After Angry Wolf had been given water, he seemed to breathe more strongly. It wasn’t long until he began to lick his lips again. When Little Eagle gave him more water, he swallowed it easily.
As there was nothing more he could do for Angry Wolf for a while, Little Eagle crawled back to the place where he could watch the lookout in the tree and the Crow camp. He had scarcely settled himself in his watching place when the Crow warrior started scrambling down the tree. The moment the warrior touched the ground, he went racing toward the Crow camp.
Little Eagle turned to look at the camp. It was no longer a camp. The tepees had been taken down and loaded onto pack horses. All of the horses were in a close-packed herd, with warriors holding them. As the lookout ran down the hill, he waved at the warriors. Immediately the Crows sprang on their horses and started toward the land-of-the-setting-sun.
One warrior stayed behind, holding his own horse and that of the lookout. As soon as the lookout reached the horses, both warriors mounted and started after the others. There was a puzzled frown on Little Eagle’s face as he watched the Crows. What was the meaning of this sudden flight?
Little Eagle was still looking at the place where the Crows had ridden from sight when he heard more riders coming from the direction of the other Crow camp. He recognized the two leading horses in the band as those he had seen ridden out of camp a short time before. He saw that this band of Crows was the one that had been taking part in the pow-wow. The warriors were riding so hard that Little Eagle was sure there was a band of Sioux in close pursuit.
The Crows dashed down the hill, rode out onto the trail left by the other band, and went on. As soon as the Crows were out of sight, Little Eagle stood up to look back in the direction from which the Crows had come. Every moment he expected to see a party of Sioux warriors dash toward him. The Crows had been so anxious to get away that it seemed certain someone was pursuing them.
Little Eagle waited eagerly, but there was no sign of his friends. At last he thought to do what he should have done earlier. He stretched out on the ground and put his ear down. He could hear no sound of hoofbeats. The Crows had ridden so far that he couldn’t hear them, nor could he hear any sound of approaching Sioux. Disappointedly, he turned back toward Angry Wolf.
When he reached Angry Wolf, Little Eagle had to bend over the wounded Sioux to make sure he still breathed. He gave Angry Wolf more water and then sat down to try to make a plan. When he had seen the Crows fleeing so hurriedly, he had been sure that Sioux were close behind them. He could have stopped the Sioux and someone would have gone to get Clawing Bear to help take care of Angry Wolf. But now he knew the Sioux weren’t coming. If Angry Wolf’s life was to be saved, he must have help. But how could he get help?
Little Eagle bent over to look at the poultice on Angry Wolf’s wound. He was dismayed to see that a few drops of blood were seeping through the poultice. It should be replaced with a new one, but Little Eagle had used all of his material. He knew then that his only chance to save Angry Wolf was to go to the Sioux camp and get Clawing Bear to help.
Little Eagle immediately began preparations for his trip. He raked up leaves which he put over Angry Wolf, leaving only his face uncovered. If anyone should chance to come that way, he wouldn’t be likely to see the wounded Sioux. The leaves would protect Angry Wolf from the chill too, if Little Eagle didn’t get back before sundown.