“It would be.” Grandfather nodded. “The Sioux law is that horses which have been stolen and are not recovered within three days belong to whoever recaptures them later.”
“When we find that Crow,” Little Bear went on, “will you let me help recapture the horses?”
“You are anxious to have that roan colt, aren’t you?” Great Bear smiled.
“He will grow up to be a fine horse,” Little Bear replied. “Will you let me help capture the horses?”
“No matter which of us takes the horses,” Great Bear explained, “they will belong equally to each of us. Each is doing his part to get them.”
They sat together in silence as the fire died down. Little Bear was thinking of what a good horse he could train that roan colt to be. The horse he had now was the best trained in the whole Sioux camp, and it had been almost too old to train when Grandfather gave it to him. If he had the colt to train, he could do still better.
“The Great Spirit does not help us much,” Great Bear said after they had sat in silence for some time.
“The Crow has strong medicine,” Little Bear agreed. “His trail is hard to follow.”
“We are nearing the place of water-that-falls,” Great Bear told him. “If we are not near the Crow tomorrow when the sun sinks, we will turn aside. I shall go to the falls and listen for a message from the Great Spirit.”
“May I try to get a message from the Great Spirit, too?” Little Bear requested. “I should like to find medicine which will make sure that I get the roan colt.”