She then bathed the two wounds where the bullet cut its way in and out and bandaged the shoulder firmly. “Now to that cut upon the head.” The blow had cut to the bone, but the skull was not injured, and, being washed clean, she took a couple of stitches, drawing it together, after which it was also dressed carefully. Chin-Chin, meanwhile, was sent for some supper for the Surgeon Scout, who ate heartily of what was brought to him, and, left to himself, was soon after sound asleep. The next day Bonnie Belle visited him with Chin-Chin, again dressed his wounds, and then said: “Now, Surgeon Powell, I have written a letter to the fort that you are here, and I suppose a troop will soon be sent for you.” “Yes, but there was no need of it, as I could have gone on alone.” “No, sir, that I would not allow, for brave and strong as you are you are not able to take that ride alone, so you are to remain here until your comrades come for you.” “You are the captain, Bonnie Belle, and so I obey. But I have something to say to you.” “Well, sir?” “You do not know that Buffalo Bill is on my trail.” She started and asked: “What do you mean?” “I mean that Buffalo Bill was to follow the coach to the end of the run. He did not say as much, but I feel sure that he did so.” “Yes.” “Of course he came upon the scene where the coach had been held up, and where were the bodies of the rescuer and of Horseshoe Ned, if the latter was killed, which I doubt.” “I think I see your meaning now.” “Yes, for Buffalo Bill coming upon this scene read it like an open book. He returned to the fort and got a force with which to follow the rescuers, and he did so with all the promptness for which he is famous. That is the way I read it, anyhow.” “And that means that he will come here?” “Yes, and very soon.” “But my brother guarded against that by dividing the men, as you know, and covering up the trails as well as he could.” “Your brother did not guard against the fact that Buffalo Bill was upon his trail. He supposed that it would, perhaps, be a couple of days before the rescue was known, and so the trails would be in a manner stale before there would be any one on his track. What became of his rescuers he doubtless did not care, so long as he reached you in safety and found a hiding-place.” “I fear such is the nature of my brother, Doctor Powell.” “I merely judge him by his actions in the past, and, though I feel that he deserves hanging, and should be hanged without any hesitation if taken, as he will surely be, for your sake I give you this warning.” “It is most kind of you.”