“Me see t’ree; mebbe more, but me no see um.”
When the pards reached the foot of the trail there was some sort of a commotion among the ponies. They were kicking and fighting among themselves, and soon two Indians appeared with torches and clubs to quell the riot.
Buffalo Bill and Hickok stole around to that side of the opening to await the return of the Indians, and Cayuse went searching for another red man.
When the twain came back talking together, their torches gone out, they walked into two pair of powerful arms, and found their windpipes closed before they could emit a sound.
The struggle over, the Indians were bound and gagged and dragged to one side where they would be out of the way and not likely to be discovered.
About this time, at only a few rods distant, the scout heard a grunt of surprise followed by a heavy blow and a rustling in the underbrush. He approached cautiously and saw a dark form at work over another which was lying on the ground.
“S-s-t!” hissed the scout, and Cayuse answered in a low voice.
“Did you get him?” asked the scout.
“Wuh; him have Cayuse’s belt and knife. All same bump him head hard, no make um noise.”
This one, like the others, was gagged and tied up like a sheep for market, and dragged away.