CHAPTER XIII
A CLEVER STRATAGEM
At the time that Sun Bird and White Otter set out to climb the ridge to search for the Blackfeet camp, Lean Wolf and Sitting Eagle rode northward along the edge of the timber to look for signs of their enemies. They were particularly anxious to locate the Crows, who, they feared, were somewhere in the vicinity. They rode until the day was half gone, and then, having seen nothing of their foes, determined to return to their companions. As they were cantering slowly toward a deep ravine which they had crossed earlier in the day, their ponies suddenly began to raise their ears and whinny. The Sioux instantly stopped in alarm.
"Watch out!" cautioned Lean Wolf.
He had barely given the warning when a great company of horsemen rode out of the ravine and raced toward the astounded Sioux. The latter instantly recognized the riders as Crows. They were almost upon them and the Sioux wheeled their ponies and rode madly across the plain.
"This way! This way!" cried Sitting Eagle, as he turned toward the north.
The Crows were within bowshot and their arrows were falling all about the crouching Sioux. The latter urged their ponies to a frantic burst of speed to escape from the fierce attack. Stride by stride they distanced their pursuers until they were beyond arrow range. Then the Crows withheld their arrows and began to lash their ponies in an attempt to again get within bow range.
"Keep low on your pony," cautioned Lean Wolf. "Perhaps they do not know who we are."
"Yes, yes, we will try to fool them," replied Sitting Eagle.
Then as the two ponies raced along side by side he told Lean Wolf about a narrow, shut-in cañon which extended back into the foothills. He said it was only a short distance ahead of them.