“Many a man has made the mistake of being too confident when there were no signs of trouble,” said Buffalo Bill. “But you had no knowledge of these outlaws being near you, of course. Although, it was quite by chance that they did not blunder into your midst, I fancy. There are fewer of them than there are of your men; but if they had caught you with your pants down it would have been ‘Good-by John!’ for you all. This is as bloody-minded a gang of cut-throats as infest this Western country.” “So I have heard said of Bennett and his men. But I thought they had left the Overland Trail.” “They are not on the old lay just at present,” Cody explained. “In fact, I am following them for an entirely different reason. And if we have the luck to beat the devils, I’d be thankful for any help you could give me toward capturing the whole gang and rescuing a prisoner they hold.” “A prisoner?” “Aye, and a girl--God help her!” “Great heavens! a woman in the hands of those ruffians?” “Yes.” “Who is she?” “White Antelope, the daughter of old Oak Heart, the Sioux chieftain.” “Oh, thunder! a squaw!” exclaimed the captain of the train crew in disgust. “She’s just as precious to the old redskin as the daughter of a white man is to him, I s’pose,” said the scout sternly. “Besides, her release means a great deal to me--and to Major Baldwin of Fort Advance--and, perhaps, to the entire white settlers of this part of the country.” “Well, well! I can’t afford to quarrel with you over a red squaw,” said the other lightly. “You help us, and we’ll help you.” “I am here for the purpose of helping you,” said the Border King, with some stiffness of manner, for the other’s tone had jarred upon him. CHAPTER XLI. “ON GUARD!” “First of all,” said the captain of the freighters, “I want you to take command, Cody, as I said.” “No, no!” the scout hastened to reply. “I would not take that upon myself.” “I insist.” “No. I must be free myself to act in this other matter I speak of. If I see a chance to run off the girl while you fellows are handling the outlaws, I must do so.” “And leave us for a redskin?” “That is it,” returned Cody seriously. “My duty is first to her at this time.” “But that is nonsense, man! People of a blood should stick together. Let the red squaw go.” “She’s got white blood in her better than either yours or mine, sir!” snapped the scout. “Oh! she’s a half-breed?” “She is. But I am not here to discuss White Antelope. Time is passing. I will advise you to the best of my ability in this fight; but I cannot accept the responsibility of command.” “All I can do, then, is to rouse up the other boys and make ready to receive boarders.” “But there is more than one way of doing that,” said Cody, with a smile which the other did not see in the dark tent. “Heh?” “No use in rousing out the other men in a way to show the outlaws you are expecting them.” “Oh, shucks! are they watching us already?”