Walt looked in surprise at the two brothers. That they were in deadly earnest there could be no doubt. Robert was so angry that he could scarcely talk; he merely puffed and gasped with rage. His face was red and Joseph’s was white, but it was a question which one was more angry.
“Whew!” whistled Walt in astonishment at this outburst. He saw, however, that if he continued his remarks he might be subjected to physical violence and he wisely refrained from saying more. He quickly changed the subject.
“Well, we’ll be making camp in a moment,” he said lightly.
“I’m glad of it,” remarked Joseph. “My horse is tired and so am I. He hasn’t been used much lately, I guess, and is soft.” He was willing to forget the recent unpleasantness and be friends again, but Robert was not so easily pacified. His face was still flushed and he rode forward in silence. Joseph glanced at him and smiled. He admired his brother’s courage and he also knew that his anger would soon disappear. Robert was one who never let the sun go down upon his wrath, simply because he could not stay angry for that length of time.
Soon they arrived at their destination. The men quickly dismounted and after tethering their horses, they busied themselves with preparations for making camp. Meanwhile, guards were stationed all around the grove to watch for possible signs of the enemy. The men’s good spirits had now returned and they laughed and joked as they idled about or worked on their shelters for the night.
“It looks like a great big picnic ground here,” remarked Joseph to Robert and Deerfoot as they stood together and gazed about them.
“Too jolly,” said Deerfoot grimly and he shook his head. He held Black Hawk in high esteem and was troubled by the evident carelessness of the white men.
“That’s right, Deerfoot, they are too jolly,” agreed Robert solemnly. “They forget that we started on the thirteenth.”
“Oh, Bob—” began Joseph, when he was suddenly interrupted. A great hubbub and noise suddenly arose throughout the camp and the men rushed wildly hither and thither. All was confusion, as every man strove to get his horse and mount it.
“What is it? What is the trouble?” exclaimed Robert in alarm.