Crawford nodded. The Dacotah, frightened, were leaving the whites as a scalp-gift to the Stone Men; the danger, then, was imminent. He stared with sombre eyes over his pipe into the tiny fire-glow, then began to study that diagram in the snow.
“At least, they got us away from Maclish and his men,” he said. “See, now! We must strike to the northwest until we reach hills; that’s clear enough. This frozen river below us comes from the northwest or runs that way—sink me if I can tell which. We must take to the ice.”
“And trail the Dacotah?”
“No; they’ll cover their trail. Undoubtedly Maclish tricked us smoothly. When Standing Bull laid that belt over the knees of the dead Assiniboine chief, he declared war. Crafty Maclish will make the most of that, be sure! If he can persuade them to capture the Star Woman and bring the Dacotah to terms, he may yet win his game and be a second Kelsey. Well, I wish we were out of this accursed ice and snow! Winter lasts forever in this land.”
“We’ll be out of it when the storm breaks——”
“Unless the storm brings snow. Sly fellows, those Dacotahs! If snow comes, their tracks are covered, while we are lost. Suppose we dine.”
The decamping redskins had left a fair share of dried meat, with two rabbits which hung over the fire. Crawford and Frontin quieted their hunger, then lighted pipes and smoked in silence. Crawford fully realized the difficulty of finding the Star Woman in this wilderness; the very thought was oppressive, hopeless. A fortnight of snow-travel was not only vague, but implied great distances.
“I made a mistake,” he said, and at this admission Frontin shot him a look. “When I left Maclish alive, I took for granted that the Star Woman lived among the Dacotah, or close to them. So, as Maclish was bound to follow us, the future looked safe. As it now turns out, nothing is certain. Well, no matter! Have you any idea of what the month might be? I’ve quite lost track.”
Frontin held a brand to his pipe. Then he held his hand up in air and waited a moment.
“The month is April,” he said, so positively that Crawford regarded him in surprise.