"No. I will send a white man. The settlers might do even Crane's Voice an injury."
All was quiet in the camps, with little sign of the precipitate flight of the morning, either in the faces of the men or in the disposal of the tepees. The old men and some of the women came out to greet their Little Father and the soldier of the good heart, and Curtis gave out a tranquillizing message and asked, "Have you called the council?"
"Ay, for sunrise to-morrow," answered Elk and Two Horns.
"That is good," he replied. "Where are your young men?"
"Some are in the hills, some are gone as messengers, others are watching the ponies."
"Call them all in. I don't want them riding about to-night. Keep them in camp, close by the soldiers—then no harm will come to them."
So, scattering greetings and commands, he rode through the two circles of tepees. The redmen were all eager to shake hands with Maynard, in whom they recognized a valiant friend as well as an old-time enemy.
They found the camp of Grayman less tranquil, for the stragglers were still coming in from the hills, and scores of women were busy resetting their tepees. Grayman himself came forth, nervous and eager. "Ho, Little Father, my heart is glad that the soldiers have come."
"We are all glad," replied Curtis. "Where is your son?"
Grayman looked troubled. "I do not know. He is away with Cut Finger, my sister's son."