“’Bout a month, sah, fer I hed to reckon as how ter go, an’ got los’, so my grub gin out, my ammunition, too, an’ I has hed a terribul time, sah, so I had.”
“You look it; but you met white men on the way?”
“One, sah an’ heerd others. Dey was gold hunters, sah.”
“This is a strange story you tell me, Black Bill, but I believe you.”
“Praise de Lor’, sah, fer now you kin sabe ’em all.”
Black Bill would have talked all night had the scout allowed him to do so; but Cody checked him again, dressed his wound and feet, and gave him a little more to eat, after which he made him go to sleep.
The scout looked to the comfort of his horses, and then, wrapping his blankets about him, lay down to rest.
At dawn, Buffalo Bill arose, built a fire, cooked a substantial breakfast, having caught several fine fish from the stream, and then he awoke the negro, who was still sleeping soundly.
Black Bill was then allowed to eat all he wished, and the scout gave him a change of his clothing to put on, and looked after his injuries.
“Now, Black Bill, you are not fit even to ride, but you soon will be. This is a good camp for you, and you will be comfortable. I will leave you my pack horse, make you comfortable, give you plenty of food and ammunition for your weapons, and I’ll kill a deer before I go. Then you can fish and take it easy.”
“To Fort Aspen, with all speed, for I shall get there a number of negro scouts I want with me, the ropes John Hill says we will need, pack horses well laden with provisions, and I’ll be back here in four days.”
“Now, I do not think you will see any Indians here, for they have skipped for their villages, and this camp is on no trail. If you should, you must mount my pack horse and get away, for I will leave my compass, and you must keep directly west.”
“It might be that the white men may be trailing you; but, if so, you must make your escape, and be on the watch for any danger.”
“Yas, sah, I kin do pretty well ter take keer o’ myself.”
“I don’t doubt it. In four days you will be well enough to ride, and we’ll start for that valley you have told me of, and get those people out of their trouble.”
Half an hour after, Buffalo Bill, having made his black comrade thoroughly comfortable, mounted his horse and departed on his trail to the fort.
