The giant in a guttural rumble sided with Raven Feather. He insisted that the promise must not be broken. Raven Feather had agreed to help the white man, and his reward was to be the white maiden. The white man must leave her behind. Holmes compressed his lips, and his eyes flashed ominously. He was not a brave man, and his demeanor under the circumstances puzzled Buffalo Bill exceedingly. Addressing the girl in English, the villain said: “Go back to the other chamber. There is a hitch. My friends, Raven Feather and Crow-killer, object to your departure. I must smooth them down.” As she moved away, the king of scouts drew a deep breath. He felt that a crisis was approaching. Myra Wilton was about to pass his place of concealment, her eyes looking straight ahead, when the king of scouts touched her on the arm, whispering these words at the same time: “I am watching the grotto. There is likely to be a mix-up. Tell Angell I need him here.” The girl frowned. “You must not harm Mr. Holmes,” she said, also in a whisper. “He gave me the knife, and told me to free your partner.” Buffalo Bill had met with many surprises in his life, but never one so great as this. He stared at her without speaking. “He is a villain,” she quietly went on, “but he means you no harm. I have seen to that.” “I don’t understand,” said Buffalo Bill, as he shook his head. “You will after a while. Rely on me. I know what I am about.” “I don’t believe you do,” muttered the scout under his breath. But what he said was this: “I’ll not hurt Holmes while you are in your present state of mind; but I may pay my respects to Raven Feather and his big brute of a brother.” “I have no objection,” she replied, and then left him. Meanwhile, the two Indians and Rixton Holmes were talking together in angry tones. The white stubbornly held his ground, and the Indians finally came to the conclusion that he was not relying on his own unaided efforts to carry his point. They might have leaped upon him, and either killed or made him a prisoner, but a suspicion that caused them both to look toward the corridor separating the two sections of the cave made them pause. A lull in the conversation was broken by the descent of the trap. The Navaho who had guarded the prisoners while Crow-killer was away with the two braves jumped from the platform, and made this report to Raven Feather: “When the moon rises, the chief shall welcome the braves of the village.” Raven Feather gave a slow nod of approval. Then he looked steadily at Holmes. “Does my brother understand?” he asked. “Of course,” was the response, given with indifference. “The other members of your band are coming from the village. It is now late afternoon. They will reach here in four or five hours.” The villain smiled, and then proceeded: “But I won’t be here when they arrive.” “If my white brother is not here then, it will be because he has kept the promise he gave to Raven Feather,” returned the chief, with decision.