He saw that the Cheyennes were working hard under their white captain to make the place strong against attack that night, and he began to make his preparations to rush in upon them under cover of the darkness.
But Red Hatchet was pitted against a man who had on many an occasion "out-Injuned Injun," as they have it out on the plains, and who had been reared to meet cunning with cunning, knife with knife, and nerve with nerve.
While it was yet light Kit Carey sat down among the rocks, and with the aid of a small glass and two of his Cheyennes as valets, began to make his toilet as an Indian medicine chief.
He had made the firm resolve to go into the Bad Lands, enter the retreat of the hostiles, and solve the mystery of their force and all about them, while as a pretended Sioux he could also better aid the escape of the captive of Red Hatchet.
His toilet was made with a care that proved he knew well how much depended upon it, and when he was ready the robe of a medicine man was thrown over his shoulders to complete his toilet.
Then, when the first shadows of night fell he led his red soldiers away from the little fort they had made, they were given certain orders, and with but two followers he made a flank movement of the position held by Red Hatchet, and moved toward the Bad Lands.