"Yes, that is the only thing to do," said Black Moccasin.
They raced ahead at top speed. They had gone only a short distance when they saw a small company of horsemen sweep into view over a nearby rise of the plain. They stopped at sight of the war party. Then they turned and raced toward the south. They appeared to have been thrown into a panic. White Otter and his warriors rode after them with the fierce eagerness of wolves in sight of game.
"Those warriors came to find us, but they found something different," laughed Little Raven.
"Their people must be close by," declared White Otter.
The Pawnees had disappeared behind the ridge. When the war party reached it, they saw them still riding furiously toward the south. They had lost considerable ground, however, and White Otter felt encouraged.
"We will come up with them," he told his companions.
"Yes, yes, we are closing in," said Red Dog.
They heard the scouts whooping fiercely, and they believed that they were attempting to warn their tribesmen. Then they discovered a great smother of dust rising in the distance. They realized that they had come in sight of the Pawnees.
"Come, come, ride faster!" cried White Otter.
They forced the ponies into a terrific pace. They were steadily gaining upon the four scouts. The latter were making frantic efforts to escape.