It will be remembered that when the Brabos left the vicinity of the wagon, they went to the south, and then proceeded westwardly, before the Illyas came up. The direct line of the march of the two chiefs was, therefore, to the east of the Brabos, and as the latter continued to the west in their movement, they were obliged to go to the east to escape them.
“Who are the warriors coming from the west?” asked Ralsea.
“They look like the Illyas,” answered Uraso.
Moving farther to the north, this was found to be true.
“Your people are not here,” said Ralsea.
“Then they must be to the north,” answered Uraso.
It was evident that the Osagas had not been in the fight with the people in the wagon; but what did this array of forces mean, after the late fight?
Ralsea at once sent the messenger which arrived the night before, as stated, and the chiefs and remaining runner at once started for the north.
After the Kurabus had been scattered by the charge which John had conducted they circled around to the north, and afterwards went east and then south, thus completely encircling the wagon. Of this John and his associates had no knowledge. This tribe was, therefore, going south, in the attempt to assist their late allies in the fight with the Brabos.
When Ralsea and Uraso struck out for the north, in the hope that they would find the Osagas in that quarter, they ran into the Kurabus, who at once started in pursuit. The chiefs could not go to the south nor to the west, and their only line of retreat was to the east.