By then the bandits had begun to fire. But, without replying, and while the lead whistled about their heads like hail, the lieutenant slashed the cords which held Buffalo Bill’s hands in limbo. “Grab these and let the sons-of-guns have ’em, Cody!” yelled the excited officer, thrusting his own pistols into the scout’s hands. Then he flung himself forward upon his face along the coach top, and, dragging his own guns from his boots, into the tops of which he had dropped them, he began to blaze away at Boyd Bennett and his gang with such good success that almost instantly the leader was wounded and another man was dropped out of his saddle. Buffalo Bill began to fire rapidly, too, being able to twist the upper part of his body about and take aim. With two such dead shots against the robbers, the latter had little stomach for the battle. Besides, the scoundrels saw Danforth’s hat, and one yelled: “Look out, boys! the troopers are on us!” And already the thunder of the squadron of cavalry on the plateau above reached their ears. Their leader having disappeared in such a hurry, the cavalrymen had come up rapidly, and now heard the firing of the guns below. “Hold, men! fly for your lives!” shouted the voice of Boyd Bennett. He wheeled and larruped his horse up the hill. Before the troopers reached the brink of the bluff above the coach, the robbers were out of sight. “You’re all right, old man!” yelled Danforth, in huge delight, smiting Cody on the back. “Thanks to you, Dick.” “Who was your particular friend yonder--the fellow with the mustache and the black hair?” “Boyd Bennett.” “By the nine gods of war! Too bad I didn’t settle his hash instead of just stinging him.” “Too bad, indeed, Dick.” “Are you hurt?” “No. But you might cut my other ropes. I’d like to get off this blamed old ramshackle thing before she starts again. Those horses are still nervous.” “Right you are, Bill!” cried the lieutenant, and while his men hurriedly made their way down the hill leading their mounts--and passing wondering remarks at the trail left on the hillside by the lieutenant’s horse--Danforth finished cutting Cody free. While Cody related his adventure with the coach, the lieutenant’s men dragged out the dead horses and reharnessed the others. The dead soldiers and driver brought forth angry ejaculations from the troopers. Danforth and his men were out on scouting duty, and when the lieutenant heard of the hidden treasure-chest, he undertook the duty of getting it and bearing it and the stage-coach on to Fort Advance. “You don’t need all your men for that, Dick,” the scout said. “Half your escort can take the coach and the treasure in. I’ve a long score to even up with Boyd Bennett, and I’m going to hit his trail right now. I have my horse and my weapons, and with you and a file of your men we ought to be able to handle the scoundrels if we have the luck to overtake them.”