"Heap fight!" Then he clinched his hands and thrust them forward, knuckles downward, the Indian sign for death, for falling dead or being struck down.

With his delivery this was unmistakable.

"Me," he said, "me dead; white man go.

Big chief" (meaning Juan), "him dead; Injun heap take horse," including in the sweep of his gesture all the outfit of the white men.
"He wants to fight Juan by himself," cried Franklin.
"Yes, and b'gad he's doin' it for pure love of a fight, and hurray for him!" cried Battersleigh.

"Hurray, boys! Give him a cheer!" And, carried away for the moment by Battersleigh's own dare-deviltry, as well as a man's admiration for pluck, they did rise and give him a cheer, even to Sam, who had hitherto been in line, but very silent.
They cheered old White Calf, self-offered champion, knowing that he had death in a hundred blankets at his back.
The meaning of the white men was also clear.