“Oh chief of the Big Knives,” responded the Crow, rising majestically to his feet, “your fair words have won my heart. Our friendship will endure forever. When the sun comes again, I will be at your camp, together with two others of my trusted braves. We will lead you to the hiding-place of the accursed Sac.” “Good!” cried Dodge, his tone one of utmost elation; for his earlier suspicions had vanished from his mind. He was now convinced that the White Crow would be a faithful ally. As the little band of whites headed back for the camp by the First Lake, there was silence for some miles. Colonel Dodge rode at the head of the column, evidently rapt in thought. But his face was serene, and it was clear to all that he was well pleased with the parting words of the Winnebago, White Crow. “Colonel,” spoke up Bill Brown, abruptly spurring his horse to the officer’s side, “I kin see that you set great store on the Crow’s promise.” “I do, Brown; and why not?” “I think he’s lyin’.” “Pshaw, man! His words had the ring of truth.” “I still maintain that he’s lyin’, sir.” “Advance your reasons,” demanded Dodge fretfully, “that is, if you have any.” “It’s this-a-way, Colonel. Jest afore we reached the Crow’s village, we passed a bark-canoe, headin’ south down the lake.” “Hm! I did notice it. But what about it? Canoes are a common sight in the Indian country.” “Mebbe so, but that canoe didn’t have no common paddlers in it.” “What do you mean, Brown? Speak up! who were they?” “One of ’em was a white renegade, Fagan by name, a deserter from Fort Dearborn, and--” “A renegade deserter! Tarnation! Let me get hands on the dirty traitor and I’ll introduce him posthaste to a noose and a tree limb.” “’Nother one, Colonel, was the important Sac chief, Prairie Wolf. The third, from his looks, was a Sac, too.” “Hm!” mused Dodge, wrinkling his brow perplexedly, “that is, indeed, a strange circumstance. You think, I suppose, that the Sacs had just left the Winnebago village?” “Looked a heap like it.” “What was their purpose?” “I figger they was bearin’ a message from Black Hawk to White Crow. The two chiefs is in cahoots, sure as anythin’.” “But how do you explain the Crow’s friendly offer to lead us to the Hawk’s hiding-place?” broke in Captain Hamilton. “That makes your suspicions look rather silly.” “The ol’ Crow’s jest tryin’ to pull the wool over our eyes,” warned Brown ominously. “Wait an’ see! He’s got some sly trick up his sleeve.” “Well, it could be,” admitted Dodge ruefully. “If so, we’ll give the treacherous rascal plenty of rope, and let him hang himself.” CHAPTER 18 White Crow’s Treachery Soon after sunrise, as he had indicated, White Crow made his appearance at Dodge’s camp, accompanied by two of his foremost braves, both of them strong, sinewy warriors, armed with knife, hatchet and musket.