The chief nodded his head, but a chorus of "ughs" expressed the dissent of his council. They meant to decide the fate of old Two Knives without delay. Three of the older braves still insisted upon arguing the case one after the other, and by the time the last of them ceased speaking, Murray felt pretty safe about To-la-go-to-de. He said to himself: "The old fox has half an hour the start of them now. He is miles and miles away."
Just then Many Bears turned to him with: "What say now? Any words?"
"No. Never speak twice. Apaches do what think best."
"Ugh! Good. Young braves, bring out Lipans. No wait. Kill them all right away."
Prisoners such as these were likely to be a troublesome burden to a party on the march, like that of Many Bears, and the only real question before the council was, after all, in what precise manner the killing should be done.
But while they were talking a great cry arose from the vicinity of the lodge where the Lipans had been shut up—a cry of surprise, anger, and disappointment. And then the word spread over the whole camp like wild-fire, "The Lipans are gone!"
It was almost beyond belief, and there was a general rush toward the row of lodges and beyond them, into the bushes and through the corral. It came very near stampeding every pony there, and every trace of anything like a "trail" left by the feet of Two Knives and his warriors was quickly trampled out. The only "sign" found by anybody was in the shape of more than a dozen thongs of buckskin lying on the ground in the lodge, all clean cut through with a sharp knife. That told plainly how the prisoners had escaped. The braves who had searched and tied them were positive that not one of them retained a knife, or was left in a condition to make any use of one. They must have had help from somebody, but it was a great mystery who that somebody could be. Suspicion might have fallen upon Murray and Steve, but it was well known that the latter had remained in his lodge, refusing even to look at the prisoners, while Send Warning had been in council with the chiefs. They believed they knew where he had been all the while, and none of them imagined that Two Knives had been set free before he had lain in that "prison lodge" three minutes. It was a terrible mortification; but something must be done, and again Murray was asked for advice.
"What do I think? Let me ask you a question. Did the Lipans go away on foot?"
"Ugh! No. Take good horse."
"Did they have any arms? Gun? lance? bow?"