“In er million, more like,” said Nomad, pawing over a lot of Indian blankets to get the best one for the buckskin. “I got ter ride without er saddle,” he went on, “till I git whar I kin buy one. Some one o’ Geronimo’s bucks prob’ly has my own ridin’-gear by now. ’Course ther reds thet ambushed us stripped ther hoss.” “You can wager they did, Nomad,” returned Dell. “It takes an Apache to tell a good saddle and bridle when he sees them.” “An’ et don’t take him long ter seize ’em, nuther, onless ye happen ter be lookin’.” When Bear Paw, Silver Heels, and the buckskin were in readiness, and while the troopers were collecting the Indian cayuses and stringing them together, the scout and the lieutenant stood by the pool. It had filled to the brim, since the Apaches had paid their visit. “Geronimo must have had a powerful lot of dope put in there, Cody,” said Doyle. “You and your party emptied the pool, didn’t you?” “Yes, nearly.” “It filled up again in time for the Apaches, and after they left it has filled up and been running over. Probably there’s enough of the drug in there now to put us out of balance if we took a drink. If I didn’t have all these cayuses to look after, I’d be tempted to take a swig.” “You’d be a mighty foolish man if you did,” admonished the scout. “Better leave such things as this alone.” “I guess that’s right,” agreed Doyle, returning to his horse and mounting. As he rode off, Buffalo Bill saw him cast a half-regretful look over his shoulder at the pool. Late that afternoon, the scout and his pards, and the detachment, rode into Bonita with the horses of the Apaches, and all hands were able to take their fill of comfort and congratulate themselves on their success in the work they had set out to accomplish. * * * * * But little more remains to be told, so far as the wind-up of the scout’s work, in connection with the deserter, Bascomb, is concerned. The man was dead, and was no more to be reckoned with. As the scout had already informed Dell, he did not intend to take the field against Geronimo, as there were plenty to do that. Buffalo Bill’s duty called him and Nomad and Little Cayuse to other parts, and they could not long delay answering the call. The military telegraph between Bonita, Bowie, and Grant had been repaired by the time the scout and his pards regained Bonita, and the first message sent through by Colonel Grayson asked after Dell. Dell herself answered the message. Patterson, in a hospital at Bowie, sent his report of the trip from Grant to Bonita, and it followed closely on the heels of Dell’s message to the colonel. After hearing of the girl’s daring and bravery, the colonel sent another telegram to Dell, forgiving her for the way she broke out of Fort Grant, and asking her to come back and finish her visit.