Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/29

 LOST WITH LIEUTENANT PIKE

I

THE COMING OF THE SPANIARDS

"Ai-ee! I see them!" panted Iskatappe, over his shoulder, and pointing to the west. "The Spanish!"

"It may be running buffalo, or a big wind," answered Skidi.

"Shall we halt and wait?" proposed Letalesha.

"No. It is they. It does not move fast enough for buffalo or wind. It is on this side of the river. We will cross the river and hide on the other side. Then we will be safe," ordered Iskatappe.

Boy Scar Head, at the rear, peered hard and he, too, sighted a dust cloud far westward, tinging the horizon above the rolling, sandy landscape.

This was the Corn month, July, 1806. The four were travelling in single file at fast dog-trot down through the northern end of Texas where the Canadian River crosses. Iskatappe, or Rich Man, led. He was second chief of the nation. Skidi, or Wolf, came next. He was a warrior. Letalesha, or