THE WOLF HUNTERS 



In a little while they returned, bringing the 

 horses and tying them to the wagon. 



"You and Bill sure did a good job on them 

 two," said Jack as he and Wilson re-entered the 

 cabin. "I'm only sorry I didn't have the pleasure 

 of doing the business for old Broken Nose myself, 

 for I was owing him that." 



We had just finished eating our breakfast when 

 one of the soldiers called out: 



"Here comes Wild Bill riding like the devil was 

 after him! Wonder what's up?" 



Looking in the direction that Saunders's party 

 had gone, we saw the scout coming back alone, 

 riding rapidly. 



When he reached us he said that Captain Saun- 

 ders and' two of his men were wounded, one horse 

 killed and several wounded. One soldier was 

 thought to be fatally hurt; and Bill had come for 

 our team and wagon to haul them to our camp, as 

 the two soldiers were unable to sit on their horses. 



We were soon busy hitching up the mules while 

 Bill gave us the particulars of their fight. It ap- 

 peared that in chasing the fleeing Kiowas, Bill, 

 accompanied by several soldiers, had become sep- 

 arated from Saunders and the main party, and the 

 scout, not being at hand to guide the captain, the 

 latter in his eager pursuit of the enemy had made 

 the mistake of closely following the Indians into 

 the timber, which blunder they had anticipated 

 and had ambushed the soldiers. 



270 



