“Let’s see if they won’t come ashore without making any trouble,” said Rising, stepping to the edge of the quicksands. Making a trumpet of his hands, he yelled: “Hello, out there!” Three heads appeared above the boulders of the breastworks. “Hello, yerself!” called Bascomb. “I’m the sheriff,” explained Rising. “Will you fellows come ashore, or shall we come after you?” “Oh, we won’t make you any more trouble than necessary,” answered Bernritter. “We’ll come ashore.” “That’s sensible. When you get ready to take the bridge, hand your weapons to Giles and let him come ahead. Do that in plain sight of us, so we can be sure it’s done.” “We’ll have to bring our horses,” said Bernritter. “Certainly; but lead them--don’t get on their backs.” The three heads vanished from the top of the breastwork and, presently, Bascomb, Bernritter, and Giles appeared leading their horses and making for the causeway. Just before reaching the bridge Giles forged ahead, and Bascomb and Bernritter tendered him their revolvers. With the weapons under his arm, Giles came across the bridge. “Drop the guns,” said the scout, “get on your horse and scatter out of this.” “That’s me!” said the gratified Giles, and he was into his saddle like a flash, and spurring away toward the hills. While Bascomb and Bernritter were coming across, Buffalo Bill released Banks and Hendricks, emptied their six-shooters of cartridges, and dumped all the shells out of their cartridge-belts. “When you release a couple of wolves,” the scout remarked, “it’s a good plan to draw their fangs. Now, then, Banks and Hendricks, show us your heels; and remember this, both of you: If your trails ever again cross mine, you’ll have cause to regret it.” “They’ll not cross yours if I’ve got anythin’ ter say erbout it!” cried Banks. “Them’s my sentiments, too!” added Hendricks. With that the two villains loped away. The scout turned to Bascomb, on whose wrists Hawkins had just slipped a pair of bracelets. “Bascomb, otherwise Slocum,” said the scout, “you’re my prisoner. I have orders to take you to Fort Apache.” Bascomb whirled on the scout like a tiger. “Ye’re after me fer desertin’, hey?” he snarled. “That’s it.” “If I’d knowed that, I’d hev stayed on that island an’ fought ye off as long as I’d had a ca’tridge fer my guns.” “Then you would have done a very foolish thing, and probably have lost your life.” “I’d ruther a heap lose my life than go back ter Fort Apache!” “The man you shot there didn’t die,” said the scout, “so you needn’t worry about the gallows.” He turned to Rising. “Will you hold Bascomb for me, in Phœnix, till I want him?” he asked. “Sure,” replied the sheriff. Half an hour later, Rising, Hawkins, Bernritter, and Bascomb were traveling in the direction of Phœnix, while Buffalo Bill, Nomad, and Little Cayuse were going the other way, toward the Three-ply Mine. * * * * *