showed above their shelter. Immediately it was fired upon. Deerfoot turned to his young friends and smiled grimly. “I do that again,” he whispered. “When he fire, white boys jump to feet and fire too. We take him by surprise.” “A fine idea,” exclaimed Joseph eagerly. “Are you all ready, Bob?” “All ready,” replied Robert quietly. “Just give me the signal.” The two boys crouched, guns in hand, ready to spring to their feet instantly. Deerfoot also prepared to do his part. He lay on his back and slowly raised the hat; it was a nervous moment for the three people behind the fallen 26tree trunk. They did not know whether or not their foe would be deceived by their strategy and they could not be sure that only one hostile redman lurked in the nearby bush. Day had now come, however, and it was high time for them to move on. In a short time that portion of Black Hawk’s band which had pursued them the night before might once more appear and then their escape would be hopeless. 26 So gradually did Deerfoot raise the hat that it scarcely seemed to move. Little by little, however, it was elevated on the stick until it showed above the fallen log. Joseph and Robert waited with every muscle tense, ready to spring to their feet the instant their enemy should fire. If Deerfoot’s strategy succeeded and if there was only one Indian who barred their way the three fugitives would soon be able to resume their journey. After what seemed to the two young pioneers to be a very long time the hat appeared above the log. Now was the important moment, and of the three persons hiding behind the fallen tree, two of them at least were very nervous. The success or failure of their scheme would now be determined in a very short time. 27When at least two inches of the hat was exposed to view, Deerfoot waited. Nothing happened, however. He raised the hat a bit higher. Still there was no result. Perhaps their foe suspected a plot and was determined not to be caught. That such could be the case seemed most improbable, however. Deerfoot raised the hat still a little higher and moved it slightly to one side, as if its owner was trying to conceal himself behind something. 27 Bang! A shot
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