“You never suspected that anything was wrong, Annie?” queried Dell. “I never suspected a thing, Dell,” replied Annie, “until we turned off the Black Cañon trail to come here. Then I began to get nervous. I demanded to be allowed to leave the buckboard, but the man only laughed at me. I tried to jump, but he caught me and bound my hands and tied me to the seat of the buckboard. “When we got here I saw a man called Bascomb. He took me off the buckboard and carried me out to the island. And there”--the girl choked--“there I met--Bernritter!” Dell put one arm around her friend’s waist. “You know now,” said she, “something I have all along suspected, and that is that Bernritter is a scoundrel. It is better that you should have your eyes opened to that fact now, Annie, than later.” “I suppose so,” answered Annie, in a tone of grief and sorrow, “but it is a terrible thing to have your faith destroyed at one blow, as mine was.” “You’ll get over it,” reassured Dell. “Were you kindly treated on the island?” “Yes, although I was bound hand and foot and tied to a big stone. All day long and most of the night I have been there, Dell,” finished the girl, with a shiver, “and I had abundant time to think.” “And your thoughts were far from pleasant, I’ll warrant. But, never mind, Annie.” “I had such a good time in ’Frisco,” quavered the distressed girl, “and now to have it end like this!” “Oh, well, it might have ended worse.” “I want Buffalo Bill to understand that I am grateful for what he has done----” “There, there!” broke in the scout. “Your father, Miss McGowan, is a good friend of mine, and I am glad fate put it in my power to serve him and you in this way.” “All I want, now, is to get to the mine.” “You shall go there just as soon as we can get matters in readiness. Guard the causeway, Dell, while I talk with our prisoner.” Dell took Buffalo Bill’s position behind the foremost kegs and boxes, her revolvers in her hands. The scout, having appropriated Giles’ revolvers, took the bonds from his limbs. “I have nothing particular against you, Giles,” said the scout, addressing the dazed man, “although you were one of the three who captured Golightly and put him in the bear-trap and helped Hendricks get away to Phœnix in McGowan’s buckboard. You are liable in the eyes of the law, and you could be put through. Hendricks and Banks are in my hands, but they gave me information concerning the rendezvous of Bascomb and Bernritter, and, for doing so, I intend to give them their freedom. You also have a chance to earn your freedom, if you want to take advantage of it.” “What’s the chance?” Giles asked eagerly. “Can you go to the island and bring ashore the star-faced cayuses belonging to McGowan?” “Bascomb and Bernritter won’t let me, I reckon.”