White Antelope threw away her broken implement in wrath, and lashed her pony again. But he, poor creature, was coming to the end of his leash. His little legs could not carry even so light a burden as herself much farther.
Buffalo Bill saw that this was so, and he spoke to Chief, dropping the pistol back into its holster again. The great white horse redoubled his effort. He shot along the trail as though he was fresh from the stable.
This spurt of speed brought the scout beside the Indian girl and her mount so quickly that White Antelope had no time to cast herself to the ground as she had intended. Even as she screamed and would have leaped to certain death, the white horse came neck and neck with her mount, Cody leaned over and seized her around the waist with his right arm, and, drawing his pistol this time with his left hand, shot the Indian pony through the head!
He could not afford to have the relieved beast run on to the ambushed Indians miles up the cañon and so warn them of what was being done. The pony staggered on a few yards and fell dead. Chief leaped the fallen body and then came to a stop.
Meanwhile, the young squaw had been struggling in Cody’s grasp. She had one more weapon, and out it flashed from the bead-worked sheath at her side. It was a keen scalping-knife, and with a single downward thrust she might have ended Cody’s earthly career.
However, the scout was watching for just this little play. As the bright blade descended toward his breast, he caught the point upon his pistol. The blade snapped, and with a single blow he knocked the handle and butt of the blade from the girl’s hand!
“The White Antelope is in Long Hair’s power. Let her lie quietly,” commanded the scout in Sioux.
He placed the girl before him, picked up Chief’s bridle, turned the horse about, and they started down the cañon again. The girl did not struggle now, or seek to escape. She was beaten. He could feel her body shake with emotion; but true to Indian custom and tradition, she did not weep.
Cody feared that some of the Indians might have got by Dick Danforth and entered the cañon to follow him; so he went back very circumspectly. If he was caught between two fires he could merely sell his life as dearly as possible; but he would have kept the men in ambush from coming to the help of their tribesmen in time to do any good.
Soon the noise of battle reached their ears. The girl gave no sign of interest, nor did Cody speak to her. In truth, the scout had a bitter problem to consider.