"My brother, that will be a hard thing to do," White Otter told him.
CHAPTER XX
A HARD WON VICTORY
White Otter and his warriors approached within bowshot of the stream. Then they sat upon their tired ponies, and stared silently across at the Pawnees. The latter were in sight among the trees. They had driven the captured ponies from the timber, and were herding them upon the open plain. Less than a third of the company guarded them. The rest of the Pawnees were watching along the bank of the stream.
"Perhaps those warriors will try to hold us back while their friends get away with the ponies," Red Dog declared, suspiciously.
"I believe that is what they propose to do," said Black Moccasin.
"No, I do not believe it," White Otter told them. "Those ponies have come a long ways. They have run fast. The Pawnees will let them rest. When it gets dark perhaps they will try to take them away."
"I believe what White Otter says is true," declared Sun Bird.