Here was another way in which Angry Wolf had proved himself more nearly a warrior than Little Eagle.
“Take it,” Angry Wolf urged. “We will need all of our strength to do what must be done.”
Little Eagle took the food. While he ate, he stretched out beside Angry Wolf. His muscles relaxed. Almost the moment he swallowed the last of the food, he fell asleep. He was awakened by the pressure of Angry Wolf’s hand.
Little Eagle waited until he was sure that he was wide awake before he sat up. Angry Wolf gave a little tug on his arm to signal Little Eagle to follow. They made their way back to the top of the hill.
The campfires still cast some light about the camp. Occasionally a burning branch would break in two, sending up a flickering light. Little Eagle could see that there was a horse near every tepee. The campfires didn’t give off enough light for him to see the thongs which tied the horses to their masters, but he knew they were there.
Angry Wolf leaned so close that his lips were almost against Little Eagle’s ear.
“I believe I can get a horse,” Angry Wolf whispered. “If I fail, you must find a way to get the warning back to our camp.”
“You’ll get a horse,” Little Eagle whispered confidently.
Angry Wolf waited until he was sure no one was moving about the camp. He disappeared so silently that Little Eagle was hardly aware that he was leaving.
Little Eagle turned all of his attention to the Crow camp. He held his breath when he saw a Crow warrior step out of one of the tepees. He let his breath out in a sigh of relief when the warrior turned and went back into the tepee.