All the venom in his nature was aroused in Red Hatchet by this fatal mistake, through the silent retreat of his foes, and, of course, the white captain was set down as the cause of the death and wounding of the Sioux.
Of course, there was but one thing to be done under the circumstances, and that was to continue on to the camp of the hostiles with their dead and wounded, and await an opportunity to get even with their enemy.
Having started his braves on the retreat, Red Hatchet made his way to the rendezvous which he had appointed with the two guards of Jennie Woodbridge.
They and their captive had heard the few shots and yells, and wondered at the quick cessation of what they supposed was the attack.
Jennie had been glad to feel that Kit Carey had been too wary to run into the ambush, for had he done so they would have heard the firing.
Then there was a wait until after nightfall, when came the shots and yells, to end as quickly as they had begun.
The young girl had picked up considerable of the Sioux language during her life on the frontier and the talk of her two guards she understood pretty well, was sure that they were in some alarm as to what had occurred.
Then there came two horsemen through the gloom, a word in a low tone, and the two Sioux met their chief.
He was in a humor that was fiendish, and Jennie heard him explain the situation in a few words, and glad was her heart, though she showed no sign of understanding what had been said, as she asked in an innocent way: