Buffalo Bill was surprised that Cayuse’s absence at the village had not been discovered and an alarm sounded before this, but he determined to improve the opportunity.
“Can you find Navi in the dark?” he asked of Cayuse.
“Wuh; Navi smell Cayuse, come all same dog.”
“Good! Get your pinto as soon as possible and we will turn the others down the cañon.”
In another half hour the cavalcade of riderless ponies thundered out of the mouth of the cañon upon the plain, free for a time of all restraint, and bound to make the most of it until recaptured.
The scout and Hickok found their horses where they had left them, and were soon riding hard for the fort to bring a force to capture the village.
CHAPTER XLV.
WILD BILL’S TASK.
To Wild Bill fell the duty of leading a strong force of cavalry back to the cañon that night, while the scout and Little Cayuse galloped northward to relieve the anxiety of Nomad and Skibo on guard at the sacred mountain.