The Pawnees had selected a good spot for their camp. It was in the middle of a saucer-like valley. There were a few scattered trees in the valley, but not enough to offer hiding for anyone trying to sneak up on the camp. The Pawnees had eaten their supper and were lounging about a big campfire. Little Bear could see large bundles lying at the edge of the firelight. He knew those were bundles of meat wrapped in buffalo hides.
“They are foolishly brave.” Great Bear grunted. “They have killed buffalo on Sioux hunting grounds, and now they have a big campfire, as though they were in their own land.”
“We will teach them to stay off Sioux hunting grounds,” Little Bear whispered fiercely.
The two lay and watched the camp. The north wind was chilly, making the campfire look inviting. As Great Bear had planned, the Pawnee horses were south of the camp. He and Little Bear wouldn’t have to circle the Pawnee camp to get to the horses.
It seemed to Little Bear the warriors would never roll up in their blankets and go to sleep. The campfire died down to glowing embers. Finally the last Pawnee warrior rolled up in his blankets. Little Bear started to crawl forward, but Grandfather reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Wait,” Great Bear ordered. “Pawnees are sly.”
Little Bear waited impatiently. It would take a long time to crawl to those horses and still longer to untie hobbles and get away from the Pawnee camp. If he and Grandfather didn’t start soon, the sun would be up before they were out of the valley. Great Bear lay motionless, and in a moment Little Bear understood the wisdom of Grandfather’s caution. He saw a shadowy movement in the Pawnee camp. An ember in the dying fire broke and sent up a flame of light. In that light Little Bear saw a warrior crawl out of his blankets and start circling the herd of horses.
The warrior made a complete circuit of the herd. Sometimes he was hidden from view behind a horse or in its shadow, but at last Little Bear saw the warrior return to his blankets. Still Great Bear made no move to start towards the horses. After a time, another warrior left his blankets as the first one had done. It was so dark Little Bear couldn’t follow the warrior’s movements after he left the glow of the fire, but at last he saw that warrior complete his circuit and return to his blankets.
“Will they do that all night?” Little Bear whispered despairingly.