“Kick ’em out,” advised the scout.
“They’ll go back and report.”
“What can they report? That they found a bunch of troopers here camping on the trail of the white outlaws.”
“But suppose Bennett is hand and glove with the reds as you think?”
“Then we must run that risk. Here! let me talk with these young bucks alone,” suggested Cody.
The examination of the reds had been accomplished in English and by aid of the sign language. Now the scout spoke to them in their own tongue. He did not expect to win their confidence; but since they had discovered that no other than Pa-e-has-ka had so easily overcome them, they felt better in their minds.
Finally Cody unfastened them, filled their pouches with food, gave them back their weapons, and advised them to go back to their lodges.
“Let this medicine chief, Death Killer, come himself to learn our numbers and our intentions,” said the scout significantly. “Let him learn about us by his magic. If he is so great a medicine-man why does he not know these things by his magic power? Go, brothers; you have your lives at the hand of the Long Hair.”
The two young reds departed with unmoved countenances. If they felt gratitude they would not be likely to show it in the expression of their faces. That would be against Indian nature.
The camp being pretty thoroughly aroused now, and daybreak being near, the lieutenant ordered breakfast prepared. Buffalo Bill did not object to a fire being made now. Not only had their encampment been discovered by the reds; but the morning was so misty that the smoke would not rise high, anyway.