. Our men are trying to cross the river, and the ford is high and running wild. I guess they must have had a cloudburst to the northward yesterday or last night. Those fellows are attempting to reach our side of the river, but I don’t think they have seen us.” “Ugh! Mebbe so we got near in cottonwood, watch um.”