"And I'll go with you," said Landlord Larry. "Count me another," the doctor added. Then it was decided to take a dozen men along, and the doctor and the landlord bade the old driver good night and departed, when he at once turned in, after throwing a large log upon his fire to burn until morning. "That is a strange old character, Larry," said Doctor Dick as the two walked back to the hotel. "He is, indeed, Doc. I do not understand him, for he is a mystery to me." "And to me; but do you think I should send another courier to Buffalo Bill making known this intended attack?" "No, write as you did before to him, and he'll get it by way of W----." "I'll do so; but did you learn anything in particular about this attack?" "Nothing more than that fully half a dozen road-agents were seen, and but for the bold and prompt act of old Huck there would have been death and robbery beyond all doubt." "He is a very daring man to do what he did." "He is indeed, and it will surely mark him for death with the road-agents." "Beyond all doubt; but we must make a start early enough to bring us to the scene by daybreak, so good night." The two separated to meet again when old Huck came up ready mounted to take the trail. The party who were to go were soon in the saddle, and they started off at a canter. There was just a trace of snow upon the ground, and they were glad to see that there was no more. A brisk gallop brought them to the Dead Line at dawn, and the search was at once begun. Hardly any snow had fallen there, and in the pinons there was none, so that in several places the ground was stained red, showing that the fire from the coach had not been useless if not fatal. Then old Huck showed his skill as a trailer, for he at once went to work in a way that revealed the fact that he was an old hand at the business. He went from blood-stain to blood-stain in silence, examined the position of the thicket, took in the whole situation, and the direction of the stage when the firing had been going on, and at last started off up the canyon following a trail that was so faint that a number of the party said that there was no trail at all. But he climbed up the steep side of the canyon end, followed by the others, and there on the top were found several red spots in different places. "Three, maybe dead, maybe only wounded," he said shortly. "Those three stains tell you that, old man?" asked Doctor Dick. "Yas, they took off their dead or wounded, as ther case might be, and halted ter rest after climbin' up here, and right here is whar they laid the dead or wounded down, while they was restin'." "Well, which way now, Huck, for your solution seems the right one," said Doctor Dick. "That's hard ter tell, for a horse wouldn't leave no track here," was the reply. CHAPTER XV. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.