At first a thrill of joy ran through the heart of Jennie Woodbridge, as she is now known to be, when she saw that Lieutenant Carey was in pursuit.
But when a bend in the trail placed the Sioux in a position to see their pursuers well, she discovered how small was the force the officer had with him, and at once she felt the greatest dread of evil befalling him.
If she could have warned him back she would have done so, and she rode along by the side of the Sioux chief plotting in her mind to suddenly dash away, and by making her escape thus prevent Lieutenant Carey from running into an ambush.
Whether the chief suspected her intention or not, he suddenly leaned forward and took her bridle rein in his firm grasp.
Pretending to misunderstand it, she said, as calmly as she could:
"No, my horse will not fall, Red Hatchet, you need not hold the rein."
"Horse very fast, and if he ran away Indian pony could not catch him," was the significant response.
At last the Sioux chief saw where he could gain his advantage.
There was a ridge ahead, the trail leading through a ravine, and beyond the country was rolling, seamed with canons and ridges, with rocks and a stunted growth of trees visible upon every side.
By letting two of his braves dash on with his captive, after entering the ravine, he could, with the rest of his force, dismount from their ponies and go into an ambush, where he could check the pursuit very suddenly, and if he could only kill the white captain of the redskin soldiers he would feel no dread of his men.