“We’ll rest a while,” the teacher announced. “Then we’ll swim to wash off the mud. That will be the end of our game.”
Bent Arrow was the first to dive into the water, and Sly Fox was not far behind him. The two boys scuffled for a time, each trying to duck the other. Bent Arrow managed to get a lucky hold and was able to shove Sly Fox’s head under the water. When Bent Arrow released him, Sly Fox came sputtering to the surface. He laughingly swam a few strokes away from Bent Arrow, but a moment later he swam close again.
“There are Sioux warriors on the other bank,” he whispered. “One of them moved just as I got my head out of water.”
Bent Arrow just managed to keep from glancing toward the other bank. A look in that direction might have warned the hidden Sioux that they had been seen.
“Let’s swim to the teacher and tell him so that he can call the boys from the water,” Sly Fox suggested.
“We’d better pretend that we are still playing,” Bent Arrow warned. “The Sioux will suspect any strange actions.”
Sly Fox nodded and made a sudden dash at Bent Arrow. Bent Arrow swam away as rapidly as he could. Anyone watching would have thought that it was an accident that Bent Arrow swam so close to the teacher.
“Sly Fox saw Sioux warriors on the other bank,” Bent Arrow whispered, as he swam near the teacher.
“Keep up your game,” the teacher ordered without glancing toward him.
Obediently Bent Arrow turned and swam back out into the stream. Sly Fox guessed his purpose and swam in pursuit. A few minutes later the teacher whistled the signal for the boys to come out of the water. Bent Arrow and Sly Fox were the last to climb up onto the bank.