Under Cody’s advice Danforth placed his men upon the side of the gulch opposite the cavern’s mouth, and outside the gulch itself, all positions selected being easy of access to the trail down which they had led their horses so cautiously. A more withering fire could have been arranged by placing the troopers upon both sides of the gorge; a cross-fire is always more galling and confusing to an enemy. But, then, there remained the danger of the reds rushing to the assistance of Boyd Bennett and his gang, and so those soldiers above the cave might be cut off from escape. Whatever happened, the mêlée was bound to be a sharp and quick one; it would be all over in a few moments. Just outside the mouth of the gulch, and in advance of the line of hidden troopers, was a rather larger tree than most upon the lower hillside, and it had a low crotch from which sprang three branches. Cody saw that to approach the cavern’s entrance, the attacking force would be pretty sure to come close under this tree. Seeing this, he evolved--with the help of the corporal--a scheme which later added much to the excitement of the battle and came near to utterly routing the outlaw gang. There was little time for preparation, however; already the hour grew close to midnight. Cody crept into the cave, showed himself in the firelight, threw on more wood, and then crept out again, so as to assure the watching Bennett below that the place was still occupied. Then the scout went down into the valley and watched and listened until his keen ear assured him that several ponies were being ridden rapidly toward the hiding-place of the bandit leader. How many were coming--whether the reds were with the whites--Buffalo Bill did not know. Nor did he consider it well to wait to learn. That the attack would be made at once, he was sure. Boyd Bennett was not the most patient man in the world, and he had waited here long for his men to appear. Cody found the lieutenant, and snuggled down beside him behind a brush-clump. “By the nine gods of war, Bill! I thought you’d never come,” muttered Danforth. “I got as nervous as an old maid with her first beau, fearing that you wouldn’t get here in time to holler. I can imitate some critters--thanks to you and Jack Omohondreau: but when it comes to murdering the night air with the scream of a wildcat----” “Sh!” breathed Cody. “They’re coming.” Danforth became quiet. They were placed so that the entire sweep of the side-hill was before them. Several of the troopers were nearer the cave; several were behind the station of the lieutenant and the scout. All had their instructions regarding the withholding of their fire until a prearranged instant.