They were gone before their friends found time to reply. Moving boldly down the ridge, the daring scouts turned sharply toward the north and rode away at top speed. Their companions concealed themselves below the crest of the slope and watched them with anxious eyes. They believed that they were rushing into great peril and they had grave fears for their safety.
"I do not feel good about this thing," Little Raven said, uneasily. "Perhaps those people over there are trying to fool us. Perhaps they are waiting until our brothers come close. Then they will come over the top of that hill and kill them."
"Sun Bird is a good war leader. Lean Wolf is a great scout. They are sharp. Their ponies are fast. I do not believe they will let those people catch them," Feather Dog replied, reassuringly.
Sun Bird and Lean Wolf rode many arrow flights toward the north before they finally swerved to the west. Some of the ponies were watching them, but as yet showed no inclination to run. The Sioux felt much relieved. They had feared that the nervous beasts might take fright at sight of them and flee toward the distant ridge.
"If they keep still we will soon get behind them," Sun Bird said, hopefully.
"Watch that hill," Lean Wolf cautioned him.
"Do you see any one up there?" Sun Bird asked him.
"No, I do not see any one, but we must be cautious," replied Lean Wolf.
When they had passed the ponies they began to circle to come up on the other side of them. They were almost within arrow range of the ridge and they kept a sharp watch for foes. Then, as they turned to approach the ponies they heard a shout behind them. Glancing back they saw four Crow warriors racing down the slope at breakneck speed.
"Come, get the ponies running!" shouted Sun Bird as he lashed his pony into a furious sprint.