“Take you to Phœnix and turn you over to the sheriff,” said the scout promptly. “Cover Banks, Dell,” he added, “while I get Hendricks in shape to travel.” Dell was loaded down with the four revolvers taken from Banks and Hendricks. Kneeling in the sand, she laid the extra weapons beside her, and drew a bead on Banks. “If Banks makes a move to bolt,” instructed the scout, “shoot him. Get on your horse, Hendricks,” he went on, to the other man. “Look here,” demurred Hendricks, “can’t we fix this thing up somehow?” “The only way you can fix it up,” snapped the scout, “is by taking your medicine. Get on your horse, I said!” Muttering to himself, Hendricks got astride his mount. Taking the prisoner’s riata off the horn, the scout bound his wrists at the back and his feet under the saddle-girths. There were several feet of rope left, and this the scout ran up to the pommel, where he made a half hitch, then on along the horse’s neck and through one of the bit-rings. From the bit-ring he led the rope to his own saddle and made it secure at the horn. In this manner Hendricks was firmly bound to his horse, and his horse was firmly secured to Bear Paw. Banks was treated in identically the same manner. Now, as a matter of fact, the scout had no intention of taking the two prisoners to Phœnix. What he wanted from them was information, and he was willing to give them their liberty if they would tell him what he wanted to know. Hendricks and Banks were the kind of men, however, who understand nothing but the “iron hand.” The scout wanted overtures to come from them. “Get into your saddle, Dell,” said the scout, when both horses ridden by the prisoners had been made fast to Bear Paw. “If we start now, we ought to be able to reach Phœnix some time before midnight. The quicker we get these scoundrels behind the bars, the better.” So well was the scout playing up his “bluff” that even Dell was deceived. “Hadn’t we better wait, Buffalo Bill,” she returned, “until after----” “We’ll wait for nothing,” he cut in, at the same time telegraphing her a message with his eyes. “We have a dead open-and-shut on these two men. Hendricks met Annie McGowan at Phœnix, and Banks and Hendricks were both mixed up in the theft of the team and buckboard.” The girl started toward Silver Heels and the scout placed one foot in his stirrup. “Jest a minit, you Buffalo Bill,” said Hendricks. “Don’t go off half cocked till ye hear what Banks an’ me hev got ter say.” “You haven’t a thing to say that interests me,” Buffalo Bill answered. “Get up here, Cayuse,” he called. “Sit on the horse with your back to mine, so you can watch the prisoners as we ride. Give him one of those revolvers, Dell. He can shoot with his left hand, if the prisoners make it necessary.” While these orders were being carried out, the prisoners, who were stirrup to stirrup with each other, were exchanging low-spoken words.