“He is a bad man,” Tatanka assented. “He hides some evil plan in his heart, but I cannot tell what it is.”
“He does have some evil plan,” exclaimed the trapper as he struck the ground with his fist. “I reckon he will try to take the boys away from me, if he can find us.”
“He is a coward,” continued the Indian; “he will not come alone, he will bring other bad men to help him. We must be on our guard.”
“Tatanka,” said Barker, “I don’t know yet what I shall do, but Hicks will not get these lads unless he can take them from me. Will you stand by me?”
“Tatanka never deserted a friend,” the Indian replied.
“We must sleep now,” said the trapper after a long silence. “We may have another fight to-morrow.”
“I sleep in the shed with the horses,” remarked the Indian, as he bade his friend good-night. “The Dakotahs might come and steal them, if we do not watch.”
The trapper went into the house, set a strong pole against the door and spread his blanket near the boys.
CHAPTER VI—DANGEROUS TRAVELING
The Great Dipper had swung only halfway around the Polar Star when Tatanka rapped at the cabin door.