They waited two hours before they saw him come again into sight. He rode into the river, came across, and joined them back in the shadows on the ridge.
“Have they gone, sergeant?” asked the officer.
“No, sir, they are there, only camped well back, and with half a dozen braves on guard at a time, while their force now numbers a couple of hundred men at each ford.”
“Give me the location of their camp, and we will toss a shell over there in the morning.”
“Pardon me, lieutenant,” said Buffalo Bill, “but that would compromise the sergeant, as they would understand that through him only the location could have been found out.”
“You are right, Cody, and it would not do.”
“You could hardly reach there as it is, sir, for they are well protected; but, as Cody says, it might bring suspicion upon me, and I was received in a most friendly manner.”
“Was Iron Eyes there?”
“No, sir; he is back at the village, and Death Face commands five hundred warriors at the pass where they would hope to check your advance, with the braves who would retreat from the fords, and others who would come from the camp.