About this time, the weather having apparently settled for a mild spell, Captain Saunders and Wild Bill came over from the post on their way to the Kiowa village.
Since returning from nursing the old chief, Tom had said little about the ill feeling that he had stirred up in old Broken Nose, the Kiowa medicine-man, but, overhearing a conversation between him and Wild Bill, I learned that Tom was feeling uneasy about this. He suspected that Broken Nose had sent a message to Satank which, he feared, boded us no good. He asked Bill to try to find out something about it.
After their return next day, at supper Tom informed us that while at To hausen's camp Bill had discovered that old Broken Nose had really sent to Satank a secret message, the bearer of which had not returned. Bill could not learn what the message was, but from the old Indian's evident hostility toward Tom, and from certain unfriendly remarks he had been heard to make concerning our killing so many buffalo and other game, there were good reasons to suspect that his purpose was to stir up Satank's well-known animosity toward the whites in general, and direct his attention to us in particular, in order to even up with Tom by bringing the hostiles down on us.
Some of To hausen's people had told Bill, in a friendly way, to warn us to be sure to close up our work and get away from here, or else look out for trouble from Satank's band as soon as the new grass began to come; but they did not seem to think that Satank's horses would be in condition for him and his warriors to make a raid on us before the grass got up.
The fact that a few of To hausen's followers denied the report that Broken Nose was trying to make trouble for us led Bill to conclude that some of them were not so friendly to us as they pretended. After stating the situation, Tom went on: "Bill says it ain't likely that Satank will be in a condition to make any move for two or three weeks yet, and by that time we'll be done skinning wolves and out of here; but there's a possibility that the old rascal may make a forced march, in order to catch us before we can get away. In that case we may have to fight. He might be able to find a few of his ponies that are able to travel and mount a party of his men and ride over here to see what we're doing; or, if he and his bucks get very anxious for a row, they might make the trip afoot. Anyway, from now on, we've got to keep a sharp lookout for Injuns or fresh signs in this neighborhood, an' also a close watch of To hausen's camp; for if Satank should come over this way he'd be apt to go there first thing. To hausen himself an' most of his people are friendly to us, but it's more'n likely that some of 'em'll be ready to give Satank any information about us that he wants."
Wild Bill had seemed rather serious and thoughtful this night—and it was so uncommon for him to remain serious long at a time that it attracted my attention—and as we were about to turn in he remarked:
"Boys, as Tom says, it's best to be prepared for emergencies, and if anything serious should happen to you, such as Satank an' his warriors a-looming up of a sudden and a-jumping your camp or corralling you, an' you could manage to send word to me, the captain an' I'll mount some of his soldiers and come right over. Now, I'll tell you how you can send me word"—untying a bead necklace which he wore around his neck. "I'll leave this with you. Hang it somewheres handy, and if you have need of help just write a few words on a slip of paper, tie it 'round the necklace, then hold the necklace to Found's nose and let him get the scent; then tie it 'round his neck, point to the fort, and say to him: 'Go to Bill!' He'll savvy, for he's been trained to it, and he'll go a-flying till he gets to my quarters. Now, mind you, you may not have any occasion to send for me at all; you're likely to finish up your wolf skinning an' get away from here before Satank gets around; but if anything should happen that you need us, do as I've told you, an' we'll come a-curling and help you out. Is it a whack, Cap?" appealing to Saunders.
"It is," replied the captain, "and to be prepared for such a call—though I hope they'll have no occasion to make it—I'll have an understanding with the major when I get back, so that if it should come in the night I will be allowed to take my company out of the post as quickly as possible, without calling on him or disturbing the rest of the garrison."
"That's a good idea," added Bill. "It'll save a heap of time."
"Well," said old Tom, "we'll try an' not put the captain an' Bill to so much trouble unless it's a case of dire necessity. I hardly think that Satank will make war on us, an' if he should, we're pretty well fixed for fighting an' can give him a good tussle before we call on our neighbors for help."