"Because you do; I know it by your actions."
The quickness of this reply struck Deerfoot favorably. He did not think that his conduct had been noticed, and he was gratified that his friend was so observant. That there should be no mistake about his suspicions, Fred added:
"I don't know whether you have seen that Winnebago or not since you started him on the run yesterday; he may be still running, but I am quite sure, from the way you have behaved, that you suspect that he and the rest of his companions are prowling through the woods, on the lookout for a chance to revenge themselves."
Deerfoot's face glowed. Fred Linden had hit the nail on the head.
"My brother speaks the words of truth; his thoughts are the thoughts of Deerfoot."
Terry Clark looked at his companion in astonishment.
"How come ye to know all that, Fred?"
"I see nothing remarkable about it; all I had to do was to observe the actions of Deerfoot since he joined us to-day. In the first place, he wouldn't have made us change our camping place if he hadn't had some misgiving, and then the way he has been mousing around the outside, and his decision to keep watch to-night: why what could tell the story more plainly?"
"Begorrah," said the admiring Terry, "ye are not such a big fool as you look to be; I never thought of that."
"Which looks as if you are a bigger dunce than you seem; but," added Fred, turning toward the Shawanoe, "have you seen any thing of the Winnebagos?"