tly behind him, one with his gun
leveled directly at his heart.

CHAPTER X.

SAUK AND PAWNEE.

When Hay-uta, the ally of Deerfoot, parted with him so that the
reconnoissance of the Pawnee camp could be made separately, he went down
stream--that is, in the direction opposite to that taken by Deerfoot. He
moved faster than the Shawanoe, and emerged from the river at the moment
the other entered it.

Before this, he had taken another scrutiny of the two warriors, whom he
had pointed out as members of the party that bought Otto Relstaub from
the Sauks. He thought it unlikely that a mistake could have been made,
and the second inspection proved he was right beyond all doubt.

Without any reason for such belief, Hay-uta concluded there were other
Pawnees in the vicinity. The appearance of the camp suggested in some
way that several were missing. He therefore conducted his movements as
though danger threatened him from all points.

Hay-uta was daring and skillful. He had been engaged on more than one
similar enterprise, with the difference that the camps where he
reconnoitered previously were those of bitter enemies. Having met the
Pawnees before, on what may be considered neutral if not friendly
ground, he would have felt no great misgivings while marching into their
camp, without any effort at concealment.

But, if discovered prowling through the woods, the case would be
different. It would be hard to offer any explanation, and, therefore, it
was the more necessary to avoid detection while thus employed.

The Sauk was as much puzzled as Deerfoot to guess what had become of
Otto. Two of the warriors, if not all of them, were able to tell, but
Hay-uta could not expect to draw the information from them. Perhaps
Deerfoot might do so.

There was good ground to fear the poor lad had been put out of the way
forever, but the Sauk was still more convinced that he was not only
alive and well, but was at no great distance from the camp of the
Pawnees.

Instead of going directly toward the latter, as did Deerfoot, the Sauk
started out on what may be described as a large circle, inclosing the
war party near the river. His action was based on the somewhat curious
theory that the Pawnees which he had seen did not compose the main body
that would be found grouped somewhere within the woods. It may as well
be said that he was mistaken in this supposition, though the reader has
learned that a number of Indians were scatte