“Happy Otter is in charge of the dog soldiers,” Little Eagle said. “He will be angry when he learns that both of us slipped through the lines. He may have us punished and not listen to our reports.”
“He will have to listen to us,” Angry Wolf protested. “If our camp isn’t warned, it will be destroyed.”
“Happy Otter will be too angry to listen,” Little Eagle insisted. “However, if we rode Crow horses into camp, he would have to take us to the chiefs to explain why we took horses when our chiefs had promised to have peace until the powwow was over. That would give us a chance to tell about this camp.”
“You are right,” Angry Wolf agreed. “We must have at least one horse.”
Angry Wolf led the way farther from the Crow camp. He went on until they were so far from the camp that they could no longer hear the noise made in it.
“I have a plan,” he announced when they stopped. “You return to our camp. If I fail to get a horse, you still may reach our camp in time. When the dog soldiers arrest you, demand to be taken to Clawing Bear. Everyone knows you are a pupil of his.”
Little Eagle saw the wisdom of Angry Wolf’s plan. It did seem that since he was the one who had thought of taking a Crow horse, he should be the one to try it instead of Angry Wolf. Yet the plan for Little Eagle to demand to be taken to Clawing Bear was good.
“It is a long journey to our camp,” Little Eagle said. “I’ll start at once.”
The two boys had been sitting down as they talked. Now Little Eagle got to his feet. Before he took the first step, Angry Wolf grabbed his ankle. Little Eagle felt the warning pressure of Angry Wolf’s fingers. He stood like a statue. He caught the sound of horses coming from the direction of the Crow camp. A moment later two mounted Crow warriors could be seen in the starlight.
Little Eagle checked the impulse to duck down. Many times it had been explained to him that by remaining motionless he would be safer. The sudden movement of ducking out of sight was more apt to be seen than a person standing quite still. He waited until the two Crows disappeared in the direction of the other Crow camp. Angry Wolf hadn’t released his hold on Little Eagle’s ankle. He increased the pressure to let Little Eagle know that he thought they should make a new plan.