If the Dinne had made the premeditated onslaught, he would, after he had given them time to perform the murder, have appeared upon the scene, driven off the assailants, and thus recommended himself to the people for the vacant position of war-chief.

The game was a double one on his part; first he was to betray his kinsfolk to the Navajos, and secondly to turn against the Navajos in defense of the betrayed ones.
Tyope realized that it was a very dangerous game, and he had therefore desisted and even gone so far as to repel the young Navajo at the risk of his own life.
As matters stood, all had gone far better than he ever hoped for.
Without complicity on his part, Topanashka had been put out of his way; and the office coveted by Tyope was vacant.

An important military enterprise was to follow at once.

Tyope intended to go on this campaign at all hazards, in order to distinguish himself as much as possible.
This he was able to do, for he possessed all the physical qualities necessary for a powerful Indian warrior, and he was very crafty, cunning, bold and experienced.

He belonged to the society of war magicians, and held in his possession most of the charms and fetiches used for securing invincibility.