Red Pine saw that the affair was assuming rather a formidable shape, yet he did not feel disposed to give it up so.
"Why does my brother want the Blackfoot chief?" he asked.
"White Wolf has promised to bring him to his daughter, the Snowdrop, then she is to be my wife."
"Does White Wolf know where Snowdrop is now?"
"Yes, she is in the camp of White Wolf, among the hills."
"Did the Pawnee see any of the Sioux warriors when he found her?"
"Yes," replied White Wolf, and he chuckled to himself as he continued, "they will never return to their chief!"
"Why so?" asked Red Pine.
"Because their scalps hang in the belts of my warriors, as yours will soon, if you do not give up the chief, Snowdrop's father!"
Were all the plans of Red Pine to be frustrated in this way, after he had come so far, and been to so much trouble? Were the fond hopes he had entertained when leaving the village of his people to be lost now, when they were so near realization? Must he give up the main object of his mission, and go back without the Blackfoot maiden?