“Oh no,” said Black Hawk, “Crooked Arrow and I both caught them. They would strike at my line and when I pulled them to the side of the boat, Crooked Arrow would spear them and bring them on board. Oh, what an exciting trip we have had. How did the others make out, or are we the first to return?”
“Yes, you are the first to return, but remember you were not too far from the landing place. The others will be here shortly. Sit down and we will smoke and rest while we wait for the others.”
They sat down and waited. Soon the other canoes, one by one, would slip up to the shore, and the braves would leap out and triumphantly tell Red Hand of their catch. Soon the last of the canoes had been beached and the last of the fish carefully packed away for the journey home the following morning.
The braves had a supper of delicious fresh lake bass and after they had sat around the fire telling of their adventures on the lake they all turned in for the night. Soon the fire had burned to just ashes and all the braves slept peacefully in the quiet of the night.
It had been a long day on the lake in the sun, and now the quiet spring breezes through the trees overhead sang a soft lullaby along the lake shore. When it had been quiet for a long time, Black Hawk sat up and noticed that Crooked Arrow was gone from where he lay down to sleep.
Black Hawk looked around and then suddenly he glanced toward the lake. There he saw Crooked Arrow standing quiet. Black Hawk rose and quietly slipped down toward the lake and to where Crooked Arrow was standing. Approaching the lakeside, Black Hawk respected the brave, Crooked Arrow, and when he had reached a point about five yards from the brave he stopped. He could barely hear Crooked Arrow and then he knew that Crooked Arrow was thanking someone.
“Finally, O Great Spirit, I, Crooked Arrow, humbly thank you for sending to me a friend, this boy, Black Hawk, who asked me to go with him on the fishing trip. For this I am thankful and also I am thankful that you sent the fish of the lake to his hook so that his catch was a large one. You have been very kind to Crooked Arrow this day and I will not forget. I have never known my family, but from this day forth I shall look upon Black Hawk as if he were my son. I know he has a father, a good and wonderful man, but I am sure he will not mind if I remain close to him, for his kindness to me this day has brought great joy to my heart. Thank you once again, O Great Spirit.”
Crooked Arrow turned and walked slowly back to where he had been sleeping and lay down once again. Either he did not look or did not particularly notice that Black Hawk was missing from his place upon the ground.
For a long time Black Hawk sat by the side of the lake thinking about what Crooked Arrow had been saying. Suddenly he realized what had happened here. He had made a friend, a very close friend, and it made his heart warm. Slowly he too returned to where he had slept and, lying down once again, was soon fast asleep.
Dawn broke bright and warm upon the lake and soon all the Indians were astir.