Price and his gang were jubilant. They had the great scout in their power, and declared among themselves that his career was ended. Now their work could go on, they said, for his pards would soon forsake the trail without his leadership.
At the hut in the outskirts that day Price and his men celebrated the event of Buffalo Bill’s capture. They drank much liquor and renewed their fealty in multiple oaths and rejoicings. Then they brought out Little Cayuse, and taunted him with his master’s helplessness.
Cayuse was in a panic at first when he heard that Pa-e-has-ka had been captured and carried away to some hiding place in the hills. But he kept his ears wide, and after the liquor had flowed freely for a time valuable information also leaked. Cayuse learned that Pa-e-has-ka and Hickok were under guard in the old mine. He also learned that a large consignment of blankets for the Indians had found its way to the mine and was stored there, to be peddled out as opportunity offered to miners and ranchmen.
And among other things which Cayuse picked up that day was the knowledge that large bands of Sioux were marching southward, where they were massing in the Bad Lands. A messenger had come from the region of the Big Horn cañon and reported thousands of Sioux in that locality. All were in their war paint, and they were under the orders of Sitting Bull. Chiefs Gall and Rain-in-the-face were there.
Price and his followers decided to move their principal effects to the mountain stronghold, where they could defy white men or Indians if they were driven to the wall. They would commence at once to store food, liquor, and ammunition, and keep a strong guard posted. Horses, too, were necessary, with hay and grain for them. If the government had a war with the Indians, when it was over business of all kinds would be booming in that part of the country, and the thousands of blankets now on hand would be worth good money.
Late in the day several of the men were laid away to sleep off their celebration. Price went back to town, and those left in charge were none too sure of themselves.
Cayuse thought it was the proper occasion to part company with the crowd, and went about it methodically. He had discovered before this that he could readily release his hands, which were bound with a horsehide lariat. In one corner of the cellar was a place where water filtered through from a sink drain. In this Cayuse held his hands and wrists until the horsehide was thoroughly soaked. He then, by standing on the thongs, stretched the hide until he could pull out one of his hands.
It was a simple matter to remove the rest of his lashings, but not so easy to escape from the cellar and building. Above, in the only room, were eight men, five of them drunk, to be sure, but three with sufficient sense left to realize what the occasion called for if the prisoner attempted to walk away. There were no windows opening out of the cellar.
The stairway was narrow, and a ladder served as a means of entering and leaving the underground apartment. This ladderway was behind the cook stove and wood box.
As soon as dark Cayuse crept up and peeped under the stove into the room, which was dimly lighted by a lantern. Six men were snoring in various positions on floor and stools, and two were smoking and talking, their conversation dealing principally with their compadres, who, they said, “couldn’t stand any liquor.”