“Bascomb and Bernritter hev been able ter reach the island,” averred Hendricks, “an’ I was there myself, jest before I started fer Squaw Rock to meet Banks. Consarn the luck! If I’d ’a’ stayed on the island, I wouldn’t be here now.” “Do you know the way to Quicksand Lake, Dell?” asked the scout. “Yes.” “How far is it from here?” “Three miles, if we cut across the plain around Squaw Rock.” “We’ll go there, and see what we can find. Hendricks and Banks will go with us. If we learn they are not telling the truth, we’ll take them on to Phœnix; and if we find they’re up to any treacherous dodge, we’ll have a bullet for each of them. Ride for Squaw Rock, and we’ll----” A quavering, long-drawn-out whoop reached the ears of the scout and his pards, coming from over the hill in the direction of the big boulder. “Apaches!” grunted Little Cayuse. A gleam of hope shot athwart the faces of the prisoners. “Dell,” said the scout, “if either one of the prisoners speaks a word, use your revolver on him; and if the Apaches make an attack on us, we’ll put the prisoners in front to receive the first volley; and if luck goes against us, and the Apaches make a surround, if they get Hendricks and Banks we’ll see to it that they get them with their boots on.” The gleam of hope faded from the faces of Banks and Hendricks and a look of concern took its place. “Watch them, Dell, you and Cayuse,” finished the scout, leaping to the ground. Crawling up the slope once more, he peered over the top. The sun was down and evening was coming on; but, in spite of the hovering shadows, the scout could see the five Apaches from the gulch. Two were wounded. One had a bandage about his thigh and another about his left arm, and had to be tied to his cayuse in order to stay on the animal’s back. Grouped about the rock, the Indians were evidently waiting for Banks, whom they had been told to come there and meet. Returning back down the slope, the scout got astride his horse. “Can we get to Quicksand Lake, Dell,” he asked, “without crossing the plain in the vicinity of Squaw Rock?” “We can, but it is a hard trail and will take us a great deal longer,” answered Dell. “Better a hard trail and more time spent on the trip, than another set-to with the Apaches. You’d better take the lead, Dell. Cayuse will watch the prisoners.” The girl got around in front and started off along the base of the hill. Realizing the difficulties of traveling when Buffalo Bill had two prisoners in tow, Dell picked out the easiest trail she could find. Even at that the way was difficult enough, in all conscience. For the first quarter of a mile of their riding they were careful to make as little noise as they could; after that, knowing themselves to be pretty well clear of the five Indians, it was not necessary for them to be so cautious.