Feeling sure that they had passed beyond the edge of the great buffalo herd, they began to circle toward the camp site. They were riding at an easy canter, when they were suddenly halted by the howling of a prairie wolf directly ahead of them. Determined to take no chances, they listened to convince themselves that the call was genuine.
"Yes, it is Mayash," declared Sun Bird.
As White Otter agreed that it really was a wolf which had raised the cry, they advanced on their way. However, they neither saw nor heard anything of the skulking gray prowler. It was evident that the wolf had slunk away at their approach.
Then as they drew near the camp site the little piebald raised its head, and whinnied softly. The cautious young Sioux again stopped to investigate. They knew that the piebald had caught the scent of other ponies. While they waited, listening for a clew, the familiar Dacotah signal sounded within bow range of them.
"It is good," said Sun Bird. "We have found our people."
A few moments later they met the scout who had challenged them. He was Hollow Bear, a famous Minneconjoux hunter.
"We have been watching for you," Hollow Bear told them. "There is much buffalo meat at the water place. Some of the buffaloes ran against the trees. Some fell into the water hole. Some were dead. Some we killed. There must have been many buffaloes in that herd. The ground is all broken up."
"Has Lean Wolf come here?" Sun Bird inquired, eagerly.
"No," replied Hollow Bear.
They left the scout, and rode on toward the camp site. They found the members of the war party lying some distance out on the plain, as the camp site was littered with the bodies of dead buffaloes. The Sioux said that they had dragged several of the great beasts from the pool.