"Now you say they didn't get away. If not, they must be
over there now. How do you explain that?"
"No there."
"Of course they're not. Then they got away."
"No get away. Steal um," announced the Indian calmly.
His announcement was like an electric shock to them.
"Stolen? Stolen? Is that what you mean?" shouted Professor Zepplin.
"Yes."
"Oh, preposterous! Stolen? And with all of us sleeping within a rod
or so of them? Impossible."
"Eagle-eye say stole," insisted the guide.
"How do you know?"
"See um tracks, then not see um tracks."
"Well, what do you infer from that--what does that mean?"
The Indian went through a series of pantomimic gestures to indicate
that the feet of the missing ponies had been bound with cloths so that
their hoofs would leave no imprint.
"Come Eagle-eye," he commanded, striding off toward the bedding-down
place.
They followed and gathered around him as he picked up the ends of the
tether ropes.
"Break um? No, cut um."
"You mean the ropes have been cut?"
"Uh-huh," he grunted in gutteral tones.
There was silence for a moment.
"He isn't such a wooden Indian as he'd have us believe after all,"
grinned Ned.
"Can't you trail them?" asked Stacy.
The Shawnee shook his head.
"Why not?"
"No leave trail. Smart man."
"Yes, there is no doubt of that," agreed the Professor.
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