hey would flit hither and thither like so many phantoms, and all
the acuteness the Pawnee possessed was needed to elude the traps they
were likely to set for his feet. He seemed to believe he was alone, and,
resuming his noiseless advance, he did not stop until the listening ear
detected the soft flow of the stream, and the daylight between the trees
showed the river close at hand.

Again, having satisfied himself, he moved forward until he caught the
gleam of water. The same form of scrutiny which has been described was
repeated, after which Lone Bear faced down stream and hurried toward the
main party fully a half mile distant.

The course of the Pawnee may be described as similar to that of starting
from the hub of a wheel, following one of the spokes to the tire, and
after traveling some distance along that, returning to the hub by
another spoke. Lone Bear had gone to the limit of his tramp, and as the
other scouts had taken the same course through different portions of the
wood, it will be seen that the neighborhood was sure to be thoroughly
examined.

Lone Bear must have concluded that, wherever their enemies had located,
they were not within his bailiwick, for, having faced to the westward,
he dropped into his loping trot, which, in the case of many Indians,
appeared to be more natural than the ordinary walking gait.

It is not impossible that when the dark eyes of the warrior rested on
the large trunk of a white oak almost in his path, he reflected what a
capital armor it would make against an enemy. At any rate, whether he
thought of it or not, he made the discovery in the most astounding
manner.

Less than a dozen steps intervened between him and the dark, corrugated
bark of the towering wood king, and he was surveying it with a curious
expression, when Deerfoot, the Shawanoe, stepped from behind it, and
with his tomahawk raised over his head, faced the Pawnee.

"Let Lone Bear stand still and make no outcry, and Deerfoot will not
harm him; let him disobey, and the Shawanoe shall split the skull of the
Pawnee before he can utter a cry."

The previous experience of Lone Bear had taught him that it was lost
time to argue the question; indeed, no choice remained but to accept the
situation, and he did so with a certain meekness which was not without
its effect on the Shawanoe.

"Deerfoot is the greatest hunter of the Shawanoes, and the Pawnee bows
his head before him."

As he spoke, Lone Bear surprised