It was an interesting scene on which the three youths looked. There were a dozen Winnebago lolling and smoking in camp, while two of their number were preparing their supper, by half- it over the blaze and coals. Fred and Terry stood in silence by the side of Deerfoot, gazing upon the strangers with a curiosity such as no other sight could have inspired.  
A small tree somewhat with the view of Fred, and he took a step forward. Immediately the Shawanoe put out his arm and shook his head to signify that that would not do; they were as close as was safe. Then Fred shifted his position a little to one side, as you feel like doing in a public hall when a column is in front of you. To this Deerfoot offered no objection, and the lad was satisfied.
 
"Begorrah, but there's the spalpeen!" whispered Terry, in some excitement, pointing his finger toward the camp, and with no thought of the uselessness of such an act.
 
The others knew that he referred to the Wolf, who had caused them so much trouble, but they had already seen him. He was at one end of the group, with folded arms, while he , and the firelight fell upon his features with such directness that the could be plainly seen. He appeared to be looking at the two warriors busy with the fire, though more than likely his gaze fell indifferently upon them and the rest, all of whom were in his field of vision.
 
The tomahawk showed in his girdle, but of course he was without any other weapon, and Terry could not avoid a smile when he it and he had to say something despite the displeasure of Deerfoot.
 
"Do ye observe his left eye and the end of his nose where one of me blows landed? What could be foiner than the that ye see there? He will naad to use no black paint for siveral days, as me grandfather—"
 
At this point Deerfoot placed his hand over the mouth of the speaker, ending what he proposed to say.
 
Now, nothing could be clearer than that if the Winnebago party were in such plain view of the three youths, the latter in turn were liable to be discovered by them. They were standing beyond the circle of firelight, where the darkness screened them from sight, and, if one of the red men should look in that direction, he could not have seen them; but there was the probability that any moment one of the warriors might start out to reconnoiter their surroundings, in which event, discovery was almost certain. Besides, the spirits of Terry Clark taught Deerfoot that it was unwise to trust him in such a delicate position.
 
Altogether, the time spent in watching the Winnebagos was barely ten minutes. During that period, some of those reclining on the leaves got up, walked about and sat down again; others kept their feet, and one stepped to where the two were busy with a steak of some kind that they were broiling over the coals, as though his hunger was making him impatient.
 
But the Wolf never stirred a muscle, and Terry insisted that he did not his eyes, so motionless was he. The same scowl added to the painted face, and it was easy to understand that his were of any thing but a pleasant nature.
 
Turning his back upon the camp, Deerfoot motioned for them to go back. They did so, he following on their heels until not the faintest of the fire could be seen. Then he led them by a round-about course to the trail beyond the camp, and explained his wishes.
 
He was now free to admit that there was reason to believe the Winnebagos intended an assault upon the three hunters among the foothills of the Ozark, and who were unsuspicious of such danger. Of course the Shawanoe had no direct knowledge that such was their purpose, but he was so convinced that he meant to take the utmost precautions against it.
 
He therefore proposed that he should linger near the camp until he could learn of a what their intentions were. If they meant to219 attack the Hunters of the Ozark, then he would hasten to give warning to Linden, Hardin and Bowlby, who, re-enforced by the three youths, would be strong enough to beat off an Indian party twice as strong.
 
In the meantime, Deerfoot wished Terry and Fred to push toward the camp with all the speed of which they were capable, he to follow as soon as he could. They had walked almost the entire day with scarcely a halt on the road, but he wished them to keep on into the night so long as they could. They would need nothing to eat before morning and between sundown and sunup they ought to make a long advance on their journey.
 
You will probably wonder why (the situation being such as was explained by Deerfoot), he did not keep company with the lads and help them in their forced march to the mountains. One reason was that he was convinced in the first place that a would be made by the Winnebagos ............