“Will you let me try it?”
“Where is your ‘tall white figure?’”
The boy pulled from under his blouse a roll of white. The goods was plain cotton, and inside was a jointed arrangement of hollow reeds with strings running through them. These he adjusted skillfully and lifted the figure erect. By pulling strings at the bottom the arms waved weirdly in the moonlight.
The scout was amused and decided not to interfere with the boy’s plans.
Tootsie found a desirable position where he could approach the very edge of the cliff, and, lying flat, peep down at the Indians, and at the same time operate his dummy and blow the bugle.
Buffalo Bill found a similar position almost directly over the heads of the Indians.
Tootsie stood his figure on the edge of the cliff as though it were dancing on air, and then gave a triumphant bugle call.
The Indians below scattered instantly, seizing arms of all sort before they looked for the cause.
Another “tar-ta-ta-tar—ta-ta-tar!” and they looked up and saw the strange human form swaying in the moonlight.
Slowly the arms began to rise, and when they were wide extended there came a loud, strong blast, sinking away into a faint imitation that sounded like an echo.