After leaving camp, Snaky Pete’s scouts and spies broke into two bands, one being under his command, and the other under command of a faithful lieutenant whose cruelties had gained him the name of The White Wolf.
It was now the night of the second day of their investigations, after news had been received from the town confirming the information of Buffalo Bill’s presence and mission. Word had come to Snaky Pete that Buffalo Bill had been sighted.
As strange as anything was the statement that the great border scout was accompanied by a woman of hatchety face and elderly aspect.
The informants brought a description of the place where Buffalo Bill and this female had gone into camp; and, after a discussion with his men, Snaky Pete decided to try to surround the scout there, and capture or kill him.
Horses were left behind, lest by neighing or stamping they should reveal their presence to the man whom the outlaws hoped to take.
At two o’clock in the morning the late moon came up, giving light; and Snaky Pete delayed his attack until that hour, for the camp of the scout was in a dark hollow, and light was needed to make an attack on it successful. By the hour of midnight Snaky Pete and his men were on the mountain slope just below this camp, and they were creeping up the slope when the first faint light in the cast heralded the rising moon.
Buffalo Bill had been duly diligent, yet he knew nothing of this stealthy approach of the road agents who were determined on his destruction. He had fallen asleep in the earlier part of the night, but now he was awake, having been aroused at about one o’clock. At his command Pizen Jane had lain down, dropping into sound slumber.
The scout knew he was in a dangerous country. In addition to the road agents who had captured Nomad, Indians were known by him to be in the neighborhood. All signs pointed to this as a particularly dangerous locality.
The scout sat in the darkness, before the rising of the moon. His feet were over the concealed fire in a hole in the ground, to keep them warm, for the night was cold, and his coat was drawn tightly about him. His rifle was by his side, and in their places were his revolvers and knife.
The night was very dark just before the moon’s appearance, and he observed that it also was remarkably quiet. Though some wolves howled afar off, near at hand not a sound was to be heard.