Waboga did not think they would—not much. He believed they would let themselves be taken alive.
“Enough!” exclaimed the Cheyenne chief—for it was to this tribe the Indian belonged. “The time has come. Go wake our warriors, and hold yourself ready to guide us.”
Then, turning upon his heel, he commenced gathering up his arms, that lay scattered around the robe on which he had been reposing.
His body-servant, already aroused, was soon in attendance upon him; while the slumbering warriors, one after another, startled from savage dreams, sprang to their feet, and hurried toward their horses.
The best-drilled squadron of light cavalry could not have got half so quickly into their saddles, as did this painted troop of Cheyennes.
In less than ten minutes after receiving the command to march, they were riding beyond the bounds of their bivouac—equipped for any kind of encounter!
Note 1. They have several reasons for this preference. The arrow does its death-work silently, without alarming the game; besides, powder and lead cost more than arrow-sticks, which can also be recovered.
Note 2. Grama, the New Mexican name for a species of grass forming the finest pastured of the prairies—the famed buffalo grass not excepted.