Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/101

 As the Americans started, he brushed against the medicine-man, so as to warn, with his French words:

"Knife. No knife."

The medicine-man instantly felt of the knife scabbard on his saddle. It was empty, as Scar Head well knew, for he had seen the clever Skidi steal the knife out. Now the "doctor" exclaimed, and spoke quickly to Chief Pike. They both reined aside, so did Baroney the interpreter—

"Come," beckoned the medicine-man, to Scar Head; and while the column went on with the second chief, they turned back to the Pawnees.

"We have come for a knife that is lost," announced Chief Pike, to Iskatappe, with Baroney talking for him in bad Pawnee.

"We know nothing about any knife," asserted Rich Man, stiffly.

"A knife is missing from this man's saddle," Chief Pike insisted. "I ask you to get it for me."

"You grow angry about a very small thing," Iskatappe replied. "What is one knife to you? Besides, you say it is lost. Very well; then you should find it. We know nothing about it."

Chief Pike flushed, angry indeed. His blue eyes looked hot.

"Whether or not it is a small thing, we Americans are not men who can be robbed. The knife may