“Do you notice, to the north of the wagons, the Indians are doing everything to attract attention in that direction?” asked Buffalo Bill of a lieutenant at his side. “Well,” he continued, “I’ll bet a hundred to one they are massing to charge on the south side.”
“What shall we do?”
“Move down upon them quietly and get as near as possible, and then charge to the south of the wagons—make things hum.”
“I wish we had a bugler and some rocks,” said the lieutenant.
As if in answer to his request, Tootsie appeared at the withers of the officer’s horse.
“Let me do the tooting, sir?” he asked.
“What! you here?” exclaimed Buffalo Bill.
“Yes; I knew you wouldn’t let me come if you knew, and so I sneaked. You’ll forgive me, won’t you, Mr. Cody?”
“Yes, boy; get out your bugle and ride beside me. When I say the word sound the ‘charge,’ and then keep out of the way of the cavalry.”
So intent were the Indians in carrying out their own schemes that they knew nothing of the approach of reënforcements for the whites.