“No, not that we knows of--ye see, there’s only Nellie, an’ Kittie, an’ me; dad an’ mom has gone to a weddin’ up to Jenkinses’ ranch, an’ we’s afeared that mebbe the Injuns got ’em.” “How did you happen to be in the dugout?” “Oh, I seen the Injuns comin’ jes’ before dark, an’ I rushed the girls in here, an’ got all the guns an’ things I could before the reds got near enough to shoot.” “Do you mean that a boy and two girls are all there are here?” “That’s all--me an’ Nellie an’ Kittie--I’m fourteen, Nellie is twelve, an’ Kittie is ten,” answered the boy proudly. “Well, you’re a plucky lad, and you made a good stand-off, but you needn’t worry any more to-night. Which way did your parents go?” “Nor’east.” “Which way did the Indians come?” “Nor’west.” “That is all right; I guess they didn’t get your father and mother, my boy, and as soon as daylight we’ll see if we can look them up.” The scout and his pards spent the rest of the night near the dugout, determined, if need be, to defend the three little children with their last drop of blood. But their services were not needed, for the Indians had slunk away to find their ponies, and if they succeeded in securing their mounts before light they gave the place where they had met such mysterious disaster a wide berth. In the morning a bright, manly lad and his two handsome but shy little sisters came forth from the dugout. “Too bad to bring up such children here!” exclaimed Hickok to the scout, but the boy overheard. “It was dad’s cough,” said he apologetically. “Uncle John gave us the ranch, an’ dad an’ mom thought we could live here a few years till he gets stronger, an’ then go East, where the girls an’ me c’n go to school. “But I guess dad an’ mom’ll be ’bout discouraged now, with no house to live in an’ some of our cows an’ sheep killed,” he went on chokingly. The great-hearted Buffalo Bill cleared his throat before he spoke, and then he said: “Well, my boy, you must cheer up your dad and mom. They have what is worth far more than home and live stock--three noble children. If your father is ill you must come to the front. You have shown that it is in you--I mean pluck and resourcefulness. Don’t ever forget to be honest and always guard your father and mother and sisters--not only their lives, but their happiness. Sometimes kind words are life savers. Don’t forget to always have words and looks of cheer for your father and mother, and to jealously watch over the purity of the names of your sisters.” The lad’s eyes shone with the light of a new determination. “Say, mister,” he began, “I was such a sissy last night that I cried when the girls did, because we thought how bad dad an’ mom’d feel ’thout any home, but I ain’t goin’ to cry no more as long’s we’re all alive--an’ if dad c’n get better we’ll be all right.”