“Tonight, I think.”
“That’s fine,” exclaimed Robert heartily. “I can just see Deerfoot riding at the head of seventy-five of his own people. He’ll be so puffed up that he probably won’t deign to speak to us.”
“Not as bad as that I think,” said Joseph laughingly. “They’ll be a great addition to our forces, though. They know the country better than any of our men and they are good fighters, too.”
“They are if they are anything like Deerfoot,” agreed Mason. “He is about the best I ever saw.”
All day long the army continued its march. A halt for dinner was made at noon and shortly afterward the advance was continued. No sign of the enemy was discovered and at night they went into camp on the old battle ground at Sycamore Creek. Shortly before, they had passed the ravine where Joseph had hidden from the Indians during the disastrous route after that fight. He also recognized the spot where he had had the encounter with the Indian and had captured The Swallow. A thrill ran up and down his spine at the remembrance of these events and he shuddered to think how easily the tide might have turned the other way and his life been forfeited as had Walt’s only a few days before.
Camp was pitched in a heavy growth of timber and breastworks thrown up. Sentinels were posted and every precaution taken against a surprise attack.
Soon after the army’s arrival Deerfoot came in with his seventy-five tribesmen. They were given a hearty welcome by the troops and were assigned to Colonel Fry’s brigade. Thus the scout battalion, of which John Mason and Joseph and Robert were members, now contained not only one fearless Indian ally, but seventy-five more of the same kind. Deerfoot, in spite of the fact that many of his own people were now with the army, still chose to camp with his two young white friends.
“Wouldn’t you rather be with the rest of your people?” Joseph inquired of him. He thought that perhaps Deerfoot had joined him and his brother for fear they might feel hurt.
“Me stay with you,” replied Deerfoot quietly. No urging could induce him to leave, and Joseph and Robert soon gave up trying.
“I believe he’d rather be with you boys than his own people anyway,” John Mason remarked to Joseph a short time later.