The trail was as plain as a white man’s wagon road, beaten out not only by horses but by tepee poles lashed together to form travois. Andy could have followed it at a lope and in the dark, but he did not want to push Long Red. He might have to depend upon the horse’s stamina if circumstances called for a hard run.

In the middle of the afternoon he came suddenly upon three Comanche hunters on horseback. Two carried deer carcasses in front of them. They reined up and waited for Andy, suspicion strong in their faces. The one not encumbered held a bow with an arrow fitted into its string.

Nervously Andy greeted them in their own language. Like so many others he had encountered, they wanted to know how a white youth knew the words of The People. He explained as briefly as he could. “I have been away from my people a long time. I am looking for them.”

He decided against using his brother’s name. Should things go badly, he did not want to bring trouble to Steals the Ponies.

The hunters accepted him with reservations. “Ride with us,” one said. “We will take you to our camp. Perhaps there you will find your family.”

Nearing the encampment, they passed by the horse herd. This time Andy was not disappointed. He recognized Billy’s pony and Purdy’s horse standing together near the outer edge, like two old acquaintances thrown unwillingly among strangers.

One of the hunters said, “We hope you find what you are looking for.”

Andy already had. He saw a woman cooking meat over an open fire in front of a tepee. She was Steals the Ponies’s wife. Seeing no other woman with her, he assumed she was still the only one. Two children, a boy and a girl, played nearby.

He approached slowly, not wanting to startle her. She looked up at him without recognition. He said, “Do you not know me?”

Her face was blank. “I do not believe so.”

“I am Badger Boy.”

She almost turned over the meat pot. She embraced him, then stood back for a better look. “I can see now, but you are much changed. You were a boy. Now you are a man.”

“I have come to see my brother.”

“He scouts for buffalo. He should be here soon.”

The boy and girl had stopped their play to stare at him in curiosity. He asked, “These are yours?”

“Yes. Before winter there will be another.” She looked away, then pointed. “He comes. Say nothing. See if he recognizes you.”