Chapters 13 & 14 Summary

In chapter thirteen, staggering from the blood-stained killing ground, Cotton leads them down towards the buffalo pens. The boys have not formulated a plan beyond freeing the beasts, and as they approach the pens, it becomes apparent that this might not be an easy task.

They reconnoiter the pens, massive fences of thick wood eight feet high. Catwalks run across the tops of the interior fences and Cotton realizes that someone must crawl out on them to see the locations of the gates. The prospect of crossing these in the dark is frightening. Lally 1 suggests drawing straws to see who will do it. As they get organized, Lally 2 takes matters into his own hands and climbs up to the catwalks.

In flashback, it is shown that Lally 2 had been terrified of his camp horse at first, but Cotton found him one night talking...