The Indian was now about ten yards from Joseph, who was striving desperately to regain his feet. Robert was at least twenty yards distant. He shouted to Joseph, but Joseph had already seen the Sac approaching and was doing his utmost to get out of the way. Robert’s cry did not warn him of his peril, but only served to bring a faint ray of hope into his mind that he might yet escape.
Robert saw instantly that it was out of the question for him to reach his brother before the Indian would be upon him. He stopped and started to swing his rifle about his head with some hazy idea of throwing it at his enemy. Before he could put this plan into execution, however, a strange thing occurred. Something flashed in the rays of the afternoon sun and with a cry the onrushing Indian suddenly threw up his hands and pitched forward, stumbling and tripping until he fell to the ground limp and helpless.
A tomahawk coming from some place in the tall grass had struck the Sac warrior full in the forehead and put an end to his fighting forever. So suddenly and so unexpectedly had this fortunate event taken place that neither of the two boys realized for a few moments just what had occurred. Joseph sank back upon the ground and Robert merely stood with open mouth and a dazed expression on his face, staring stupidly at the dead form of the Indian at his feet.
The mystery was not long unsolved, however. The tall grass parted and out stepped Deerfoot, as calm and stoical as ever, his face as expressionless as a statue.
“So you did it, did you?” exclaimed Robert as soon as he found his voice.
“Deerfoot!” cried Joseph and the young soldier could say no more.
The Pottowattomie paid no attention to either of the boys. He picked up his tomahawk which now was lying upon the ground, and then advanced to the spot where the body of his fallen enemy lay. Without a word he whipped out his knife and soon possessed himself of another Sac scalp. The two brothers looked on in silence.
“How can I ever thank you?” cried Joseph, walking up to Deerfoot.
“No try.”
“But, Deerfoot, you saved my life,” protested Joseph, tears of gratitude appearing in his eyes as he spoke.