Bending over the scout, who showed signs of returning consciousness, he quickly stripped the sleeve from his arm and skillfully checked the bleeding of the wound. Then he dashed water in the scout’s face, and the eyes of Buffalo Bill, opening, met the savage countenance above him. But he showed no sign of fear, and simply said in the Sioux tongue:
“Rain-in-the-face, is it you?”
“It is the Sioux chief, whose son’s life you once saved near Fort Laramie; the chief has not forgotten Long Hair.”
“Do you intend to kill me?” asked the scout.
“Is the heart of Rain-in-the-face so bad that he would kill one who saved his son from death?”
“The chief has a good heart to remember; but I am sick and weak, for I cannot rise.”
“My warriors shall aid you.”
“They ought to, for I see they have stolen everything I had,” muttered the scout, and he glanced at the dignified thieves as they stood looking at him, evidently regretting that they had not killed him.
The chief saw his look. Recognizing that a raid had been made upon the scout’s personal effects, he ordered every article to be restored at once, which order was only partially obeyed.