“We could capture some of their horses,” Little Bear proposed.
Grandfather remained thoughtfully silent for a long time.
“It might be done,” he agreed finally, “although it would be dangerous. Pawnee war parties usually hobble their horses and keep them near camp.”
“Then there will be no sentry watching the horses,” Little Bear pointed out.
“We shall try,” Great Bear agreed. “I shall try to think of a plan that will work.”
While Great Bear was trying to think of a plan, Little Bear was thinking, too. He remembered how easily the Crow had made off with the Sioux horses, but those horses had been across a hill from camp. The Pawnees would have their horses near their camp. Besides, the horses would be hobbled. The hobbles would have to be removed before the horses could be taken and that would add much to the danger of the attempt.
“I believe I have a plan,” Great Bear said. “When the Pawnees are asleep, we shall approach their horses from this side. That way the horses will be between us and the Pawnee camp. There will be less danger of our being seen. Above all, we must be careful not to excite the horses. The Pawnees will be sure to investigate any unusual sounds.”
As soon as the sun had gone down, and before darkness closed in, they started off. As usual Great Bear led the way. The path he chose followed the valley in a winding course to the west.
“We should be directly south of their camp now,” Great Bear said as he halted. “This is a good place to leave our horses.”
They tied their horses and started north on foot. Their way led up a gently sloping hill, which divided their valley from the one in which the Pawnees were camped. By the time Little Bear and his grandfather had reached the top of the hill, darkness had closed around them.