Before daybreak Buffalo Bill awoke his red ally, and they stole out of the cave like shadows. The Border King had marked well the stations of the various braves who were under the medicine chief’s control. They were set at every entrance to the valley by which the scout might have penetrated to the encampment.
At least, such had been the case upon his previous visit, and they were not long at the search before spotting one of these sentinels. At least, he was one of Death Killer’s particular friends, and he was apparently watching a pass through the hills.
The scout and Red Knife approached quite near to him, but Cody would not let his companion speak to the sentinel.
“Wait! Let us see if there are more, as I have told my red brother,” he observed, and they went on to another path. Sure enough, there, grimly camped beside the way, was a second brave, likewise one of those who associated more closely with Boyd Bennett, the renegade. Again they went on, going cautiously now, for it was past sunrise, and found a third watchman.
These plainly were not sentinels placed to guard particularly the camp itself. Those were much nearer the village. These red men were stationed thusly for a particular purpose.
“Is my red brother satisfied that the Long Hair spoke truly?” asked the scout of the young brave.
“Pa-e-has-ka is of single tongue. He does not lie. But Red Knife will first go to Chief Oak Heart and ask him if, by his instruction, these men were sent to bar the way to the lodges of the Sioux. If the great chief knows naught of it, then must Death Killer explain.”
“Tell Oak Heart to remove these guards and Long Hair will appear before him as he promised the White Antelope,” said Cody seriously.
Red Knife solemnly shook hands with him. Although the young brave had, by his own confession, killed Dick Danforth, the scout had been forced to make use of him. Now he gave him a word of warning:
“Although Red Knife is now Long Hair’s friend, and Long Hair has given him of his own strong medicine that Red Knife might be a man among his people, there is still a feud between them. It was Red Knife’s hand that killed the young white chief, whom Long Hair loved. When next we meet let Red Knife beware.”