"It looks bad," White Otter told him. "I believe what you say is true. I believe the Pawnees know about us."
"Well, if they know about us, they will bring a big war party to run off these ponies," declared Red Dog.
"I do not believe those scouts know about the ponies," said Sun Bird. "Perhaps they are only trying to find out who we are. We are going away. Perhaps they will not try to follow us."
"I believe they will follow us," declared White Otter.
"Well, there is only one thing to do," Red Dog told them. "We must get away as fast as we can. We are not afraid of those Pawnees, but we must not lose the ponies."
"Those are good words," said White Otter.
Fearful that they were being followed, the Cheyennes surrounded the ponies and lashed them into a sharp gallop. It was impossible to hold them together. They soon scattered, and some broke from the herd and raced wildly across the plain. The Cheyennes rode furiously to turn them back.
"It is useless," they cried. "We cannot run them so fast."
Black Beaver had already turned back to join Fighting Wolf. The day was far gone, and the Cheyennes believed that if they could avoid an encounter before dark, they might be able to throw the Pawnees from their trail under cover of the night. The thought encouraged them. They ran the ponies at a brisk pace, and kept a sharp watch behind them. Then they saw Turns Around and Sitting Bear approaching from the west. When they reached the war party they told Red Dog that they had seen nothing more of the solitary rider.
"It is good," said Red Dog. "Perhaps it was a hunter. I believe he has gone away."