“Oh, I can’t expect to laugh always, Bennett; but,” and the scout changed his speech to the Sioux dialect, that all the warriors might understand; “let the renegade paleface meet me now in personal combat, and settle the matter at once. Long Hair does not fear a fair fight with the mighty Death Killer!” he added sneeringly. The nods and grunts of the warriors showed that they approved of this proposal. Although they could not quite agree with the White Antelope’s friendliness with Buffalo Bill, they saw that he was a brave man--as, indeed, they knew well before--and a duel to the death seemed to their savage minds the only way to properly decide the controversy between their medicine chief and the scout. They looked at Bennett expectantly. But the renegade was not desirous of meeting Buffalo Bill with any weapon he might name! He knew the scout’s prowess too well. His desire was to see the scout writhing in the embrace of the flames, or standing bound as a target for the hatchet-marksmen of the Indian tribe with which he was affiliated. He dared not seem to refuse the challenge, however, for he would then lose completely his influence with Oak Heart’s braves. But suddenly he caught sight of the Indian maiden’s face, and that he read like an open book! “The enemy of the Sioux has spoken well. We will fight!” exclaimed Boyd Bennett promptly, but with a crafty smile wreathing his lips. “The White Antelope says ‘No!’” exclaimed the Indian girl, facing the renegade. As he was so sure she would veto the proposition, the wily Bennett was eager to urge the duel. “Why does the daughter of the great chief interfere? She says that Pa-e-has-ka is not her friend, and yet she shields him.” Buffalo Bill had to chuckle over this. He couldn’t help it. He saw through the whole game of Bennett’s, and it amused him. “No, the Long Hair shall not fight the medicine chief,” declared the girl earnestly. “And why not?” demanded Bennett, with continued haughtiness. “Because if they fought, the white man would wear the medicine chief’s scalp at his belt,” declared the young girl. “The white man shall go his way, bring his brothers to bury the paleface dead, and then deliver himself to Oak Heart, as he has promised.” “And you can make up your mind, Boyd Bennett, that she says one very true thing,” declared Buffalo Bill. “Whenever we _do_ fight, you’ll go under! Mark that! I’ll run you down yet and nail your scalp to the wall of Fort Advance as a warning to all horse-thieves, stage-robbers, and deserters!” The White Antelope spoke quickly before the wrathful Bennett could reply to this challenge: “Let the paleface go to his big chief. There is his horse. Yonder is his weapon. Mount, Pa-e-has-ka, and away!” “Aye, girl,” said Cody, in English; “but what will happen to this poor young man if I go, leaving that brute here? He will tear the scalp from Danforth’s head as soon as my back, and yours, are turned.” “That he shall not!” exclaimed the White Antelope.