Straight out upon the plain, Hickok, astride his own horse and leading Bear Paw, fled. He had little fear of being overtaken, and soon discovered that the Indians had missed his course entirely and were passing south of him. He decided to circle northward and go back to the mouth of the long gully, in the hope of learning something of his companions.
Nearing- the stream again, some distance above the Indian camp, the Laramie man was suddenly startled by a shrill whinny, and he instantly knew it to be the call of Navi to his friend Bear Paw.
Wild Bill jerked up the heads of his horses so suddenly that both desisted from the response which they were ready to give.
The Laramie man made haste to investigate, and so confident was he that no other pony could imitate the neigh of Navi that he took long chances of running into an ambuscade. Wild Bill was a man who was ever ready to take chances if anything was to be gained thereby. If there was but one in a thousand he would take that one—and Wild Bill’s “luck” was phenomenal.
The horses made straight for the copse where the scout and pards had hidden their animals. Hickok dismounted, and looked over the horses to discover who was paving the Indian camp a visit. Then he laughed to himself:
“So Cody came on an Indian pony, and without a saddle. Must be Price’s animal. Wonder what they have done with Price and Ike while the entire family of pards is away.”
Hickok now heard greater commotion toward the Sioux camp and saw bucks running with firebrands toward the fringe of cottonwood along the stream.
“Aha! I guess some of the pards have missed a step somewhere,” mused the scout. “Perhaps I had better drop down that way.”
To think was to act with Hickok. He left the horses with the others and hurried away, hoping to connect with his pards. He felt sure that if Buffalo Bill or any of his comrades had been discovered and were making a getaway that they would naturally follow the timber to the spot where they left their horses.
Hickok came to a little bluff that ran down sharply to the brook and was about to clamber along its base to the thicket beyond when he discovered that its summit was occupied by several mounted men.