As there was little time to spare, Running Dog and his companions immediately drove the ponies from the ravine and disappeared into the night. Sun Bird listened anxiously until the sounds of the hoofbeats had died away and then he turned to his comrades.
"Well, my brothers, pretty soon the Crows will come, we must be ready," he said.
A moment later Feather Dog appeared. He said that he had heard the sound of galloping ponies and had come to investigate.
"It was our brothers taking away the ponies," explained Sun Bird.
Then he acquainted Feather Dog with the details of the wily trick to fool the Crows. The famous Minneconjoux scout immediately endorsed the plan.
"It is good," he said, as his eyes twinkled merrily.
"Listen," cried Little Raven.
The Sioux immediately became silent. The hoofbeats of many ponies echoed across the plain. The Crows were galloping boldly toward the ravine. The thought filled Sun Bird with anxiety. He realized that if the bold stratagem failed, the warriors with the ponies were doomed. Once overtaken on the open plain, he felt sure they would be speedily surrounded and annihilated by the great Crow war party. He grew weak at the possibility. Then his pony called and his thoughts were diverted. The hoofbeats suddenly ceased. Having located their enemies the Crows had become cautious. The Sioux pony called again and Sun Bird made no attempt to stop it.
"It is good," he said. "The Crows will think the ponies are here. Come, ride around and make a noise."
They rode rapidly to and fro to make it appear that there were a number of ponies in the ravine. Then they suddenly swept up the side of the gully and raced across the plain. As they rode they snapped their riding quirts and yelled excitedly at imaginary ponies. Then they listened anxiously for sounds from the Crows. When they failed to hear them they gave way to despair. Sun Bird grew sick at heart. He feared that he had sent his comrades to their death.