For an instant Sun Bird hesitated. It was caution, not fear which held him back. It seemed folly to risk discovery when they had already learned so much about their foes. White Otter, however, was already creeping noiselessly into the shadows, and Sun Bird determined to follow him. Inch by inch they dragged themselves forward until they were opposite the dog. Then for a moment they hesitated. It had every appearance of being asleep, and the Sioux passed on.
Then they discovered what they were risking their lives to see. Beside a great decorated lodge was a strongly made log corral, and above it appeared the long slender head and graceful neck of the famous black war pony. It was watching the glow in the center of the camp, and nervously twitching its ears at the noise. White Otter gazed upon it with eager, fascinated eyes. It was a noble trophy, and he longed to possess it. The opportunity seemed before him. Impulse urged him to act. He paused to consider. Loyalty held him back. He realized that his own ambition must be sacrificed to insure the success of the Minneconjoux. They had suffered a great loss at the hands of the Blackfeet. They had made a long and perilous journey to recover the stolen ponies. Their success depended upon keeping the Blackfeet in ignorance of their approach until they were at the camp. White Otter made a quick, and final decision.
"Come," he whispered. "I have found out what I wanted to know. We will go."
"It is good," said Sun Bird.
They crept slowly from the edge of the camp. Then when they were a safe distance from the lodges they rose to their feet and sped away into the night.
CHAPTER XVI
OFF WITH THE PONIES
The following night the Minneconjoux set out to make their attack upon the Blackfeet. Long before it was dark Sitting Eagle and Lean Wolf and Running Dog left the ravine and rode away to watch from the ridge to the southward of the camp. Then as the twilight faded from the plain the war party followed swiftly on the trail of the scouts. Riding in pairs, the Sioux passed on their way in grim silence. When they finally saw the low ridge directly before them, they stopped and listened anxiously for word from the scouts.