The thirty-eight spoke, and the report was followed by a ring of lead against steel. Dell’s shot had struck the barrel of Hendricks’ revolver close to the cylinder, knocking the weapon out of the man’s hand. A startled yell broke from Hendricks, followed quickly by the cool voice of the girl: “Disarm your man, Buffalo Bill; I’ve disarmed Hendricks, and he’s not able to interfere.” “Come closer, Banks,” said the scout. “You don’t want to force me to take your miserable life, do you? This trigger works on a hair.” Banks stepped up to within arm’s length of the scout. With his left hand the scout disarmed Banks, then whirled on Hendricks. Dell Dauntless had descended the hill-slope and was standing within a dozen feet of Hendricks, her revolver leveled, and a look of determination in her blue eyes. “It’s all over but payin’ the bets, ain’t it?” grinned Hendricks sourly. “When a man dances he has to pay the fiddler,” said Buffalo Bill. “You and Banks will pay with a few years in the ‘pen.’ Take his guns, Dell,” he added to the girl. Dell stepped forward and picked the revolver out of Hendricks’ belt, and took its mate off the ground. “That was a blame’ purty shot,” remarked Hendricks, referring to the one that had knocked the revolver out of his hand, “’specially when ye think as how it was a woman done it.” “I could have taken your finger along with the revolver, if I had wanted to,” said Dell. “’Bliged ter ye fer not doin’ it. I needs the finger.” Hendricks’ horse stood a few yards around the base of the rock. “Take both mounts, Dell,” said the scout, “and bring them along after Banks and Hendricks. Fall in, you fellows,” he added to the prisoners, “shoulder to shoulder, ahead of me.” With Buffalo Bill’s guns staring them in the face, the ruffians could do nothing less than obey; thereupon the scout marched them over the top of the hill and down on the other side to the place where Cayuse was waiting with Bear Paw and Silver Heels. The boy’s eyes gleamed like those of an angry panther as he looked at Banks. “Was that the man who had you pulled up at the face of the cliff, Cayuse?” asked the scout, indicating Banks. “Wuh!” snarled Cayuse, his hand groping for his knife. “Leave him alone, boy,” said the scout, in a tone of sharp command. “The law is going to take care of him.” “Hendricks, there,” said Dell, “is the man who met Annie McGowan at the railroad-station in Phœnix.” “They were both concerned in the abduction,” returned Buffalo Bill, “and they can both be sent over the road.” “What ye givin’ us?” scowled Banks. “We ain’t done nothin’ we can be sent up fer.” “We have the proof, Banks, and you and Hendricks will go to Yuma just as surely as the sun rises and sets.” The scout turned to the Piute. “Go up the hill, Cayuse, and keep watch for Apaches.” Hendricks watched Cayuse moodily as he climbed the slope. “What ye goin’ ter do with us, Buffalo Bill?” he asked.