"No, I do not believe it," said Lean Wolf. "Those warriors came close. I believe they know we are Dacotahs."
For some time they kept the ponies running at their best speed and then as they saw nothing of their foes they gradually slackened the pace. For the balance of the day they rode over the plain at an easy canter and shortly before dark they came in sight of the abandoned stream bed. Their spirits revived at sight of it. They believed that even if the Crows should overtake them it would be possible to hold them off until scouts found White Otter and the war party and brought them to the ravine.
"I do not believe the Crows can catch us now," said Sun Bird, as they drove the tired ponies into the ravine.
"We can make a big fight in this place," Lean Wolf told him.
As night fell Feather Dog followed the ravine toward the west to listen for the approach of the Crows. Soon after he had gone Little Raven and Many Feathers arrived. Their ponies showed the effects of fast riding.
"Tell us what you have seen," said Sun Bird.
"The Crows are coming," declared Little Raven. "It is a big war party. Those scouts tried to follow you, but we drove them back. We did that many times. Then the war party came and we ran away. The Crows are coming straight ahead. We rode fast to keep ahead of them. Pretty soon they will be here."
"Well, there will be many against us, but we must get ready to fight," Lean Wolf said, fearlessly.
"No, my brother, I believe that would be foolish," Sun Bird told him. "The Crows are too strong for us. I am going to fool them. I will tell you how to do it. I am going to ask Running Dog and Falling Eagle and Brave Bear and Two Elks and Many Feathers and Broken Hand and Mad Bull to ride away with the ponies. I will make Running Dog the leader. At first you must turn toward the-place-where-day-begins. Then you must circle back and go toward our village. Pretty soon you will find our brothers. Then you must stop. When you go away the rest of us will stay here to fool the Crows. When they come close we will ride out and make a great noise. Then we will ride toward the mountains. We will keep shouting as if we are driving ponies. The Crows will follow us. Then we will circle around and fool them. I will ask Lean Wolf and Little Raven and Feather Dog to help me do this thing. Come, my brothers, drive away the ponies."
"Hi, that is a great thing to do," Lean Wolf said enthusiastically. "Yes, I believe we will fool the Crows."