f the Setting Sun."

"The Great Mystery is kind," remarked Hawk Eye.

"He has bid me remember my stepfather's description of the Minnesota's
course," answered Raven Wing.

"And now what do you propose to do?" asked Hawk Eye.

"We will make a trail across the prairie towards the rising sun straight
as the flight of an arrow. Come; let us start," answered Raven Wing.

At once both boys set off at an easy lope. Ohitika bounded ahead,
flushing a flock of ground sparrows which chattered loudly at the
interruption to their grassy nest building. But to the clamor of their
voices and whirring wings the dog failed to see a badger which was
burrowing in the sod.

As the boys pressed on, larks and blue birds filled the air with song;
prairie wolves skulked away to grove and swale, and rattlesnakes glided
over moist places to rocky shelter.

High up in the sky a sand-hill crane, northward bound in lonely flight,
sounded a far off call.

"'Tis a good omen," cried Hawk Eye.

[Illustration: {Brave.}]

CHAPTER XII

ACROSS THE PRAIRIE

As the sun rode slowly down the sky and passed the barriers of the
low-hanging clouds, a herd of tiny prong-horned antelopes scampered near
for a closer view of the boys and dog.

"Down, Ohitika!" Hawk Eye commanded. "We need fresh meat," he added,
turning to Raven Wing.

"But they are beyond arrow flight," answered the younger boy.

"They are inquisitive animals," said Hawk Eye. "I will try to bring them
nearer. Let us lie down and see if I cannot attract their attention."

Both boys dropped to the ground. Hawk Eye fastened a moccasin to one end
of his bow and slowly waved it to and fro. In a few minutes an antelope
came slowly toward them. Pausing now and again, it gradually came within
range. In the meantime Raven Wing had set the head of an arrow against
the string. At length he let it fly. The stricken animal gave a leap
into the air and fell to the ground. Its frightened comrades galloped
away and were out of range before Raven Wing could send out another
arrow.

[Illustration: HAWK EYE FASTENED A MOCCASIN TO ONE END OF HIS BOW AND
SLOWLY WAVED IT TO AND FRO.]

The sun was now near its setting, so the boys decided to make camp close
to a great boulder. From a clump of low bushes Raven Wing gathered
enough dry twigs and leaves to make a small fire, and before long strips
of antelope meat were roasting over the flames. The bushes grew around a
tiny spring, at which they