It seemed to strike all three of the friends at the same moment that they had shown a strange forgetfulness of the occasion. A sudden impulse had led them into a test of skill, that had continued a quarter of an hour, during which there was no thought on the part of any one of the gravity of their situation.  
But a little while before, both Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in on account of their friends, while their own position (believing as they did that there were Winnebagos in front as well as in the rear), ought to have driven away all for sport or amusement. One of their strongest desires was the presence of Deerfoot, that they might have his counsel and help. Here he was, and no reference had been made to the subjects uppermost in their minds. Now that he took his seat389 near them by the camp-fire, as if to invite their confidence, they quickly returned to the all important business.
 
First of all, they asked for his experience since their separation the night before. He gave only a part of it. He told nothing about his conflict with the Wolf and his companion, which resulted in the death of both, but said that he had kept watch of the Winnebagos until morning, when he saw them start for the camp in the mountains. He learned from their signaling that they had other in the neighborhood, and there could be no doubt that an attack was intended upon the Hunters of the Ozark. Nevertheless the Shawanoe kept in their vicinity, until they approached the open prairie of which mention has been make. Then he to pass them and join his young friends.
 
Feeling no doubt that the latter were following the right trail (several examinations which he made satisfied him that they were doing so), he left it altogether, and took a shorter route across the country. He was so familiar with it that he could easily do this. His intention390 was to strike the main path again at the crossing, where they had such a narrow escape from the ; but he calculated that by nightfall they would be a considerable distance beyond, and he wished to test their when left to themselves. So he came back to the trail about half way between that point and the which they had crossed by means of the canoe. He saw from an examination of the ground that he was ahead of them, so he sauntered forward, firing off his gun where a turn in the path made it seem to come from one side instead of in front of them. He did this as he explained with a view of warning them to keep their eyes open. It soon began growing dark and he kept on until he reached the stream, where he decided to wait and see what they would do.
 
He was as surprised as they when they brought the little canoe and pushed themselves across by means of the pole which Fred Linden himself cut. He followed them, easily the stream. After that he indulged in a little diversion with which you are familiar.
 
"Wasn't it strange, Deerfoot," said Fred, "that we should have found that canoe?"
 
He nodded his head to signify that he thought it was.
 
"Have you any idea how it got there?"
 
"He who owned the boat hid it under the bushes."
 
"But there are no Indian villages within a great many miles of this place—is that not so?"
 
He gave another affirmative nod.
 
"Have you any idea of who the owner can be?"
 
A third affirmative nod followed.
 
"Who is he?" asked Fred in .
 
"Deerfoot."
 
"What! Does that little canoe belong to you?"
 
"Deerfoot made it and hid it under the bushes: why did not my brothers use the paddle?"
 
"We hunted all round, but could not find it."
 
"It was within reach of my brother's hands; it was covered with leaves."
 
"And so the boat is yer own?" repeated392 Terry; "why that looks as if ye lived somewhere in this neighborhood; is such the case, owld boy?"
 
The question did not seem to please the Shawanoe. He was sitting directly in front of his young friends, who looked earnestly in his face. He made no answer to Terry's question, but continued looking among the coals, as if he was pondering some other matter that had thus been brought to mind. Fred shook his head at Terry as a warning that he should not repeat his , and the latter was wise enough not to do so; but the friends concluded from that moment that the wandering young Shawanoe made his home at no great distance from where all three were at that moment sitting in the . And they were right.
 
A minute later, Deerfoot raised his head and signified that he wished to know in turn what had befallen them since they parted company twenty-four hours before. You will admit that each had a stirring story to tell and he told it. The Shawanoe first listened to Terry's account of his ride on the back of the wounded buffalo,393 and, when it was finished, he quietly remarked to his young friend that he had done well.
 
Though he showed no emotion, it was clear to both boys that he felt the most concern in the experience of Fred Linden. He said nothing until the narrator was through, including the account of the cyclone. Deerfoot had heard the noise made by the latter, but he was so far removed from its path that he saw none of its fearful effects, and in fact cared little about it, for he had seen the same thing more than once before.
 
But that which interested him was the account of Fred Linden's meeting with the Winnebago horse thieves. This was the first knowledge he received that any of their enemies were mounted on animals. Deerfoot had turned off the main trail so early in the day that he missed them altogether. When he came back to the path, near where the three were in camp at that moment, and he examined the ground for signs of the footprints of the boys, there............