The scout believed that, as he and Danforth had moved so quickly, the coach with its present guard would get through in safety to Fort Advance. It was probably there by this time, in fact. But Bennett and his men might come back to see what was really being done by the troopers, and they would be sure to fall upon the bivouac. Therefore, the scout was on the alert.
He made a complete circuit of the camp, but out of sight and gunshot of the sentinels. He did not care to furnish a target for his own friends. Having agreed with the corporal on a signal, he would not come in without sounding it, and so warning the bluecoats of his return.
However, he found no sign of an enemy, although he spent an hour and a half in creeping about the vicinity. And this very fact amazed and somewhat troubled him. He could not imagine Bennett under ordinary circumstances flying from an enemy without sending back a scout to learn if the trail was not being followed. Cody was dissatisfied. He feared that the reason he had not discovered such a scout was because it was some person more wily than himself!
No white man could be that. Ordinarily Buffalo Bill would pitch his own cunning against a redskin’s, too; but in this case, if there was an Indian creeping about the camp, he would have the advantage over the Border King. He might have crawled to the summit of some hill and from that vantage overlook the encampment of Uncle Sam’s troops.
Having encircled the encampment, Buffalo Bill was undecided whether to return to the bivouac—his blanket beckoned him—or to once more make the circle. Suddenly he heard Chief whinny loudly. There was some activity among the horses; but the scout heard the sentinel’s voice and knew that the mob of animals would not stampede. But his own mount screamed again—angrily.
“By thunder!” muttered the Border King. “That means one thing, and one thing only. Chief smells a redskin—or more than one!”
Yet he did not start down into the encampment to arouse the men. The horses quieted down, and there was no further warning from the big white horse. The scout, however, glided out upon the plain, taking advantage of the shadow of every bush and boulder, and so stood beside the soldier watching the herd. He came so suddenly that the man was startled and grunted:
“Holy Jo, Cody! You give me a start.”
“See what an Injun might do to you.”
“Not much. I’d smell the prowling devils,” said the trooper confidently.