“They weren’t so very far wrong,” remarked the scout. “You acknowledge that the nugget was in the letter you carried.” Wilkins frowned; he did not like the interruption. “They followed me. Another horseman had come to the house where the girl lived, and they arrested him, thinking they had their man.” “I should say they were poor trailers, if they couldn’t tell the hoofmarks of your horse from his. No two are ever alike, any more than two faces are alike.” “But they had the proof right on him, you see! He had the nugget. It was in the letter I threw to the girl as I flew by; she had shown it to him, and he was looking at it when they came on him. “And so they arrested both him and the girl, and brought them in to the fort. He was the girl’s lover--the one she cared for--and his name is Ben Stevens. He’s a cowboy on one of these ranches.” “And they’re here now--the young cowboy and the girl?” the scout asked. “Yes; he’s in the prison pen, and she is with Mrs. McGee.” “And Barlow is in command here now?” “Yes.” “And, being the real thief himself, he has flung this young cowboy into jail, and has held the girl?” “Yes.” Buffalo Bill bored Wilkins with a keen glance. “And you--why did you come to me with this?” Wilkins’ violent wrath blazed out again as he answered, “Because I want to depose him. I’ve told you already--it’s because I want to ruin him.” “But why?” Wilkins flung himself round and faced the scout, and put a finger on his swollen lip, and showed his battered face. “That’s why!” he almost screamed. “He struck me--he knocked me down; he treated me as no man would treat a dog.” “What was his reason for striking you? He must have thought he at least had a good reason? You had threatened to betray him?” “His reason was that he caught me listening under the window at Mrs. McGee’s to some talk he was having with the girl; but he was mistaken in believing that I deliberately eavesdropped. I listened, but it was only by chance I knew he was talking there. And for that he struck me and abused me.” “I suppose you know the result of this exposure of him?” “As far as I am concerned? Yes, I know it will disgrace me. But I don’t care now. I’ve ruined myself with gambling. I expect to go down; and when I go down I’m going to pull him down with me.” He turned toward the door. “Think what you please of me, Cody,” he said. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re an upright man, and can’t understand these things probably; and I’m a wild and wrecked young fool on the borders of disgrace. But I swore I’d do him, and I’ve done it. The rest is for you. When you want me send for me; I’ll tell all I know, and I’ll then take my medicine. But he goes down with me, and that suits me.” He flung himself out of the room in wild desperation, and went clattering down the stairs. CHAPTER XXII. OUTSIDE THE WALLS.