"Only a squall after all," said James Morris. "But it was heavy while it lasted."
When the party arrived at Fort Pitt they found the soldiers ready to go out once more. But nothing had been heard of White Buffalo, which all thought rather strange.
"Perhaps he has failed to recover the trail," said James Morris sorrowfully. "With all his sagacity, White Buffalo cannot do the impossible."
"Do you think it impossible to recover such a trail?" asked Lieutenant
Peterson.
"He'll find it—if you give him time enough," put in Barringford confidently. "No Injun better nor White Buffalo on a trail."
"I believe that," said Henry. "He's as smart as they make 'em."
Two hours after this White Buffalo came in. He was plainly tired out, but his face brightened on seeing the whites he knew so well.
"White Buffalo has found the trail," he announced. "It leads to the village of Shanorison, where lives the old chief Mamuliekala, the Great Water Bear. Mamuliekala and Pontiac are like brothers. They have made Dave their prisoner."
"Do you know where Dave is now?"
"White Buffalo has not seen his white brother, but thinks Dave is at the village, or close to it. But we must hurry, for soon Pontiac and his braves will go northward, to the land of the Wyandots and the Ottawas."