But ere the horse had made half a dozen bounds, a voice called out:
Señor Otega recognized the voice at once. It had a ring in it that once heard could not be forgotten. So he wheeled his horse, and rode back to find the one who had rescued him standing by the side of the fallen outlaw.
“Yes; I had a dread that your coming with me as far as you did might get you into trouble, so I turned back to dog your steps, unseen by you, and see you enter your ranch in safety.”
“I was not very far behind you, nearer you than I thought, for you must have slackened your speed, and I distinctly heard the voice of your captor.
“I instantly sprang from my saddle, and, advancing on foot, realized that you had been captured, and I saw one man, but took the chances of there being more.
“As he was an outlaw, I thought it best to put him out of the way.”
“God bless you,” was all the ranchero could at first say.
But he soon conquered his emotion and told just what his captor had said to him.
Buffalo Bill listened attentively, and then said abruptly:
“His being there shows that he saw you leave your home, was watching your return, shadowing you in fact.”
“Well, I wish you to be guided by me in this matter.”
“Say nothing, even to your wife, of this attack on you to-night. I mean that no one must know of this attack on you, señor.”
“This man was sent to do this work. If he does not return to report, they will not know what has become of him, for I shall strap his body upon his horse, which must be near, take the animal to the lake, lead him in, and thence along the shore in the water to a spot near my ranch.
“I will search the body for any telling articles there may be on it, and will hide away his saddle and bridle.”
“I will give him into the keeping of my men for a day, and after they have branded him and disguised him, his own master, if alive, would not know him, and one of them will ride him, so he will not go back to his home, at least, not just now.”
“You know what you are about, Señor Cody?”
“I hope so. Now we will find that horse, mount his master on him, and I’ll lead him back through the timber, not in the trail.”
“Is trained, señor, and will keep always in the trail as I start him until we reach the lake shore, and there I will mount him.”