As the reports of his revolver broke forth, from the hills came the wild, charging cheers of the range riders, who had heard and were now answering the wolf howls.
The charging cheers of the rangers and his own revolver fire checked the advance of the enraged Blackfeet. Lena Forest was thus given time in which to release old Nomad and her lover.
They came to the lodge entrance hurriedly, putting themselves by the side of the scout.
“If we had weepons, Buffler!” old Nomad panted, “we’d lay out a few of them howlin’ red devils!”
Clayton was too astounded to speak; but he caught the girl in his arms and seemed resolved to shield her by placing his body between her and the angry Blackfeet.
Buffalo Bill reached under his blanket, and, pulling out a loaded revolver, passed it to Nomad, who received it with a yell of joy.
“Waugh! Buffler, we stand tergether and we go down tergether. Whoop!”
The startled Blackfeet were not given much time in which to rally, for already the thunder of the pony hoofs of the charging range riders was heard beyond the village. Then the wild riders were in the very village itself, shooting and yelling, and the Blackfeet were in flight.
Short and sharp was that surprise and that battle.
The Blackfeet who were not killed or captured fled to the hills for refuge. However, numbers of them were captured, and the village was given to the flames.