CHAPTER XXVIII.A LIVING TOMB.
When morning dawned, the scout and the giant black were on their feet.
The latter said that he was all right, only his head was sore and felt twice as heavy as usual.
The prisoners were taken out of the bunks in the cabin and tied to trees near the outside fire, where breakfast was put on by the negro, while the scout went to lead the horses to water and to change them to a fresh grazing ground.
This was accomplished by the time the guide had breakfast done, and, as the chief came up, he found the prisoners talking earnestly with the black, who called out:
“Massa Bill, what you think dese bad gemmens want me to do just now?”
“Kill me, I suppose, and set them free.”
“Lordy, Massa Bill, you read minds same as you does a book.”
“It does not require much mind-reading to know that they offered you big money to turn against me.”
“That’s just what they did do, sah; offer to give me half de gold dey have got ter set ’em free and let ’em kill you.”
“They didn’t know you, Black Bill. But I don’t blame them, for killing is their trade, and they naturally wish to go free. Come, men, and we’ll have breakfast,” said the scout, with no show of resentment toward his prisoners.
The meal over with, Buffalo Bill decided to start at once for the scout’s camp, leaving Black Bill to guard the four prisoners, who were greatly cast down at their failure to bribe the negro to allow them to go free, and which they could only do by putting the chief out of the way.
They had, indeed, offered him half the gold that they had, and said he could accompany them on their way.
That the guide would prove false to him Buffalo Bill did not for a moment believe, and he called him aside and said:
“Last night I would not leave you alone, with those fellows, black pard, for I was not just sure how that head of yours would pan out after that wound, and feared they might best you. But now you are all right, and I will go to our camp after the boys.
“You keep your eyes upon these men, for they are as tricky as snakes, and bound as they are, they are four, you one, and they may find some way of getting the best of you should you be off your guard for a moment.”
So saying, he shouldered his rifle, and started off for the scout’s camp. He had not gone very far before hesaw two men approaching. At a glance he recognized Sergeant Buck and a soldier.
They saw him about the same time, and gave a shout of joy.
“We are after you, chief, for, as you did not put in an appearance last night we got anxious about you.”
“Where’s the black giant?” called out Sergeant Buck.
“Safe, but by a miracle only, for he got a wound that was a very close call.”
“Fell on the rocks, sir, I suppose?”
“No, he was shot.”
Then Buffalo Bill told of the discovery so far made, and the capture of the gold boomers, and learning that the scouts were scattered in search of him, he said:
“You return, sergeant, and bring the outfit here, for I will have some one down the valley to meet you. If the boys do not come in until night, come to-morrow, and Ben will go with me now, and see if we cannot make further discoveries.”
Sergeant Buck at once set off on the return trail, and Buffalo Bill and Ben went back down the valley.
As the break in the cliff was reached Buffalo Bill led the way up the steep hillside, and the two continued on through the narrow pass.
Buffalo Bill had an idea that he would make somediscovery by going through that pass that severed the range.
As they drew near the farther end, they could see through the opening that a large valley lay far below them, a thousand or more feet.
The pass had narrowed to less than a hundred feet, and arose in solid walls of rock far above them.
When within a short distance of the end, Buffalo Bill halted suddenly and cried:
“See there, Ben!”
“This end of the pass has been blasted out with powder.”
“That is just what it was, Ben, and—we have found it—see? The Lost Valley lies before us!”
The chief of scouts, since his meeting with the black giant, almost used up by starvation and wounds, had had his mind set on the penned-up settlers in the Lost Valley. He had given his pledge to the negro to answer the call upon him for aid, to go with him on what to other men would have seemed an aimless trail. He had pushed on against all dangers, all obstacles, and his intention was to triumph.
There before him was the Lost Valley.
It was no wonder that a triumphant smile hovered about the mouth of Buffalo Bill and his dark eyes glowed with joy. He had come to the end of the long and perilous trail.
Where they stood, beneath their feet, and all aroundthem, the rocks were blackened with powder. There had been a heavy blast there, as they could see. And that blast of powder had shattered the cliff, and hurled a small mountain of rock down into the valley far below.
It had broken off the edge of the cliff right at the end of the pass most abruptly.
Right beneath their feet the cliff broke off and went downward almost like an artificial wall for a thousand feet or more.
The two scouts advanced to the edge and their eyes became riveted in wonder at what they beheld.
Below them was a valley, or, rather, a basin, for it was surrounded on every side by towering cliffs. No break could be seen anywhere, no cañon pushing into the surrounding wall of rock.
It was not a valley surrounded by mountain ranges, but a valley completely encircled by cliffs rising one thousand feet.
But that was not all, for right in its center was a large lake, with wooded shores.
Around the lake, in the timber, were scattered a score of cabins. A herd of cattle, horses, and mules were there, too. A group of wagons were in one place. Men, women, and children were also visible.
The crowing of a rooster was heard down in the valley, and a flock of sheep was feeding right beneath the cliff on which the scouts were standing.
For a long time Buffalo Bill gazed through his field glass at the strange sight, and then without a word handed it to Scout Ben.
He, too, looked long and attentively, and when he removed the glasses from his eyes Buffalo Bill said:
“How to get down there is the question.”
“There must be some way, sah.”
“I can discover no break anywhere in the walls. We must start those people out pretty soon, for it will be slow traveling with a wagon train, and we must not be caught on the way. Come, we will go after Black Bill.”