“No, it is just to you, for I feel that you are here, living the life you do, only to save your brother, to redeem him. You have played a bold game for his rescue, and as you believe in his reformation, as he has pledged himself to lead a different life, I shall not be the one to thwart you, so give you a warning that if Buffalo Bill comes here with his scouts, as he surely will, he will ferret out the hiding-place of your brother, and you will see him hanged before your eyes, I very much fear.” “Then you would advise me to at once remove him to a safe retreat?” anxiously asked Bonnie Bell. “I would advise you to send him far from here at once, Bonnie Belle. If he goes back to his old ways of wickedness again, then you have done far more than your duty by him, and he must take the consequences.” “Yes, it must be so,” she said sadly, and then, as she turned from the room, she continued: “I thank you, Surgeon Powell; and I will at once take your advice.” “I may have done wrong, but it was in justice to that noble girl,” muttered the Surgeon Scout, when left alone. From the room of the Surgeon Scout Bonnie Belle went with very thoughtful face to her room. She soon made her arrangements for bringing the outlaw to her own quarters, for she could do nothing else. Then she looked the situation squarely in the face and decided to speak and act at once. Delays are dangerous, and, with Buffalo Bill upon the trail of her brother, she understood just what it meant. So she said, after some time spent in silent thought: “Brother, I wish to talk with you.” “I am very tired, sis, so say another time.” “No, it must be now, for I have something to tell you that will startle you.” “Well?” “Buffalo Bill is upon your trail.” “How do you know this?” “From the Surgeon Scout.” “Bah! he has tried to frighten you.” “And has been successful.” “You are frightened, then?” “I am.” “And I am not.” “Well, we shall see what cause you have.” “Fire away.” “The Surgeon Scout did not try to frighten me.” “What then?” “He did me a kindness, as after all I had risked and done for you he did not wish me to see you hanged.” “He is very kind.” There was a sneer in the man’s tones. “You misunderstand him, as I will prove to you. He told me that he had been sent East by Colonel Dunwoody under orders, and that fearful of an attack upon the coach, to rescue you--for my men were not suspected of being treacherous, except that they might be bribed to release you, detectives though they were supposed to be--Buffalo Bill had decided to follow the coach, and did so.” “Ah!” “He therefore came upon the scene and, of course, rode back to the fort for aid.” “This looks bad, if true.” “It is true, for Surgeon Powell told me for my good, with the hope that you might have a chance to prove to me that your reformation was sincere.” The outlaw wore a troubled look now, for he knew what Buffalo Bill was on a trail. “Well, Ruth, what is to be done?”