They proceeded to the opening, before described, passing the guard, Barnum, after considerable trouble; for the animal was unusually cross that day, having been some time without food.
Here the scout mounted the ladder, and was soon peering through a fissure at the Sioux camp. Two hours before, he had been upon the hill nearly a hundred feet above his present position.
Again fortune favored him, for he saw the Indian girl approaching the stream close by where he stood.
The scout waited until she had reached the water's edge, when he gave a low whistle.
She looked up, and he spoke to her, making use of the Blackfoot dialect, which, for the convenience of the reader we will interpret.
"Snowdrop," said the scout, "when it is dark, come to the place where you are now, and I will take you away. Bring the Sioux chief with you, that I may take him a prisoner."
"Is it White Panther who speaks?" asked the girl.
"Yes."
"Snowdrop will come."
The conversation had not been heard by the Sioux, and Snowdrop returned to her teepe, while Kelly descended the ladder and stood beside his friends. The three then returned to the main room to await the coming of night.