“Red Cloud is a good friend to us, and he promised me once that whenever his tribe had trouble with the government he would send to me, and get me to help him straighten it out without war. “He tells me now that some of his young men want to dig up the hatchet. He is doing his best, with the help of the old men, to keep them back; but he wants me to come to him. “I think I’d better go, for if the Navahos join the rest the matter will become very much more serious even than it is now.” The colonel nodded his head, but remarked: “You will be putting your head in the lion’s mouth, Cody. You will probably arrive there just about the time the bucks are doing their war dance and putting on their war paint. The peacemaker generally has a hard time of it, and if you ask them to bury the hatchet they are very likely to bury it in your own skull.” “Of course, that is the risk one is always taking in this business,” replied the border king, laughing lightly, “but I know the Navahos, and they like me pretty well. I had the good luck once to help them save their chief, Red Cloud, from some dangerous enemies.” The colonel rested his head on his hand, and was absorbed in thought for a few moments. Then he straightened up, and said, with decision: “Go to the Navahos, and Heaven send that you reach them safely and persuade them not to dig up the hatchet! But first I must have a message sent through to Fort Hays. Maybe they are not on their guard at that post, and even if they are I must let the commandant there know my plans, so that we can work out a joint plan of campaign. “I have five hundred brave men in this fort, but there is not one among them whom I can trust to take this message when thousands of hostile Indians are riding over the country. “I know they would all do their best, but there would not be a chance in a thousand of any one of them getting through. “I can only trust that message to you two men, for you will know how to dodge the enemy as no other would.” The two scouts immediately signified their desire to make the dangerous trip. “I think you had better go together,” said the colonel, “for the carrying of the message is vital for the success of our plans. “I want the commandant at Fort Hays to march to meet me at Fork River, about midway between the two forts. He must not only leave enough men to garrison his fort, but bring along all that can be spared to join my force. “It is no use for us to skulk behind walls and let the Indians ravage the country as they like. We must strike at them swiftly, even if they do outnumber us by ten to one. That is the only way to nip the rising in the bud.” Cody applauded this brave resolution, for his knowledge of Indian character told him that the colonel was perfectly right. “We will saddle our horses and ride at once,” he said, rising to leave the room.