an, armed with rifle and pistols, stepped from the shadow of a tree,
and Pond gasped out:

"A friend. A friend come to save all your lives. There are a hundred
Indians within a mile of you, led by the desperado Persimmon Bill."

"Who are you?" was the stern inquiry.

"Wild Bill will know me. Take me to him, quick!" was the response.

"To our captain first. Come along!" said the sentinel.

The next moment Willie Pond was in the presence of Sam Chichester and
Captain Jack, telling his story.

"It looks like truth, and if it is, the quicker we get out of here the
better. If we can get fifteen or twenty miles the start we may keep it,"
said Chichester.

"He says Wild Bill knows him. Where is Bill?" cried Jack. "Ah, there he
comes."

Bill, awakened by hearing his name called, was rising, and now
approached the party.

Pond sprang forward, and addressed him hurriedly in whispered tones.

Wild Bill for an instant seemed lost in astonishment, his first
exclamation being, "Great Heaven! you here?"

But after he heard the whispered words he only added, addressing
Chichester:

"Captain, this friend of mine will not lie. We are in danger, and he has
risked his life to save us. I want a spare horse for him, and the sooner
we get from here, the better for our hair."

With as little noise as possible, the whole party were aroused, and the
danger explained. Quickly the animals were saddled, and in less than
twenty minutes the camp-ground was all deserted, though more fuel had
been purposely heaped on the fires to keep up the appearance of
occupation, if scouts should be sent to examine the camp.

"It lacks four hours yet to daylight!" said Chichester to Captain Jack,
"We'll get just that much start, for they'll make no attack until just
as day begins to break. I know the ways of them red cusses only too
well."

"You haven't much the advantage of me in that kind of knowledge, Sam.
But if that fellow was anywhere right as to their numbers, and the Sioux
are well mounted, they'll bother us yet before we get to the hills, no
matter if we do get eighteen or twenty miles the start!"

"We'll give 'em a long race and a tough tussle before they get our hair
any way!" said Chichester. "I wonder who that fellow is? Bill seems to
like him right well, for they ride as close as their horses can move
together. Bill has supplied him with a hat--he came in bare-headed, you
know."

"Yes; he must have had a terrible climb to get ove