The Kiowas ambush Gus. He makes it to a buffalo wallow, dismounts, and waits. He kills his horse with a knife and hides behind it as they approach. The Kiowa horses stop when they smell the blood, and Gus kills two of the riders, then three more. As he waits, he regrets that he has no one to talk with. Gus has always been fascinated by different men’s battle strategies. Call was all aggression. He would kill as long as he could once he was angry. Deets was good at sensing ambushes. Gus is more patient. He waits until night and then goes to the river. He hears voices, then finds July and his group. They spot the enemy camp. July goes to fight with Gus.

In Blue Duck’s camp, Dog Face is almost dead. One of Gus’s bullets hit him. Blue Duck leaves after giving Lorena to the Kiowas. They castrate and scalp Dog Face. Gus then rides in, shoots them all, and saves Lorena before sending July back to protect his group from Blue Duck.