Little Eagle brought his bow up and took careful aim at the warrior’s back, but he didn’t let the arrow fly. He hadn’t supposed that anyone, unless perhaps a Sioux warrior, would have the courage to do what that Pawnee had done. While he despised himself for his weakness, he couldn’t shoot that brave warrior in the back. He gave a little sigh of relief when the warrior was out of sight and the chance to shoot him was gone.
When Little Eagle reached Angry Wolf, he found the other boy stretched out on the ground. Angry Wolf raised himself on one elbow as Little Eagle approached.
“What has happened?” he asked. “You were gone a long time.”
Little Eagle gave an account of what had occurred. He hesitated when he told about letting the second Pawnee escape.
“He was so brave I couldn’t shoot him in the back,” Little Eagle said in a shamed voice.
“I would have let him go too,” Angry Wolf admitted. “Not many warriors are that brave.”
“I wonder if the whole party of Pawnees will come after us now?” Little Eagle asked.
Angry Wolf was silent for a while. Little Eagle knew the other boy was thinking of the stories their teacher had told them around the campfire. Many of those stories had been about other tribes and the ways they fought.
“I suppose they will,” Angry Wolf said after a long pause. “The Pawnees will want to get revenge for the loss of their horses and especially for the wounded man.”
Little Eagle opened the package of meat. There were a couple of small pieces that had been cooked. He and Angry Wolf made a meal on those pieces. When they had finished eating, Angry Wolf stretched out on the ground to rest. Little Eagle started to get to his feet.