the Nez Perces. Some cause had led them to
divide, and a half dozen or so were waiting for the others to rejoin
them. Why this separation had taken place Deerfoot could not
understand, nor did he allow himself to be interested in the question.
The reason for his belief lay in the number of horses that had issued
from among the trees. In the circumstances, all the animals would have
gone for water at the same time.

Deerfoot was cool, calm and perfectly poised when he stepped from
behind the boulder and began his stealthy approach to the Assiniboine
camp. He loosed his blanket from the fastening which held the fold
together in front and laid it over his right arm. He confidently
expected a fight and did not mean to have his limbs hampered.
Instinctively he slipped his hand down to his girdle. The knife was
there. He had examined his rifle long before. The charge and priming
were as they should be, and he grasped the weapon with his left hand.
He gave no thought to the fact that more than twenty-four hours had
passed since he had eaten food. He was accustomed to such abstinence
and the situation drove away all appetite. He would not have taken a
dozen paces to the right or left to pick up nourishment.

A complication was threatened by the return of the other Assiniboines,
but aside from that Deerfoot did not mean to wait a half hour longer
than was necessary. His stealthy approach was continued until in the
gloom he made out the dim outlines of the timber. The western terminus
of the lake lay just to the left, so that in order to reach the camp he
had to diverge for some rods in that direction. But the way was clear
and the brief circuit brought him to the edge of the wood, with the
calm sheet of water stretching for a half mile to the east, which was
on his right hand.

The first step was to locate the Indians and their horses, for the wise
general acquaints himself with the battle ground upon which the
momentous issue is to be decided. The twinkle of light that glimmered
among the trees guided the Shawanoe, and with little trouble he gained
a position from which, unsuspected by the Assiniboines, he had a
perfect view of them.

CHAPTER VI.

COMRADES TRUE.

The picture upon which Deerfoot looked recalled many similar ones in
Ohio and Kentucky. There were six warriors seated on the ground, most
of the party in lolling postures, three smoking long-stemmed pipes, and
all had evidently partaken of food a shor