If the young brave was astonished at this sudden proffer of friendship, he showed nothing of the kind in his face. He did not even hesitate. He crossed the brook straightly and helped prepare the camp in silence. The fact was the young Indian had put himself in the hands of the spirits. He believed he was being led. Perhaps this white man had a good medicine which Red Knife might fairly obtain and so become a person of consequence in his tribe again. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE MAGIC CUP. First of all, Cody desired to question the Sioux warrior, and as he prepared a hearty meal he proceeded to draw Red Knife out. “When did my brother leave the village of his people?” “It is a night and two days.” “Is Oak Heart inclined to peace?” “Oak Heart awaits the coming of the Long Hair, as he promised White Antelope.” “Very true,” said Cody calmly. “But there is one near Oak Heart who would keep the Long Hair from fulfilling his promise.” “A warrior?” “The renegade white, whom you call Death Killer.” “Ah! Death Killer is a great magician,” declared Red Knife, looking as though he meant it. “He is a wicked white. He is throwing dirt in the faces of my red brothers. They do not know him.” “His medicine is wonderful.” “Yet he could not make new medicine for the Red Knife?” suggested Cody slyly. “Ah! who could do that?” demanded the brave gloomily. “I have heard of its being done,” said the scout, and then, before the red man could ask a question, he proceeded: “Death Killer has ringed the camp with his own braves. They lay in wait for Pa-e-has-ka. Is it not so?” At this Red Knife showed that he was surprised. “This is bad. This is not known to Oak Heart. Is it so, Long Hair?” “The Sioux know that Long Hair is not two-tongued,” declared Cody. “This is so. I suspected it, and I have found them watching. Is not Death Killer much from the camp?” “He is.” “He goes from watcher to watcher to see that all are in their places. If Long Hair goes straight to the camp of Oak Heart, he will be killed.” Red Knife shrugged his shoulders and fell silent. Cody saw that, although the young brave considered it none of his business--it was a fight between Long Hair and Death Killer--he did not approve of the latter’s methods. And the scout was convinced, too, that the bulk of the Indians--and Oak Heart himself--knew naught of the trick to which Boyd Bennett had resorted. Cody had not been foolish enough to ride straight toward Oak Heart’s village when he rode away from the spot where the Mad Hunter had been killed. He had seen in Boyd Bennett’s face, when he had gone free under his promise to the chief’s daughter, that the scoundrel would do all in his power to keep the scout from fulfilling his agreement. Although in going to the Indian village Cody would be taking his life in his hand, still by _not_ appearing there he would lose honor among the reds themselves.