To my delight Winnetou did not make the slightest motion, but stood precisely as before. I wound the hair into a ring and put it in my pocket. Then I crawled behind Intschu-Tschuna, whose fastenings I examined as I had Winnetou’s, and found him bound exactly as his son had been, and he remained equally unmoved when he felt my hand. Again I cut the lower thongs first; then I succeeded in distracting the guard’s attention as before, and freed the chief’s hands. He was as considerate as his son, and made no movement. It occurred to me that it would be better not to let the thongs lie on the ground, for if the Kiowas found them cut they might suspect us. So I took Intschu-Tschuna’s bands away, crept back to Winnetou and got his, and then began my journey back.
I had to make what haste I could, for when the chiefs disappeared an alarm would at once be given, and I dared not be anywhere around. I crawled farther into the bushes to be out of sight if this happened, and made my way back faster than I had come, but still cautiously. When I got close to the camp I lay flat, and made the rest of the way by wriggling along. My three comrades were alarmed about me, and as I again lay down between them Sam whispered: “We were worried about you. Do you know how long you’ve been? Almost two hours.”
“I shouldn’t wonder; half an hour going and half an hour coming, and an hour there.”
“Why on earth did you stay so long?”
“To be sure the chief was asleep.”
“Good gracious! Dick and Will, hear this tenderfoot! To make sure the chief was asleep, he stared at him a whole hour!”
“Never mind; I proved to you I could crawl.”
I was keeping my eyes strained on the two Apaches, wondering why they delayed going. The reason was very simple: each was uncertain that the other had been freed, and they stayed for a signal from their liberator. As this was not forthcoming, Winnetou waited till he saw the guard’s eyelids droop, when he motioned with his hand to his father, and the chief returned the signal; then they disappeared from their places.
“Yes, you have given us proof,” said Sam Hawkins, answering my last remark; “but if you think you could free the two chiefs by piercing their bonds with your eyes for one full, precious hour, you’re mistaken. It’s a difficult thing anyway; I’m not sure it can be done, but if it can—good heavens! what is that?”
That instant the Apaches had vanished. I pretended not to see, and asked: “What’s up? Why don’t you go on?”