ought only of them. If there are white men
in the Miami woods, the Miamis are warriors enough to take them."

Yellow Panther turned aside, but he followed the tall figure with a look
of the most vindictive hate. Like Braxton Wyatt, he felt that something
was wrong, but what it was he did not yet know. Big Fox mingled freely in
the village life throughout the day, and never once did he make a mistake.
All the Indian ways were familiar to him, and when he talked with the
warriors about the Northwestern tribes, he showed full knowledge. Old Gray
Beaver was delighted with him. The deference of this splendid young
warrior was grateful to his heart.

That night the three belt bearers, calm and unconcerned, lay down in the
great lodge that had been assigned to them, and slept peacefully. Far in
the darkness, Yellow Panther and Braxton Wyatt crept to the side of the
lodge and listened. They heard nothing from within, and at last the Miami
carefully lifted the buffalo hide over the entrance. His sharp eyes,
peering into the shadows, saw the three belt bearers lying upon their
backs and sleeping soundly. Apparently they were men without fear, men
without the cause of fear, and Yellow Panther, letting the tent flap fall
softly back, walked away with Braxton Wyatt, both deeply disappointed.

They did not know that a pair of hands had lifted the tent flap ever so
little, and that a pair of keen eyes were following them. The wonderful
instinct of Henry Ware had warned him, and he had awakened the moment they
looked in. But his eyes had not opened. He had merely felt their presence
with the swish of cold air on his face, and now, after they had
disappeared among the lodges, he wished to deepen the impression the belt
bearers had made. Then he and his comrades must go back to Paul and Jim
Hart, who lay out there in the forest, patiently waiting.

The next morning Big Fox, Brown Bear, and The Bat saw three Miami belt
bearers depart with peace belts for the Shawnee village, but as for
themselves, they would remain a while longer, enjoying the Miami
hospitality.

In an open space just north of the village, Miami boys were practicing
with the bow and arrow, shooting at the bodies of some owls tied on the
low boughs of trees. Warriors were looking on, and the belt bearers, Big
Fox, Brown Bear, and The Bat, joined them. By and by some of the warriors
began to take a share in the sport and practice, using great war bows and
sending th