“Now, boys, the safest way is usually the best way. Let each dismount and look to his trappings. A broken girth with Indians close in chase might mean disaster. Also carefully examine your rifles and revolvers and see that everything is in prime condition. One minute’s time lost in that way while our animals are puffing may mean several minutes gain for us in a hot chase.
“You see that long ridge running quartering to us about two miles distant? Well, they are now behind that, and if they think we have not seen them they will continue behind that and ride like all-possessed to head us off if we keep on in this direction.
“Now, when we mount, bear five points or so farther into the south, and don’t push your horses until we are hard pressed, and then we’ll adopt tactics which will give the animals a little leeway on the ponies.
“Cayuse, you and Tootsie lead the way and set the pace—not too stiff, you know, but a good easy lope for the animals. There will be time enough to run when we know we are being chased. Skibo, you follow Cayuse and the boy, and Nomad and I will bring up the rear and sort of regulate the speed of our pursuers.”
Five minutes later the scout called to Cayuse to swing harder into the south, so the Indians would not be too near when they rounded the end of the ridge.
“Keep to the right and around the end of the ridge ahead of you, then swing hard into the east again and make good speed as soon as we are out of sight; but don’t look around. If the Indians attempt to ride over the ridge to cut us off they will wind their ponies, after what they have been giving them.”
The scout had been exactly right in his calculations. Presently a strong party of perhaps fifty well-mounted Sioux dashed around the ridge, and apparently expected to be almost upon the white men, who were as far in the lead as before, riding easily southward, as if unconscious of the proximity of red warriors, and without a glance behind them.
It had been Buffalo Bill’s orders that all should be riding unconcernedly and without looking back, so that the savages would still think themselves unseen.
The Indians sent their ponies away in full pursuit, hoping to pull well up on the white riders before being discovered.
The scout had no more than passed from the view of the Indians around the next ridge before he shouted to Cayuse: