“It hasn’t commenced yet, or we would have heard the firing,” said Buffalo Bill. The speaker looked at his watch. It was a few minutes after four.
“Five o’clock is the time set for the scrimmage,” explained the colonel. “The palavering is going on now.”
“Time enough to get there before the fun begins,” said Buffalo Bill. “I’ll hear the rest of your story, colonel, and then I’ll start.”
“I’ve told all there is to tell, Cody. I was released by Black Wing about half a mile up the hill.”
“But you have not said anything about the Apache, Thunder Cloud’s lieutenant, who left the band and returned to the castle.”
“I didn’t know that he returned. He was walking by the side of Black Wing when I left the band.”
“How did he take your release? Didn’t he expostulate with Black Wing?”
“Yes, he did, and I remember that he gave me a savage look when I went away.”
“I think I understand,” declared the scout, after a moment’s thought. “The Apache imagined that Thunder Cloud would be angry when he learned that his murderous order had not been carried out, so he deserted the band soon after you left, colonel, and hurried back to the castle for the purpose of informing the chief of your release. He selected the tunnel way for his entrance, because he wanted to avoid being seen by me. He knew, of course, for Thunder Cloud must have told him, that I was free, and he was afraid that I would suspect his errand and try to queer it.”
“I think he suspected more than that,” said Colonel Hayden. “Black Wing’s noncompliance with Thunder Cloud’s order may have set him to thinking, and he may have feared that Black Wing meant treachery.”