"No," said Running Fox. "We must let him walk away. The old Mystery Woman tells us to do this thing. She is a good friend. We must listen to her words."
"Well, I will close my ears to her words," Dancing Owl said, savagely. "That Shawnee is my enemy. He tried to kill me. He talked bad against me. I am a Delaware. A Delaware does not let his enemies slip away. I am going to kill him."
"No," Running Fox said, quietly. "I have told you what I propose to do. I am the leader."
Dancing Owl stared threateningly into the eyes of his friend. His heart burned with a desire to avenge the insults and injuries which he had received at the hands of the Shawnees the year previous. He had determined to fully retaliate upon the hated enemy whom fate had placed in his power. Now Running Fox refused him his opportunity. For a moment Dancing Owl rebelled against the authority of his leader. Then he suddenly recalled that Running Fox had saved his life. Gratitude instantly drove the anger from his heart.
"Running Fox, I will listen to your words," he said.
"Come, we are losing time," Running Fox said, impatiently. "We must leave these Shawnees and hurry away. Where is Crooked Foot?"
When they returned to Turning Eagle and the prisoners, they found that Crooked Foot was still missing. His absence made them uneasy. Day had dawned, and the first hint of sunrise was showing above the hills. They realized that it would be dangerous to loiter.
"Come, Yellow Wolf, call Crooked Foot," said Running Fox.
He had barely uttered the words when Crooked Foot appeared. He, too, was filled with joy at the sight of Spotted Deer. After he had greeted him, he called Running Fox and Yellow Wolf and led them away to talk.
"We must go away fast," he told them. "I believe a big war party is coming to catch us. There is little time."