“She is really, then, the sister of that outlaw?” “Oh, yes; as there are no others in the secret I can tell you now that the miner, Deadshot Dean, told me as much.” “Well, she is a brave, noble girl; but here she comes.” The coach rolled by just then, and both Surgeon Powell and Buffalo Bill raised their hats, a salutation which Ruth returned with a very gracious bow. They watched the coach until it left the stockade through the gateway, and then Buffalo Bill said: “Doc?” “Yes, Bill.” “I am on the trail of knowledge.” “Well?” “I wish to see what she is going to do?” “Miss Arden?” “Exactly.” “She can do nothing else than go East now, for Deadshot Dean said he intended taking her with him.” “She may, and she may not go East. No one in the fort knows her, other than you and I, as Bonnie Belle of Pocket City, for she has guarded that secret, I am sure.” “Yes, wholly.” “Now she may go back to Pocket City.” “Suppose she does?” “She came here to rescue her brother beyond all doubt, and, finding that you were aware of that fact, having recognized her, she has gone her way.” “Very wisely.” “That remains to be seen.” “What are you driving at, Bill?” “Well, that woman idolizes that wicked brother of hers, and all the miners in Yellow Dust Valley idolize her. Did she wish to make a dash and rescue her brother she could get every man in the valley to follow her lead, so I am going to see just what her destination is.” “A good idea,” responded Doctor Powell, and half an hour after Buffalo Bill rode away from the fort following the trail of the stage-coach. “They is two dandies from ’wayback, miss.” Such had been Horseshoe Ned’s comment regarding Surgeon Powell and Buffalo Bill as the coach rolled by them. “Who are they?” innocently asked Ruth. “Ther one in fatigue uniform is Doctor Frank Powell, miss, better known as ther Surgeon Scout, for he’s one of the best Injun-fighters and trailers on ther plains, and no man has had a more dangerous life than he has lived. He’s a dead shot, and don’t know no more what fear is than I does about preachin’ ther Gospil. Ther’ ain’t no squarer and better man in the wild West than White Beaver, as the Injuns call him, nor a better surgeon, scout, and all-around man, either.” “You certainly give him a most delightful recommendation, Horseshoe Ned; but, who is the one in buckskin and the broad sombrero who was talking to him?” “That are Buffalo Bill.” “Yes, I have heard of him, as I have also of the Surgeon Scout, for they are known everywhere, it seems, through their deeds.” “Yes, miss, they is, for a fact. “Buffalo Bill is chief of scouts at the fort, and he is a man to tie to when one needs a friend. It war them two, if you’ll pardon me for saying it, along with the miner from Pocket City, thet captured Silk Lasso Sam and his gang, and stopped highway robbery on this trail.” “Then you think there will now be no more holding-up of coaches on the Overland?”