diff options
Diffstat (limited to '36888-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 36888-8.txt | 6457 |
1 files changed, 6457 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/36888-8.txt b/36888-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f0e025c --- /dev/null +++ b/36888-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6457 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Trail, by Elmer Russell Gregor + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The War Trail + +Author: Elmer Russell Gregor + +Release Date: July 29, 2011 [EBook #36888] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TRAIL *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Barbara Kosker, Michael and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _By ELMER R. GREGOR_ + + + JIM MASON, BACKWOODSMAN + JIM MASON, SCOUT + + _Western Indian Series_ + + WHITE OTTER + THE WAR TRAIL + THREE SIOUX SCOUTS + + _Eastern Indian Series_ + + SPOTTED DEER + RUNNING FOX + THE WHITE WOLF + +[Illustration: NOW WE MUST WATCH OUT! [Page 186]] + + + + + THE WAR TRAIL + + + + + BY + ELMER RUSSELL GREGOR + + AUTHOR OF "THE WHITE WOLF," + "RUNNING FOX," "WHITE OTTER," ETC. + + + + + [Illustration] + + + + + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + NEW YORK :: 1924 :: LONDON + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. A COURIER FROM THE WEST 1 + + II. OFF ON THE WAR TRAIL 13 + + III. THE COUNCIL FIRE 30 + + IV. AWAY INTO THE NORTH 44 + + V. SIOUX SCOUTS 56 + + VI. THE LONE RIDER 68 + + VII. SMOKE SIGNALS 75 + + VIII. A CLOSE CALL 87 + + IX. ANXIOUS MOMENTS 101 + + X. REBELLIOUS PONIES 115 + + XI. AN UNUSUAL ADVENTURE 128 + + XII. AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE FLATHEADS 147 + + XIII. A CLEVER STRATAGEM 158 + + XIV. THE BLACKFEET CAMP 167 + + XV. A PERILOUS RECONNAISSANCE 181 + + XVI. OFF WITH THE PONIES 197 + + XVII. HOTLY PURSUED 207 + + XVIII. THE STAMPEDE 224 + + XIX. TRAILING THE RUNAWAYS 236 + + XX. SAFE AT LAST 251 + + + + +THE WAR TRAIL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A COURIER FROM THE WEST + + +The sun was setting behind the western rim of the plain, as White Otter, +a famous young war-chief of the Ogalala Sioux, drew near the low ridge +of foothills which he had been approaching since daylight. He was bound +on a hunting expedition for deer, having promised to kill a fat young +buck for his grandfather, old Wolf Robe, the aged Sioux chief. + +White Otter approached the timber with his usual caution. He knew that +the forest often concealed foes as well as game, and he determined to +take no risks. He rode slowly toward the cover, therefore, watching for +the slightest warning of danger. He was within easy arrow range of the +woods when his pony suddenly stopped and snorted nervously. White Otter +instantly became alert. Drawing his bow, he slid to the ground, and +sheltered himself behind his pony. Then for some time pony and rider +watched the forest. + +A loud crackling of undergrowth, and a number of soft, bounding +footfalls told him the cause of his alarm. He had startled a deer from +its feeding ground at the edge of the plain. Convinced that the place +was free of foes, he mounted his pony, and rode to the edge of the +timber. + +This range of heavily timbered foothills was a favorite hunting ground +of the Ogalalas, and White Otter had visited the locality many times. He +was entirely familiar with the usual haunts of game, and knew the +location of every spring and salt lick. Once in the timber, therefore, +the young Sioux rode slowly along a well-worn game trail which brought +him to a small grassy park in the dip of the hills. A little stream +trickled through one end of it, and made it an ideal feeding ground for +deer and elk. As it was also an attractive and sheltered camp site, and +offered an abundance of feed for his pony, White Otter decided to remain +there for the night. + +The twilight shadows were already gathering as the Sioux tied his pony +in the woods and seated himself at the edge of the little park to watch +and listen. Although the day was about gone he hoped that he might +secure his game before darkness finally settled down. It was not long +before he was roused by a rustling of wings above his head. Looking up, +he saw a pair of plump spruce grouse on a limb directly over him. As the +birds stretched their necks and cocked their heads to look at him, he +drove an arrow through the body of the cock grouse. The bird fluttered +helplessly to the ground, and White Otter immediately broke its neck. +The remaining grouse still sat peering down at him. He made no attempt +to kill it. It was a law of his people to kill only what they required +that there might always be sufficient game to replenish the supply. + +"Wakantunka, the Great Mystery, has sent me something to eat," White +Otter said, reverently. "It is good." + +As it was getting quite dark, and as there seemed little probability of +seeing game, the Sioux decided to abandon his vigil until daylight. He +brought his pony from the timber and tied it in the center of the park +to graze. Then he selected his camp site and made a tiny fire of dry +sticks. As a precaution against being seen by some prowling foe, he +inclosed it with a barricade of rocks to hide its feeble glow. He +plucked the grouse and spitted it on a forked stick before the fire. +Then he drew his elk skin robe about his shoulders and seated himself to +enjoy his evening meal. + +After he had eaten the grouse White Otter allowed the fire to die out. +Then for a long time he sat in the darkness, listening to the night +sounds. The wind whispered softly in the tree tops. The shrill yelping +of the coyotes came from the open plain. Then the plaintive cry of the +little red owl sounded within bowshot. White Otter listened anxiously. +He knew that the call often was used as a signal, and he determined to +be on his guard. However, he soon convinced himself that it was genuine, +and dismissed it from his mind. Shortly afterward he brought his pony +from the park and tied it near him. Then he wrapped himself in his robe +and lay down to sleep. + +White Otter awakened at daylight and crept stealthily to the edge of the +park. As he saw no game, he sat down to watch. He felt quite sure that +either deer or elk would soon come there for food and water. In fact he +had waited only a short time when he heard something approaching through +the undergrowth. Fitting an arrow to his bow, White Otter looked +anxiously in the direction of the sound. In a few minutes he saw an old +bull elk standing in the shadows at the edge of the woods. It was thin +and emaciated, and White Otter knew that its flesh would be tough and +unpalatable. It was well within bowshot, but he had no thought of +killing it. He had promised his aged grandfather a fat young buck, and +he had no intention of disappointing him. As the old bull walked slowly +into the open, White Otter grunted, and the elk instantly stopped and +looked toward him. Then as the Sioux rose to his feet and showed himself +the aged bull turned awkwardly and trotted stiffly into the cover. + +"Go, old man," laughed White Otter. "You have lived a long time. I will +let you live on. I am----" + +He stopped abruptly, for at that moment he heard a loud snort, and a +great crackling of brush, as the buck for which he had been waiting +raced safely away through the woods. The young hunter flushed with +anger. + +"I am like a noisy old woman," he grumbled, savagely. + +After he had gone to examine the trail of the buck, he again seated +himself at the edge of the woods to watch for game. A long time passed +before he heard anything. Then he was surprised to hear something coming +directly toward him through the woods. It made a great noise, and +sounded like a deer or an elk in wild flight. White Otter sprang to his +feet and held his arrow in readiness. + +In a few moments a splendid blacktail buck leaped into the open. White +Otter was astonished to see a huge gray lynx clinging to the buck. As it +reached the park, the deer was dragged to its haunches. Then, apparently +unmindful of the interested young hunter, the lynx relaxed its hold and +sprang at the throat of its victim. The cruel fangs sank deep into the +flesh, and although the buck struggled desperately it was soon overcome. + +Then White Otter drove his arrow through the lynx. It fell dead with the +arrow through its heart. A second arrow ended the agony of the blacktail +buck. Elated at his luck the Sioux ran forward to examine his game. He +lifted the head of the lynx and gazed intently into the cruel face. Then +he addressed the dead animal and made excuses for having killed it, so +that its spirit would not depart in anger and seek to avenge itself upon +him at some future time. + +"Ho, old man, you were very fierce," White Otter said, softly. "You were +a good hunter. If I had not come here you would have had something good +to eat. Well, I saw you. I came here to get meat for my grandfather, the +great chief Wolf Robe. When I saw that buck I decided to take it. That +is why I killed you. But you must not feel bad about it. You have done +many bad things to my people. Yes, that is why I felt like killing you. +You have killed many young ponies. You have driven away many deer. You +have made it hard for our hunters to find meat. Now you know why I +killed you. But you must not feel bad about it. Now I am going to do +something good for you. I am going to give you some meat to take with +you on the Long Trail. Then I am going to tell my people about you. I +will speak good words about you. Now you must feel good about this +thing." + +Having complied with the ancient custom of his people, White Otter +opened the carcass of the deer and placed the entrails beside the lynx. +Then he packed the buck upon his pony with a long lariat of twisted +rawhide and rode from the park. + +When he reached the edge of the timber, White Otter stopped to search +the plain. A prairie wolf trotted slowly from sight over a rise of +ground. It was the only sign of life on the vast sage-grown waste. +Assured that there was nothing to fear, White Otter set out upon his +journey. + +White Otter had covered two thirds of the distance to the Sioux camp +when his pony suddenly turned its nose toward the wind and whinnied +shrilly. White Otter looked about him with considerable alarm. He felt +certain that other horses were somewhere in the vicinity. The +possibility roused his suspicions. He dismounted and grasped his pony +by the nose to keep it silent. It was snorting and nervously watching a +low grassy knoll several arrow flights away. + +"There are horses behind that hill," White Otter told himself. + +Two possibilities suggested themselves. Perhaps there was a small bunch +of stray ponies grazing on the opposite side of the hill. Perhaps his +foes had discovered him and were lying in ambush behind the knoll. The +thought made him uneasy, as the day was far spent, and he was still a +considerable distance from his people. He had great confidence in the +ability of his pony, however, which was one of the best in the entire +Sioux tribe. He believed that in an open chase he would have little +difficulty in keeping well beyond range of any pursuers who might set +out upon his trail. + +"I will find out about this thing," he declared. + +He planned to ride about the knoll at a safe distance in the hope of +discovering what lay hidden on the other side. As he was about to mount +his pony, however, he saw a warrior rise to his feet, and stand boldly +outlined on the top of the hill. It was an entirely unexpected maneuver, +and White Otter instantly became suspicious. He feared that it was a +trick to lead him into a trap. He looked anxiously about the plain to +make sure that other crafty foes were not circling around behind him to +cut off his retreat. He saw no one except the mysterious stranger on the +top of the hill. He seemed to be watching White Otter as intently as the +latter was watching him. For some time neither moved. + +White Otter finally decided that, as the unknown scout was too far away +to be identified, it would be foolish to waste more time watching him. +He determined to continue on his way toward the Sioux camp. If he +learned that he was being followed he planned to turn aside on a false +trail until it grew dark. Then he would circle back toward the Ogalala +village. + +As White Otter mounted his pony and started away, however, the warrior +on the knoll suddenly showed signs of life. The Sioux had ridden less +than an arrow flight when the sentinel disappeared over the brow of the +hill. White Otter felt quite certain that his pursuit had begun. He +watched anxiously over his shoulder for the first glimpse of his foes. +The Crows had lately been seen in that vicinity, and he wondered if a +company of those hated enemies were about to come racing along his +trail. He did not force his pony, however, as he was eager to learn the +identity of his pursuers before he raced away for the Sioux camp. + +White Otter did not have long to wait. In a few moments a solitary +horseman swept over a rise of the plain and galloped toward him. The +Sioux felt sure that it was the warrior who had been watching him. As +the stranger appeared to be alone, and eager to fight, White Otter +prepared for battle. Before venturing within arrow range, however, the +rider suddenly wheeled his pony, and raced around White Otter at great +speed. The Sioux immediately stopped and prepared to defend himself. +Then he suddenly discovered that the horseman was a friend. + +"Ho, Dacotah! Ho, my brother!" shouted the rider. + +"Yes, yes, now I see who you are," cried White Otter, as he lowered his +bow. + +A moment later they dismounted beside each other. White Otter recognized +the rider as a Minneconjoux warrior named Lean Wolf, an old friend with +whom he had shared several perilous adventures. + +"I have brought you some words from your brother, Sun Bird," said Lean +Wolf. + +"It is good," White Otter replied, eagerly, as his eyes lighted with +pleasure. + +"It is bad," Lean Wolf said, soberly. + +"Has something bad happened to my brother Sun Bird?" the young Ogalala +inquired anxiously. + +"No, I have not come to tell you that," Lean Wolf assured him. "I have +come to tell you that our enemies, the Blackfeet, came to our camp. They +crawled around the village in the dark like dogs. We did not hear them. +They ran off many ponies. Sun Bird is going to bring back those ponies. +He is the leader of a war party. He is going to fight the boastful +Blackfeet. He wants his brother White Otter to go with him." + +Lean Wolf finished speaking, and looked inquiringly at the young Ogalala +war chief. For some moments the latter remained silent. He knew that a +warrior must not speak hastily, or pledge himself too eagerly. Although +his heart beat wildly at the thought of joining his friend in a war +expedition against the Blackfeet, he carefully concealed his emotion +lest he might lose respect in the eyes of the stern Minneconjoux scout. +Then, after the proper interval, White Otter replied: + +"Lean Wolf, tell my brother Sun Bird that I will go with him to fight +the Blackfeet," he said, quietly. + +"It is good," replied Lean Wolf. + +"See, pretty soon it will be dark," said White Otter. "You must go with +me to my people." + +"No, I will go back," Lean Wolf told him. "I was going to your village +to find you. Then I saw you here. It is good. I have brought you the +words of your brother Sun Bird. It is what I set out to do. I have done +it. Now I will turn back. Sun Bird is waiting." + +"Go, my brother," replied White Otter. "Tell Sun Bird that I will come +to meet him at the end of three suns. If I do not come then he must wait +one sun more. Then if I do not come he will know that something bad has +happened to me. Now I am going away." + +They parted without further ceremony, riding away into the twilight in +opposite directions. Once they had separated neither looked back. After +he had ridden a short distance, however, White Otter raised his head and +uttered the wild, piercing war cry of the Dacotahs. It echoed defiantly +across the plain, and the young war chief thrilled at the sound. Then, +after a short silence, it was answered from the west. White Otter +laughed gleefully as he raced his pony toward the Sioux camp. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OFF ON THE WAR TRAIL + + +When White Otter reached the Sioux camp he rode directly to the lodge of +old Wolf Robe, the famous Ogalala war chief. + +"Ho, grandfather, see, I have brought you some meat," he cried gayly. + +"Ho, I see that you have killed a fat young buck," said Wolf Robe, as +his eyes lighted with pleasure. "Come, woman, cut some meat." + +At his command, old Singing Wind, the grandmother of White Otter, came +from the lodge. White Otter dragged the buck from his pony. Then, as +Singing Wind called some of the younger women to help her, White Otter +asked if he might talk with Wolf Robe. + +"Yes, my son, come into the lodge and sit down with me," said Wolf Robe. + +The old chief listened attentively while White Otter described his +unusual adventure with the lynx. Then he told of his meeting with Lean +Wolf, the Minneconjoux scout, and the message which the latter had +brought from Sun Bird. Wolf Robe looked sharply at his grandson. + +"I am going with Sun Bird to fight the Blackfeet," declared White Otter. + +Wolf Robe nodded understandingly, but made no reply. For a long time he +gazed thoughtfully at his battle-scarred war shield which hung on a +tripod of poles at the rear of the lodge. It appeared as if the aged war +leader was recalling his own glorious achievements on the war trail in +the days of his youth. White Otter waited patiently for him to speak. + +"It is good," Wolf Robe said, finally. "The voice of a friend travels +far. The ears of a Dacotah are open for the words of a friend. Sun Bird +has called you. He is your friend. You must go." + +Having given this advice, Wolf Robe again subsided into silent +meditation. As White Otter rose to leave, however, his grandfather +motioned for him to be seated. + +"Wait, my son, I have some words for you," he said. + +"It is good," replied White Otter. + +"You say that you are going to fight the Blackfeet," said Wolf Robe. +"Those people are strong. They are braver than the boastful Pawnees. I +have fought with them many times. When I was a young man I was taken to +their village. They kept me there many moons. Those were bad days. Then +I got away. After that I fought many battles against those people. Once +I went to their camp, and took away some ponies. It was a hard thing to +do. Yes, my son, the Blackfeet are great warriors. Well, I have told you +about them. Now you can tell our brothers, the Minneconjoux, about it. I +believe you will have a big fight to get back those ponies. My son, you +are a Dacotah. It is enough. I have spoken. Go!" + +The following day, at sunrise, White Otter set out to join the +Minneconjoux war party. He was dressed and decorated for the war trail. +Naked above the waist, he had daubed and streaked his face, chest and +arms with yellow clay. A great war bonnet of eagle plumes proclaimed his +rank as a famous Ogalala war chief. His dress consisted of buckskin +leggings, buffalo-hide moccasins, a buckskin breechcloth, and a silky +cow buffalo robe for protection against wind and storm. He carried a +wolfskin case containing his bow and arrows, a flint knife in a buckskin +sheath, his buffalo-hide war shield, and a weasel-skin pouch containing +his fire sticks and some dried meat. Mounted upon his best war pony, +the dashing young warrior made a striking appearance as he rode proudly +from the great Sioux camp. + +Many friends shouted good wishes from the edge of the village. White +Otter turned his pony, and answered them with the thrilling war-cry of +the Dacotahs. Then he raced away toward the west. + +Once beyond range of the camp, however, White Otter drew his pony to a +walk, and carefully scanned the plain. He had little fear of +encountering foes so near the Ogalala village, but he determined to take +every precaution. A small band of antelope were feeding far away toward +the south, and as they seemed to be the only living creatures on the +vast expanse of plain White Otter urged his pony into a canter and +proceeded on his way. + +It was a glorious day in early summer. The sky was blue and cloudless. +The prairie was dotted with flowers. Birds sang gayly from the thickets. +The air was perfumed with the fragrance of blossoms, the sweet aroma of +growing grass, and the faint, spicy scent of distant sage. + +White Otter rode on his way in high spirits. He was carefree, and happy, +and eager for adventure. The fact that he was about to expose himself +to the perils of the war trail caused him slight concern. He had +implicit confidence in the ability and courage of his tribesmen, the +fearless Minneconjoux, and he had little doubt that their expedition +against the powerful Blackfeet would be entirely successful. The thought +of being injured or killed in the adventure never entered his mind. If +it had he would have wasted little time upon it, as he had long since +learned to scoff at danger, and to accept injury and death as inevitable +possibilities in the life of every warrior. + +Toward the end of the day White Otter came in sight of a familiar little +grove of aspens which marked a former camp site. He had encountered a +company of Ute warriors at that spot the previous year, and he was +somewhat suspicious of it. It offered a splendid hiding place to foes, +and the wily young Sioux determined to make sure that the place was +unoccupied before he ventured within arrow range. He stopped at a safe +distance out on the plain, and watched the grove with considerable +anxiety. Then, as he saw nothing to arouse his suspicions, he rode +slowly about the camp site, looking for fresh pony tracks. He soon +discovered them. They led away from the grove. White Otter dismounted, +and studied them with great care. He saw that it was the trail of a +single pony, and the tracks were several days old. Having learned that +much, he walked slowly ahead of his horse, watching carefully to +discover where the trail had entered the grove. + +"Perhaps it was Lean Wolf," he told himself. + +He soon learned otherwise, as the trail approached the grove from the +south. White Otter followed the tracks a short distance out on the +plain, and found evidence which convinced him that the pony had carried +a rider. As there seemed little to be gained by following the trail +farther in that direction, he turned and followed it to the grove. + +The camp site was unoccupied, and as there was a spring, and plenty of +grass for his horse, White Otter decided to stop there for the night. He +picketed his pony, and then began to examine the place for signs. The +ashes from a small fire, and some charred bones scattered near by, told +him that some one had spent the night at that spot several days before. +He worked diligently to find a clew to the identity of the traveler, but +found nothing which would tell him what he wished to know. The little +mound of ashes, the remnants of a meal, and the pony tracks were his +only clews. + +The fact that the unknown horseman had come from the south aroused White +Otter's interest. Both the Pawnees and the Utes lived to the southward. +As he had already encountered a war party of the latter at the grove he +wondered if it was a favorite stopping place for those mysterious foes. +However, as the signs were at least two days old, the possibility caused +him little concern. + +Having finished his reconnaissance, White Otter seated himself at the +edge of the grove to watch the plain. The sun had already set, and the +purple evening shadows were creeping out of the east. The prairie +appeared lifeless. The Sioux was at a loss to account for the scarcity +of game. He feared that foes of some sort had driven it from the +locality. The thought suggested the possibility that the lone rider was +a scout, loitering behind a hunting party to watch for enemies. + +At dark White Otter returned to his pony. He feared to make a fire, lest +the gleam might betray him to his foes. He sat beside the little spring, +and ate several cakes of pemmican, composed of dried meat and berries, +which he had brought for just such an emergency. + +Before he ventured to sleep, White Otter returned to the edge of the +plain, and spent a long time listening for a warning of approaching +enemies. The howling of some distant prairie wolves, the gentle rustling +of the aspens, and an occasional grunt from his pony were the only +sounds. He continued to listen, however, until the night was half gone. +Then he returned to the camp site, and lay down to sleep. + +Dawn was just breaking when White Otter was suddenly awakened by the +snorting of his pony. Seizing his bow, he moved cautiously to the edge +of the grove. A buck antelope was standing within easy bowshot. It had +scented the pony, and stopped to investigate. Unable to resist the +temptation, White Otter drove his arrow through its heart. It was a +yearling in prime condition, and he cut a choice steak from the carcass. +Then, as the light strengthened, and he saw no evidence of foes, he made +a tiny fire and broiled the antelope meat. He ate heartily, and gave +thanks to Wakantunka, the Great Mystery, for sending him food. + +Shortly after sunrise White Otter resumed his journey toward the +Minneconjoux camp. As the pony tracks led in that direction he followed +them with keen interest. If the lone horseman really were a hostile +scout, White Otter knew that to follow him would be the surest and +safest way of locating any enemies who might be in the vicinity. He kept +a sharp watch, therefore, and approached the knolls and ridges with +great caution. + +It was midday before he saw anything to make him suspicious. Then he +discovered a dense cloud of dust rising behind a slight elevation of the +plain. He immediately stopped to watch it. It suggested two +possibilities--a herd of frightened buffaloes or a company of horsemen. +White Otter longed to peep over the top of the ridge, but he realized +that it would be folly to take the risk until he knew what was before +him. He knew that hostile scouts might be watching from that spot, and +the possibility made him cautious. + +"Perhaps some one is hunting buffaloes," he said. + +Realizing that he might have been seen, White Otter looked for a place +of concealment. The plain was open and bare of shelter, however, and +there was no chance to hide. He determined to remain where he was, +hoping that something might appear along the crest of the ridge. + +It was soon evident that whatever was raising the dust was moving +rapidly toward the north. White Otter felt quite certain that it was a +herd of buffaloes in wild flight. Perhaps they were pursued by wolves, +which were always loitering about the herds at that season to prey upon +the young calves. It was just as probable, however, that a hunting +party of foes had invaded the great Sioux hunting grounds. + +"Well, I will wait here and see what comes of it," declared White Otter. + +The dust cloud finally faded out some distance farther toward the north. +White Otter was perplexed. He was undecided as to what he should do. The +ridge extended like a barrier directly across his path, and it would be +necessary to cross it to continue his journey. Still, he realized the +peril of venturing within bow range. + +White Otter waited a long time, and then finally turned his pony toward +the south, and rode along parallel with the ridge. Having seen nothing +which would lead him to suspect enemies, he planned to cross the ridge +some distance to the southward. When he believed that he had gone a +sufficient distance, he turned and approached the ridge. As he finally +came within arrow range he stopped and searched the top of the slope for +signs of foes. Although he failed to discover them, he realized that +they might be lying just below the top of the ridge, in which event it +would be impossible to see them. He rode forward with great caution, +therefore, and was prepared to flee at the first hint of danger. + +White Otter had actually begun to climb the slope when he was startled +by a chorus of whoops and yells, and turning toward the left he saw a +company of horsemen racing toward him. He lashed his pony up the slope +and crossed the ridge. Then he rode furiously toward the west. + +The maneuver completely fooled the Pawnees who had expected him to turn +down the ridge and flee in the opposite direction. Their confusion gave +White Otter a chance to get beyond arrow range before they dashed over +the ridge in pursuit of him. He looked over his shoulder and counted +eight riders whom he instantly recognized as Pawnees. His eyes flashed +dangerously as he thought of those hated foes. + +White Otter was holding his lead over his pursuers when he suddenly saw +a solitary rider gallop from a little grove of trees, and race +diagonally across the plain in an effort to intercept him. The Pawnee +was mounted on a particularly fast little buckskin, and White Otter +realized that unless he swerved from his course he would soon come +within easy bow range of him. The Sioux however, refused to give way. + +"I will kill that man," White Otter declared, grimly. + +The other Pawnees had failed to come within bowshot, and although they +were yelling fiercely, and forcing their ponies to the limit, White +Otter gave little attention to them. His eyes were fixed on the daring +rider who was racing recklessly across the plain in an attempt to get in +front of him. The Pawnee seemed equally intent upon watching White +Otter. The ponies appeared well matched, and the race was a thrilling +one. + +When they finally came within bow range, White Otter was sufficiently in +the lead to foil the plan of the Pawnee. The latter, however, +immediately began to shoot his arrows, and one of them penetrated deep +behind the shoulder of the Sioux pony. Mortally wounded, the unfortunate +animal made one great bound and then crashed to its knees, and White +Otter was thrown heavily over its head. + +Jarred and stunned, the Sioux staggered to his feet to find the Pawnee +almost upon him. Quick to realize his peril, White Otter dropped behind +his dying pony as the Pawnee shot his arrow. The next moment he drove +his own arrow through the body of his foe, as the latter rode at him +with his war club raised for the fatal stroke. As the Pawnee toppled to +the plain, White Otter sprang forward and seized the bewildered pony. An +instant later he was racing away through a volley of Pawnee arrows. + +Enraged at the fate of their comrade, the Pawnees were risking their +necks to overtake the Sioux. White Otter feared that at any moment +either he or the captured pony would be pierced by their arrows. In +their frenzy, however, they shot wildly, and their arrows flew wide of +the mark. White Otter lashed the Pawnee pony without mercy in an effort +to place himself beyond arrow range. He was astonished at the speed and +stamina of the buckskin, and he soon realized that it was the equal of +the horse he had lost. The discovery gave him confidence. A glance +backward told him that two of his pursuers were steadily losing ground, +and he was holding his lead against the others. He was still within +arrow range, however, and he crouched low upon the buckskin, and urged +it to still greater efforts. It responded nobly, and the fierce yells +from his enemies convinced him that they were falling farther behind. +The Pawnee pony was speeding over the plain with great bounds, and White +Otter was forced to admit that his favorite war pony would have been +sorely tried to maintain the pace. + +Having begun to increase his lead, White Otter took hope. The little +buckskin had won his confidence, and he had little fear of being +overtaken. The day was far spent, and he believed that he would have +little difficulty in keeping well ahead of his pursuers until darkness +came to his aid. Then he knew that it would be a simple task to shake +them from his trail. Feeling sure of escape, therefore, he sat erect and +shook his bow defiantly at the helpless Pawnees. They replied with wild +yells of rage, and White Otter laughed mockingly. + +The Pawnees continued the chase until darkness finally blotted them from +sight. Then White Otter turned sharply from his course, and rode +directly toward the north. Feeling confident that the maneuver would +baffle his foes, he slackened the pace of his pony to an easy canter. +Thus he rode until the night was half gone, and then he stopped and +dismounted from the tired little buckskin. + +Fearing that the Pawnees might continue to search for him, White Otter +made no attempt to sleep. He sat close beside his pony, watching and +listening for a warning of his foes. He hoped that if they failed to +find him before daylight they would abandon the pursuit rather than +venture farther into the Minneconjoux hunting grounds. + +Shortly before daylight White Otter mounted his pony and rode away +toward the west. Having heard nothing from the Pawnees he felt quite +certain that he had thrown them from his trail. His confidence was +rudely shaken, however, when he suddenly heard the sharp, husky bark of +the little gray fox a short distance at his left. A few moments +afterward a horse whinnied, and before he could interfere the little +buckskin replied. + +"That is bad," White Otter murmured, uneasily. + +He was fearful and perplexed. The signal was a favorite one among the +Sioux, and still under the circumstances he mistrusted it. He waited, +therefore, listening anxiously to locate whoever confronted him. In a +few moments the call was repeated at his right. He knew that either +friends or foes were on both sides of him. At length he answered the +challenge. A voice sounded from the darkness. + +"Ho, Dacotah." + +"Ho, my brother Sun Bird," White Otter replied, joyfully, as he +recognized the voice of his friend. + +Then Sun Bird and his brother Little Raven rode forward to meet him. The +three young warriors had shared many perilous adventures, and they +greeted one another with boyish enthusiasm. Then Sun Bird repeated the +call of the little gray fox three times in quick succession, and fifteen +grim Minneconjoux warriors came to join them. + +"Lean Wolf told us about this thing," Sun Bird explained. "Come, Lean +Wolf, here is White Otter, tell him about it." + +"Ho, my brother," said Lean Wolf, as he rode up beside White Otter. + +"Ho, my brother Lean Wolf," White Otter replied, heartily. + +"When I was riding back to my people I saw some Pawnee hunters," +explained Lean Wolf. "They saw me, but I was a long ways off. They did +not come after me. I told my people about it. Sun Bird said, 'It is bad. +Those Pawnees may kill White Otter. Perhaps we can help him. Come, my +friends, who will go with me to find White Otter?' That is how we came +here." + +"It is good," said White Otter. "The brave Minneconjoux are my brothers. +I believe when the Pawnees heard your ponies they ran away. But see, my +friends, I am riding one of their ponies. It is very fast. I will tell +you how I come to have it." + +The Minneconjoux listened with great interest while White Otter told of +his adventure with the Pawnees. When he finished speaking there were +many exclamations of approval from the stern warriors who had gathered +about him. + +"White Otter, you have done a good thing," declared Sun Bird. "See, it +is getting light. Come, we will go and tell our people how you fooled +the boastful Pawnees." + +They turned their ponies toward the west, and rode away singing +boastfully of White Otter's triumph over the Pawnees. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE COUNCIL FIRE + + +Late the second day the Sioux came in sight of the great Minneconjoux +camp. It was situated beside a wide stream that flowed down from great +snowy peaks farther to the westward. The little company of riders +stopped on the summit of a grassy knoll and looked with pride on the +great circle of lodges which dotted the plain. Their pride was somewhat +humbled, however, by the absence of the vast herd of ponies which +usually were to be seen grazing near the village. The few horses that +had escaped the Blackfeet raid were carefully guarded within the camp. + +The riders had already been discovered and recognized by watchers at the +edge of the village, and a company of horsemen was soon racing across +the plain to meet them. + +"See! my people are coming to take you to their village," Sun Bird told +White Otter. + +As the Minneconjoux dashed up to them White Otter recognized several old +friends in the company who had come out to welcome him. There was +Feather Dog, a famous scout, with whom he had shared a number of +thrilling adventures; and Sitting Eagle, another great scout, was in the +party. Then there was Kicking Bull, a renowned hunter, whom White Otter +had saved from death in a buffalo stampede. All those men greeted the +famous young Ogalala chief with great respect, and his heart filled with +pride as he realized the esteem in which he was held by those renowned +warriors. + +"You have come to help us fight the Blackfeet," said Feather Dog. "It is +good. We will do some big things." + +"I was going with my brother Sun Bird to find you, but the great chief +Curly Horse asked me to stay behind," explained Kicking Bull. "Some of +our young men saw smoke over near the mountains, and we were afraid that +the Blackfeet were coming back. That is why I held back." + +"It is good," declared White Otter. + +As the horsemen approached the camp the Minneconjoux began to shout the +name of White Otter and to sing songs of welcome. The daring exploits of +the young Ogalala war chief had made him famous throughout the great +Dacotah nation, and the Minneconjoux were prepared to honor him with +the courtesies due a great chief. When he reached the edge of the +village he was met by a delegation of noted warriors who led him through +the camp, so that all the people might have a chance to welcome him. + +"See, here is White Otter!" cried the Minneconjoux. "It is White Otter, +the great chief of the Ogalalas. It is White Otter, the great war +leader. See, White Otter, our lodges are open. We have cooked much meat. +You must come to our lodges, and eat with us." + +Men, women and children followed behind his pony, as his escort led him +toward the lodge of the famous chief, Curly Horse. The Minneconjoux war +chief was waiting to receive him. Beside him stood Rain Crow, the noted +Minneconjoux medicine man, who was the father of Sun Bird and Little +Raven. The most renowned men of the tribe composed the company which +Curly Horse had summoned to greet the Ogalala. They were dressed in +their choicest possessions and they made a splendid appearance. Each of +them wore the coveted war bonnet of eagle plumes, and carried his +coupstick with a record of his achievements on the war trail. It was a +notable gathering, and White Otter thrilled with pride as he looked upon +those splendid men of the great Dacotah nation. + +Curly Horse, the chief, was particularly imposing. He was a middle-aged +man, tall, and of powerful physique, with stern features, and steady, +penetrating eyes. His voice was deep and commanding, and he carried +himself with the pride and dignity appropriate to his rank. He wore a +great headdress of eagle feathers which extended to the ground. Each +feather was tipped with a small tuft of hair taken from the scalps of +his foes. His buckskin shirt was decorated with weasel tails, and mystic +symbols traced with colored porcupine quills. His buckskin breeches were +deeply fringed, and ornamented with porcupine quills and elk teeth. A +breastplate composed of the leg bones of deer covered his breast. About +his neck was a necklace of bear claws. His moccasins were of buffalo +hide, beautifully decorated with porcupine quills and colored grass. +Over his arm he carried a magnificent robe of the grizzly bear. + +"White Otter, you have come to my lodge--it is good," said Curly Horse. +"These great warriors have come here to meet you. Many moons have passed +since you came here before. My people have talked about you. They wanted +you to come back. Now I will tell you that we feel good because you have +come here." + +"I have listened to the words of the great chief, Curly Horse," replied +White Otter. "They make me feel good. I will keep them in my heart. The +Minneconjoux are my brothers. When my brothers call, I come. My brother +Sun Bird called me. I am here. I am going with my brothers to fight the +Blackfeet. We will bring back many ponies." + +As White Otter ceased speaking Curly Horse glanced at Rain Crow and the +famous medicine man stepped forward to greet the Ogalala. + +Rain Crow appeared older and less robust than his chief, but he, too, +was of striking appearance. His face was seamed and scarred, and his +hair was streaked with gray. His eyes, however, flashed with the fire of +youth. He wore a large wolfskin cap decorated with a great pair of +buffalo horns. His face was painted with white clay. His hair was +divided into two braids bound with otter skin. His buckskin shirt and +breeches were decorated with mysterious medicine symbols. About his neck +was a necklace of sacred charms or tokens, each believed to possess some +strange power which would aid him in overcoming the Evil Spirits, and +preserve him from the attacks of his foes. In his right hand he carried +the sacred medicine pipe. Over his left arm was a handsome robe of +wolfskins. + +"White Otter, Curly Horse has spoken," said Rain Crow. "Now I will give +you some words. I feel good when I see you here. You are a young man, +but you are a great chief. I believe you will do something big when you +meet the boastful Blackfeet. White Otter, you say that Sun Bird and +Little Raven are your brothers. It is good. I will make you my son. My +son, the lodge of Rain Crow is open for you. I have spoken." + +"Rain Crow, you are a great Medicine Person," replied White Otter. "You +have done some big things. I have heard my people talk about you. It is +true that Sun Bird and Little Raven are my brothers. You have called me +your son. It is a great thing. I feel good about it. I will tell my +people about it. It will make them feel big. My father, I will bring you +some ponies from the Blackfeet camp. I have finished." + +Many other noted warriors made speeches praising the ability and courage +of the young Ogalala, and welcoming him to the Minneconjoux camp. When +the ceremony was finally concluded Sun Bird escorted White Otter to the +lodge of Rain Crow. + +"Now I will tell you how the Blackfeet ran off all those ponies," Sun +Bird said, when they were alone. + +"Yes, tell me about it," urged White Otter. + +"We were dancing the Buffalo Dance," said Sun Bird. "My father was +singing the Medicine Songs. The people were sitting near the fire. The +fast war ponies were tied near the lodges, but many good hunting ponies +were out on the plain. We left them there because our scouts did not see +any signs of enemies. Only a few boys were watching those ponies. Well, +while the people were dancing and singing we heard a great noise. There +were many shouts. Then we heard many ponies running. Pretty soon a boy +rode into the village. He was shouting, 'The Blackfeet! The Blackfeet! +They have run off the ponies!' Then we jumped upon the war ponies, and +were going out to chase the Blackfeet, but Curly Horse held us back. +'Wait!' shouted Curly Horse. 'Perhaps it is a trick. Perhaps a great war +party is about to rush into the camp. We will watch, and see what comes +of it.' We knew that those were good words, and we waited to guard the +camp. Well, no one came. Then we knew that the Blackfeet had gone away +with the ponies. When it got light one of the boys came back. His pony +fell down and died when he came into the village. He rode a long ways to +get away from the Blackfeet. The other boy did not come back. The +Blackfeet must have carried him away." + +"Who is he?" inquired White Otter. + +"He is Dancing Rabbit," Sun Bird told him. + +"His father was Lame Wolf. He was killed by our enemies, the Crows. His +mother fell into the water, and was carried away by the fierce Water +Monsters. Old Spotted Face is his grandfather. He feels very bad about +this thing." + +"I know Spotted Face," said White Otter. "He is a great man. We must try +to help him." + +"Perhaps we will find Dancing Rabbit in the Blackfeet camp," replied Sun +Bird. + +The day had already ended, and as the evening shadows fell upon the camp +the Minneconjoux began preparations for the great war dance. A large +fire was lighted in the center of the village, and the entire tribe +assembled to honor the men who were going to fight the Blackfeet. The +warriors who had enlisted in the war party marched noisily about the +camp, singing their war songs, and shouting boastful threats against +their foes. As they finally approached the council fire they were +greeted with wild yells of approval from the great company who awaited +them. Then all subsided into respectful silence as Curly Horse and the +principal chiefs of the tribe walked solemnly into the council circle. + +After the chief and his escort had taken positions, the warriors lined +up before him and waited for him to address them. He looked upon them +with pride and affection. Most of them were young men in the prime of +their youth, and their bold, flashing eyes and fearless faces proclaimed +their courage. They were led by Sun Bird who had organized the war +party. He called White Otter to stand beside him, and the Minneconjoux +murmured approval of the honor. + +"My brothers, I see that you are ready for war," said Curly Horse. "You +are going to fight the Blackfeet. It is good. They are our enemies. They +have carried off many of our ponies. You must bring them back. You must +also bring some good Blackfeet ponies. Perhaps you will find Dancing +Rabbit in the Blackfeet camp. Then you must carry him away. Spotted Face +is waiting for him. I will not tell you how to fight. You are Dacotahs. +It is enough. Now I will ask Rain Crow to give you some words." + +Before speaking, Rain Crow drew an ember from the fire and lighted the +sacred medicine pipe. Then he puffed the smoke toward the heavens, +toward the earth, and toward each of the four winds. He kept up a weird, +high-pitched chant, and tossed small handfuls of dried sweet grass into +the flames. It was evident that he was asking success for the war party, +and the Minneconjoux watched him with grave interest. When he had +completed the ceremony, he stood some time staring fixedly at the stars. +Then he addressed the war company. + +"My friends, you have seen me smoke the great Medicine Pipe," he said. +"It is good. It will help you. I have asked Wakantunka, the Great +Mystery, to make you strong. I have asked the Good Spirits to help you. +I have asked the Bad Spirits to do you no harm. I believe everything +will be good. I believe you will overcome the Blackfeet. Listen, my +friends, I hear the noise of many ponies running. Yes, yes, those are +Sioux ponies. Yes, I hear some Blackfeet ponies. They are running toward +the Minneconjoux camp. I see these brave young men riding behind them." + +His prophecy roused the Minneconjoux. Men, women and children united +their voices in the war cry of the Dacotahs. It rang through the camp, +and echoed off across the plain as a challenge to their foes. Rain Crow +laughed, and shook his clenched hand toward the north. + +"Hi, you Blackfeet people, do you hear that noise?" he cried, excitedly. +"Pretty soon you will know what it means. Then you will shake, and cry +like young deer when they hear the wolf cry." + +His words again threw the people into a frenzy of excitement. The war +cry again rang out across the plain, and before the sound had died away +the warriors had assembled for the war dance. They formed a large circle +about the fire, and stood awaiting the word from Sun Bird, their leader. +A number of aged men had come forward with the war drums, and taken +places near the dancers. A hush fell upon the vast assemblage, as the +Minneconjoux watched eagerly for the interesting spectacle to begin. + +Then Sun Bird raised his voice in the familiar strains of the great war +song, and the dance began. Keeping time with the solemn, rhythmical +throbbing of the war drums, the dancers moved slowly about the fire +chanting the boastful words of the war song, and flourishing their +weapons. They had not circled many times about the fire, however, before +they cast off restraint, and flung themselves into ecstasies of the +dance with wild abandon. The war song was forgotten, as the dancers +began to shout their boasts and threats against the powerful foes in the +north. Each moment added to their excitement, and as the war drums +throbbed in shorter, quicker beats, the dancers quickened their steps to +hold the rhythm. Although each held his place in the circle, they had +abandoned all attempt to dance in unison, and each man was interpreting +the spirit of the dance to suit himself. All, however, kept time to the +beats of the war drums, and the droning chants of the aged musicians. As +quick and sinewy as mountain cats, the young warriors pranced about the +fire in a frenzy of enthusiasm. Each tried to surpass his fellows in the +mad antics of the dance, and their maneuvers brought yells of approval +from the fascinated onlookers. At one moment the dancers would stoop +near the ground, and dance forward with short, mincing steps, shading +their eyes with their hands, as if searching for the trail of their +foes. Then they would suddenly spring upright and announce their success +with a piercing whoop. A moment afterward they would leap forward with +war club raised to deliver the fatal stroke. Then they would begin a +wild dance about the fallen foe. Some of the older warriors carried +their coupsticks with the trophies won on former war expeditions. As +they danced they shook these priceless possessions before the envious +eyes of their tribesmen. Sometimes one of those dancers would drive his +coupstick in the ground while he and several companions danced wildly +about it, rushing up to touch it and reciting some great achievement as +they did so. Then all would suddenly stand transfixed in their places +while they raised their faces toward the stars, and united their voices +in the piercing Dacotah war cry. + +The spectacle was weird and fascinating. The grotesque contortions of +the dancers in the lurid glare of the fire, the fierce expression on +their faces, the solemn throbbing of the war drums, the picturesque +assemblage of spectators, the dim, ghostly outlines of the lodges in the +shadows, the gaunt, wolf-like dogs skulking along the edge of the camp, +made a striking impression on the memory. + +White Otter, as a famous war chief of the Ogalalas, was entitled to +stand with Curly Horse and the prominent men of the tribe. He declined +the honor, however, and took his place in the circle of dancers. The +Minneconjoux watched him with approving eyes as he threw himself into +the spirit of the dance. When the ceremony was finally brought to an end +toward daylight, Curly Horse called the Ogalala to his lodge. + +"White Otter, you are a great warrior," said Curly Horse. "A great +warrior must have a good horse. The Pawnees have killed your war pony. +It is true that you have taken a good pony from those boastful people. +Well, you are a Dacotah, and you must ride a Dacotah pony. I am going to +give you one of my fastest ponies to ride to the Blackfeet camp. I have +spoken." + +"Curly Horse, you have done a big thing," White Otter replied, +gratefully. "You are a great chief, and I know that you have the fastest +ponies. Yes, I will ride your pony to the Blackfeet camp." + +"It is good," declared Curly Horse. + +When White Otter told Sun Bird of the gift which he had received from +Curly Horse, Sun Bird beamed with pleasure. He believed that there were +few, if any, ponies in the entire Dacotah nation which possessed the +speed and endurance of those owned by the great Minneconjoux chief. + +"Perhaps when you ride that horse you will leave me far behind," Sun +Bird said, banteringly. + +"Well, my brother, if I get to the Blackfeet camp ahead of you I will +leave some Blackfeet for you to kill," laughed White Otter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AWAY INTO THE NORTH + + +As White Otter and Sun Bird came from the lodge at dawn they found a boy +waiting with a fiery little piebald pony. + +"Curly Horse has sent you this pony," said the lad, as he passed the +lariat to White Otter. + +"Tell the great chief Curly Horse that White Otter feels good about this +thing," said the Ogalala. + +"I know that pony," Sun Bird told him. "It is very fast, but it is very +wild. You must watch out for it." + +"I will ride it," White Otter assured him. + +He was no sooner upon its back, however, than the hot-tempered little +beast began to rear and plunge in a manner that would have proved +disastrous to a less expert rider. White Otter, however, refused to be +thrown, and Sun Bird whooped with boyish glee as he capered wildly about +the rearing pony and shouted encouragement to his friend. His shouts +soon brought an appreciative audience from the lodges, and White Otter +realized that his reputation as a horseman was at stake. He set his +sinewy thighs more closely behind the shoulders of the plunging piebald, +and pulled hard on the lariat which was twisted about the animal's lower +jaw. The Minneconjoux soon saw that he was an expert, and they offered +neither criticism nor advice. They watched with flashing eyes as horse +and rider fought for supremacy. Then the pony suddenly whirled about and +dashed among them, and they scattered like a covey of frightened quail +to avoid the flying hoofs. The piebald bucked its way through the center +of the camp, with a great company of men and boys racing along behind it +and yelling at the top of their voices. Some women were broiling meat +near the end of the village, and as they heard the wild commotion, and +saw the pony racing directly toward them, they fled to the lodges in a +panic, crying out that the Blackfeet had invaded the camp. + +In the meantime the piebald had collided with a number of other +high-spirited ponies which were tied before the lodges of their owners, +and several of the animals broke loose and imitated the mad antics of +the piebald. In a few moments the entire camp was in an uproar. The +barking of the dogs, the shouts of the men, the screams of the women, +and the frightened cries of the children mingled in one great din which +turned the village into bedlam. + +"It is bad," cried Curly Horse, as he watched the disorder from the +entrance to his lodge. "Some Evil Spirit must have gone into that +horse." + +The piebald, however, had finally exhausted itself. It stood upon +trembling legs at the edge of the camp, with its head lowered in defeat. +White Otter reached over, and gently stroked the sweaty neck. Then he +raised its head and spoke sharply, and the piebald gave obedience to its +master. He rode directly to the lodge of Curly Horse. + +"That is a bad horse," said Curly Horse. "I will give you another pony." + +"No, no!" cried White Otter. "I will keep this pony. It is fast, and +strong. It will make a great war pony." + +"Well, I see that you can ride it, so I will say no more about it," +replied Curly Horse. + +The wild escapade of the little piebald had aroused the camp, and as the +members of the war party finally rounded up the loose ponies, and +assembled in the center of the village, the entire tribe gathered to +witness the departure. When the gallant company was ready to leave, +Curly Horse came forward to address them. + +"My brothers, you are about to ride away to the great Blackfeet camp," +he said. "Before you lies a long and dangerous trail. We have many +enemies in that country. The Blackfeet are the strongest. They are very +sly. You must be as brave as great Matohota, the bear, and as cunning as +Tokala, the little gray fox. I see many brave warriors among you. I see +Sun Bird, your leader. He is a great warrior. I see White Otter, the +great Ogalala chief. I see Little Raven. He is very young, but he has +done big things. I see Short Bear. He is very brave. I see Feather Dog. +He is a great scout. I see Lean Wolf and Sitting Eagle. They have been +on many war trails. I see many more brave warriors. It is a great war +party. I believe you will do what you are setting out to do. I believe +you will bring back many ponies. I will ask Wakantunka, the Great +Mystery, to help you. I will ask our brother, Huya, the great war bird, +to lead you to the Blackfeet camp. Go, my brothers, Curly Horse has +spoken." + +"Curly Horse, you have given us big words," replied Sun Bird. "We will +keep them in our hearts. We will remember that we are Dacotahs. It is +enough. We will go." + +A few moments afterward the war party rode from the village. Many of the +older warriors who were remaining behind to guard the camp accompanied +the war party some distance across the plain. The old men, the boys, and +the women and children gathered at the edge of the camp, singing the war +songs, and calling upon Wakantunka to protect their warriors from the +fierce and warlike Blackfeet. + +Sun Bird asked White Otter to ride with him at the head of the company. +The youthful Minneconjoux war leader fully realized his responsibility, +and he was glad to have the aid and counsel of the famous young war +chief whom he had asked to accompany him. + +The war party was not a large one. It contained less than a third of the +fighting men of the tribe. The Minneconjoux feared to send a larger +force from the village, for they knew that their old enemies, the Crows, +as well as several scouting parties of Blackfeet, had recently been seen +within a day's travel of the Minneconjoux camp. They determined, +therefore, to send a small force of picked warriors against the +Blackfeet in the hope of recovering the stolen ponies, and learning the +fate of the young Minneconjoux who had been carried away. The company +chosen for the perilous undertaking was composed mostly of young +warriors famous for their courage and fighting ability, and a few older +veterans, like Lean Wolf and Sitting Eagle, whose mature judgment would +check the reckless impetuosity of their younger companions. + +"Well, my brother, how do you feel about this thing?" Sun Bird suddenly +asked White Otter, as they cantered along in advance of the war party. + +"The Blackfeet are very strong," White Otter replied, thoughtfully. +"Wolf Robe, my grandfather, has told me about them. I have never fought +those people. Wolf Robe says that they are braver than the Pawnees. Do +you know about them?" + +"Yes, I have fought against them many times," Sun Bird told him. "They +are the enemies of my people. They are brave. Many Buffaloes is their +chief. He is a great warrior. He rides a mysterious war pony. It is as +swift as the wind, and as black as the night. Its eyes shine like the +little lights up there in the High Place. My people believe it must be a +Medicine Pony. Curly Horse would give many good presents for that pony." + +At that moment their talk was interrupted by the appearance of a golden +eagle, the war bird of the Dacotahs, which was circling slowly some +distance toward the north. The superstitious Minneconjoux immediately +accepted it as a good omen, as they recalled the words of Curly Horse, +their chief. + +"See, there is Huya, the great war bird," they cried. "Curly Horse has +sent him to lead us to the Blackfeet camp. Come, Huya, our brother, look +about you, and show us where our enemies are hiding." + +The eagle, however, soon disappeared into the clouds, and the +Minneconjoux cried, "Huya has gone up there to look around. He is +looking for the Blackfeet. When he sees them he will fly over them, and +show us where they are." + +As they moved farther from the camp Sun Bird began to take precautions +against the possibility of encountering foes. Two scouts were detailed +on either flank of the war party, and other riders dropped back to guard +the rear. Sun Bird, White Otter and Little Raven rode some distance in +front. Thus the courageous band of Dacotahs made their way across the +great plain that extended for unknown leagues into the northward, the +stronghold of the mighty Blackfeet nation. + +The day was two thirds gone when White Otter suddenly discovered a +horseman on the summit of a low ridge far away toward the west. He +immediately stopped and showed him to Sun Bird and Little Raven. +Apparently aware that he had been seen, the distant rider began to ride +rapidly in a circle. It was the signal for danger. Sun Bird appeared +alarmed. + +"It is one of our scouts," he said, uneasily. "Running Dog and Lean Wolf +went that way. That man is far away, but I believe he is Lean Wolf. He +has seen something bad. Come, Little Raven, go and find out about it." + +As Little Raven raced away to meet the scout, the main company of riders +came up. They, too, had discovered the rider on the ridge, and many of +them were eager to go over there in the hope of finding foes. + +"No, that would be foolish," Sun Bird said, firmly. "We will wait here +until Little Raven comes back and tells us about it. That scout has not +called us. He is telling us that he has seen something. See, Little +Raven is a long ways off. Pretty soon we will know about this thing. We +must wait." + +"It is the only thing to do," agreed the famous warrior, Sitting Eagle. + +They watched anxiously as the scout turned his pony down the ridge, and +rode to meet Little Raven. The distance made positive identification +difficult, but most of them agreed that it was Lean Wolf. When the two +riders finally met, the members of the war party watched them with +breathless interest. They also watched the plain in all directions for +the sudden appearance of foes. Then the warriors who had been loitering +in the rear overtook them. + +"What has happened?" they inquired anxiously. "Who is over there?" + +"Lean Wolf has made the danger signal," explained their comrades. +"Little Raven has gone over to find out about it. Did you see anything?" + +"We saw some wolves," replied the scouts. + +"Perhaps they were Pawnees," suggested Sun Bird. + +"No, we saw them running on the plain, and they were wolves," declared +High Hawk, one of the warriors who had composed the rear guard. + +"See, Little Raven is coming back," White Otter told Sun Bird. "He is +riding fast. He has something to tell us." + +"Lean Wolf has gone back to the ridge," said Sun Bird. + +They waited impatiently as Little Raven rode toward them at top speed. +In the meantime the other rider was cantering toward the ridge. When he +reached it he rode up the low slope and disappeared over the summit. + +"Lean Wolf has gone to watch something," declared his tribesmen. + +When Little Raven finally reached them they listened with eager +attention while he told Sun Bird what he had learned. + +"That man is Lean Wolf," said Little Raven. "He found fresh pony tracks +over beyond that ridge. They were going the way we are going. There were +many ponies. They were riding ponies. There were no marks of lodge +poles. Lean Wolf says it must be a war party. He does not know who they +are. Running Dog is following the trail. Lean Wolf says that we must +watch sharp when night comes. He says that we must stop pretty soon at +the water place. Then he will know where to find us. Perhaps he will +come when it gets dark. Perhaps he will go to find the camp of those +people. My brothers, I have brought you the words of Lean Wolf." + +"It is good," replied Sun Bird. "My friends, you have heard the words of +our brother, Lean Wolf. I believe that some of our enemies are over +there behind that ridge. Lean Wolf says there are many pony tracks. +There must be many riders. Perhaps it is a big war party. We must watch +sharp. We will go ahead until we come to the water place. Then we will +stop. Perhaps Lean Wolf will come there after it gets dark." + +As they were about to resume their way they saw one of the scouts from +the east riding toward them. As he came nearer they recognized him as +Feather Dog. + +"Why have you stopped?" Feather Dog inquired, curiously. + +"Lean Wolf found many pony tracks over there behind that ridge," they +told him. + +"Perhaps those are the ponies which the Blackfeet took away," said +Feather Dog. + +"No, the tracks are fresh," Sun Bird explained. + +"Then we must watch out," declared the famous scout. + +"Did you see anything over there?" inquired the Minneconjoux. + +"We saw some buffaloes, but they were far away," replied Feather Dog. + +After he had learned where his comrades intended to stop for the night, +he immediately left them, and rode away to join his companion, a young +warrior named Proud Hawk. At the same time the war party resumed their +way toward the north. They were enthusiastic over the possibility of an +early encounter with their foes, and Sun Bird had considerable +difficulty in restraining some of the younger warriors who were eager to +ride after the unknown horsemen. His rank as war leader, however, gave +him authority to command. They accepted his orders, therefore, and +followed him across the plain, chanting their war songs, and boasting of +the deeds which they pledged themselves to perform. + +The evening shadows were already falling when the Sioux finally came in +sight of the appointed camp site. It was a small water hole in the midst +of a straggling growth of stunted trees. However, as it offered good +pasturage for the ponies, it was a favorite stopping place. It marked +the northern boundary of the Minneconjoux hunting grounds, and few of +even the most venturesome hunters cared to risk going farther into the +north unless accompanied by a strong force of their tribesmen. It was +dangerous ground, as both the Blackfeet and the Crows were constantly +roaming about those boundless northern plains. + +"Well, my friends, we will stop here until the next sun comes up," said +Sun Bird, as he dismounted from his pony. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SIOUX SCOUTS + + +Alert to their peril, the Sioux took every precaution against an attack. +As the twilight slowly faded, and the night shadows settled upon the +plain, the ponies were picketed in a circle about the camp site, and +details of warriors were appointed to take turns in watching through the +night. There was no fire, and the evening meal consisted of the usual +war rations of dried buffalo meat and berries. + +The warriors who had been scouting behind the war party arrived at the +camp site before dark, but the scouts who had ridden along the flanks +failed to appear. The absence of Feather Dog and Proud Hawk, who had +been scouting toward the east, caused considerable comment. The Sioux +knew that some time might pass before Lean Wolf and Running Dog gained +the desired information about the mysterious horsemen to the westward, +but they were keenly curious to know what had detained Feather Dog and +his companion. + +"Perhaps something bad has happened to them," suggested a young warrior +named Many Feathers. + +"No, I do not believe it," Sun Bird declared, confidently. "Feather Dog +is a great scout. He has been on many war trails. It is hard to catch an +old wolf. Come, White Otter, you are a great war leader. Tell us how you +feel about it." + +"My brothers, what Sun Bird says is true," declared White Otter, +"Feather Dog is a great scout. Perhaps he is trying to find out about +something. I believe he will come here." + +While they were talking the familiar bark of the little gray fox sounded +from the eastward. It was speedily answered, and a few moments afterward +Feather Dog and Proud Hawk rode to the camp site. + +"Well, my brother, what did you find?" Sun Bird asked Feather Dog. + +"We saw three scouts," replied Feather Dog. "They were far away and they +did not see us. We hid behind a hill, and watched them a long time. Then +we followed them. When it got dark we could not find them. They did not +make a fire. I believe they were looking for enemies." + +"Do you know who they are?" Sun Bird inquired, eagerly. + +"No, we could not get close enough to find out about it," Feather Dog +told him. + +"Which way were they going?" asked Sun Bird. + +"They were going the same way we are going, but they were far away +toward the place where the sun comes up," replied the scout. + +"My brothers, you have heard the words of Feather Dog," said Sun Bird. +"Our enemies are on two sides of us. We must be very cautious. We will +wait here until it gets light. Perhaps Lean Wolf will come and tell us +something." + +In the meantime the wily Sioux prepared themselves against the +possibility of a sudden attack. The camp was surrounded by sharp-eared +scouts who stationed themselves some distance out on the plain to listen +for the approach of foes. The ponies were picketed inside the circle of +warriors, who lay upon the plain with their weapons beside them. + +Sun Bird and White Otter, however, remained awake. The young +Minneconjoux war leader was anxious to consult his friend concerning the +perilous advance across the Blackfeet hunting grounds. The young +warriors moved beyond earshot of their companions, therefore, and seated +themselves to talk. + +"White Otter, I believe we are in danger," said Sun Bird. + +"It is true," White Otter replied, soberly. "There are many enemies in +this country. I believe we will have some big fights before we get to +the Blackfeet camp." + +Sun Bird was about to reply when they were startled by a strange +rumbling noise toward the north. They listened a moment in anxious +suspense, and then they leaped to their feet in alarm. It sounded like +the hoofbeats of many ponies bearing down upon the camp site. + +"Call our people! Call our people!" cried Sun Bird, as he rushed to +arouse the sleeping Minneconjoux. + +At that moment they heard the guards, who had been stationed on the +plain, racing toward the camp. The picketed ponies were plunging and +snorting, and the alarmed Minneconjoux were frantically untying the +picket ropes. + +"The Blackfeet! The Blackfeet!" they shouted, excitedly. + +"Tatanka! Tatanka! The buffaloes! The buffaloes!" cried the sentinels +who had been watching on the north side of the camp. + +Then the Sioux suddenly realized the truth. A vast herd of stampeded +buffaloes were thundering down upon them. There was not a moment to +spare. Springing upon the frightened ponies, the Sioux rode madly into +the night to escape from the great mass of panic-stricken beasts behind +them. The buffaloes were sweeping across the plain with the irresistible +force of an avalanche, and the horsemen knew that only the speed of +their ponies could save them. They kept close together, and rode at a +breakneck pace. A false step meant destruction for horse and rider, and +the Sioux made little attempt to guide the agile little beasts beneath +them. + +Sun Bird and White Otter soon found themselves beside one another at the +head of the company. The two ponies were running evenly, and it was +apparent that neither of them had reached the limit of its speed. +Nevertheless, they were well in advance of all the other ponies, and +appeared to be increasing their lead with each stride. + +"That wild horse can run," laughed Sun Bird as his blood tingled with +the excitement of the race. "Come, we will see what that pony can do." + +"Hi!" shouted White Otter, as Sun Bird suddenly took the lead. + +He had carefully estimated the ability of the little roan which Sun Bird +rode, and felt sure that it was a worthy competitor for the piebald. +Now, as Sun Bird applied his rawhide quirt, the roan began to show its +speed. The piebald, however, quickly accepted the challenge, and +although White Otter made no effort to force it the fiery little beast +was soon at the shoulder of the roan. Then they raced madly through the +darkness at a speed which few if any of the ponies in the great Dacotah +nation could equal. Sun Bird was leaning forward and vigorously applying +his whip. White Otter, however, was still allowing the piebald to make +its own pace. Inch by inch it crept steadily forward until the roan's +lead was cut to a nose length. Then, as he perceived that the roan had +reached the limit of its powers, White Otter pulled heavily against the +lower jaw of the piebald. He knew that a few more strides would take it +into the lead, and regard for the pride of his friend made him unwilling +to claim the victory. + +"Listen," he cried, suddenly. "Our people have turned around. Come, we +must follow them." + +"No! No! I see what you are trying to do," Sun Bird cried, impatiently. +"Come, let me see that pony run." + +Then the Minneconjoux struck the piebald a sharp blow with his quirt, +and the marvelous beast bounded past him and raced away at a speed which +astounded its rider. White Otter could scarcely believe that he was +mounted upon a creature of real flesh and blood, for the piebald was +rushing through the night at a pace which seemed beyond the powers of +anything mortal. Carried away with enthusiasm, the Ogalala applied his +quirt for the first time, and the piebald reached the limit of its +speed. White Otter was forced to crouch close over the pony's neck to +keep his breath. He was dazed by the pace at which he was being carried +across the plain. It seemed as if he were flying through space on the +wings of a tempest. + +"It must be a Medicine Horse," he whispered, superstitiously. + +When he finally succeeded in pulling the piebald to a canter, he found +that he had completely lost Sun Bird, and the valiant little roan. He +had also raced beyond sound of the buffalo herd. The piebald was +breathing hard, but it showed no signs of exhaustion, and White Otter +believed that its stamina was equal to its speed. Then, as he stopped to +listen, he heard a signal some distance toward the east. He had heard +the Minneconjoux turn in that direction as Sun Bird forced him into the +last desperate sprint. It was evident, therefore, that having gained a +sufficient lead upon the buffaloes, the Minneconjoux were circling back +toward the camp site. He believed that the signal was from Sun Bird. To +reassure him, White Otter replied with the bark of the little gray fox. + +"Hi! the buffaloes are coming," he said, as he heard the distant rumble +of their hoof beats. + +Realizing that he was directly in their path, White Otter turned his +pony toward the east, and rode off at a brisk canter. The buffalo herd +was a long ways behind him, and he had little fear of being overtaken. +There were other perils, however, which caused him more concern. He had +heard Feather Dog tell of three mysterious riders to the eastward, and +it was possible that they were scouts from a larger company. Therefore, +White Otter determined to advance with caution. He believed that Sun +Bird was close at hand, and his first thought was to find him. It was +not long before he overtook him. + +"Ho, my brother, that pony did not come back as fast as he went away," +laughed Sun Bird. + +"It is foolish to run when the race is finished," replied White Otter. + +"That is the fastest horse I ever saw," Sun Bird declared, +enthusiastically. + +"Do you believe that this pony could catch that great horse of Many +Buffaloes, the Blackfeet chief?" White Otter asked, eagerly. + +"No," Sun Bird told him. "There is no Dacotah pony that can catch that +horse." + +White Otter was not so sure about it. He could not believe that any +horse had greater speed than the piebald. He kept his opinion to +himself, however, as he did not wish to appear boastful before his +friend. + +"Well, we got away from those buffaloes," said Sun Bird. "Now we must go +back to the water place. We will find our friends there." + +Feeling sure that they had passed beyond the edge of the great buffalo +herd, they began to circle toward the camp site. They were riding at an +easy canter, when they were suddenly halted by the howling of a prairie +wolf directly ahead of them. Determined to take no chances, they +listened to convince themselves that the call was genuine. + +"Yes, it is Mayash," declared Sun Bird. + +As White Otter agreed that it really was a wolf which had raised the +cry, they advanced on their way. However, they neither saw nor heard +anything of the skulking gray prowler. It was evident that the wolf had +slunk away at their approach. + +Then as they drew near the camp site the little piebald raised its head, +and whinnied softly. The cautious young Sioux again stopped to +investigate. They knew that the piebald had caught the scent of other +ponies. While they waited, listening for a clew, the familiar Dacotah +signal sounded within bow range of them. + +"It is good," said Sun Bird. "We have found our people." + +A few moments later they met the scout who had challenged them. He was +Hollow Bear, a famous Minneconjoux hunter. + +"We have been watching for you," Hollow Bear told them. "There is much +buffalo meat at the water place. Some of the buffaloes ran against the +trees. Some fell into the water hole. Some were dead. Some we killed. +There must have been many buffaloes in that herd. The ground is all +broken up." + +"Has Lean Wolf come here?" Sun Bird inquired, eagerly. + +"No," replied Hollow Bear. + +They left the scout, and rode on toward the camp site. They found the +members of the war party lying some distance out on the plain, as the +camp site was littered with the bodies of dead buffaloes. The Sioux said +that they had dragged several of the great beasts from the pool. + +"It is good that we got away," said Sun Bird. "Those buffaloes would +have pounded us into the ground." + +"Well, there is good meat over there but we cannot use it," complained +Sitting Eagle. "There are many robes, but there is little hair upon +them." + +The Minneconjoux said that they had ridden far enough to get a safe +distance in front of the herd, and then they had turned eastward and +circled back to the camp site. They seemed rather curious to know why +Sun Bird and White Otter had been so long returning. Those crafty young +warriors, however, made no explanation. White Otter had no desire to +proclaim the superiority of his pony, and Sun Bird was quite content to +keep silent concerning the defeat of his famous little roan. + +Dawn was breaking when Running Dog, the companion of Lean Wolf rode in +from the west. The war party crowded eagerly about him, asking for news +of the horsemen whom he and Lean Wolf had followed. + +"We followed those people a long ways," Running Dog told them. "When it +got dark we saw their fire. We went pretty close. Then we got down from +our ponies. We turned their heads out of the wind so they would not +call. I held the ponies. Lean Wolf crawled up near the fire. He was +away a long time. Then he came back, and told me about those people. +They are Crows. They are carrying meat. It is a great hunting party. +They are going straight ahead. Lean Wolf says that you must watch sharp. +Perhaps the Crows will send out scouts. Perhaps they will see you. Then +there will be a fight. Lean Wolf says to go straight ahead. We will keep +following the Crows until we find out where they are going. Then we will +come and tell you about it. I cannot tell you any more." + +"It is good," replied Sun Bird. "Tell Lean Wolf that we will do as he +tells us to do. We will keep a sharp watch for our enemies." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE LONE RIDER + + +After Running Dog had left them, Sun Bird made preparations to resume +their advance toward the distant Blackfeet camp. Profiting by the +warning which the scouts had brought, the cautious young war leader +determined to make every provision for the safety of the war party. In +addition to the two expert scouts riding along each flank, Sun Bird +appointed a strong rear guard under command of Sitting Eagle. Then, as a +further precaution against blundering into a trap, he asked White Otter +and Little Raven to accompany him on a reconnaissance far in advance of +the war party. + +"My brothers, you must wait here until we are far ahead," he told the +Minneconjoux, as he rode away. + +Once beyond sight of their comrades, the three young scouts realized +that their mission was a perilous one. They had little doubt that foes +were on both sides of them, and it was possible that the Sioux war +party had already been discovered. In that event there was great +probability that crafty foes might circle around behind them, and +separate them from their companions. + +"We must watch sharp," cautioned Sun Bird. + +He hoped to lead the war party within an easy day's travel of the +Blackfeet camp. Then he planned to go into hiding and send scouts under +cover of the darkness to locate the Blackfeet ponies and reconnoiter +about the village. In the meantime Sun Bird realized the constant peril +of colliding with his enemies. However, he relied upon the skill and +daring of his scouts to give him timely warning of an approaching war +party. As they were riding cautiously across the plain they again saw +the war eagle circling high up toward the eastward. They stopped and +watched it with great interest. + +"See! our brother, Huya, has come down out of the clouds," said Sun +Bird. "I believe he is flying around over there to show us where our +enemies are hiding." + +Soon afterward they saw a solitary horseman ride over a distant rise of +the plain. He quickly discovered them, and immediately stopped his pony. +For some moments he continued to watch them. Then he turned about and +galloped from view. The Sioux also had stopped at sight of the +stranger, and now that he had disappeared Sun Bird was at a loss to +determine just what to do. The rider had been too far away to be +identified, but his actions made it plain that he was neither Feather +Dog nor Proud Hawk. + +"Perhaps he is one of the scouts that Feather Dog told about," suggested +Little Raven. + +"Yes, that may be true," said Sun Bird. "White Otter, what do you make +of it?" + +"I do not know what to make of it," acknowledged White Otter. "That man +saw us. If he is a scout he will go to tell his people about us. It is +bad. We must watch sharp." + +"We are scouts," said Sun Bird. "We must tell our brothers about this +thing." + +"It is the best thing to do," agreed White Otter. + +"I will go back, and tell them about it," Little Raven volunteered. + +As the others agreed, he immediately turned his pony, and rode back to +warn the war party. The main company of Minneconjoux had not come in +sight, and Sun Bird and White Otter felt somewhat anxious for the safety +of the youthful scout who had gone to meet his tribesmen. If a strong +force of foes were loitering in the vicinity, it would be easy for them +to intercept the solitary Minneconjoux. In spite of his youthfulness, +however, Little Raven was an experienced warrior, and Sun Bird felt +certain that he was competent to look after himself in an emergency. + +"Sun Bird, I believe that warrior is watching over the top of that +hill," White Otter declared, suspiciously. + +"How do you know that?" Sun Bird inquired, anxiously. + +"I do not know it, but I believe I saw him peeping over the top of that +hill," replied White Otter. + +They looked anxiously toward the grassy knoll, and strained their eyes +to discover the skulking foe. The thought that he was watching made them +uneasy, and they were eager to learn if their suspicions were true. It +was some moments before White Otter finally became convinced. + +"Yes, I see him," he declared, positively. "He is peeping over the top +of that hill. I see his head over there near that little bush. Watch +sharp." + +"Yes, yes, I see his head," Sun Bird declared, a moment later. + +Convinced that the mysterious horseman really was watching them, they +believed that he was waiting to learn if they were followed by a larger +company. They had little doubt that he was a scout reconnoitering in +advance of a force of their foes. + +"It is bad," White Otter said, uneasily. "That man saw Little Raven ride +away. He will know that some one is following behind us. He will watch +until our friends come. Then he will tell his people about it." + +"Yes, I see that it is bad," said Sun Bird. "Perhaps if we ride over +there we can chase him away." + +"Come," White Otter proposed, recklessly. + +As they cantered briskly toward the knoll, the scout withdrew from +sight. They felt quite sure that he had merely slipped farther down the +opposite side of the ridge, and was still peering cautiously over the +top. As they felt convinced that the horseman was alone, they had little +fear of running into an ambush. When they got within arrow range, +however, they approached with great care. As a precaution against +attack, they separated and rode forward several arrow flights apart. +Once at the foot of the slope they rushed their ponies to the top, and +prepared to attack whoever confronted them. The scout, however, was +nowhere in sight. They searched the plain in vain; the mysterious +stranger had entirely disappeared. For a moment or so they were +completely baffled. Then White Otter suddenly smiled, and nodded +understandingly. + +"I know about it," he told Sun Bird. + +"Tell me," Sun Bird asked, eagerly. + +"That scout is very sharp," declared White Otter. "He has thrown his +pony, and he is hiding over there in that high grass." + +"Yes, I believe that is where he is hiding," agreed Sun Bird. + +The spot where they believed the scout had concealed himself was many +arrow flights away, and they knew it would be difficult to discover him +at that distance. They felt almost certain, however, that he was still +watching them from his new hiding place. The thought disturbed them. His +persistence made them suspicious. They wondered if he were trying to +fool them with some wily bit of stratagem. + +"Well, we will ride over there and chase him out," proposed Sun Bird. + +They had not gone an arrow flight, when a pony suddenly rose to its feet +in the long grass. An instant later the rider sprang upon its back and +raced away toward the south. He was too far in the lead to be easily +overtaken, and besides, the Sioux realized that it would be perilous to +follow him. They watched, therefore, while he sped across the plain. + +"We have chased him away--it is good," said Sun Bird. + +"Perhaps something bad will come of it," White Otter warned him. "If +that man is a Blackfoot, he will tell his people about us. Then it will +be hard to get near the camp." + +"Perhaps he is a Crow," Sun Bird suggested, hopefully. + +"Lean Wolf has told us that the Crows are over there," White Otter +reminded him, as he pointed toward the west. + +"That is true," agreed Sun Bird. "But perhaps they sent scouts over here +to look for the Blackfeet." + +White Otter remained silent. The appearance and the actions of the +unknown scout had made him wary. He feared that the Sioux war party was +in imminent danger of being surrounded and attacked by a superior force +of foes. The possibility distressed him. There seemed little chance of +avoiding the peril. + +"Sun Bird, I believe the best thing to do is to find our people," White +Otter declared, finally. "Perhaps Lean Wolf and Feather Dog have told +them something." + +"Yes, we will go to find our brothers," agreed Sun Bird. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SMOKE SIGNALS + + +As Sun Bird and White Otter rode cautiously over the ridge they saw the +Minneconjoux war party moving slowly across the plain. As soon as the +Minneconjoux discovered the two horsemen they immediately stopped to +watch them. + +"Our brothers are as cautious as Hitunkasan, the weasel," laughed Sun +Bird. "Well, we will tell them who we are." + +He raised his arms and clasped his hands together above his head. It was +the sign for friends. Then the two scouts rode rapidly toward the war +party. The Minneconjoux soon recognized them, and came across the plain. +Little Raven raced on in advance of his friends. + +"Well, my brothers, I see that you have come back," he said, as he rode +up to them. "It is good. What became of that scout?" + +"He has gone away," White Otter told him. + +"Did you kill him?" Little Raven inquired, eagerly. + +"No," replied Sun Bird. "When we rode after him he ran away." + +"Well, when he saw that you were Dacotahs he was frightened," Little +Raven said, boastfully. + +While they were talking the war party came up to them. Sun Bird found +Lean Wolf in command. He said that he had followed the Crows until he +felt sure that they were going to their village. Then he left Running +Dog to scout along the western flank of the war party, and returned to +his companions. + +"Do you believe those people know about us?" Sun Bird asked, anxiously. + +"No," Lean Wolf assured him. "They are far away. The scouts did not go +far from their people. Those Crows have killed plenty of game. They are +afraid the Blackfeet will catch them, and take it away." + +"Have you seen Feather Dog?" inquired Sun Bird. + +"No," replied Lean Wolf. + +Then the Minneconjoux inquired anxiously about the solitary horseman. +They said that Little Raven had told them about him, but they were eager +to know who he was and where he had gone. + +"I cannot tell you that," Sun Bird told them. "He was far away, and we +could not find out who he was. When we went after him he ran away. +Perhaps Feather Dog will tell us about him." + +"Yes, yes, perhaps Feather Dog will find out about him," the +Minneconjoux told one another, hopefully. + +"Well, my brothers, we will keep going ahead until we find a good place +to stop," said Sun Bird. "Then we will wait for Feather Dog and Proud +Hawk, and Running Dog. I believe they will have something to talk +about." + +The day was little more than half gone, however, when they saw three +riders approaching from the east. As the horsemen did not stop when they +discovered the war party, the Sioux believed that two of the riders must +be Feather Dog and Proud Hawk. As they came nearer they recognized them. + +"They are bringing a prisoner!" the Minneconjoux cried, excitedly. "It +must be that scout. Hi! now we will see who he is." + +Then they were suddenly astonished into silence. The three horsemen had +come sufficiently near so that the Minneconjoux could plainly discern +the dress and features of the third rider. They could scarcely believe +their eyes. They looked many moments before they were convinced. Then +they were thrown into an ecstasy of joy. + +"See! See! It is Dancing Rabbit!" they shouted. + +The young Minneconjoux who had disappeared when the Blackfeet ran off +the band of Sioux ponies was riding between Feather Dog and Proud Hawk. +He was mounted on a pinto pony, and as Sun Bird and White Otter +recognized it the mystery of the lone horseman was solved. + +"That is the pony we saw on the ridge," they told their friends. + +As the riders joined the war party, the Minneconjoux crowded eagerly +about their young tribesman to learn the story of his adventures. He was +a tall, sinewy youth of about fifteen winters, and he exhibited the +dignity and reserve of a seasoned warrior. + +"Come, Dancing Rabbit, tell us how you come to be here," said Sun Bird. + +"My brothers, you are great warriors," replied Dancing Rabbit. "I am a +young man. I cannot talk big. I will tell you that the Blackfeet carried +me away to their village. Well, they treated me very bad. Then I found a +chance to get away. I took this pony. It is fast. I got far ahead and +the Blackfeet did not come up with me. I was going to our village. Then +I saw three riders. I hid behind a ridge and watched them. They were far +away, and I could not make out who they were. I said, 'Perhaps they are +Blackfeet scouts. Perhaps they are Crows.' Then they rode after me and +I ran away. Then I found Feather Dog. That is how I come to be here." + +"It is good," Sun Bird told him. "Your words are the words of a +warrior." + +Feather Dog then explained how he had chanced to encounter the young +Minneconjoux. + +"I was watching for our enemies," said Feather Dog. "Then I saw some one +riding toward me. He was a long ways off, but he was coming fast. I rode +my pony down into a gully to hide. Then I crawled up the side of the +gully and peeped out. That rider was coming right where I was. I waited +for him. When he got near I was going to jump up and shoot my arrows at +him. Well, when I jumped up I saw who he was. Then we rode away and +found Proud Hawk. Then we came here. That is all I know about it." + +"Did you see any Blackfeet?" Sun Bird asked him. + +"Yes, we saw four Blackfeet scouts," said Feather Dog. "Two of them were +the same riders we saw before. This time they were close, and we could +see them. Then we saw that they were Blackfeet. They were going straight +ahead. I believe they are going to the Blackfeet village. I do not +believe they know about us." + +"It is good," declared the Minneconjoux. + +"Yes, it is good," Sun Bird told them. "But we must watch out. Perhaps +we will run into those scouts. The Blackfeet are sharp. If they see us +it will be hard to get near the camp." + +"I will tell you something about that," Dancing Rabbit said, suddenly. +"The Blackfeet have moved their lodges. Yes, they have gone away from +the place where they were. They have gone over there in the shadow of +the big mountains." + +The Minneconjoux were astounded at the announcement. They looked +anxiously toward the northwest, where a long range of dim, shadowy peaks +showed against the sky. They had expected to find the Blackfeet camp on +the open plain, a number of days' journey toward the north. It had never +occurred to their minds that the Blackfeet might have decided to change +the location of the village. The words of Dancing Rabbit gave them +several reasons for concern. First, they knew that they had already gone +considerably out of their way. Again, they realized that to reach the +new Blackfeet camp they must go far to the westward, where they would be +in peril from their old enemies the Crows, as well as from the +Blackfeet. + +"It is bad," declared Sun Bird. + +"It is bad," agreed his companions. + +As there seemed to be a difference of opinion as to just which way they +should proceed, Sun Bird immediately called a council. Some of the +Minneconjoux believed it would be safer to continue directly toward the +north until they were about in line with the Blackfeet camp, and then +turn toward the west. Others thought that they should move directly +toward the new camp, and reach the mountains as soon as possible. There +was considerable discussion. + +"My brothers, I believe the best thing to do is to turn toward the +mountains," said Sun Bird. "Then if we see our enemies we can hide. If +we go to the mountains we can climb high up, and look for the Blackfeet +camp. It will be hard for the Blackfeet to see us. In the day we will +hide in the timber. When it grows dark we will send scouts to find out +about the ponies. Yes, my friends, I believe it is the best way to get +near the camp." + +"My brothers, Sun Bird has given us good words," declared Lean Wolf. "I +believe he has told us the best way to go to the Blackfeet camp. He is a +good war leader. We must listen to his words." + +"My friends, what Lean Wolf says is true," said Feather Dog. "I believe +it would be foolish to keep going ahead. I have told you about those +four Blackfeet scouts. I believe they are going to the Blackfeet camp. +Pretty soon they will turn this way. If we keep going straight ahead we +will meet them. We must turn toward the mountains." + +"White Otter, how do you feel about this thing?" inquired Sun Bird. + +"My brother, I believe you have told the best way to go to the Blackfeet +camp," White Otter replied, quietly. "I believe what Feather Dog says is +true. If we keep going ahead perhaps we will run into those Blackfeet +scouts." + +The opinion of the famous young Ogalala seemed to make a deep impression +upon the Minneconjoux. It was only a few moments before those warriors +who had suggested traveling toward the north changed their views, and +agreed that it would be safer to ride toward the west. + +"Well, my brothers, I see that we all feel the same about this thing," +Sun Bird said, when all had agreed. "It is good. Come, we will ride +toward those great mountains." + +Having made their decision, they rode boldly toward the west, ready and +eager to meet their foes. It was late in the day, however, before they +saw any evidence of them. Then they discovered a smoke signal some +distance to the northward. Three columns of yellow smoke were ascending +into the sky. The Sioux watched them with considerable uneasiness. They +wondered if the Blackfeet scouts had discovered the war party. + +"No, I do not believe it," Feather Dog declared. "That smoke is a long +ways off. Those scouts could not get so far ahead of us. It must be some +one different." + +"Perhaps the Blackfeet are calling the scouts to the camp," suggested +Proud Hawk. + +"No, the camp is not in that place," Dancing Rabbit told them. + +Convinced that the smoke signals did not concern them, the Sioux +continued on their way. Feather Dog said that there was a good camp site +with plenty of grass and water a short distance ahead of them, and as +the day was drawing to a close they determined to stop there for the +night. They had not ridden far, however, before they saw three more +columns of smoke rising a considerable distance to the westward of the +first signals. + +"It must be the Blackfeet," declared the Minneconjoux. "It is the danger +signal. They are telling their people about us." + +"Perhaps they have found the Crows," suggested Feather Dog. + +A few moments later a horseman swept into view, far to the westward. He +was riding at a furious pace, and seemed to be coming directly toward +them. They had little doubt that it was Running Dog, and they watched +him in great suspense. + +"Running Dog is coming to tell us about something big," they cried. + +As the Minneconjoux scout came nearer, he began to point excitedly +behind him. The Sioux looked anxiously toward the west, expecting to see +a company of their foes racing along on the trail of Running Dog. + +"Perhaps the Crows are coming, we must be ready," said Sun Bird. + +Roused by the possibility, the hot-tempered Minneconjoux immediately got +ready to fight. Then, as Running Dog finally came within shouting +distance, they began to cry out and question him. + +"Are the Crows coming?" they inquired eagerly. + +"No! no!" shouted Running Dog. + +Then he dashed up to them. As he threw the panting pony upon its +haunches, his companions gathered about him to learn what had sent him +racing across the plain. + +"Listen, my brothers, I will tell you about it," said Running Dog. "The +Crows and the Blackfeet are getting ready for a big fight over there +behind that ridge. I was watching them. Then I saw you coming that way. +Then I came over here to tell you to hold back. Do you see that smoke up +there? Well, the Blackfeet are calling the people to fight. You must +watch sharp. I saw many warriors over there behind that ridge." + +The words of Running Dog were received in silence. The Minneconjoux +looked gravely into each other's faces. They realized the peril to which +they were exposed, and they waited for the war leaders to speak. All +eyes were turned upon Sun Bird. + +"My friends, Running Dog has told you about those warriors over there +behind that ridge," said Sun Bird. "We are in great danger. Something +must be done. We must try to find a place to hide in until it grows +dark. Then perhaps we can get away from here. If we meet our enemies we +must fight them. We are Dacotahs. It is enough." + +"My brother, I will tell you about a place to hide in," said Dancing +Rabbit. "I found it when I was running away from the Blackfeet. It is a +place where water used to run. Now it is dry. It is deep. It goes a long +way across the plain. We can ride into it, and no one will see us." + +"Where is this place?" Sun Bird asked anxiously. + +"Over there," said Dancing Rabbit, pointing toward the north. + +"Come, my brothers, we will go to this place, and hide until it grows +dark," proposed Sun Bird. "I will ask three scouts to go over to that +ridge to watch those warriors. I will ask White Otter to be the leader." + +"I will go," White Otter volunteered, eagerly. + +Most of the war party desired to accompany the Ogalala on his perilous +reconnaissance. Having been appointed as leader, however, White Otter +was privileged to choose his companions. + +"I will ask Lean Wolf and Little Raven to go with me," said White Otter. + +"I will go with you," replied Lean Wolf. + +"I will go," Little Raven said, eagerly, as his eyes flashed with boyish +enthusiasm. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A CLOSE CALL + + +A few moments afterward White Otter and his companions rode away on +their hazardous mission. Running Dog had told them that the rival war +parties were a considerable distance beyond the ridge, and the Sioux +hoped to come in sight of them without being discovered. White Otter +turned directly toward the south, as he believed that there was less +chance of encountering hostile scouts in that direction. He rode a +considerable distance before he finally turned toward the west, and +approached the ridge. + +"The Crows have passed this place--the Blackfeet came the other +way--they will not pass the Crows--the Crows will not come back +here--this is a good place--we will stay here and watch," White Otter +told his companions. + +"It is good," agreed Lean Wolf, the famous Minneconjoux scout. + +They approached the ridge with great caution. The sun had already set, +but they knew the long summer twilight would give them ample time to +discover their foes. As they finally came within bow range of the grassy +slope, they stopped and spent many moments watching for signs of lurking +foes. Then they suddenly heard the sounds of battle. + +"The Crows and the Blackfeet are fighting--it is good," White Otter +declared, grimly. + +Then, while Little Raven remained with the ponies, White Otter and Lean +Wolf crawled slowly up the ridge. When they reached the top they parted +the long grass and looked anxiously across the plain. The Crows and the +Blackfeet were preparing to fight. They were a long distance from the +ridge, however, and the Sioux felt in little danger. They watched with +keen interest while their foes began the preliminaries of battle. The +experienced Sioux scouts read the situation at a glance. It was evident +that the Crows had been overtaken and brought to a stand by the +Blackfeet war party. The Crows had dismounted and taken shelter behind +their ponies, and the Blackfeet were riding about them in a great +circle, but keeping safely beyond bow range. There was much yelling and +singing of war songs, but no real attempt at actual fighting. + +"The Blackfeet are cautious," White Otter said, scornfully. "They are +making a great noise, but I do not see them killing any Crows. If they +rushed in there and frightened those ponies the Crows would have a hard +time of it." + +"It is true," agreed Lean Wolf. + +The Crows, however, appeared to be considerably stronger in numbers, and +it was apparent that the Blackfeet were cautious about beginning the +attack. The Sioux were surprised at the small size of the Blackfeet war +party. They had expected to see a much larger force of those savage foes +engaged against the Crows. + +"I do not see many Blackfeet--it is bad," said White Otter. "They have +left many warriors to guard the camp." + +When Running Dog brought word of the impending battle, the Sioux had +hoped that the Blackfeet would send a sufficient force against the Crows +to weaken the defense of the Blackfeet camp considerably. White Otter +realized, however, that the hope was false. It was evident that the +crafty Blackfeet had left most of their fighting men at the village. + +"Perhaps they are waiting for our people to come for those ponies," said +Lean Wolf. + +"Yes, I believe it is true," agreed White Otter. + +He had barely ceased speaking when the Blackfeet suddenly began their +attack. Whooping fiercely, they rushed upon their foes and made +desperate attempts to frighten and stampede the Crow ponies. The Crows, +however, had prepared for just such a maneuver, and the alarmed ponies +were unable to break away. In the meantime the Crows sent a deadly +volley of arrows against the Blackfeet, and the latter recoiled before +the fierceness of the defense. A number of warriors had already toppled +from their ponies, and it was evident that the loss somewhat discouraged +their comrades. For a moment they wavered, and then a reckless war +leader on a pinto pony rallied them and led them against their foes. + +They rode close up to the Crows, and fought with great bravery. The +Crows, however, had the double advantage of numbers and shelter, and the +Blackfeet soon realized that they were fighting a losing fight. The +fearless war leader had already forfeited his life to his gallantry, and +a number of his followers were either killed or wounded. In return, the +Blackfeet had done little harm to the Crows, except for killing a few +ponies, and wounding one reckless young Crow who had rushed from behind +his horse to attack them. Thoroughly disheartened, they became +demoralized and raced away in bad disorder. + +"See, see, the fierce Blackfeet are running like rabbits!" laughed White +Otter. + +"The Crows are too strong for them," declared Lean Wolf. + +Encouraged by their success, many of the Crows leaped upon their ponies +and set out after the fleeing Blackfeet. The maneuver threw the +Blackfeet into a rage. They immediately wheeled about and raced back to +meet their pursuers. Their boldness confused the Crows, and before they +had recovered from their surprise the Blackfeet were upon them. As less +than half of the Crow force had joined in the pursuit, the advantage had +suddenly turned to the Blackfeet. Smarting with the humiliation of their +recent repulse, the Blackfeet determined to take full vengeance upon the +misguided company of Crows who had blundered into their power. + +"They have fooled the Crows," White Otter cried, excitedly. "They will +wipe out that war party before their friends can come to help them." + +"The Blackfeet are sharp," laughed Lean Wolf. + +The Sioux suddenly realized that the wild flight of the Blackfeet had +been a clever bit of stratagem to deceive their foes. It was apparent +that the trick had been entirely successful, as the Blackfeet seemed to +have the Crows entirely at their mercy. + +"See, those poor Crows are calling their brothers to help them," White +Otter told Lean Wolf. + +Finding themselves completely overwhelmed by the ferocity and strength +of their crafty foes, the Crows were thrown into a panic. They had lost +all sense of order and discipline, and each man was fighting for +himself. Their one idea appeared to be to escape from the relentless +Blackfeet, who seemed determined to annihilate them. Aware that they +were facing destruction, the Crows were making frantic appeals to their +comrades to come to their assistance. The latter abandoned the pack +ponies and the hard-earned supply of meat and rode wildly across the +plain to assist their tribesmen. + +"Now we will see a big fight," White Otter cried, enthusiastically. + +"Yes, yes," agreed Lean Wolf, as his eyes flashed with excitement. + +The Crows who had come to the aid of their tribesmen fought with great +courage, but the Blackfeet were thoroughly aroused and they seemed +invincible. The Sioux were amazed at the bravery and skill displayed by +those hardy warriors from the north. Having duped their foes and gained +the advantage, they appeared determined to follow it through to a +complete victory. + +Although the Crows still outnumbered them, the Blackfeet pressed the +attack with a reckless ferocity that completely demoralized their foes. +Time after time the Crows tried to rally from their confusion, but each +attempt was the signal for a still fiercer assault by the Blackfeet. + +"Hi, the Blackfeet know how to fight!" White Otter whispered, tensely. + +The fighting was at close range, and many riderless ponies gave evidence +of the result. The Sioux witnessed many deeds of heroism. They saw a +wounded Crow warrior on a white pony ride recklessly at three of his +enemies, and overcome all three of them before a company of Blackfeet +finally killed him. They saw a Blackfoot dash among a company of +astounded Crows and rescue his comrade who had been desperately wounded. +They saw many thrilling hand-to-hand encounters which were fought to the +death. They saw dismounted warriors running boldly into the thick of the +fight in the hope of killing an enemy and securing his horse. Most of +them were killed. A few achieved the exploit, and galloped from the +encounter in triumph. + +Then as the light began to fade from the plain the Crows made a final, +heroic effort, and broke through the circle of foes. They raced directly +toward the spot where the Sioux were watching, and behind them thundered +the Blackfeet. + +"Run to the ponies!" cried White Otter, as he realized the peril which +threatened them. + +They scrambled wildly down the ridge and called to Little Raven to bring +the ponies. He had already guessed that something was wrong, and he lost +little time in joining them. + +"The Crows and the Blackfeet are almost here!" White Otter told him, as +he sprang upon the piebald. + +As the plain offered no hiding place in the vicinity of the ridge, White +Otter realized that their only chance of escape lay in open flight. He +also knew that to turn toward the north would arouse the suspicions of +the crafty Blackfeet. He raced away toward the east. + +"Keep low on your ponies, and perhaps our enemies will not know who we +are," he advised his companions. + +Crouching low upon the necks of their ponies, the Sioux rode furiously +to gain a safe lead upon their foes. Night was almost at hand, and the +dusky twilight shadows made it difficult for their enemies to identify +them. When the Crows finally dashed recklessly over the top of the +ridge the Dacotahs were many arrow flights away. At sight of the three +racing ponies, however, the Crows apparently became suspicious, and +fearful of being led into another trap. They immediately swerved from +their course, and rode toward the north. + +"That is bad," cried White Otter, who had been risking his neck to +glance back at his foes. "If they go that way they may find our people." + +"I believe our friends will be watching sharp," Lean Wolf assured him. + +Then they heard the wild, ringing whoops of the Blackfeet, and White +Otter again turned his head to look back. The heavy shadows had almost +wiped out the ridge, and it was difficult to see the company of riders +who were racing recklessly down the steep grassy slope. He made them +out, however, and was relieved to see them turn sharply and follow the +Crows. The latter had entirely faded from sight in the dusk. + +"The Blackfeet did not see us," White Otter told his companions. "See, +it is almost dark! We will ride slower." + +They could barely see an arrow flight before them, and they believed +there was slight probability of being seen. In fact they had high hopes +that the Blackfeet had entirely failed to notice them. Feeling quite +safe, therefore, they reined in the ponies and rode at a slow canter. +They heard the Blackfeet yelling savagely farther toward the north and +had little doubt that they were still pursuing the demoralized Crows. + +"They are making a great noise--it is good," declared Lean Wolf. "Our +people will hear them." + +"Yes, it is----" began White Otter. + +"Listen!" interrupted Little Raven. + +They heard the sound of galloping ponies directly ahead of them, and +they barely had time to turn aside before the unknown riders passed them +in the darkness. Then the nervous little piebald whinnied, and the +strangers instantly stopped. + +"Come!" cried White Otter, as he turned toward the north, and raced away +at top speed. + +"I believe those riders are the Blackfeet scouts that Feather Dog told +us about," said Lean Wolf. "Little Raven, your ears are as sharp as the +ears of Tokala, the fox." + +They rode some distance before they finally stopped to listen for sounds +from their foes. Night had fallen, and the great plain was cloaked in +darkness. For a long time the stillness was unbroken. It seemed as if +the Blackfeet had at last yelled themselves into silence. The Sioux +wondered if the Crows had escaped. + +"I do not believe the Blackfeet came up with them," Lean Wolf said, +softly. "When it got dark I believe the Blackfeet turned back to round +up those ponies that the Crows left behind." + +"Then we must watch sharp," declared White Otter. "Perhaps they will +ride over here and find us." + +Then they heard the wail of a prairie wolf a short distance to the +westward. There was something about it that made them suspicious. As a +precaution against being betrayed to prowling foes, White Otter +dismounted and seized the nose of the little piebald. The other ponies +also showed signs of nervousness, and their riders quickly followed the +example of the cautious Ogalala. Then the three anxious Sioux scouts +stood beside their ponies and strained their ears to catch a warning of +danger. Three times the dreary call of the prairie wolf sounded from the +west, and each time the suspicions of the Sioux grew stronger. They felt +almost certain that it was a signal from their enemies. + +"That does not sound like Mayash, the prowler," White Otter declared +suspiciously. + +"It is different," agreed Lean Wolf. + +At that moment they heard the cry repeated in the north. They knew at +once that it was an answer to the signal from the west. It was evident +that foes were on two sides of them, and the Sioux realized that they +were in a serious predicament. + +"It is bad," whispered White Otter. "I believe Blackfeet scouts are out +there in the darkness. They are close. We must watch out." + +"Do you believe they know us?" Little Raven inquired, anxiously. + +"No," White Otter told him. "Lean Wolf, how do you feel about it?" + +"I believe it is the Blackfeet," said Lean Wolf. "We must wait here +until we see what they are going to do. If we hear them coming here then +we will ride away before they find us." + +"It is the best thing to do," White Otter told him. + +They listened anxiously to learn if their foes were actually +approaching. They heard nothing to give them a clew. The signals had +ceased, and the calm, brooding night hush had fallen upon the plain. The +ponies, however, were still uneasy, and their actions made the Sioux +suspicious. They feared that other horses were close at hand, and the +possibility kept them alert. + +"Listen, my brothers," White Otter whispered, anxiously. "Something is +moving over there." + +The sound had come from the westward, and whatever had made it seemed to +be well within bowshot. The piebald was shaking its head, and struggling +to free its nose from the grasp of the Ogalala. The other ponies also +showed signs of recognition, and the Sioux felt sure that a horse was +moving slowly through the darkness. They listened with bated breath, +ready to jump upon their ponies and flee into the protection of the +night at the first hint that they had been discovered. They waited in +trying suspense while the rider slowly passed them, and the short, quick +footfalls of his pony died away in the distance. + +"He has gone," whispered Little Raven. + +"Sh!" cautioned Lean Wolf. + +Another pony was approaching. Again the Sioux waited in breathless +suspense, while the unseen rider moved cautiously through the darkness +within bow range of them. This time, however, they were not so +fortunate. For some reason the rider stopped directly opposite them. Was +he suspicious? the Sioux wondered. The piebald tried to call, but White +Otter strangled the cry in its throat. Then the strange horse winded the +Sioux ponies, and whinnied its challenge. The next moment a voice +questioned cautiously from the night. The Sioux remained silent. Each +stood grasping the mane of his pony, ready to mount and race away on the +instant of discovery. Then the horse which had already passed answered +the challenge, and the suspicions of the second rider were allayed. A +moment later the Sioux heard him riding on his way. They remained +silent, however, listening anxiously to learn if a third rider was +following after those who had passed. + +"There are no more," Lean Wolf whispered, finally. + +"It is good," replied White Otter. + +They waited until they felt sure that their enemies had gone beyond +hearing, and then they mounted and rode carefully toward the east. As +the mysterious scouts had gone toward the north, the Sioux determined to +make a wide detour to avoid an encounter. They walked the ponies until +they had gone a safe distance, and then they urged them into a brisk +canter, and began to circle back toward the north to reach the +Minneconjoux war party. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ANXIOUS MOMENTS + + +After White Otter and his companions left them, the Minneconjoux war +party rode cautiously toward the north to find the hiding place of which +Dancing Rabbit had told. They realized the peril to which they were +exposing themselves, and Sun Bird took every precaution to guard against +blundering upon the Blackfeet. Running Dog and a companion scouted to +the westward, Feather Dog and Proud Hawk again reconnoitered toward the +east, and Sun Bird, Sitting Eagle and the lad, Dancing Rabbit, rode in +advance. + +"How far away is this place?" Sun Bird asked, anxiously. + +"It begins over there where you see those little trees," replied Dancing +Rabbit, as he pointed to a few stunted cottonwoods some distance ahead +of them. + +"Yes, I know about that place," declared Sitting Eagle. "I have been +there. It is a good place to hide in." + +Dancing Rabbit said that the shelter toward which they were moving was a +deep ravine which formerly had been the bed of a good-sized stream. It +extended directly across the plain from west to east, and went to the +very foothills of the great mountains. The young Minneconjoux declared +that, once in the bottom of that deep ravine, the war party would be +invisible to their foes, and it would be possible to remain hidden until +they reached the timbered ridges. + +"It is good," declared Sun Bird. "When we get to that place we will hide +in the day, and travel toward the mountains when it gets dark." + +Before they reached the ravine, however, they saw a horseman ride +cautiously over the ridge to the westward. When he reached the bottom of +the slope he rode rapidly to and fro, and appeared to be trying to +attract the attention of Sun Bird and his companions. It was the danger +signal, and the Minneconjoux watched him with grave attention. When he +saw that he had attracted their notice, he stopped and raised his right +hand above his head. Then he suddenly swept it downward and backward. It +was the signal to approach. Although he was a considerable distance +away, Sun Bird and Sitting Eagle agreed that it was Running Dog. + +"He wants to tell us about something," said Sun Bird. "Go, Dancing +Rabbit, and bring us his words." + +The lad immediately galloped away to meet the distant Minneconjoux +scout. Sun Bird and Sitting Eagle decided to wait where they were until +he returned. In a few moments they saw the war party riding toward them. +The Minneconjoux had discovered Running Dog, and were watching Dancing +Rabbit as he raced across the plain. When they reached Sun Bird, +however, they concealed their curiosity and waited for the youthful war +leader to tell them what had happened. + +"My friends, that scout over there is Running Dog," said Sun Bird. "He +has made the danger signal. Then he called us. Dancing Rabbit has gone +to bring us his words. We will wait here until he comes back." + +It was not long before they saw the eager lad racing toward them with +the message from Running Dog. He was urging his pony to top speed, and +the Sioux believed he brought word of great importance. Running Dog had +already disappeared into the dusk. + +"I have brought you the words of Running Dog," said Dancing Rabbit, as +he stopped beside Sun Bird. + +"Tell me what he says," replied Sun Bird. + +"Running Dog says that the Crows and the Blackfeet are fighting," +declared Dancing Rabbit. "He says it is a big fight. He says the Crows +are stronger than the Blackfeet. Running Dog says that is bad. He says +there must be many Blackfeet at the village. He believes that a big war +party may be coming this way. He says we must go to that gully and hide. +He says he will come there when it gets dark. Those are the words of +Running Dog." + +"Come, lead us to that place," said Sun Bird. + +The glow was fading from the western sky and the twilight shadows were +gathering upon the plain when the Sioux finally reached the dry stream +bed. It offered an ideal hiding place, and Sun Bird looked upon it with +delight. + +"See, my brothers, this great gully leads far over there toward the +mountains," he said. "If we follow it, I do not believe our enemies will +be able to find us." + +"It is good," declared the Minneconjoux. + +They picketed the ponies in the bottom of the ravine, and then most of +the war party crawled up the steep bank to watch the plain. It was +almost dark, and they wondered why Feather Dog and Proud Hawk had failed +to join them. They looked anxiously toward the east in the hope of +seeing the scouts. Then they suddenly heard a chorus of piercing yells +and whoops far across the plain and they looked toward the sounds. The +noise seemed to come from the vicinity of the ridge, and some distance +to the southward. + +"Perhaps our enemies have crossed the ridge; we must watch sharp," Sun +Bird cautioned them. + +The light was almost gone, and it was difficult to see far across the +plain. The wild commotion continued, however, and, guided by the sounds, +the Sioux strained their eyes in an attempt to learn the cause of the +disturbance. Then some of them discovered what appeared to be a company +of horsemen racing along parallel with the ridge. + +"It is the war party!" they cried. "It must be the Blackfeet. They are +riding this way!" + +"See, see, some one is chasing them!" said Sitting Eagle. + +They made out another company of riders who were apparently pursuing the +horsemen ahead of them. The discovery filled the Sioux with alarm. It +appeared as if both the Blackfeet and the Crows were racing toward the +ravine. In a few moments, however, darkness closed down and blotted them +from sight. Then the wild tumult suddenly ceased, and the Sioux were +left without a clew to the location of their foes. + +"It is bad," Sun Bird declared, uneasily. "Those riders were coming this +way. Now we do not know what has become of them. Perhaps they are in +this gully. Perhaps they will come here. We must watch and listen." + +The Minneconjoux heard him in silence. They were bewildered by the +sudden turn of fortune which shattered their fancied security and +threatened to expose them to their foes. The possibilities were +alarming. Thoroughly alive to their own peril, they were even more +concerned for the safety of their absent comrades. They wondered what +had happened to White Otter and his companions. Where were Feather Dog +and Proud Hawk? Why had Running Dog failed to warn them of the +approaching war parties? Had those brave scouts been trapped and +destroyed by their foes? The Sioux weakened at the thought. + +Sun Bird was particularly disturbed at the possibility of harm having +come to his friend, White Otter, and his brother, Little Raven. The hot +fighting blood surged to his brain as he pictured his tribesmen in the +hands of his foes. He soon dismissed that possibility, however, for he +knew that neither White Otter nor Lean Wolf would ever permit +themselves to be taken alive. The thought suggested the still more +alarming possibility that they had been killed. Sun Bird, however, +refused even to consider it. + +"No, my friends, I do not believe anything bad has happened to those +great scouts," he told his companions. "We will wait for them. They will +come." + +He had barely finished speaking when one of the Sioux ponies whinnied +softly, and a moment afterward they heard a pony scramble up the side of +the ravine a short distance to the eastward, and gallop off across the +plain. + +"Perhaps it is one of our friends," Sun Bird whispered, hopefully. + +He crawled to the plain, and imitated the bark of the little gray fox. +The Sioux listened anxiously. Many moments passed. There was no +response. Then Sun Bird again sounded the familiar signal. Still there +was no reply. The Sioux became suspicious. They feared that a hostile +scout had blundered upon their hiding place. Sun Bird, however, felt +more hopeful. He knew the wariness of the Dacotah scouts, and he still +hoped that the mysterious rider was one of his friends. He repeated the +sharp, quick bark of the little gray fox, and waited eagerly for a +reply. This time he got it. It came from the direction where he had +heard the hoofbeats of the retreating pony. + +"It is good," said Sun Bird. "That rider is a friend." + +A few moments later they heard ponies approaching the ravine. Determined +to be prepared for an emergency, the Sioux lay along the top of the +ravine, with arrows fitted to their bows, ready to repulse an attack. +The precaution proved to be unnecessary, however, as the riders were +Feather Dog and Proud Hawk. + +"My brothers, you have come--it is good," said Sun Bird. + +The scouts who had returned from the eastward said that they had seen +nothing of their foes, although they felt quite sure that they had heard +several ponies pass them in the darkness. They knew nothing of the +thrilling chase which their companions had witnessed from the ravine, +and were much interested in the recital. + +"Did you see anything of White Otter?" Sun Bird inquired, eagerly. + +"No, we did not see any one," replied Feather Dog. + +Sun Bird appeared serious. The continued absence of White Otter and his +companions worried him. He began to fear that they really had met with +some misfortune. The idea startled him. + +At that moment some of the Minneconjoux declared that they heard some +one approaching the ravine. Sun Bird held his breath to listen, and his +heart filled with hope. Perhaps White Otter and Little Raven had come. +The possibility thrilled him. He waited in trying suspense for the +signal which would verify his hopes. + +"Perhaps it is an enemy," suggested a warrior who was lying beside him. + +Sun Bird remained silent. For the moment the Blackfeet and the Crows had +been crowded from his mind by the hope of seeing White Otter and Little +Raven. He had entirely forgotten the peril which threatened the Sioux +war party. The warning of his tribesman aroused him to his +responsibility. He was the war leader. It was his duty to think first of +the welfare and safety of the men who had entrusted themselves to his +leadership. He at once dismissed White Otter and Little Raven from his +thoughts, and again became the stern, impassive war leader. + +"I do not hear anything," he told the man beside him. "What did you +hear?" + +"It sounded like ponies," replied the warrior. + +"Were they running?" inquired Sun Bird. + +"No, it sounded as if they were standing in one place, and stamping +their feet," declared the Minneconjoux. + +They listened a long time, but heard nothing. The warriors who had given +the warning, however, felt certain that they had not been mistaken. + +"Perhaps it was Tatanka, the buffalo, or Tatokadan, the antelope," said +Sitting Eagle. + +"No, no, it sounded like ponies," declared his friends. + +Then as they continued to listen they heard the cry of a prairie wolf, +far to the westward. The weird serenade lasted some moments, and then +all was still. The call had sounded entirely natural, but the Sioux +believed it was a clever imitation by their foes. They wondered if it +had any connection with the sounds which had been heard near the ravine. +They realized that Blackfeet scouts might have followed the stream bed +in search of their foes, and that the wolf call was a signal for them to +return to the war party. The Sioux listened anxiously for the sound of +hoof beats going toward the west. When they failed to hear them they +were completely baffled. Had the sharp-eared warriors who claimed to +have heard the ponies been deceived? It seemed unlikely. Then what had +become of the mysterious riders? The entire Minneconjoux war party was +listening breathlessly, and it seemed impossible for the horsemen to +steal away without being heard. Then a new possibility presented itself. + +"Perhaps they are Crows," the Sioux told one another. + +The thought threw them into a flurry of excitement. They realized that +if Crow scouts had come that far to the eastward, the entire Crow force +might follow them along the ravine. As a precaution against a sudden +attack, two Sioux scouts moved cautiously along the stream bed on foot +to watch for the approach of enemies. They had barely gone beyond +bowshot, when the Sioux heard the bark of the little gray fox directly +in front of them. It filled them with joy, and they lost little time in +replying. + +"Ho, my brothers, we have been waiting out here a long time," said +Running Dog, as he rode into the ravine with Big Crow, his fellow scout. + +"Did you see White Otter?" Sun Bird immediately inquired. + +"I do not know," replied Running Dog. "We saw three riders racing over +the ridge ahead of the Crows. They were far away. We could not tell +about them. Perhaps they were our brothers." + +"What became of them?" Sun Bird asked, eagerly. + +"They went that way," said Running Dog, as he pointed toward the east. +"The Crows did not follow them. They came this way. Then the Blackfeet +came after them." + +"Did you hear Mayash, the wolf?" inquired Sitting Eagle. + +"Yes, we heard his call, but he did not make it," Running Dog told him. +"It was the Blackfeet. I believe the Crows got away from them. Perhaps +they have turned this way. That is why we stayed out there in the +darkness. We did not know who was in this place." + +"Did you hear us?" Sun Bird asked, anxiously. + +"No, we did not hear you," said Running Dog. "Our ponies stopped and +tried to call, and we knew that some one was in this place." + +Running Dog told his tribesmen that he and Big Crow had seen the end of +the fight, and the desperate race between the Crows and the Blackfeet. +When the Crows turned toward the ravine the Sioux scouts had been +greatly alarmed for the safety of the Minneconjoux war party. However, +as they realized that they could not carry a warning to their friends, +they had determined to follow their enemies, and learn the result of +the wild chase across the plain. With the coming of darkness they had +lost sight of both the Crows and the Blackfeet, but they were sure that +both war parties had entered the ravine a considerable distance to the +westward. + +"Perhaps the Crows came this way--perhaps they crossed the gully and +went straight ahead," said Running Dog. "Anyway, I believe they fooled +the Blackfeet. We heard the Blackfeet scouts riding near us. I believe +they were trying to find the Crows." + +"If the Crows came this way they must be near us," said Sun Bird. + +"We did not hear anything----" + +Running Dog was interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice from the +darkness. + +"Ho, Dacotahs!" + +"It is White Otter!" cried Sun Bird. + +"Yes, my brother, I am here," replied White Otter, as he suddenly +appeared at the top of the ravine. + +The Ogalala was alone and on foot, and Sun Bird feared that he had met +with disaster. He was about to ask for Little Raven, and Lean Wolf, when +White Otter turned toward the plain and called softly. A moment +afterward his companions came forward with the ponies. Their appearance +filled Sun Bird with joy. He found it difficult to conceal the emotion +which welled up in his heart at the safe arrival of his beloved +companions. + +"My brothers, you have come--I feel good again," he said feelingly. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +REBELLIOUS PONIES + + +The Minneconjoux were eager to learn how White Otter had been able to +get so near them without being heard. They were equally curious to know +how he had located them. + +"I will tell you about it," said White Otter. "We were over there on +that ridge watching the fight. Then the Crows ran away. They came right +toward us. We rode away ahead of them. When it got dark we met some +riders. Then we turned this way. We heard some one riding past us. Then +we came on. We went over there near where the Blackfeet are, when we +heard Running Dog and Big Crow. We did not know them. They were coming +this way. We followed them. Then they stopped. We waited. Then we heard +the call of the little gray fox. That made us feel good. But we were not +sure about it. Then we heard those riders come into the gully. Then I +crawled up to find out about it. That is how we found you." + +"White Otter, you are a great warrior," Sun Bird declared, +enthusiastically. + +Then as the war party was complete he called a council of war to decide +what should be done. The Sioux were agreed that the wisest plan would be +to remain where they were until daylight. + +"It is the best thing to do," said Sun Bird. "We know that the Crows and +the Blackfeet are somewhere along this gully. It would be foolish to +move toward them. When it gets light we will try to find out where they +are." + +He posted scouts in and about the ravine to watch for the approach of +foes, while the war party lay down to sleep. There was no water, and +both the Sioux and their ponies suffered from thirst. The ponies were +particularly restless, and spent most of the night pawing the dry earth +in the bottom of the ravine. However, Dancing Rabbit assured his +companions that there was a good pool a half day's journey to the +westward, and Sitting Eagle confirmed his words. + +"Perhaps the Blackfeet are at that place," suggested Sun Bird. + +The night passed without incident, and at the first hint of dawn the +scouts hurried in from the plain. They said that they had neither seen +nor heard anything of their enemies. It seemed, therefore, that either +the Crows and the Blackfeet had continued their mad race through the +night, or else both had hidden themselves to wait for daylight. + +"Perhaps the Crows got away and the Blackfeet have gone back to their +village," suggested one of the Minneconjoux. + +His companions had serious doubts of it. As soon as it was light enough +to see across the plain, they crawled up the side of the ravine and +looked anxiously for signs of their foes. As they were nowhere in sight, +the Minneconjoux began to hope that the cheerful prophecy of their +comrade was correct. Still, they feared it would be dangerous to rely +upon it. + +"We must be cautious," said Lean Wolf. "There are some good hiding +places over there. Perhaps the Blackfeet are waiting for the Crows to +show themselves." + +There were a number of scattered stands of cottonwoods dotting the plain +to the westward, and the Sioux realized that one of them might shelter +their foes. They were particularly suspicious of the little grove which +Dancing Rabbit pointed out as the spot which sheltered the pool. + +"We must watch that place," declared White Otter. + +"Yes, we will stay here and watch," said Sun Bird. "If our enemies are +near us, pretty soon we will see their scouts." + +As time passed, and they saw nothing to indicate that either the Crows +or the Blackfeet were anywhere in the vicinity, the Sioux began to +discuss the advisability of moving cautiously along the bottom of the +ravine. The ponies were growing frantic from thirst and were raising +considerable dust by their wild pawing in the stream bed. Some were +beginning to snort and whinny, and the Sioux feared that the +unmanageable little beasts might betray them to their foes. Then, too, +their own throats were parched and aching, and they were eager to reach +the little pool as soon as possible. + +"We will go," Sun Bird said, finally. + +They believed that it would be folly to expose scouts upon the open +plain, and they determined to keep to the shelter of the ravine until +they were opposite the grove which sheltered the pool. The ponies +appeared to understand that they were moving toward water, and the Sioux +found it almost impossible to hold them in control. For some moments the +fractious little beasts created the wildest sort of disorder, and the +Minneconjoux looked anxiously upon the heavy dust cloud that rose above +the ravine. + +"It is bad," Sun Bird declared, uneasily, as he watched White Otter +struggling to subdue the hot-tempered piebald. + +When the ponies had finally been brought under subjection, several +warriors who rode quieter horses dismounted and crawled to the top of +the ravine to search the plain. A heavy pall of dust hung over them, and +they wondered if it had been seen by their foes. The latter, however, +were nowhere in sight, and the Sioux knew that unless they were watching +from one of the groves they must have ridden from the locality. + +"We saw no one," said the scouts when they overtook their companions. + +"It must be that our enemies went away while it was dark," said a young +warrior named Painted Bird. + +The Sioux, however, were suspicious. They determined to take nothing for +granted. As they approached the first of the little groves they sent +scouts along the ravine ahead of the war party to watch the plain and +guard against blundering into their foes. They were riding at a fast +pace, and they realized that they would arrive opposite the pool before +the day was half gone. + +"It is bad," said White Otter. "We cannot go to that place until it +grows dark. If we get near it, it will be hard to hold the ponies." + +"It is true," agreed Sun Bird. "I am thinking about it." + +He had planned to move along the ravine until he was opposite the pool, +and then wait until he could send scouts to reconnoiter the grove under +cover of the night. He, too, realized, however, that it might be +impossible to control the ponies once they got that near to the water. +The riders were already having considerable difficulty in restraining +them, and Sun Bird feared that at any moment they might stampede and +dash wildly up the side of the ravine. + +"We are raising a great dust," Lean Wolf said, soberly. "If our enemies +are watching they must see it." + +"Yes, yes, it is bad," Sun Bird replied, impatiently. "We must stop." + +He galloped to the head of the company and called upon the Minneconjoux +to halt. Many of them found difficulty in obeying the command. The +fiery, half-wild ponies had apparently scented the water and it seemed +to have driven them mad. In spite of their expert horsemanship the +Sioux were unable to control them. Although by sheer strength and skill +they finally brought them to a stop, they found it impossible to quiet +them. Crazed with their desire for water, the frantic beasts plunged and +reared and kicked and squealed and raised such a wild commotion that the +Sioux were thrown into a panic. They were certain that if enemies were +lurking at the pool they must surely have seen the dust and heard the +noise created by the unmanageable ponies. + +"It is useless to wait here," said some of the more impulsive warriors. +"We may as well go ahead and see what comes of it." + +"No, that would be foolish," declared Sun Bird. "If the Blackfeet are +hiding in that place they will see the dust. Perhaps they cannot hear +the noise. Anyway, if we stay in this gully they will not know who we +are. They must send scouts over here to find out about us. They will not +do that until it gets dark. Then it will be easy to fool them." + +"Those are good words," White Otter agreed, heartily. + +"Yes, that is the way I feel about it," declared Lean Wolf. + +"It is the only thing to do," Sitting Eagle cried, angrily. "Are we +like the women who are afraid of the war ponies! Are we like old men who +have no strength in their arms? Does a Dacotah run to his enemy for +water when he is thirsty? Come, my brothers, we are Dacotahs. We are +men. Hold those horses. Throw them down. Kill them if you cannot +overcome them. It is better to go against our enemies on foot than to +let those foolish ponies carry us to our deaths. Sun Bird is a good war +leader. You have heard his words. They are good. We will listen. We will +stay here until it is safe to go ahead." + +The words of the famous Minneconjoux scout created a deep impression +upon his comrades. He was a man whose daring achievements made him the +idol of his people, and his counsel was seldom disputed. His daring +challenge to their ability and manhood instantly roused the fighting +blood of the Sioux, and they immediately accepted the task of bringing +the fractious ponies under subjection. It was not easy, but the +Minneconjoux were on their mettle, and, as White Otter had already won +control over the piebald, they persevered until the ponies were finally +quieted. + +Order having been restored, many of the Sioux crept up the side of the +ravine to watch the distant stand of cottonwoods which they hoped to +reach at dark. They were suffering keenly from thirst, which had been +greatly aggravated by their desperate struggle with the ponies. Some of +them chewed mouthfuls of grass in an attempt to suck moisture into their +burning throats. Others placed small pebbles beneath their tongues to +increase the flow of saliva. All of them, however, bore their discomfort +without complaint. It was a common occurrence for a warrior to endure +both hunger and thirst, and they had been trained from infancy to suffer +in silence. + +"See, the day is passing," Sun Bird said, cheerfully, as the sun sank +slowly toward the west. "Pretty soon we will be under those trees, +drinking that water." + +"It is good," the Minneconjoux murmured, thickly. + +Although they watched closely until the grove finally faded from sight +in the evening shadows, they saw nothing of their foes. They were quite +convinced that the Crows had eluded the Blackfeet, and that the latter +had gone to their village to boast of their victory. + +"We will go," Sun Bird said, as darkness at last fell upon the plain. + +They moved eagerly along the ravine, and once more the parched ponies +tried to bolt from the control of their riders. The latter were still +smarting from the rebuke of Sitting Eagle, and they soon brought the +unruly little beasts under subjection. However, it was impossible to +quiet them. They snorted and squealed and whinnied, and the Sioux +realized that it was hopeless to try to reach the grove without being +heard. + +"Well, if our enemies are over there they know that we are coming," +Sitting Eagle declared, irritably. + +"It is true," agreed Sun Bird. "But they do not know who we are. If the +Blackfeet are over there they will take us for Crows. If the Crows are +over there they will take us for Blackfeet. It is good. When we get near +that place we will stop. Then we will send scouts over there to find out +about it. If our enemies are there we will find out who they are. Then +we will run away before they find out about us." + +"It is good," said Sitting Eagle. + +When they finally came opposite the grove which contained the pool they +again fought the desperate ponies into submission and made heroic +efforts to keep them quiet. Then Sun Bird selected White Otter and +Sitting Eagle to go forward on foot to reconnoiter the cottonwoods. + +"Those great scouts will find out about it," he boasted, as the two +famous Dacotahs slipped away as noiselessly as shadows. + +It seemed a long time to the anxious Sioux before White Otter finally +returned and said that the grove was free from foes. The announcement +filled them with joy. Throwing caution to the winds, they rode out of +the ravine and raced recklessly toward the cottonwoods. Once at the pool +it was impossible to restrain the ponies, and the riders were forced to +wait until the frenzied animals had satisfied their thirst. Then the +Sioux plunged their feverish faces into the roily water and drank as +eagerly as the ponies. + +"Ah," Sun Bird sighed, contentedly, as he finally rose to his feet. + +Having drunk their fill, the ponies became quiet and turned to graze +upon the scant growth of grass about the pool. The Sioux, however, +remained alert. Their noisy arrival at the pool had made them uneasy. +They had vague, disturbing premonitions of danger, and they feared to +linger in the grove. + +"If our enemies come and surround this place it will be hard to get +away," Sun Bird said, anxiously. "Come, we will go." + +At that moment one of the ponies whinnied, and the Sioux were astounded +to hear it answered from the plain. Then they heard a horse galloping +toward the west. They turned to one another in alarm. + +"Our enemies have caught us!" they cried. + +"Wait," White Otter counseled, calmly. "I believe that rider is a scout. +Perhaps he is alone. We will listen. If he is with a war party then we +will hear signals. If he keeps quiet there is nothing to fear." + +"It is good," agreed the Minneconjoux. + +They listened in tense silence. Then, as the moments passed and they +heard nothing to suggest the approach of their foes, they felt +considerably relieved. Still they were somewhat fearful about leaving +the timber. They realized that either the Crows or the Blackfeet might +have surrounded the grove and sent the scout forward as a decoy to lure +them upon the open plain. + +"Well, my brothers, that rider knows that some one is at this pool," +declared Sun Bird. "If he is a scout he will tell his people about it. I +believe if we wait here something bad will come of it. If we go away our +enemies will not know that the Dacotahs were here. If we expect to get +to the great Blackfeet camp we must not let our enemies know about us." + +The Sioux instantly saw the wisdom of his words and agreed that it +would be safer to abandon the grove and continue toward the mountains. +Dancing Rabbit told them that if they continued to ride through the +night, daylight would find them close upon the foothills. + +"It is good--we will go," said Sun Bird. + +They left the grove and moved slowly across the plain in the direction +of the ravine. The ponies were quiet and docile, and it seemed as if the +clever little beasts were attempting to make amends for the anxiety and +effort they had caused their riders a short time before. As the war +party drew near the ravine Sun Bird ordered a halt while he sent scouts +forward to reconnoiter. They soon returned and declared that the way was +clear. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AN UNUSUAL ADVENTURE + + +Upon reaching the ravine the Sioux turned toward the west and rode until +daylight. Then they found themselves almost within the shadows of the +great massive peaks which towered against the sky. The low timbered +ridges of the foothills were still nearer at hand, and the air was +scented with fragrance from the dense stand of pines. + +"It is good," declared Sun Bird. "Pretty soon we will come to those +great mountains. Then we can hide from our enemies until we find the +Blackfeet camp." + +Having failed to find any further evidence of their foes, they began to +feel more secure. They gave little thought to the horseman who had +blundered upon them at the pool, for it appeared certain that both the +Crows and the Blackfeet had withdrawn from the vicinity. Encouraged by +the thought, the Sioux determined to continue toward the mountains. + +When they reached the first ridge of foothills, Sitting Eagle, who was +familiar with the region, led the way along a game trail. It wound +upward from the plain, and brought them to a grassy meadow with a cold +bubbling spring in one corner of it. As it offered an attractive camp +site, the Sioux determined to stop. + +After the ponies had been picketed and the camp established, several +young warriors went into the woods with their bows to look for game. It +was not long before they returned with a fat, young, white-tail deer. + +As the camp site was a considerable height above the plain and well +hidden by the heavy stand of timber, the Sioux determined to risk making +a small fire. Then they broiled the deer meat and ate with keen +enjoyment. They had suddenly relaxed. For the moment the hardships and +perils of the war trail were forgotten. They talked and laughed and told +stories, and became as carefree and happy as boys. The merry feast +continued well into the night. When it finally ended, the sentinels took +their positions about the camp while their companions wrapped themselves +in their robes and lay down to sleep. + +Shortly after daylight the Sioux descended to the plain and rode +northward along the base of the ridge. They kept within bowshot of the +timber so that they might conceal themselves if they found signs of +their foes. Dancing Rabbit declared that the Blackfeet camp was a number +of days' travel farther to the northward, and for the present at least +the Sioux had little fear of blundering into those foes. However, they +believed that the Crows might be somewhere in the vicinity and they +determined to keep a sharp watch. + +"We will keep going ahead until we get near the Blackfeet camp," said +Sun Bird. "Then we will stop. Then some of us will climb those great +mountains and look for the Blackfeet lodges." + +For two days they traveled cautiously along the edge of the foothills +without seeing anything to arouse their suspicions. Game, however, was +abundant. They saw countless numbers of buffaloes, great herds of elk, +and many deer and antelope. + +"This is a good place to live in," declared White Otter. + +"Yes, there is plenty of game here," replied Sun Bird. + +Then they again saw Huya, the war bird. The eagle was soaring high up +near the snowclad peaks. The Sioux watched it with superstitious +premonitions. They believed it was an omen--a warning that foes were +near at hand. + +"See, Huya has come back to tell us about our enemies," said Sun Bird. +"I believe we are near the Blackfeet. We must watch out." + +Disturbed by the appearance of Huya, the war bird, and determined to run +no risk of betraying themselves to their foes, the Sioux decided to seek +shelter in the foothills while scouts climbed the ridges to look for the +Blackfeet camp. While the war party moved cautiously along the edge of +the plain, Sun Bird sent scouts into the timber to look for a suitable +camp site. At the end of the day they found a sheltered grassy park high +up near the summit of the ridge, and the Sioux determined to make it +their rendezvous until they were ready to advance upon the Blackfeet. + +The following day, at dawn, Sun Bird and White Otter left the war party +and set out along the summit of the ridge to look for traces of the +Blackfeet camp. Other scouts rode cautiously along the edge of the plain +to watch for signs of the Crows or scouting parties of Blackfeet. + +Although Sun Bird and White Otter had a splendid view of the plain they +failed to discover any evidence of the Blackfeet camp. When they finally +saw a large herd of buffaloes grazing contentedly a considerable +distance to the northward, they became convinced that the hostile camp +was far beyond their view. + +"It is useless to look any more," declared White Otter. "The Blackfeet +camp is a long ways off." + +"Yes, it must be so," said Sun Bird. "We will go back and tell our +friends about it." + +"Wait," White Otter cried, eagerly. "Here is the trail of great +Matohota." + +Sun Bird hastened to his side and saw the fresh tracks of a grizzly +bear. The trail led down into the timber. The footprints were of unusual +size, and the Sioux studied them with flashing eyes. The Dacotahs +considered killing great Matohota an exploit worthy of the bravest +warrior, and only second in importance to killing an enemy. A necklace +of bear claws was accepted as positive proof of the hunting ability and +courage of the wearer. Although both Sun Bird and White Otter had killed +several of those fierce beasts, they became enthusiastic at the idea of +securing the great claws of the bear which had recently passed. + +"If we kill Matohota we will have something to show our friends," said +White Otter. + +"He cannot be far away," Sun Bird declared, hopefully. "Come, we will +follow him." + +They followed the trail down through the timber, and about half way +down the ridge it brought them within sight of another open grassy park. +Aware that those places were favorite feeding places for elk and deer, +the expert young hunters realized that the grizzly might have gone there +to feast upon the carcass of one of those animals. + +"We must be careful," White Otter warned, softly. + +They approached the spot with great caution, peering anxiously between +the trees to discover the grizzly. As the wind favored them, they hoped +to get within bow range without alarming their game. However, when they +finally came in full view of the park the bear was nowhere in sight. +They were keenly disappointed. + +"Matohota has gone on," said Sun Bird. + +"We will see," replied White Otter. + +They stole to the edge of the timber and looked anxiously across the +grassy meadow. The trail of the bear was plainly visible through the +high grass. As they followed it with their eyes they suddenly discovered +something lying in the far corner of the park. One glance told them that +it was dead, but it was some time before they could make sure what it +was. Then they looked at each other in astonishment. They had suddenly +identified the object as a dead pony. The discovery made them cautious, +and they sank noiselessly into the bushes to watch. + +"It is mysterious," whispered Sun Bird. "How did that pony come here?" + +"We will try to find out about it, but first we must watch," replied +White Otter. + +They watched a long time, searching the borders of the meadow with great +care. It was difficult to learn much about the dead pony from where they +were, but they saw that the carcass had been partly eaten, and they +believed it had been there for some time. + +"It is good," said White Otter. "Matohota comes here to eat that pony. +If we wait here we will see him." + +"Perhaps he is sleeping over there in those bushes," suggested Sun Bird. + +They knew that after gorging itself with meat, a bear often would lie +down to sleep near the carcass, so that it would find a meal close at +hand when it again became hungry. It seemed probable, therefore, that +the great creature which they sought might be concealed somewhere within +bow range of them. They looked carefully along the edge of the woods, +hoping to discover a sign which would tell them where the bear had +entered the timber. The undergrowth appeared undisturbed, and, as the +trail faded out at the spot where the grass had been trampled down about +the carcass, there seemed little chance of learning what they wished to +know unless they made their way to the dead pony. + +"We must go over there and find out about it," Sun Bird proposed, +finally. + +"Come," said White Otter. + +They moved through the timber as stealthily as wolves, and when they +drew near the carcass they again stopped to watch and listen. Then they +circled to find the trail of the bear. They came upon a wide game trail +leading down from the park, and as they stooped to study it they +discovered many tracks. Among them were the footprints of the great gray +timber wolves, and the clumsy round paw-marks of a mountain lion. The +latter track was fresh, and it was evident that the great cat had passed +over the trail since daylight. The tracks of the bear, however, were +missing. + +"Matohota did not come this way," said Sun Bird. + +"Perhaps he is close by," White Otter said, cautiously. "We will try to +find out where he is. Then we will go and look at that pony. It came +along this trail. See, here is a track." + +He showed Sun Bird a faint and indistinct impression of a hoof at one +side of the trail. It was some days old, and offered them little +information. + +"Come, we will find out what has become of Matohota, and then we will +come back here and find out about this thing," said White Otter. + +They soon came upon the trail of the bear. As White Otter had guessed, +it circled around the edge of the park, and led back toward the top of +the ridge. It was plain, therefore, that the bear had its den somewhere +up there among the ledges, and came to the park to feed during the night +or at daylight. + +"Now we know what to do," declared White Otter. "First we will go and +look at that pony. Then we will go down that trail and try to find some +more tracks. Then we will come back to this place and wait for +Matohota." + +"It is good," said Sun Bird. + +When they reached the dead pony they were surprised to see the shaft of +an arrow protruding from behind its shoulder. For a moment or so they +studied it in silence. Then White Otter knelt, and drew his knife. + +"Perhaps we will find out what we want to know," he said. + +He extracted the arrow and examined it with great care, and then he +passed it to Sun Bird. The latter studied it a long time. He noted that +the shaft was of willow and feathered along the sides for almost a +hand-width. The arrow was considerably longer than those used by the +Dacotahs, and the point was made of an unusual red flint. It was the +deeply notched model of the war arrows. + +"Well, what do you make of it?" White Otter inquired, as Sun Bird +finished examining it. + +"It is not a Dacotah arrow," replied Sun Bird. "It is not a Crow arrow. +It was not made by the Blackfeet. I do not know who made it." + +"I cannot tell you about it," said White Otter, as Sun Bird returned the +mysterious arrow. "I do not know about the people who live in this +country. I know the Crow arrows. I have seen the Blackfeet arrows. I do +not know the others." + +"I will show it to Sitting Eagle and Lean Wolf," said Sun Bird. "Perhaps +they will know about it." + +As there seemed to be no other way of learning its identity, they +dismissed the arrow from their minds and turned their attention upon the +dead pony. It was a pinto, and appeared to have been dead a number of +days. They had little doubt that, having been wounded on the plain, it +had followed the game trail to the spot where it died. + +"Perhaps the man who owned that pony rode up here to get away from his +enemies," suggested Sun Bird. + +"Perhaps," said White Otter. + +Then, as the day had almost ended, they realized that if they intended +to remain and watch for Matohota it was time to find a hiding place. As +there was not sufficient breeze to stir the leaves, White Otter held a +moistened finger above his head to learn the direction of the air +current. What there was seemed to come from the north side of the park. +As the bear was expected to approach from the west, and the bait was on +the east side of the park, the Sioux decided to hide themselves to the +southward of the dead pony. Then if the uncertain breeze should suddenly +shift to another quarter they would still be to the leeward of the bear. + +"Matohota is strong," cautioned White Otter. "We must drive our arrows +deep into his body. We must not go too far away." + +They concealed themselves in the undergrowth within easy bowshot of the +bait and determined to watch until the bear appeared. The light was +already fading from the park, and the heavy evening shadows were forming +at the edge of the woods. Then, as darkness settled down, the moon +flooded the little park with its silvery light. + +"It is good," whispered Sun Bird. "Wakantunka has sent Hanyetuwi, the +night sun, to give us light." + +"It is good," replied White Otter. + +They had little hope that Matohota would appear before daylight, and +still they realized that he might come to feed under cover of the night. +It was not long, however, before they heard other prowlers approaching +the bait. The crackling of brush, and soft, stealthy footfalls caused +them to watch expectantly. A lithe, shadowy form moved swiftly into the +moonlight. It stopped a moment and raised a long pointed snout into the +air. Then it trotted gracefully to the bait. The Sioux recognized it as +Huhasapedan, the fox. They watched with great interest as the suspicious +creature circled warily about the carcass, stopping in alarm at the +slightest sound, and peering nervously into the shadows. It had barely +begun to eat, when a second woods prowler entered the park and moved +slowly toward the bait. The fox crouched behind the pony and watched +uneasily. + +"Wolf," whispered White Otter. + +The wolf had discovered the fox and was bristling and growling, as it +walked stiffly toward the pony. Awed by the threats of its formidable +rival, the fox slunk to the edge of the timber and sat upon its +haunches to watch until the wolf left the carcass. The wolf feasted +ravenously, tearing large pieces of flesh from the bait and growling +savagely as it ate. It was one of the great gaunt timber wolves, and the +Sioux longed to pierce it with their arrows. They resisted the +temptation, however, for they knew that Matohota might become suspicious +at the scent of fresh blood. + +"It would be foolish," said White Otter. + +The wolf refused to leave until it had gorged itself with meat, and then +it moved threateningly toward the fox. The latter immediately retreated +across the park and failed to show itself until the wolf had slunk into +the shadows. + +The fox had barely returned to the bait when it was again interrupted by +another nocturnal prowler. A short, catlike snarl sounded from the +direction of the game trail, and as the fox paused to listen, a long, +crouching form appeared at the edge of the moonlight. Two glowing eyes +blazed defiance, and the fox bounded into the woods. + +"It is fierce Imutanka," breathed Sun Bird. + +They had instantly recognized the stealthy prowler as a mountain lion. +They watched with bated breath as the great cat moved cautiously toward +the carcass. In spite of its size and strength it seemed as wary and +fearful as Huhasapedan, the fox. It would slink forward a few paces and +then stop and look furtively about the park. Once it sniffed +suspiciously, and parted its lips in a silent snarl. Had it caught the +wolf scent? Was great Matohota approaching? The Sioux grew tense at the +thought. As the lion drew nearer the pony it crouched close to the +ground, growling and nervously lashing its tail. It appeared to be +preparing to spring upon the carcass. It was an unusually large +specimen, and the Sioux were eager to secure so noble a trophy. + +"Come, we will kill Imutanka," suggested Sun Bird. + +"Wait," cautioned White Otter. + +A moment afterward a great bulky form appeared at the opposite side of +the park. The Sioux recognized it at once. It was great Matohota, the +grizzly. His sudden appearance caused their hearts to beat wildly +against their ribs, while their eyes flashed with the light of battle. +He was a foe worthy of the bravest warrior, and the young Dacotahs +longed for the chance to engage him in battle. + +A slight breeze was stirring from the eastward, and Matohota had +evidently caught the scent of the mountain lion. He had raised his head +and was staring across the park. The Sioux looked toward the lion. It, +too, had discovered the bear, and was crouching behind the pony, and +grumbling threateningly. + +"Imutanka will run away," whispered Sun Bird. + +"Watch!" cautioned White Otter. + +The bear had ambled clumsily into the open, and was following its trail +across the park. The Sioux turned their eyes upon the lion. They +expected to see it slinking away. Imutanka, however, showed no such +intention. His blazing eyes and ugly snarls made it plain that he had no +idea of running away. Still, the Sioux could not believe he would dare +to oppose the mighty Matohota. + +"Imutanka looks brave, but he will run away," insisted Sun Bird. + +"We will see," said White Otter. + +As the bear came closer the Sioux saw that it was even larger than they +had guessed it to be. Matohota looked more than a match for sinewy +Imutanka, but the latter still held his ground. It was apparent that +having secured possession of the carcass he had no thought of +surrendering it without a fight. The Sioux thrilled at the possibility. + +"If Imutanka stays there we will see something to talk about," Sun Bird +whispered, eagerly. + +"Yes, yes, it will be a great fight," replied White Otter. + +The bold defiance of the lion seemed to have made Matohota realize the +need of caution. He had stopped and was shaking his great head from side +to side and growling fiercely. Imutanka replied to his challenge with +short, throaty snarls. Then for some moments each gazed into the blazing +eyes of the other and appeared to be estimating the strength and courage +of its adversary. The Sioux were fascinated by the unusual spectacle. +For the moment their desire to kill was overcome by their curiosity to +learn the outcome of the fight. + +It was some time, however, before the huge Matohota made up his mind to +attack his rival. Then, having determined to gain possession of the +bait, he rushed furiously upon the lion. The great sinewy cat had little +difficulty in avoiding him. Then, as Matohota whirled about with amazing +agility, the lion made its spring. Matohota reared upon his hind legs +and struck the lion to earth with his huge paw. Imutanka uttered a sharp +whine of pain and sprang aside. It was evident that Matohota had drawn +first blood. He dropped to all fours and turned quickly about as the +lion circled him. The Sioux saw that Imutanka was bleeding freely from a +deep gash in the neck. However, the wound only seemed to rouse the lion +to greater fury. Spitting, snarling, and growling, it glided stealthily +about its adversary, watching for an opening. Matohota, however, was +equally alert, and in spite of his great bulk he was sufficiently quick +to baffle his foe. Each time Imutanka crouched to spring, Matohota rose +upon his hind legs and held his great forepaws ready to deal another +deadly blow. Then the lion would immediately relax and attempt to glide +behind him, and Matohota would drop down and whirl about in time to +prevent the attack. + +"Matohota is a great fighter," Sun Bird told White Otter. + +"Imutanka is quick, he will fool Matohota," replied White Otter. + +A moment later his prophecy was fulfilled. The lion had crouched to +spring, and Matohota reared to protect himself. Then Imutanka sprang far +to one side, and as Matohota dropped Imutanka was directly behind him. +Before Matohota could turn the lion was upon his back. Its great claws +tore down through the thick, shaggy coat, and ripped great gashes in his +flesh and its flashing fangs sank deep into the back of his neck. Quick +to understand his peril, Matohota threw himself and attempted to roll +over upon his back. Failing in his efforts to dislodge the lion, +Matohota rose upon his hind legs and fell over backward to crush the +lion beneath his great bulk. Imutanka was too cunning to be caught. +Releasing his hold he sprang away, and as Matohota crashed to the ground +the lion jumped for his throat. Matohota caught him in a crushing +embrace, and the fight became deadly. Rolling wildly over the ground the +ferocious beasts bit and tore each other until it seemed that neither +could survive the encounter. + +The Sioux looked on with glistening eyes. The savage duel had roused +their own hot fighting blood and they were eager to enter the fray. + +"Come, we will kill both of them," cried Sun Bird, as he fitted an arrow +to his bow. + +"Wait, wait," urged White Otter. "We will see who is the greatest +warrior." + +They watched, therefore, while the fight raged with unabated fury. At +last the superior strength of the great Matohota gave him the victory. +The lion broke free and sprang from the range of his deadly paws. It +crouched and faced him for a moment, and then as he reared to defend +himself, Imutanka weakened and turned to slink away into the night. + +"Come!" cried Sun Bird, as he rose to his feet. + +Two arrows pierced the heart of fierce Imutanka and he fell dead in his +tracks. Matohota whirled about at the sharp twang of the bowstrings, and +roared defiance at the two figures on the edge of the moonlight. Then as +he rushed forward to destroy them in his wrath, he, too, collapsed from +the shock of two burning arrows in his great hairy chest. The next +moment he rose to his feet and reared unsteadily to repeat the tactics +which had proved successful against fierce Imutanka. This time, however, +it was a fatal error, for the Sioux drove their arrows through his heart +and great Matohota crashed headlong into the grass and followed Imutanka +on the Long Trail. + +"Hi, we have done a big thing," Sun Bird cried, excitedly, as he rushed +into the park to examine the trophies. + +"We will have something to tell about," laughed White Otter. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE FLATHEADS + + +The elated young Sioux lost little time in removing the great claws from +Matohota and the cruel, sharp talons from fierce Imutanka. They longed +to take the pelts as well, but they realized that it would be folly to +burden themselves with them. They spent some time, however, examining +the wounds which the savage creatures had inflicted upon each other. The +lion had bitten deeply into the back of Matohota's neck and ripped +terrible gashes in his back. Matohota had taken full revenge. His great +claws had torn gaping wounds in the chest and shoulders of Imutanka and +it was evident that the lion would have expired from loss of blood if +the Sioux had not ended its agony with their arrows. They decided, +therefore, that great Matohota should be credited with victory. + +"Imutanka was very brave, but Matohota was too strong for him," declared +Sun Bird. + +"Yes, Matohota won the fight," agreed White Otter. + +As the night was far advanced they determined to wait until daylight +before setting out to rejoin their companions. They spent some time +dancing solemnly about their victims, and chanting their war songs. Then +they opened the carcasses of the bear and the lion and removed the +hearts. They cut them into two parts and ate them with superstitious +zeal. It was an ancient custom of the Dacotahs, who believed that by +consuming the heart of a particularly strong and courageous bear or lion +they would absorb the strength and courage of the animal itself. + +At dawn the Sioux determined to follow the game trail to the plain, in +the hope of encountering some of the war party. They had thoughtfully +cut the arrows from the bodies of Matohota and Imutanka so that if +either the Blackfeet or the Crows chanced to visit the spot they would +be unable to guess who had ventured upon their hunting grounds. + +"Perhaps we will find out something about that pony," suggested Sun +Bird, as they moved slowly down the game trail. + +"See, here are the tracks of Imutanka," said White Otter. + +The trail of the lion was plainly visible. The Sioux gave little +attention to it. Their interest in fierce Imutanka had ended with his +death. They were curious, however, to learn more about the unfortunate +pony. They watched closely to find its tracks. They were faint and far +apart, and although Sun Bird and White Otter were expert trailers they +could gain little information from the unsatisfactory trail. + +Then the game trail suddenly led them to an open plateau which offered +an extended view of the plain. They saw a small company of horsemen +riding toward the ridge. They studied them closely. There were eight. + +"Perhaps our friends are looking for us," said Sun Bird. + +White Otter remained silent. His whole attention was concentrated upon +the approaching horsemen. They were a considerable distance below him +and some distance from the base of the ridge. It was difficult to +identify them, but the Ogalala was straining his eyes in the attempt. He +was particularly noting the ponies, as he had become thoroughly familiar +with the color and type of every animal in the Minneconjoux war party. +He failed to recognize any of the ponies which were approaching the +timber. One was a buckskin, and there were two pintos. There were +several such animals in the Sioux war party, but they differed in type +from the ponies on the plain. White Otter was suspicious of the +approaching horsemen. Sun Bird, too, was becoming uneasy about them. + +"Who are they?" he asked, anxiously. + +"They are not our people," White Otter assured him. "I do not know who +they are. Do you know them?" + +"No," replied Sun Bird. + +They watched anxiously while the riders drew nearer the base of the +ridge. As they finally came within bow range of the timber, they stopped +and began to watch the ridge. For a moment the Sioux wondered if the +horsemen had discovered them. It seemed impossible, as they had hidden +themselves in the undergrowth the moment they discovered the riders. + +"No, they did not see us," White Otter declared, confidently. "I believe +they are scouts. Perhaps they are Blackfeet." + +"No, they are not Blackfeet," said Sun Bird. "I know those people a long +ways off." + +"Well, they do not look like Crows," White Otter told him. + +"No, they are not Crows," replied Sun Bird. + +"Who are they?" demanded White Otter. + +"I cannot tell you that until they come closer," Sun Bird told him. + +In the meantime one of the horsemen had left his companions and was +riding cautiously toward the ridge. His friends were watching him +closely and seemed ready to rush to his assistance at the first warning +of danger. As the scout drew steadily nearer, the Sioux studied him with +great care. Sun Bird was positive that he was not a Blackfoot, and both +of them were equally certain that he was not a Crow. The Crows allowed +their hair to grow to great length, and wore it in two massive braids +which often fell below their knees. The man who was approaching the +ridge, however, had a great abundance of rather short, unbraided hair, +which fell loosely about his shoulders. As Sun Bird noted it, and the +high, peculiar shape of the warrior's head he suddenly identified him. + +"Now I know about him," he told White Otter. "He is a Flathead. It is +bad. They are enemies of my people. We must watch out." + +"I have heard my grandfather tell about those people," said White Otter. + +He recalled the stories which old Wolf Robe had told about how the +Flatheads flattened the heads of their children by tightly binding the +skulls of the babies between stiff slabs of bark, and keeping them in +the vise until the skulls were pressed into the desired shape. Those +strange people considered a high, flat skull a great mark of beauty. As +they were a northern tribe, hovering about the mountains, it was the +first time White Otter had encountered them. He studied the approaching +rider with curious interest. + +"They are great hunters," Sun Bird told him. "I believe these riders are +coming to this ridge to hunt." + +"Perhaps they will follow this trail," suggested White Otter. "Perhaps +they will go up there where we killed Matohota, to watch for game." + +Sun Bird started at the suggestion. It appeared to have offered an +interesting possibility. He drew the mysterious arrow from his bowcase, +and smiled significantly at White Otter. + +"Now I know about this thing," he said. "This arrow came from the +Flatheads." + +White Otter nodded understandingly. + +In the meantime the Flathead scout had reached the base of the ridge and +disappeared from their sight. They turned their attention to the company +of horsemen who were waiting on the plain. They seemed to be watching +for the signal to advance. + +"Those people are very cautious," said White Otter. + +"Perhaps they are afraid of the Blackfeet," Sun Bird told him. + +Then they heard a shout from the base of the ridge, and the horsemen +cantered briskly toward the timber. The Sioux realized that it was time +to move from the plateau. They believed it would be easy to return to +the top of the ridge and escape from their enemies. Sun Bird, however, +showed a desire to linger. + +"Those look like good ponies," he told White Otter, as his eyes twinkled +mischievously. "The Flatheads are our enemies. They have killed some of +my people. I feel like taking away some of those ponies." + +"You are the leader, I will follow you," White Otter said, quietly. + +"It is good," Sun Bird declared, enthusiastically. + +Their first thought, however, was to conceal themselves sufficiently +near the game trail to see the Flatheads if they passed. It was a bold +resolve, and the eyes of the daring young Sioux flashed with excitement. +They had been taught from infancy that the noblest aim of a warrior was +to inflict punishment upon his enemies, and they determined to make the +most of their opportunity. They concealed themselves within easy bowshot +of the trail, and waited anxiously for the Flatheads to appear. It was +not long before the Sioux heard them approaching. + +"They are coming," whispered Sun Bird. + +They watched in breathless suspense, and in a few moments they saw the +first horseman appear at the edge of the plateau. His companions +followed closely behind him. The Sioux were greatly surprised when the +Flatheads stopped their ponies in the center of the open park and began +to dismount. Then the ponies were left with two warriors and the other +members of the company passed up the game trail on foot. The Sioux had a +splendid view of them at close range. They were tall, muscular men, +whose high, flattened skulls gave them a weird and sinister expression. +As they were not painted for war, the Sioux believed they were hunters. + +"Perhaps they will find our tracks," Sun Bird whispered, uneasily, after +they had passed. + +White Otter looked serious. The possibility had already flashed through +his mind, and he was troubled about it. He knew that even one indistinct +impression of a fresh moccasin track would arouse the suspicions of the +Flatheads, and send them hurrying to the plateau to investigate. Then it +would be impossible to capture the ponies, and difficult to get away. + +"The ground is hard," Sun Bird said, hopefully. "We did not make many +tracks." + +"The eyes of a hunter are sharp," White Otter cautioned him. + +Realizing that there was nothing to be gained by worrying over the +possibility of the Flatheads discovering their tracks, the Sioux +dismissed the thought from their minds and turned their attention upon +the warriors with the ponies. The latter had incautiously turned loose +the ponies to graze in the center of the park and had stationed +themselves on opposite sides of the plateau to watch them. The Sioux +instantly saw their opportunity. + +"Those warriors are very foolish," Sun Bird said, excitedly. "Now we can +creep up and get two of those ponies." + +"We must be quick," White Otter told him. "Those other warriors may come +back." + +"I will take that yellow pony, it looks fast," said Sun Bird. + +"I will take the spotted pony with the white tail," said White Otter. + +Having made their selection, the Sioux realized that they must attempt +their daring coup without a moment's delay. They moved through the +undergrowth with the alert, silent stealth of Huhasapedan, the fox. +When they were almost at the edge of the park they stopped to plan their +reckless dash upon the ponies. The animals which they hoped to secure +were grazing near the edge of the timber and the Flathead who guarded +them was picking berries a short distance away. The Sioux crawled a +bowlength nearer. Then as one of the ponies suddenly raised its head, +they stopped and waited with thumping hearts to learn if they had been +discovered. The unsuspecting animal resumed its feeding, however, and +the Sioux breathed more easily. Again they moved carefully toward the +border of the park. Their eyes were fixed upon the ponies, and their +ears were open to catch the first warning that the Flatheads had found +their tracks. + +When they finally reached the edge of the timber, the ponies which they +had selected were almost within reach of them. They were grazing +quietly, and the long rawhide lariats were trailing between their feet. +The Flathead had turned his back upon them and was stooped over +searching for berries in the long grass. The warrior on the opposite +side of the park was lying in the shade of a tree. The Sioux realized +that their opportunity was at hand. Each fastened his eyes upon the +animal he planned to capture and prepared to rush into the park. At +that moment, however, they heard a signal from the upper end of the game +trail. The truth instantly flashed through their minds. The Flathead +hunters had discovered their trail. + +"Come!" cried White Otter. + +They jumped to their feet and rushed recklessly into the park. Then as +the startled ponies turned in panic, the Sioux sprang forward and seized +the lariats. The next moment they had mounted and were riding furiously +down the game trail. They chuckled with boyish glee as they heard the +alarmed Flathead guards yelling frantically for their companions. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A CLEVER STRATAGEM + + +At the time that Sun Bird and White Otter set out to climb the ridge to +search for the Blackfeet camp, Lean Wolf and Sitting Eagle rode +northward along the edge of the timber to look for signs of their +enemies. They were particularly anxious to locate the Crows, who, they +feared, were somewhere in the vicinity. They rode until the day was half +gone, and then, having seen nothing of their foes, determined to return +to their companions. As they were cantering slowly toward a deep ravine +which they had crossed earlier in the day, their ponies suddenly began +to raise their ears and whinny. The Sioux instantly stopped in alarm. + +"Watch out!" cautioned Lean Wolf. + +He had barely given the warning when a great company of horsemen rode +out of the ravine and raced toward the astounded Sioux. The latter +instantly recognized the riders as Crows. They were almost upon them and +the Sioux wheeled their ponies and rode madly across the plain. + +"This way! This way!" cried Sitting Eagle, as he turned toward the +north. + +The Crows were within bowshot and their arrows were falling all about +the crouching Sioux. The latter urged their ponies to a frantic burst of +speed to escape from the fierce attack. Stride by stride they distanced +their pursuers until they were beyond arrow range. Then the Crows +withheld their arrows and began to lash their ponies in an attempt to +again get within bow range. + +"Keep low on your pony," cautioned Lean Wolf. "Perhaps they do not know +who we are." + +"Yes, yes, we will try to fool them," replied Sitting Eagle. + +Then as the two ponies raced along side by side he told Lean Wolf about +a narrow, shut-in cañon which extended back into the foothills. He said +it was only a short distance ahead of them. + +"If we run into that place the Crows cannot get us," Sitting Eagle +declared, confidently. + +"It is good, we will go there," agreed Lean Wolf. + +The Crows were trying desperately to come within arrow range, but the +gallant Sioux ponies were holding their lead and their riders had little +fear of being overtaken. They believed that the Crow ponies had reached +the limit of their speed and that further urging would cause them to +collapse. + +The Sioux finally reached the cañon a safe distance ahead of their +pursuers. After they had ridden through the narrow entrance, they +dismounted and sought safety behind two great boulders which guarded the +pass. + +"Now we can hold off our enemies," Sitting Eagle said, with evident +relief. + +"Yes, it will be hard for them to come through here," declared Lean +Wolf. + +The Crows, however, showed no disposition to make the attempt. They +seemed to realize the strength of the Sioux position and appeared +reluctant to make an attack. They gathered in a compact group well +beyond arrow range, and held a council of war. + +"They will wait until it gets dark," declared Sitting Eagle. "Then they +will try to get into this place." + +"We will be ready," Lean Wolf said, doggedly. "But perhaps the Crows +will keep us here a long time. We have no water. It is bad." + +"There is a little pool a short ways behind us, and there is plenty of +grass for the ponies," Sitting Eagle assured him. + +"It is good," Lean Wolf declared, heartily. "We can stay here until the +Crows get tired and go away." + +When the day finally ended and twilight fell upon the plain, the Sioux +became more alert. They feared that the crafty Crows would make an +attempt to creep into the cañon under cover of the darkness, and they +determined to be prepared. Crouching behind the bowlders, they peered +anxiously into the night, listening for the sound of stealthy footfalls +at the entrance to the cañon. Then, as time passed and the stillness was +unbroken, they began to wonder. Had the Crows suddenly departed? The +Sioux had grave doubts. + +"No, they have not gone away," Lean Wolf told Sitting Eagle. "I believe +they took us for Blackfeet. They are very mad at those people. I believe +they will try hard to kill us." + +"Listen!" cautioned Sitting Eagle. + +They heard something moving cautiously near the entrance to the pass. +Fearing that the Crows were about to make an attack, the Sioux fitted +arrows to their bows and prepared to offer desperate resistance. Then +they again heard some one creeping stealthily toward them through the +night. + +"It is a scout," whispered Lean Wolf. + +Sitting Eagle rose to his knees, and shot his arrow toward the sounds. +There was a noisy scramble from the pass, and they knew that the +invaders had been driven off. Then for a long time they heard nothing +further from their foes. Shortly before daylight, however, a small +company of reckless young warriors rushed boldly into the narrow defile +and made a valiant attempt to overcome the Sioux. The latter fought +furiously, and the Crows were forced to withdraw. Their foolhardy +display of bravery had cost the lives of several of them. + +The Sioux were greatly encouraged by their success in holding the pass. +They believed that the Crows would be slow to renew the attack. They had +withdrawn beyond arrow range, and as dawn lighted the plain the Sioux +saw them gathered in earnest discussion some distance from the cañon. + +"Perhaps they will go away," Sitting Eagle said, hopefully. + +"No, I do not believe it," replied Lean Wolf. "Listen, they are singing +their war songs. We must be ready." + +A few moments afterward the entire Crow war party galloped toward the +cañon. As they came within arrow range, however, they dropped behind +their ponies and raced past yelling fiercely. + +"Save your arrows!" shouted Lean Wolf. + +"Yes, yes, I see what they are trying to do," Sitting Eagle told him. + +They realized at once that their wily foes were attempting to make them +waste their arrows. When the Crows saw that the trick had failed, they +immediately withdrew beyond arrow range. This time, however, they +disappeared from sight over a rise of the plain. The Sioux looked at one +another in surprise. The unexpected maneuver made them suspicious. + +"They are trying to fool us," said Sitting Eagle. + +"Yes, they are trying to make us come out so that they can catch us," +declared Lean Wolf. + +Then their suspicions were confirmed as they saw several warriors +peeping over the crest of the rise. The Sioux laughed and jeered at +them, and the Crows instantly withdrew from sight. They remained hidden +for the rest of the day, but the Sioux had little doubt that sharp-eyed +scouts were constantly watching the pass. + +"If they do not come when it gets dark, we will know that they have gone +away," said Sitting Eagle. + +They watched in weary suspense as the long day finally drew to a close. +The Crows, however, failed to appear. It seemed as if they really had +abandoned the siege, and still the Sioux feared to believe it. +Experience had taught them that the Crows were crafty and treacherous +foes, and they feared that they were planning some clever ruse to gain +admission to the cañon. + +"We must keep watching," Lean Wolf said, suspiciously. + +The night was well advanced before they heard anything to arouse their +fears. Then they again caught the sound of some one moving toward the +cañon. + +"Watch out, they have come!" whispered Sitting Eagle. + +"I hear them," Lean Wolf replied. + +The next moment a wild chorus of yells warned them that the entire Crow +force was crowding into the narrow pass. The Sioux knew that the +critical moment was at hand. The Crows had left their ponies out on the +plain and had crept toward the cañon on foot. It was evident that they +were determined to kill their foes at any cost, and the Sioux realized +that unless they could stop the first fierce rush there was no hope for +them. + +"Come, we are Dacotahs, we will show these people how to fight!" Lean +Wolf cried, savagely. + +They rose behind the bowlders and delivered a deadly volley of arrows +that threw the Crows into confusion. For a moment they hesitated, and +the Sioux took hope. Then the Crows rallied and rushed recklessly upon +their foes. The Sioux took shelter behind the bowlders and fought with +the fury of despair. They realized that it was only a matter of moments +before they would be overcome, and they determined to make the Crows pay +dearly for the victory. + +At that instant, however, the great war cry of the Dacotahs echoed +through the night, and a moment afterward the thunderous hoof beats of +running ponies reverberated across the plain. The Sioux could scarcely +believe their ears. The Crows turned in panic. + +"The Blackfeet! The Blackfeet!" they cried hysterically. "They have run +off our ponies!" + +They believed that they had been led into a trap by the treacherous +Blackfeet, and the thought demoralized them. Their one thought was to +escape from the cañon before their foes barred the way. They scrambled +wildly through the narrow pass and fled into the darkness. + +"Come!" cried Lean Wolf, as he sprang upon his pony. + +The Sioux galloped from the pass, and raced across the plain to join the +Minneconjoux war party. They heard the Sioux war cry directly ahead of +them, and they raised their voices in reply. Several riderless ponies +crossed their path, but they made no attempt to capture them. Their one +thought was to join their comrades in an attack upon the bewildered +Crows. Then they heard some one galloping toward them and shouting their +names. A moment later White Otter raced the fiery piebald beside them. + +"You are alive--it is good," he said. "Come, we will run away before the +Crows find out about it." + +"Where are our brothers?" Lean Wolf inquired, anxiously. + +"Little Raven and Running Dog are waiting over there," White Otter told +him. + +"Yes, yes, but where are the others?" inquired Lean Wolf. + +"They did not come," laughed White Otter. "We made all that noise to +frighten the Crow ponies and bring the Crows out on the plain. I did it +a long time ago. Now I have done it again. The Crows are very foolish." + +"White Otter, you are a great chief!" Lean Wolf said, warmly. "You have +given us our lives. We will tell our people about it." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE BLACKFEET CAMP + + +They soon found Little Raven and Running Dog, and then they set out to +join the war party. As they rode swiftly through the night Lean Wolf +asked White Otter to tell about his daring stratagem against the Crows. + +"How did you come to find us?" Lean Wolf asked him. + +"When we came back from the ridge, Sun Bird asked our friends about +you," said White Otter. "They told us that you went away and did not +come back. We felt bad about it. Sun Bird sent us to look for you. +Pretty soon we found the tracks of your ponies. We followed them to that +gully. Then we saw what had happened. We thought the Blackfeet had +caught you. It was easy to follow all those pony tracks. Then we came in +sight of the place where you were hiding. We lay down behind a ridge to +watch. We saw a war party of Crows. Then I told Running Dog and Little +Raven how I fooled those people. I said, 'I will fool them again.' Then +we frightened away the ponies and made the Crows run out. That is all I +have to say about it." + +Soon afterward they encountered the Minneconjoux war party advancing +carefully along the edge of the timber. However, when Sun Bird learned +that the Crows were only a short distance ahead of him, he immediately +ordered a halt. + +"If we keep going ahead we will run into those people," he told his +companions. "That would be foolish. We have set out to fight the +Blackfeet. We must keep ourselves strong until we meet them." + +"Yes, it would be foolish to risk our lives until we have done what we +set out to do," the Minneconjoux told one another. + +They made a wide detour, therefore, and circled far out on the plain to +avoid meeting their enemies. Daylight was close at hand when they +finally returned to the foothills. Having passed safely by the cañon +without hearing anything of the Crows, the Sioux believed that there was +little further danger of again encountering those hated foes. + +"We are getting close to the Blackfeet camp, the Crows will not come +this way," said Sun Bird. + +"They have gone to tell their people how the Blackfeet fooled them," +Lean Wolf said, jokingly. + +"White Otter can tell them about it," laughed the Minneconjoux. + +As the last lingering night shadows lifted from the plain, the Sioux +entered the timber to avoid being seen by prowling companies of +Blackfeet. Although the danger of meeting the Crows appeared to have +passed, they knew that they would be in constant peril from the +Blackfeet. Dancing Rabbit said that they were within a day's journey of +the great camp, and the announcement roused them to their danger. They +moved carefully along the base of the ridge until they found a sheltered +hiding place. + +"Now, my friends, I will tell you what I propose to do," said Sun Bird. +"You have heard the words of Dancing Rabbit. He says that we are getting +near the great Blackfeet camp. It is good. That is what we set out to +do. But we must be cautious. We must not let the Blackfeet see us until +we run off those ponies. We must hide in the timber until we are ready +to fight. But first we must find the Blackfeet camp. I believe we can +see it from the top of this ridge. Pretty soon I am going to climb up +there and look around. You must wait here until I come back. Then when +it grows dark we will go ahead. I have finished." + +Soon afterward he set out with White Otter and Dancing Rabbit. They +climbed to the top of the ridge and looked anxiously toward the north. +It was some time before Dancing Rabbit spoke. Then he pointed eagerly +toward a low, sage-grown ridge. + +"Do you see that long hill?" he asked excitedly. + +"Yes, I see it," replied Sun Bird. + +"Well, there is a river on the other side of it," Dancing Rabbit told +them. "Many trees grow along that river. The Blackfeet camp is between +that river and that long hill. I hid on top of that hill when I ran away +from the camp." + +Sun Bird and White Otter heard him in silence. Now that the goal was +almost in sight they showed little emotion. Only the sudden flash of +their eyes betokened their interest. They were intently studying the +low, sage-grown sweep of the plain which Dancing Rabbit declared +concealed the Blackfeet camp. + +"See, see, there is the smoke from the village!" cried Dancing Rabbit, +as he pointed to a thin column of smoke which was rising above the +ridge. + +"I have been watching it a long time," Sun Bird told him. + +"Yes, I saw it," said White Otter, as Sun Bird looked inquiringly at +him. + +"See, there is a high place over there," said Sun Bird, as he pointed +toward a great ledge some distance to the northward. "If we climb up on +those rocks we can see the Blackfeet lodges." + +"Yes, I believe you can see the camp from that place," Dancing Rabbit +declared, eagerly. + +They made their way slowly along the ridge until they reached the base +of the great ledge. It rose many bow lengths above them and was so bare +and conspicuous that the Sioux were somewhat fearful of being seen if +they climbed it. They knew that when enemies were expected, every great +camp was protected by sentinels posted on elevations of the plain to +watch for the approach of their foes. As the Blackfeet had every reason +to expect an attack from both the Minneconjoux and the Crows, the Sioux +felt quite certain that they had taken the usual precautions to guard +their village. Still, the possibility of seeing the great Blackfeet camp +was a strong temptation, and the Sioux finally decided to climb the +ledge. + +They had barely made the decision, however, when they saw something +which instantly changed their plans. A small company of horsemen had +suddenly appeared on the summit of the ridge which hid the camp. The +Sioux knew at once that they were Blackfeet, and they watched anxiously +to see which way they would go. They were considerably relieved when the +riders reached the foot of the slope and turned toward the east. They +rode off at a smart canter and soon disappeared into a dip of the plain. + +"I believe they are hunters," said White Otter. + +"Well, they have gone away," Sun Bird told him. "Come, we will climb up +there and look around." + +"No, it would be foolish," White Otter declared. "I see some one down +there watching this place." + +Sun Bird and Dancing Rabbit started in amazement. Both had unusually +sharp vision, and they had kept their eyes steadily on the ridge, but +neither of them had seen any one except the horsemen. + +"Where is that person?" Sun Bird inquired, curiously. + +"Look sharp at that twisted tree, near the top of the ridge," said White +Otter. + +His companions looked in vain. They could find no evidence of any one +either in or about the tree which White Otter had designated. They +feared that he had been mistaken. + +"I do not see any one," declared Sun Bird. + +"Well, there is a warrior sitting up there among the branches," White +Otter told him. "If you look sharp along that crooked limb you will see +him. He is far away, but my eyes tell me that he is looking this way. We +must be cautious." + +"Yes, yes, I see him!" Sun Bird said, excitedly. + +"He must be a scout. Perhaps those riders left him there to watch for +enemies. Perhaps it is a war party." + +"We will wait and see what he is going to do," said White Otter. + +As they were high up, and well sheltered in the timber, the Sioux had +little fear of being discovered. They were curious to know what the +warrior in the tree was watching for, and they determined to wait until +they learned. Then they suddenly discovered a horseman near the spot +where the Blackfeet had disappeared. The Sioux felt sure that he was one +of the company. He was facing toward the ridge where the warrior was +watching from the tree. Apparently aware that the latter had seen him, +he dismounted and began to signal with his robe. First he held it +directly in front of him between his outstretched arms. The Sioux +recognized the signal as the sign for buffaloes. Then he waved the robe +up and down several times before his body. It was the signal for many. + +"Those men are Blackfeet hunters," declared White Otter. "They have +found some buffaloes. That man is telling about it." + +In the meantime the warrior had descended from the tree and hurried to +the top of the ridge. Then he stooped and raised his robe from the +ground. He faced toward the north, and repeated the signals which he had +just received. Then both warriors disappeared. + +"That man has told the people in the village about the buffaloes," said +White Otter. "I do not believe it is a big hunt. Perhaps some buffaloes +came near the camp and some young men went out to kill them." + +"Well, we must not show ourselves," Sun Bird said, with a tinge of +disappointment. "I would like to look at that camp, but I believe it +would be foolish to climb up there." + +"Yes, my brother, it would be foolish," White Otter warned him. "The +Blackfeet are moving around. Their eyes are sharp. We must watch out." + +"I will tell you how I feel about it," said Sun Bird. + +"I am listening," replied White Otter. + +"I am going to ask Dancing Rabbit to go back to our brothers," explained +Sun Bird. "I am going to ask him to tell them to come ahead when it +grows dark. Sitting Eagle knows this place. He must be the leader. When +it gets light they must hide in the timber and wait for us. Dancing +Rabbit, you must come back here and tell us where they are. Then we will +go to them and tell them what we saw. White Otter, I will ask you to +stay here with me. When it gets dark we will climb up on that high place +and hide. When the light comes we will see the Blackfeet camp." + +"It is the best thing to do," White Otter told him. + +Shortly after Dancing Rabbit left them, they saw a great company of +Blackfeet riding slowly over the ridge. There were both men and women, +and many of the ponies were dragging the pole _travois_ upon which +burdens were transported across the plains. + +"Those hunters have killed some buffaloes," said White Otter. "These +people are going to bring in the meat." + +They watched the interesting cavalcade move slowly across the plain and +disappear on the trail of the hunters. The Blackfeet were sending their +women to bring in the meat. It was apparent, therefore, that they had +little fear of either the Minneconjoux or the Crows retaliating for the +recent attacks which they had made upon them. The reckless boldness of +their arrogant foes caused the eyes of the Sioux to flash with anger. + +"We will fool those boastful people," Sun Bird said, fiercely. + +"They feel safe--it is good," White Otter replied, quietly. + +They saw nothing more of the Blackfeet until the end of the day and then +the hunters returned. A short way behind them came the women and a few +men, leading the pack ponies laden with meat. After the Blackfeet had +passed over the ridge, the Sioux listened anxiously for sounds from the +camp. When they failed to hear anything they began to wonder if the camp +was farther away than they supposed. + +"I do not believe it is far beyond that ridge," declared White Otter. +"The wind has carried away the noise." + +"Yes, that may be true," agreed Sun Bird. + +They waited impatiently for darkness, and when it finally came they +immediately began to climb the ledge. It was hard, perilous work, as the +night was unusually black, and the ledge was high and steep. There were +places where a false step would have meant severe injury, or even +death, and the Sioux realized the necessity for caution. + +"Well, we have had a hard time," Sun Bird panted, as they finally +reached the top. + +"Yes, it is a hard place to get to," agreed White Otter. + +They went as far as possible along the top of the ledge, hoping at +daylight to be able to see over the ridge which hid the camp. Then they +concealed themselves behind two high pinnacles of rock which rose some +distance above the ledge and waited anxiously for the night to pass. + +"See, the light is coming," Sun Bird said, eagerly, as the first faint +trace of dawn appeared in the east. "Pretty soon we will see the great +Blackfeet camp." + +"It is good," replied White Otter. + +They waited impatiently for darkness to leave the plain. Dawn seemed a +long time coming. However, the pale narrow streak across the eastern sky +gradually widened, the stars grew dim, and a bird note sounded from the +timber. Day was close at hand. The Sioux stirred restlessly. Their long +vigil was almost over. Would they see the Blackfeet camp? they wondered. +They longed to sweep aside the heavy black mantle which hid the plain. +Then, after some moments of trying suspense, they saw the night shadows +slowly retreating. The stars had disappeared. A soft gray twilight was +creeping out of the east. Like a great hand, it spread slowly over the +plain and wiped away the darkness. Dim, shadowy shapes appeared in its +wake. It passed over the ridge and drove the shadows into the north. The +Sioux followed it with eager eyes. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it +extended across the plain and laid bare the secrets of the night. + +"Look, look, there are the lodges!" Sun Bird cried, eagerly. + +They seemed suddenly to have sprung from the plain--like pale, ghostly +phantoms on the trail of dawn. One after the other, they appeared from +the gloom in great sweeping circles that extended far out on the plain +until the entire camp was exposed before the fascinated eyes of the +Sioux. It was ideally situated beside the waters of a wide, willow-lined +stream. The Sioux marveled at its size. For a long time they studied it +in silence. Trained from infancy in the art of observation, they noted +every detail. They counted the lodges, estimated the number of persons +each would accommodate, determined the nearest and easiest approach to +the camp, noted the distance from the ridge, the distance from the +water, and many other details which skillful scouts were expected to +know. + +Then they turned their attention to the ponies. There was a great herd +of them grazing some distance to the eastward of the lodges. The Sioux +watched them with covetous eyes. They knew that many of those animals +had come from the Minneconjoux camp. They intended to take them back, +and many Blackfeet ponies besides. Near the edge of the camp was a +smaller herd of ponies confined in a strong pole corral. The Sioux knew +that those were the more valuable animals, the fleet-footed war and +hunting ponies. White Otter studied them with great interest. He was +trying to identify the famous black war pony of Many Buffaloes, the +Blackfeet chief. However, he was unable to convince himself that any of +the ponies in the corral was that animal. He had little doubt that it +was securely guarded somewhere near the lodge of the chief. + +"There are many lodges," Sun Bird said, finally. + +"Yes, it is a great camp," replied White Otter. + +The Blackfeet were beginning to stir. The Sioux saw them moving about +between the lodges. They looked like dwarfs at the distance. Then smoke +began to rise above the camp. Some people were running toward the river. +The Sioux believed they were boys. The splashes were distinctly visible +as they threw themselves into the water. The faint, far-away sound of +their voices came up from the plain. Then a shadow swept across the +ledge. The Sioux looked into the sky. Huya, the great war bird, was +soaring out over the Blackfeet camp. + +"Hi, there is our brother, Huya!" said Sun Bird. "He has come to bring +our people to the Blackfeet camp." + +"It is a good sign," declared White Otter. + +They watched until the day was well advanced, and then they crept +carefully over the top of the ledge and descended to the summit of the +ridge. They found Dancing Rabbit waiting for them. + +"Well, my brother, have you brought our friends here?" inquired Sun +Bird. + +"They are hiding down there in the timber," replied Dancing Rabbit. + +"Come, we will go to them," said Sun Bird. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A PERILOUS RECONNAISSANCE + + +They found the war party camped in a secluded ravine which led far back +into the foothills. Having ridden throughout the night, most of the +Minneconjoux were sleeping when Sun Bird and White Otter arrived at the +rendezvous. The spot was strongly guarded by sentinels, however, who +took turns at keeping watch. Sun Bird and White Otter immediately asked +for water, and Dancing Rabbit led them to a splendid spring on the side +of the ravine. Then they supplied themselves with generous rations of +dried meat and ate heartily. In the meantime their arrival had awakened +most of the war party, and they gathered about the famous young scouts +and waited anxiously for them to speak. + +"Well, my friends, I have something good to tell you," Sun Bird said, at +last. "We saw the Blackfeet camp. It is close by. There are many +lodges. There must be many people to live in them. We saw many ponies. +Some belong to our people. We have come to take them away. We will take +them. Then we saw the fast ponies. They are near the lodges. We will try +to take some of those. But, my friends, I must tell you that it will be +a hard thing to do. There are many warriors in that camp. They are +brave. Perhaps we will have to fight hard to get those ponies." + +"My brothers, I have listened to your words," said Sitting Eagle. "You +say that the Blackfeet are brave. It is true. I have fought many battles +against them. They are braver than the Pawnees. They are braver than the +Kiowas. They are braver than the Crows. Now you know that they are very +brave. Well, my friends, the Dacotahs are braver than the Blackfeet. +Yes, the Dacotahs are the bravest of all. We will go to that great camp, +and take away those ponies. Sun Bird is a good leader. Our brother, +White Otter, is a great chief. I see many brave warriors sitting here. +We are very strong. Yes, my brothers, we will take away those ponies." + +The boastful assurance of Sitting Eagle roused the Minneconjoux to a +great pitch of enthusiasm. For the moment their ardor overcame their +caution, and they began to talk loudly and utter wild threats against +their foes. + +"Come! come!" Lean Wolf cried, impatiently. "We are making too much +noise. Are we like old women who cackle like foolish Magasapa, the +goose?" + +The Minneconjoux instantly subsided into silence. They knew that it was +not the part of warriors to give way to their emotions, and they felt +guilty and ashamed. As Sun Bird showed no inclination to tell them +anything more about the Blackfeet camp, most of them threw themselves +upon the ground and resumed their slumbers. The three young scouts who +had just returned from the top of the ridge followed their example, and +it was not long before all except the vigilant sentinels about the edge +of the camp were sleeping soundly. + +The day had ended and twilight had fallen upon the plain when Sun Bird +and White Otter finally awakened. They felt rested and refreshed, and +were eager to begin the great adventure which lay before them. As the +entire company was awake, Sun Bird prepared to carry out his plans for +advancing upon the Blackfeet camp. He called the sentinels who had +watched through the night, and asked if they had seen or heard anything +of their foes. They assured him that the night had passed without +alarm. + +"It is good," said Sun Bird. "Now, my friends, I will tell you what I +propose to do. See! the light has almost gone. When it gets dark I am +going away to find out about that great camp. I am going to creep up +close. Then I will find out what we want to know. Then we will know how +to get those ponies. Now I am going to ask White Otter to go with me. He +is a great scout. He has been to the Pawnee camp. He has been to the +Crow camp. He has crawled up to the lodges of the Kiowas. Now I will ask +this great scout to go to the Blackfeet camp with me." + +"I will go," White Otter told him. + +There were many others who were anxious to risk their lives for a peep +into the great Blackfeet camp, but Sun Bird refused them. He knew that +numbers increased the chances of discovery, and he determined to run no +unnecessary risks. Besides, there were few, if any, warriors among the +Minneconjoux who could match the scouting abilities of the Ogalala. As +Sun Bird realized that the success of the undertaking might depend upon +the thoroughness of the reconnaissance which he planned to make, he +determined to rely solely upon White Otter and himself to carry it +through. + +It was barely dark when they left the war party and set out for the +Blackfeet camp. Their companions watched them depart, in silence, for +they knew the danger to which they were about to expose themselves, and +many alarming possibilities flashed through their minds. + +"They are very brave," said Sitting Eagle, as Sun Bird and White Otter +disappeared into the shadows. + +Believing that it would be easier to accomplish their purpose if they +traveled on foot, they left their ponies with their companions. Once at +the edge of the plain, they hurried away in the direction of the low +sage-grown ridge. When they finally saw it looming up before them, they +realized that they must advance with more caution. If the Blackfeet +expected an attack it was probable that they had posted sentinels at +that spot, and the Sioux determined to take every precaution. The +discovery of the warrior in the tree led them to believe that the ridge +was a favorite watching place of their foes. + +Once at the base of the slope, the Sioux stopped and spent some time +listening for the sound of voices. Then as they heard nothing to rouse +their fears, they moved cautiously up the side of the ridge. When they +reached the top they instantly located the camp by the glow from the +fires. For a moment or so they watched silently. Then they descended +through the sage, and moved out across the grim, black plain. + +"Now we must watch out," warned Sun Bird. + +Side by side, they sped through the night as swiftly and noiselessly as +wolves on the trail of their prey. Their eyes were fixed on the alluring +glow from the Blackfeet fires, they relied upon their ears to warn them +of danger. The plain, however, was steeped in silence. They heard +nothing but their own soft footfalls, and the gentle rustling of the +grass against their buckskin leggings. + +"It is good," whispered Sun Bird. "The Blackfeet are in the camp eating +buffalo meat. There is no one to stop us." + +"We must not be too sure about it," White Otter cautioned him. + +Then they heard something which brought them to a sudden stop. The dogs +were barking furiously in the Blackfeet camp. The Sioux listened +uneasily. Several disturbing possibilities entered their minds. Had the +dogs caught their scent? It seemed impossible. White Otter raised a +moistened finger to test the breeze. It blew from the camp. They felt +relieved. Then another thought presented itself. Perhaps the Crows had +moved against the Blackfeet camp. The Sioux listened for sounds of an +attack. They heard only the savage baying of the dogs. + +"I believe the dogs are fighting for meat," said Sun Bird. + +"It is bad," White Otter replied, seriously. "If those dogs keep moving +around, it will be hard to get near the camp." + +The thought troubled them. They knew that if one of those gaunt, +wolf-like creatures caught their scent it would instantly skulk out upon +the plain to investigate. Once it found them it would set up a racket +that would soon draw the rest of the pack upon them, and the Blackfeet +would be quick to realize the significance of the commotion. + +"There is only one thing to do," said White Otter. "We will wait here +until the dogs quiet down. Then we will wait until they lie down to +sleep. Then we will creep up to the camp. If we go ahead now, those dogs +will find out about us." + +"Yes, I see that it is the only thing to do," agreed Sun Bird. + +It seemed a very long time to the impatient Sioux before the dogs +finally became silent. However, as they had heard nothing to indicate +alarm in the Blackfeet camp, they decided that the uproar had been +caused by the dogs fighting over the scraps of buffalo meat which the +Blackfeet had thrown them from their feast. In spite of the stillness, +however, the Sioux feared to approach the camp until they had allowed +the dogs time to gorge themselves and settle down to sleep. They waited, +therefore, watching the twinkle of the camp fires, and listening for +sounds from their foes. + +"Come," Sun Bird said, suddenly. "Everything is still. I believe the +dogs have gone to sleep. We will creep up to the camp." + +"I am ready," White Otter assured him. + +Again they moved cautiously through the night until they were actually +within bowshot of the lodges. Then they suddenly heard the solemn +booming of the war drums, and the sound of singing. For a moment they +turned to one another in alarm. Were the Blackfeet preparing for war? +Then they guessed the truth. + +"It is the hunters," whispered White Otter, "They are dancing the +Buffalo Dance." + +"It is good," Sun Bird told him. "All the people will be around the +dancers. We can get close to the lodges." + +"Watch out for the dogs," cautioned White Otter. + +They advanced within half a bowshot of the camp, and then they dropped +to the plain to watch. The camp was brightly illuminated by the light +from the fires, and the Blackfeet were clearly visible as they passed +between the lodges. The booming of the war drums and the singing +continued, and the Sioux could hear even the short, sharp exclamations +of the dancers as they kept time with the music. Still they were unable +to see into the camp, and they determined to advance still closer. + +Slowly, a bow length at a time, they crept toward the nearest lodges. +They moved with great caution, and stopped many times to make sure that +the way was clear. They were in constant fear of the dogs. Although they +had seen nothing of them, they realized that at any moment they might +encounter them prowling about the borders of the camp. + +The Sioux had almost reached the lodges when they suddenly heard +something moving directly behind them. They turned in alarm. Had a dog +circled about them, and caught their scent? Their hearts beat wildly at +the thought. Each moment they expected to hear the first savage yelp +which would announce their approach to the Blackfeet. Then, as they +listened, they heard footsteps. Some one was walking directly toward +them. They were seized with panic. Discovery seemed certain. There was +not a moment to spare. Pressing themselves close against the ground, +they prepared to drive their arrows through their foe before he could +utter an outcry. At that moment he turned from his course and passed +without seeing them. His bent form, and slow, faltering gait convinced +the Sioux that he was an old man. As he emerged into the firelight at +the edge of the camp they saw that their guess was correct. A moment +afterward he disappeared behind a lodge. + +"I believe he is a Medicine Man," whispered Sun Bird. "Perhaps he was +out there making Medicine." + +"Perhaps," replied White Otter. + +Having recovered from their alarm, they crawled to the edge of the camp, +and hid in the shadow of a lodge. Then they looked upon their enemies. +The Blackfeet were gathered in the center of the camp. They were +watching the wild antics of a company of dancers who were circling about +the fire. The Sioux studied the assemblage with great care. White Otter +was particularly curious, as it was the first time he had seen those +people. + +The Blackfeet presented an interesting spectacle, as they celebrated +the success of their hunters. The latter were especially picturesque. +They had painted their faces and bodies and decorated themselves in a +most weird and grotesque manner. Many wore the entire skin of a buffalo +bull, including the head and horns. Others had fastened buffalo feet to +their ankles so that they rattled and clacked at each stride of the +dancer. Thus arrayed, they cavorted wildly about the fire, imitating the +antics of the buffaloes. They pranced, and reared, and kicked, and +roared. Some pawed the ground, and then lay down and wallowed as the +buffaloes would do to rid themselves of flies. Others imitated the +fierce encounter between two great rival bulls, pushing and jostling +each other, and butting their heads together until the spectators +shrieked with delight. It was a clever exhibition of mimicry, and more +than once the Sioux were forced to smile. + +Then they turned their attention upon the spectators. Men, women and +children had assembled in a great circle about the dancers. The Sioux +made special note of the men. They were dark and tall, and powerful, +with deep, broad chests, and wide sloping shoulders. They compared +favorably in physique and bearing with the gallant Dacotah fighting men, +and the two young scouts realized that they had come upon worthy foes. +Closer to the dancers were the musicians, six old men, who thumped the +war drums and sang the Buffalo Song in high, cracked tones. The Sioux +gave little attention to them. Their eyes were focused on a small group +of men who stood together some distance to the right of the singers. +Their dress and manner proclaimed them men of importance, and the Sioux +knew that they were the chiefs and counselors of the tribe. + +"That warrior who wears the bear robe is Many Buffaloes," Sun Bird +whispered, excitedly. + +White Otter nodded understandingly, as he concentrated his attention +upon the man whom Sun Bird had designated. The great Blackfeet war chief +was a man slightly past the prime of life, whose massive frame, and +bold, fearless features well confirmed the stories of his marvelous +exploits on the war trail. He wore a great trailing war bonnet of eagle +plumes, and carried a long coupstick decorated with the trophies which +he had taken from his enemies. He carried himself with the dignity and +hauteur of a great leader, and the Ogalala looked upon him with respect. + +"He looks like a warrior," White Otter told Sun Bird. + +"He is a great chief," declared Sun Bird. + +Many Buffaloes took no part in the ceremony. He stood apart with several +of his associates and showed little interest in the wild capers of the +dancers. His keen eyes, however, noted every action, and it was evident +that his apparent indifference was largely assumed. He appeared to +consider it beneath the dignity of a great war chief to show emotion +upon so trivial an occasion. + +"Where is his black pony?" White Otter asked, eagerly. + +"I cannot tell you," said Sun Bird. + +"Come, we will try to find it," White Otter told him. + +Sun Bird looked uneasily into the eyes of his friend. White Otter's bold +resolve filled him with alarm. A disturbing possibility swept through us +mind. Did the daring Ogalala plan to enter the Blackfeet camp in search +of the famous war pony? Sun Bird feared that it would be a fatal blunder +to make the attempt at that time. Even if White Otter should succeed in +leading away the pony without being seen, the loss would rouse the +entire Blackfeet nation. They would immediately send strong war parties +to search the plain, and the long, perilous journey of the Minneconjoux +would have been in vain. Sun Bird appeared reluctant to agree to the +proposal. White Otter instantly guessed the reason. + +"I see that you do not feel good about it," White Otter said, quietly. +"I am a war leader. I am not going to do anything foolish. I am not +going to try to take away that pony. I am going to find out where it is. +Then I will wait until our brothers have run off the other ponies. Then +perhaps I will try to take away that black pony." + +"It is good," Sun Bird said, with evident relief. + +They began to circle cautiously about the camp. It was perilous work. +Bow in hand, they crept stealthily along in the shadows from the lodges, +stopping every bow length to watch and listen. Where were the dogs? They +would have given much to know. They knew that at any moment they might +stumble upon them. They had gone about an arrow flight when they +suddenly discovered one of the dogs lying beside a lodge. Was it asleep? +they wondered. It was lying with its back toward them, and was only five +or six bow lengths away. The Sioux watched it with bated breath. They +realized that the slightest sound might rouse it. They feared to move. +Still, it seemed equally perilous to loiter. + +"Come," breathed White Otter. + +For an instant Sun Bird hesitated. It was caution, not fear which held +him back. It seemed folly to risk discovery when they had already +learned so much about their foes. White Otter, however, was already +creeping noiselessly into the shadows, and Sun Bird determined to follow +him. Inch by inch they dragged themselves forward until they were +opposite the dog. Then for a moment they hesitated. It had every +appearance of being asleep, and the Sioux passed on. + +Then they discovered what they were risking their lives to see. Beside a +great decorated lodge was a strongly made log corral, and above it +appeared the long slender head and graceful neck of the famous black war +pony. It was watching the glow in the center of the camp, and nervously +twitching its ears at the noise. White Otter gazed upon it with eager, +fascinated eyes. It was a noble trophy, and he longed to possess it. The +opportunity seemed before him. Impulse urged him to act. He paused to +consider. Loyalty held him back. He realized that his own ambition must +be sacrificed to insure the success of the Minneconjoux. They had +suffered a great loss at the hands of the Blackfeet. They had made a +long and perilous journey to recover the stolen ponies. Their success +depended upon keeping the Blackfeet in ignorance of their approach +until they were at the camp. White Otter made a quick, and final +decision. + +"Come," he whispered. "I have found out what I wanted to know. We will +go." + +"It is good," said Sun Bird. + +They crept slowly from the edge of the camp. Then when they were a safe +distance from the lodges they rose to their feet and sped away into the +night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OFF WITH THE PONIES + + +The following night the Minneconjoux set out to make their attack upon +the Blackfeet. Long before it was dark Sitting Eagle and Lean Wolf and +Running Dog left the ravine and rode away to watch from the ridge to the +southward of the camp. Then as the twilight faded from the plain the war +party followed swiftly on the trail of the scouts. Riding in pairs, the +Sioux passed on their way in grim silence. When they finally saw the low +ridge directly before them, they stopped and listened anxiously for word +from the scouts. + +"Ho, my brothers, the way is clear, but the fires are still burning in +the Blackfeet camp," said Lean Wolf, as he suddenly rode out of the +night. + +"We must wait," Sun Bird told him. + +In a few moments they heard the sharp bark of the little gray fox, a +short distance to the eastward. Sun Bird waited until he heard it three +times, and then he replied. Soon afterward Running Dog appeared. + +"I have been a long ways over there," he said, indicating the east. "I +saw nothing of our enemies. Their fires are burning. We must wait." + +"Yes, my brother, we will wait," Sun Bird assured him. + +It was some time before Sitting Eagle finally arrived. Then he too +suddenly rode out of the darkness. + +"I have been close to the Blackfeet camp," said the famous scout. "I saw +the light of many fires. It is bad. We must wait." + +"We will wait," said Sun Bird. + +Then, as the stern Minneconjoux fighting men gathered about the youthful +war leader, Sun Bird announced his plans for running off the ponies. + +"My brothers, we are in sight of the great Blackfeet camp," he said, +softly. "It is not far beyond this ridge. We have come a long ways. We +have come to do a big thing. We must go through with it. We will wait +here until the fires die down. Then we will know that the Blackfeet have +gone to the lodges. Then we will ride over there and run off the ponies. +Now I will tell you how to do it. There are many ponies out there on the +plain. There are other ponies near the lodges. When we cross over this +ridge I will show you where to find the ponies. When we get near the +camp we must separate. Some must go out on the plain to get those +ponies, and some must go to get the ponies that are near the camp. White +Otter is a great war chief. I will ask him to be the leader of those who +go to get the ponies that are near the camp. Sitting Eagle is a great +war leader. I will ask him to be the leader of those who go to run off +the ponies on the plain. Many of us must wait near the camp to fight +back the Blackfeet. I will be the leader. Now I have told you the way to +do this thing." + +"It is good," agreed the Minneconjoux. + +While they waited impatiently for the Blackfeet fires to die down, many +of the war party left their ponies with their friends and crawled to the +top of the ridge to watch the camp. Others dismounted and threw +themselves upon the plain to rest. There was little talking. The Sioux +realized that they were about to match themselves against a strong and +wily foe who greatly outnumbered them, and the thought made them +serious. They knew that the time for boasting had passed, and the time +for action was at hand. There was not one of the company, however, who +had the slightest fear. They believed that Dacotah courage would more +than offset the superior strength of the Blackfeet, and they felt +confident of success. + +The night was more than half gone when the watchers returned from the +ridge and reported that the last flickering glow had faded from the +Blackfeet camp. The announcement roused the Sioux to action. Springing +upon their ponies, they waited eagerly for the word to advance. + +"My brothers, the Blackfeet have gone to their lodges," said Sun Bird. +"Pretty soon they will be asleep. It is good. They will not know about +us until they hear us running off the ponies. Come, Dacotahs, we will +go." + +The summons stirred their fighting blood. They longed to send the +Dacotah war cry ringing across the plain as a challenge to their foes. +They stifled the temptation, however, and crossed the ridge in silence. +All evidence of the Blackfeet camp had vanished into the night, and Sun +Bird chose the north star to guide him on his way. + +The preliminary reconnaissance which Sun Bird and White Otter had made +the previous night proved of great value. At that time they had +carefully noted the contour of the plain between the ridge and the camp, +and had estimated distances between certain prominent landmarks which +they had retained in their memory. Now, as they found them, they were +able to guess how closely they were approaching the Blackfeet camp. When +he believed that they had gone half way, Sun Bird ordered a halt, and +proceeded to divide the war party. The younger, less experienced +warriors were assigned to the companies who were to run off the ponies, +while the renowned fighters and famous scouts were chosen as a rear +guard to fight back the Blackfeet. Then Sun Bird carefully explained the +location of the ponies. + +"Now we are ready to go ahead with this thing," he said. "But before we +begin I will tell you something. When you are ready to ride off the +ponies that are on the plain you must make many quick barks of the +little gray fox. Then you must wait. When White Otter and his brothers +hear it they will know that you are ready. Then when they are ready they +must make that signal. When it stops you must go ahead to run off the +ponies. Then if the Blackfeet hear you we will be ready to hold them +back. Keep these words. Do not go ahead until you hear the signal. I +have finished." + +A short distance farther on the Sioux separated to make their raid +against the Blackfeet. Sitting Eagle and his companions turned aside to +approach the spot where the loose ponies were pastured. White Otter and +his company continued toward the camp, and Sun Bird and the fighting men +followed close behind him. + +When they were within several bowshots of the camp they stopped, and +White Otter and three companions went forward. He had asked Little Raven +to accompany him, and the young Minneconjoux rode at his side. + +"If the ponies begin to call we must make the signal, and be ready to +rush ahead," said the Ogalala. + +When they finally saw the black, indistinct outlines of the corral, they +stopped to listen. They knew that the lodges at the end of the camp were +less than half a bowshot away. The slightest sound, therefore, might +arouse the Blackfeet. White Otter turned to Little Raven. + +"Get down from your pony," he whispered. + +They dismounted and left their ponies with the two warriors who +accompanied them. Then they moved swiftly toward the corral. They were +within bow length of it when they heard the quick barks of the little +gray fox some distance toward the east. Their hearts bounded at the +sound. Sitting Eagle and his companions were ready to run off the +ponies. White Otter rushed to the corral. He turned in dismay. The +corral was empty. + +At that instant a horse whinnied in the Blackfeet camp. The Sioux ponies +replied. A dog barked. Voices sounded close at hand. The Blackfeet were +alarmed. Realizing that further caution was useless, White Otter sounded +the signal. + +"Run to the ponies!" he cried to Little Raven. + +They heard their comrades riding forward to meet them. They also heard +the thunder of many hoofs, and the wild yells of the Blackfeet. +Springing upon his pony, White Otter raced recklessly toward the camp. +Little Raven followed him. They found the village in wild disorder. The +Blackfeet had been completely surprised. + +Out on the plain Sitting Eagle and his companions were driving away the +captured ponies. The raid had been entirely successful, and the elated +Sioux were already many arrow flights beyond the camp. Behind them Sun +Bird and his force of fighting men were loitering within bowshot of the +village, watching for White Otter with the other bunch of ponies. When +he failed to appear, Sun Bird rode toward the corral to find him. He +encountered the two warriors who had accompanied the Ogalala on his +perilous mission. + +"Where are the ponies? Where is White Otter? Where is Little Raven?" Sun +Bird asked, excitedly. + +"That place was empty," they told him. "White Otter and Little Raven +rode away toward the Blackfeet camp." + +Sun Bird stared wildly into the face of the speaker. He could scarcely +believe him. Then the truth suddenly flashed across his mind. He +understood why White Otter had risked himself. + +"Yes, yes, I know about it," he said. + +He called the two riders to follow him and galloped away to lead his +valiant company against the Blackfeet. The latter had rallied from their +confusion and were riding from the camp. + +In the meantime White Otter and Little Raven had ridden boldly along the +edge of the camp until they reached the spot where the famous black war +pony was kept. Then White Otter dismounted, and left his pony with +Little Raven. Taking advantage of the darkness and the confusion in the +Blackfeet camp, the daring Ogalala moved swiftly between the lodges. It +was only a moment or so before he encountered his foes. A frightened old +woman took him for one of her people and ran to him for protection. He +grumbled fiercely at her and sprang away before she recognized him. The +next instant two excited warriors dashed past within bow length, and +called him to follow them. Then the way seemed clear, and he hurried +toward the corral. His heart beat wildly as he suddenly saw the log +inclosure before him. When he reached it, however, he saw that it, too, +was empty. The famous black pony had been taken away. + +For some moments the disappointed young Sioux lingered beside the +corral. He was blaming himself for having refused the opportunity which +had presented itself the night before. At that time the great trophy had +been almost within his grasp. Now he believed it was forever beyond his +reach. He told himself that he had been foolish to surrender his chance. +Then he suddenly thrilled with the pride of sacrifice. He was a Dacotah, +and the Dacotahs had relied upon him to help them against their foes. He +had nobly performed his duty to the tribesmen who had given him their +confidence. His act had brought success to the Minneconjoux. The thought +roused him. His own loss was forgotten as he rejoiced in the victory of +his people. + +"I have done a good thing," he said, joyfully. + +Then as he saw fires beginning to gleam in various parts of the camp, he +realized that it was time to go. As he ran toward the edge of the camp a +dog suddenly appeared before him. It faced him with bared fangs and +flashing eyes, and its deep, ugly growls gave warning of an intention to +fight. + +"Hi, you foolish Blackfeet dog," cried White Otter, as he drove his +arrow through it. "Now your people will know that I have been in their +village." + +He bounded past the struggling dog, and ran from the camp. Little Raven +was waiting with the ponies. + +"Come," cried White Otter, as he sprang upon the piebald. "The Blackfeet +have ridden away on the war ponies. Some one took away that black pony. +Now we must go to help our brothers. Listen! I hear them making a big +fight." + +Sounds of battle came from directly ahead of them, and White Otter knew +that Sun Bird and his companions were fighting back the Blackfeet. +Calling Little Raven to follow him, the daring young war chief raised +his voice in the war cry, and raced away to engage in the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HOTLY PURSUED + + +Once aware of what had happened, the enraged Blackfeet rushed from the +camp like a swarm of angry bees. Led by their great war chief, Many +Buffaloes, they rode recklessly out upon the plain to overtake the +daring foes who had run off their ponies. They had not gone an arrow +flight, however, before they collided with the Sioux. + +"Come, my brothers, it is time to fight!" cried Sun Bird. + +The resolute band of Sioux fighting men charged furiously upon their +foes. They were outnumbered three to one, but the fierceness of their +attack deceived the Blackfeet and threw them into confusion. Having +recognized the Dacotahs, the Blackfeet knew from experience what sort of +resistance to expect from those powerful and courageous foes. + +"The Sioux! The Sioux!" they cried, fiercely. + +Then, as Sitting Eagle and his companions raced the captured ponies +through the night, Sun Bird and his company of warriors fought +desperately to hold back the Blackfeet. The latter, however, soon became +aware of their superiority in numbers, and the discovery gave them +confidence. Recovering from their momentary disorder, they made a +desperate attempt to break through their enemies. + +The Sioux, however, held their ground, and the fighting was at close +quarters. There were many thrilling encounters. Lean Wolf fought three +Blackfeet warriors and overcame all of them. Sun Bird had his pony +killed beneath him, and then killed his foe and took his horse. Feather +Dog became separated from his companions and was compelled to fight off +an entire company of Blackfeet until some of his friends discovered his +plight and rushed to his assistance. + +In spite of their bravery, however, the Sioux were unable to overcome +the odds against them. It was not long before they realized that it +would be folly to sacrifice themselves in attempting to match strength +with their foes. The Blackfeet were too strong to be held back. The +Sioux saw that their only chance of success was in making a running +fight. + +"We must follow after the ponies," said Sun Bird. + +The moment they gave way the Blackfeet interpreted it as a sign of +defeat. Feeling sure of victory, they charged recklessly forward, and +attempted to throw the Sioux into a rout. Instantly alert to his peril, +Sun Bird brought his company to a stand, and fought with a grim ferocity +that soon convinced the Blackfeet of their mistake. They realized that +victory was far from being won, and they became somewhat more cautious. +After several costly and futile attempts to make the Sioux give ground, +they suddenly divided their forces, and a strong company swept around +the Sioux flank. + +"They are passing! They are passing!" the Minneconjoux cried in alarm. + +At that moment White Otter and Little Raven joined the war party. They +had fought their way through the very midst of their foes, and reached +their companions in safety. The presence of the famous young war chief +greatly encouraged the Minneconjoux. + +"There is only one thing to do," White Otter said, hurriedly, as Sun +Bird turned to consult him. "We must keep ahead of those Blackfeet." + +Acting upon his advice, the Sioux suddenly gave way and raced across +the plain in pursuit of Sitting Eagle and the band of ponies. Behind +them thundered the main force of Blackfeet, and at their right rode the +company that had succeeded in getting past them. + +"When we come to the ponies we must make a big fight," White Otter +declared, grimly, as he rode beside Sun Bird. + +"Yes, yes," agreed Sun Bird. + +The Blackfeet kept close behind them, and the Sioux were in constant +peril from their arrows. Whenever the Blackfeet came too near, however, +the Sioux turned upon them and fought them off. Thus they made their way +across the plain until they overtook Sitting Eagle and his companions. +The latter had heard them approaching, and had rounded up the ponies and +prepared to fight. + +"Keep going! Keep going!" shouted Sun Bird. "We will hold back the +Blackfeet." + +"Yes, keep going!" cried White Otter. "Run the ponies until you come to +that big gully. Then wait for us." + +Sitting Eagle and his company barely got the ponies under way before the +Blackfeet were upon them. Sun Bird and the war party fought savagely to +hold them off, but the company of Blackfeet who had ridden along the +Sioux flank circled under cover of the darkness and reached the herd. + +"Hold the ponies! Hold the ponies!" shouted Sitting Eagle, as the wily +Blackfeet attempted to stampede them. + +Yelling fiercely, they charged close up to the alarmed ponies, and threw +them into wild disorder. Frightened into a panic by the noisy tumult, +the bewildered animals tried to break from their captors and flee across +the plain. Sitting Eagle and his companions made valiant efforts to hold +them under control, but the Blackfeet were riding furiously about the +herd, and making desperate efforts to kill the men who guarded it. + +In the meantime Sun Bird and the Minneconjoux war party were fighting a +thrilling battle with the main force of their foes. The latter had again +rushed to close quarters, and the Sioux were in desperate straits. +Greatly outnumbered, they fought with a reckless courage that astounded +their enemies. Try as they might, the Blackfeet were unable to break +through the heroic company that confronted them. Led by Many Buffaloes +himself, the bravest warriors in the Blackfeet nation hurled themselves +against the Sioux with a daring abandon that would have speedily routed +less valiant foes. The Sioux, however, repulsed each savage attack with +a dogged ferocity that gradually shattered the confidence of their +foes. + +Sitting Eagle and his gallant band were less successful. They found it +impossible to keep the ponies under control, and at the same time defend +themselves against the Blackfeet. They were threatened with disaster and +began to lose heart. + +"Come, Dacotahs, show these people how to fight!" cried Sitting Eagle. + +At that moment White Otter led a company of Minneconjoux against the +Blackfeet who had attacked the herd. Roused by the courage of the young +Ogalala war chief, the Minneconjoux warriors charged furiously upon the +surprised Blackfeet and completely overwhelmed them with the fierceness +of their attack. For a moment only the Blackfeet opposed them, and then +as White Otter drove his arrow through the leader of the company the +others lost courage and retreated into the night. + +"Come," shouted the Ogalala. "Drive away the ponies!" + +Sitting Eagle and his comrades instantly got the ponies in motion. Then +the determined Blackfeet again charged forward to gain possession of the +herd. This time, however, they were met by White Otter and his gallant +band of fighters. They fought with a fiery zeal that soon threw fear +into the hearts of their foes. Riding boldly at the head of his +companions, White Otter dashed recklessly among the Blackfeet, and threw +them into confusion. Then as they wavered he raised the piercing Dacotah +war cry, and led his tribesmen in a furious assault that caused the +astounded Blackfeet to flee wildly before him. He followed them a long +distance across the plain, and exacted heavy toll from the laggards. +Then he suddenly heard Sun Bird and the rest of the war party riding +toward the south. + +"Come," he cried. "Our brothers are running ahead of the Blackfeet. We +must find out about it." + +Having subdued his foes, he turned and led his comrades to join the +Minneconjoux. When he finally overtook them he found Sun Bird in high +spirits. The skillful young war leader had completely defeated his foes. + +"The Blackfeet are getting cautious," said Sun Bird. "See, they are +keeping far behind. I believe they are afraid of us." + +The Blackfeet appeared to have lost much of their confidence. Having +lost heavily in the desperate fighting with the Sioux, they seemed +unwilling to risk coming again to close quarters with those indomitable +foes. Although they still continued to follow them, they were content to +remain safely beyond arrow range. The Sioux hoped that they would soon +abandon the pursuit. + +"Pretty soon they will turn back," declared Sun Bird. "Then they will go +to the village, and tell their people what a great fight they made." + +"Well, they will not bring back those ponies," laughed Little Raven. + +Daylight was breaking when the Sioux again overtook their comrades with +the captured ponies. Sitting Eagle had stopped in the bottom of a deep +ravine through which trickled a tiny stream. The Sioux saw at once that +it offered them splendid protection against their foes. + +"It is good," Sun Bird said, heartily. "Now we will see what the +Blackfeet will do." + +The latter had already stopped, and were apparently discussing the +advisability of attempting to drive the Sioux from their shelter. For a +long time they seemed unwilling to make the effort. The Sioux had left +the ponies in the bottom of the ravine, and were lying along the top of +the bank watching their foes with great interest. They had no intention +of leaving the ravine until the Blackfeet had either made an attack or +withdrawn from the vicinity. + +"Perhaps they will wait until it gets dark," suggested Little Raven. + +"No, I do not believe it," Sun Bird told him. "I believe they will do +something pretty soon." + +"Yes, my brother, that is how I feel about it," said White Otter. + +The three young warriors were lying beside one another at the top of the +ravine. On each side of them were the other members of the war party, +except a few young warriors who had been left in charge of the ponies. +White Otter noted, however, that some of the Minneconjoux were missing. +Among them were Proud Hawk and Painted Bird, the two young warriors who +had served as scouts for the war party. The eyes of the Ogalala flashed +threateningly as he realized that they and their absent companions had +been killed by the Blackfeet. + +"It is bad," Sun Bird said, solemnly. "Those brave warriors were my +friends. I saw Proud Hawk fall from his pony. I was close beside him. I +tried to carry him off, but the Blackfeet killed him. I saw Painted Bird +making a great fight. The Blackfeet were all around him. They must have +killed him. I tried to get near him, but some Blackfeet rushed upon me +and killed my horse. I had a hard time to get away." + +"Well, we must not think about it," said White Otter. "A warrior must +always be ready to die. Those men were very brave. It is enough. We will +tell our people about them." + +"Yes, we will call out their names when we ride through the camp," +replied Sun Bird. "We will tell our people that we sent many Blackfeet +to walk behind our brothers on the Long Trail." + +Then their thoughts were diverted by the sudden activity of the +Blackfeet. They were advancing slowly across the plain, singing their +war songs, and shouting boastful threats against the Sioux. The latter +watched them with little fear. They realized that the possession of the +ravine had turned the odds in their favor. Besides, they strongly +doubted that the Blackfeet would actually venture within bowshot. + +"They will keep away," Sun Bird said, confidently. + +It was not many moments before his words were verified. The Blackfeet +had suddenly stopped beyond arrow range. They were still chanting the +war songs, and shouting threateningly, but they showed no inclination to +approach nearer the ravine. The Sioux, however, watched them closely. +They knew that at any moment their wily foes might throw aside their +caution and sweep forward in a furious attack. + +"See, that great chief, Many Buffaloes, is giving them strong words," +Sun Bird said, eagerly, as he seized White Otter by the arm. + +The Ogalala made no reply. His eyes were following every move of the +famous Blackfeet war chief. The latter had ridden out in front of his +tribesmen and was making a fiery address. Several times he wheeled his +pony and swept his arm toward the Sioux. They felt certain that he was +rousing his warriors for a final attempt to recapture the ponies. It was +evident that his words were accomplishing the desired effect. The +Blackfeet were becoming greatly excited. The Sioux grew serious. They +had great respect for the courage and ability of the renowned Blackfeet +leader, and they feared that he was preparing to carry through some bold +stroke which might still bring victory to the Blackfeet. + +"Many Buffaloes is going to do something big," Sun Bird told White +Otter. "He is very brave. We must watch out." + +White Otter took little notice of the warning. His entire attention was +concentrated upon the spirited black pony, and its famous rider. +Everything else had passed from his mind. Even the great company of +jeering Blackfeet had suddenly faded from his vision. He saw nothing but +the Blackfeet war chief, and his prancing black pony. He watched them +with flashing, fascinated eyes. Then Many Buffaloes dramatically passed +his bow, quiver and arrows to one of his tribesmen, and turned toward +the Sioux with his war club raised. White Otter uttered a short, fierce +exclamation of satisfaction. He had instantly interpreted the maneuver, +and his heart bounded with hope. + +As the Blackfeet chief rode slowly toward the ravine, singing his war +song and flourishing his war club, White Otter passed his bow and +arrow-case to Sun Bird and scrambled wildly down the steep side of the +ravine. + +"That man is very brave," he cried, excitedly. "Tell your people that +they must not try to kill him when he comes close. I am going to ride +out there to meet him." + +"No, no, that would be foolish!" Sun Bird shouted in alarm. "He is +riding that great Medicine Horse. You cannot catch him. He will lead you +over there to the Blackfeet, and they will kill you." + +"We will see," White Otter replied, lightly, as he ran to the piebald. + +In the meantime the Blackfeet chief was fearlessly approaching the +ravine. He was already well within bow range, but the Sioux withheld +their arrows. There were two reasons. In the first place Sun Bird had +called out and warned them against killing Many Buffaloes, and in the +second place his bold defiance insured his safety. The Sioux understood +his reckless maneuver as a challenge to their manhood, an invitation for +one of their leaders to come out and meet him in personal combat. To +have killed him from shelter, under those circumstances, would have made +them weaklings and cowards in the eyes of their foes. The Sioux felt +compelled to respect the code of honor which prevailed even between the +most bitter enemies. They realized, therefore, that one of their number +must accept the defiant challenge of the Blackfeet chief, or else the +latter must be permitted to return to his tribesmen in safety. +Nevertheless, the Minneconjoux knew that if any one went forth to meet +him the wily war leader would rely upon the phenomenal speed of his pony +to carry him to safety, and decoy his enemy within bow shot of his +warriors. For that reason they made great efforts to dissuade White +Otter from his purpose. + +"Many Buffaloes has done this thing many times, but we have no ponies +that can come up with him," the Minneconjoux told White Otter. "If you +follow him the Blackfeet will surely kill you." + +"I am going," White Otter replied, firmly. + +A moment afterward he rode out upon the plain. The Blackfeet greeted his +appearance with savage yells of derision. The Sioux raised the great +Dacotah war cry to give him courage. Many Buffaloes stopped and waited +for him to approach. + +"White Otter is a great warrior; he is very brave; that pony is very +fast, but I believe he will be killed," Sun Bird said, fearfully. + +The solemn faces of the Minneconjoux gave endorsement to his fears. +They, too, believed that the reckless Ogalala was going to his death. +Having witnessed the speed of the famous black war pony, they felt +certain that White Otter would never get within striking distance of the +Blackfeet chief. Their only hope was that the Ogalala would discover his +peril in time to turn back and save himself from the treacherous +Blackfeet. + +"Then we must be ready to rush out and help him," said Sun Bird. + +At that instant White Otter raised the war cry, and raced toward the +Blackfeet chief. The latter waited until the Ogalala was almost upon +him, and then he turned his pony and rode furiously toward his yelling +tribesmen. A moment afterward he twisted about and laughed shrilly, as +he shook his war club at the Sioux. Enraged by the taunt, White Otter +struck his pony with the heavy rawhide quirt. The piebald bounded +forward at a speed which caused the Minneconjoux and the Blackfeet to +stare in silent amazement. With each stroke of the lash the wonderful +little beast ran faster. The famous Blackfeet pony was a full length in +the lead, but the piebald was actually gaining. The Minneconjoux could +not believe it possible. + +"Many Buffaloes is holding back," they told one another. "He is trying +to draw White Otter near his people." + +"No, no, it is not so!" Sun Bird shouted, excitedly. "See, the Dacotah +pony is running faster!" + +It was true. Sioux and Blackfeet both realized it. Many Buffaloes looked +over his shoulder and was equally astounded. The piebald had cut his +lead in half and was still gaining. Alarmed at the discovery, Many +Buffaloes lashed the black pony to its best speed. It ran as no other +horse in the great Blackfeet nation had ever run before, but the piebald +ran even faster. White Otter was within less than half a pony-length of +the Blackfeet chief. The latter, however, was almost within bow shot of +his tribesmen. The Minneconjoux realized that unless White Otter +overtook the black pony within the next few strides he would be at the +mercy of his foes. The thought drove them into a frenzy of excitement. + +"See, see, he has caught Many Buffaloes!" Sun Bird shouted, wildly. + +The piebald had closed the gap, and was drawing abreast of the Blackfeet +pony. Enraged by the glorious achievement of the Sioux pony, the +Blackfeet raced forward to save their chief from defeat. At that moment, +however, White Otter drew even with his foe. Yelling defiantly, Many +Buffaloes swung his war club at the head of the Ogalala. White Otter +crouched and barely escaped the deadly blow. Then before the Blackfeet +chief could regain his balance the agile young Sioux swung his own +weapon and knocked Many Buffaloes from his horse. The next moment he +secured control of the famous black war pony. Turning the ponies in +their tracks, he raced toward the ravine with the entire company of +Blackfeet close behind him. + +Leaving a few warriors in the ravine to guard the ponies, the Sioux +galloped madly across the plain to rescue White Otter. Once he got the +ponies under way, however, there was slight chance of the Blackfeet +overtaking him. Stride by stride he drew away from his pursuers, who +were too busily engaged lashing their ponies to think of shooting their +arrows. When they finally did make use of their bows they found +themselves already within range of the Minneconjoux. The latter shot +their arrows with deadly effect, and the disheartened Blackfeet wavered +before the attack. Then, as White Otter dashed among them, the Sioux +flashed about and raced back to the ravine without losing a man. + +"Well, my brothers, I have showed you that the Dacotah ponies can run," +White Otter said, quietly as he dismounted in the midst of his +enthusiastic tribesmen. + +"White Otter, I believe the pony that Curly Horse gave you is a Medicine +Pony," Sun Bird declared, seriously. "Perhaps that is why it was so +fierce when you began to ride it. I believe my father had something to +do with it. He is a great Medicine Person." + +"It may be true," White Otter told him, as he stroked the neck of the +little piebald. + +"Yes, yes, Rain Crow must have had something to do with it," declared +the superstitious Minneconjoux. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE STAMPEDE + + +The Blackfeet made no attempt to follow the Sioux to the ravine. +Instead, they turned about, and rode far from arrow range. They carried +off their chief and several warriors who had fallen in the skirmish, and +the Sioux were in doubt whether the famous war leader had been killed, +or only wounded, by the blow from White Otter. It was plain, however, +that the Blackfeet had finished the fight. They stopped for a few +moments to shout idle threats against the Sioux and then rode slowly +toward the north. + +"Well, my brothers, the Blackfeet have gone," said Sun Bird. "It is +good. We have done what we came here to do. We have taken away these +ponies. We have made a big fight. We have sent the boastful Blackfeet +back to their lodges. My friends, those are big things to talk about. +Well, I will tell you that White Otter has done the biggest thing of +all. You all know about it. Look at that black pony. You all know how +it came here. It is something to tell about. Now, my brothers, I must +tell you something different. We must not feel too big about these +things. We are a long ways from our people. We have many ponies. We +cannot travel fast. The Crows and the Flatheads are still ahead of us. +Perhaps we shall meet them. We must keep thinking about it. Yes, my +brothers, we must be cautious." + +"My friends, those are good words," declared Lean Wolf. "What Sun Bird +says is true. We have fought back the Blackfeet, but other enemies may +be waiting for us. We have many good ponies. We must take them to our +village. Perhaps it will be a hard thing to do. The Crows would like to +get those ponies. Yes, I believe the Flatheads would like to get them. +We would feel foolish if we lost them. We must be cautious." + +The Minneconjoux found it difficult to restrain their enthusiasm. The +younger warriors, especially, were eager to celebrate their victory over +the Blackfeet. They rushed to the bottom of the ravine, and crowded +forward to count coup upon the Blackfeet pony by striking it with their +hands. The act was a substitute for striking an enemy, and gave them the +privilege of reciting the details of some daring exploit which they had +performed in the fight with their foes. Besides, the Minneconjoux still +looked upon the black war pony as something mysterious, a strange +Medicine Creature possessing superior powers of speed and endurance. +They hoped that in laying their hands upon it they might in some way +absorb some of its mystical powers. + +In the meantime Sun Bird had sent scouts to follow the Blackfeet, to +make sure that they were actually going to their village. Other riders +had crossed the plain to the southward to learn if it would be safe to +travel in that direction with the ponies. The day was well advanced when +the scouts returned to the war party. The Minneconjoux gathered eagerly +about them to learn what they had seen. + +"The Blackfeet are still going ahead," said Running Dog, who had +followed them. "I believe they are going to their village." + +"Did you see anything of Many Buffaloes?" Sun Bird asked, anxiously. + +"Yes, I saw him sitting on a pony," declared Running Dog. "He was +between two riders. I believe they were holding him up. I saw some other +warriors lying across the backs of ponies. I believe they were tied +there. Perhaps they were dead. The Blackfeet are traveling slow." + +"Well, we know that Many Buffaloes is alive," said Sun Bird. "No one can +harm him. He must be very strong. Perhaps he is a Medicine Person." + +"My brother, I will tell you something different," said Sitting Eagle. +"Perhaps the Blackfeet expected us to follow them. Perhaps they were +holding Many Buffaloes on that horse to fool us. Perhaps he was dead." + +"Yes, that may be true," declared the Minneconjoux. + +Still, as they could not be sure, they were unable to reach a definite +conclusion regarding the fate of the Blackfeet chief. While they were +discussing it the scouts from the southward returned. They declared that +the plain was free from foes. + +"It is good," said Sun Bird. "Now we will go ahead." + +The cautious young war leader planned his advance with the care and +skill of a veteran. He realized that one blunder might undo all that had +been accomplished, and turn the splendid victory into a staggering +defeat. The Minneconjoux were fatigued, and their ponies were jaded, and +Sun Bird knew that it might be difficult to overcome a strong force of +foes if they were fresh and eager for battle. He determined, therefore, +to use every safeguard against encountering his enemies. + +When the Sioux were ready to leave the ravine, scouts moved across the +plain in advance and on both sides of them, and a small detail of +warriors were left behind to make certain that the Blackfeet did not +return. Then the war party was divided. White Otter and half of the +force rode ahead. Behind them followed Sitting Eagle and the warriors in +charge of the ponies. Sun Bird and the balance of the company brought up +the rear. + +The day was far spent, and the Sioux hoped to reach water by the time +night came upon them. Sun Bird planned to stop when it grew dark, and +allow the ponies to rest until daylight. Then he decided to travel in +the early morning and after nightfall, and to stop in some suitable +shelter during the heated hours of the day. + +"We must keep the ponies fresh," he told his companions. + +Shortly before dark they came upon a large shallow pool on the open +plain. As there was a heavy stand of grass for the ponies, Sun Bird +determined to stop there for the night. The ponies were immediately +turned loose to feed, and guards were appointed to watch them until +daylight. + +It was not long, however, before the Sioux heard something which caused +them considerable uneasiness. Low, rumbling peals of thunder sounded +from the west. The Sioux looked anxiously into the heavens. The stars +shone brightly overhead, but the distant sky appeared black and +threatening. As they watched, a quick, darting flash of light zigzagged +across the western sky. A dull, thudding crash of thunder boomed in the +distance. + +"The Thunder Birds are talking--it is bad," Sun Bird said soberly, as he +seated himself beside White Otter. + +"Yes, my brother, it is bad," agreed White Otter. + +Then for some time they sat in gloomy silence, watching the sky. A great +mass of ominous black clouds rose steadily out of the west and blotted +out the stars. Sharp, jagged streaks of lightning cut through the night. +A fresh breeze stirred across the plain. The thunder sounded louder. It +was evident that the storm was approaching. + +The possibility filled the Sioux with alarm. They looked anxiously +toward the herd of ponies. They knew that it would be difficult to hold +them under control when the storm broke upon them. Once thoroughly +alarmed they might stampede, and race wildly across the plain. Then it +would be necessary for the Sioux to ride recklessly through the night +in an attempt to keep possession of the herd. It was a perilous task, in +which many brave riders might lose their lives. + +"My brothers, the Thunder Birds are coming--it is bad," cried Sitting +Eagle, as he came to find Sun Bird. "The ponies are sniffing the wind. +They are uneasy. Some of them are running around." + +"We must hold them," said Sun Bird. "Every one must go out there and +keep riding around them." + +"It is good," replied Sitting Eagle, as he galloped away. + +The war ponies had been either picketed or hobbled and left to feed, +while the riders threw themselves upon the plain to rest from their +exertions. Now, as the storm approached, there was great confusion as +each warrior rushed to find his pony. Those who had picketed their +ponies had little difficulty, but the hobbled animals had wandered some +distance away, and their owners spent many anxious moments searching for +them. White Otter and Sun Bird had picketed their ponies and they found +them at once. + +"White Otter, you have done some big things--it is enough," said Sun +Bird. "You must stay out of this. You have taken away the great black +war pony. You must not lose it. When the Thunder Birds fly over us you +must hold fast to that pony. Do not try to do anything else. I am your +brother. Listen to my words." + +"I will do as you tell me to do," agreed White Otter. + +"It is good," cried Sun Bird, as he galloped toward the ponies. + +The riders had already stationed themselves about the herd and Sitting +Eagle was racing about shouting instructions. The Sioux were in a high +tension of excitement. The great storms which swept across the plains +always filled them with superstitious awe. They believed that they were +caused by the Thunder Birds, which they imagined to be two giant +birdlike monsters that lived high up in the most inaccessible peaks of +the loftiest mountains. The Sioux believed that these weird creatures +possessed all sorts of mysterious powers and that at certain intervals +they flew across the country to destroy those unfortunate people who had +incurred their displeasure. + +"Some one has made the Thunder Birds mad--they are coming to drive away +the ponies," the Minneconjoux told one another, in alarmed whispers. + +Their hearts filled with gloomy premonitions of impending disaster, as +the storm rushed upon them. The breeze had freshened to a gale, the +stars above them had vanished, the plain was smothered in darkness. +Vivid flashes of light flickered across the sky. Loud, crashing peals of +thunder rolled through the night. The ponies showed signs of terror. +They crowded nervously together, with heads raised, snorting and +whinnying. The Sioux rode anxiously around them, fearful that each +startling flash would cause them to run. + +Then the storm suddenly broke upon them. A dazzling flare of light was +followed by a terrifying crash of thunder and the ponies leaped forward +in blind panic. The Sioux made desperate efforts to hold them in the +herd, but the panic had spread to the riding ponies, and they were +rearing and plunging in a manner that demanded the entire attention of +the riders. Some of the more fiery animals bolted from control and raced +wildly through the night. A moment afterward the herd broke through the +gap in the circle and thundered across the plain. The fears of the Sioux +were realized--the stampede had begun. + +Having witnessed the first break of the startled ponies, Sun Bird rode +recklessly after the leaders in the hope of guiding them across the +plain. Beside him rode Little Raven. Allowing their ponies to run at +will, the Minneconjoux soon found themselves at the front of the herd. +Then they suddenly realized their peril. Their lives depended upon the +agility of their ponies. A fall meant instant destruction beneath the +hoofs of the panic-stricken beasts behind them. However, there was +little time to think of the danger. The foremost ponies had swerved +toward the west and Sun Bird and Little Raven tried to turn them back. + +"We must not let them go that way!" Sun Bird shouted, anxiously. "The +Crows and the Flatheads are over there." + +Lashing vigorously with their heavy riding quirts, they forced the +ponies from their course and kept them running toward the south. Thus +they rode through the height of the storm, risking their lives to redeem +their pledge to return the ponies which the Blackfeet had driven away. + +Then, as the storm finally spent its fury, and passed across the plain, +the wild stampede suddenly came to an end. Having run themselves into +exhaustion, the ponies were glad to stop. A third of the herd, however, +were missing. Sun Bird was dismayed by the discovery. + +"Come, my brothers, tell me how those ponies got away from you," he +said, sharply. + +"We could not hold them all together," said Sitting Eagle. "I saw some +ponies breaking away and when I rode after them some more ponies got +away." + +"Yes, that is how it happened," declared Lean Wolf. "I saw two ponies +turning away, and I chased them. When I was driving them back, I saw a +big bunch of ponies turning around. Then I rode after them and brought +some of them back. Then I stayed close by the herd. I saw it was the +best thing to do." + +"Well, my friends, it is bad, but I see that you did the best you +could," Sun Bird told them. "We had a hard time getting those ponies. We +must not leave them for our enemies. There is only one thing to do. +Sitting Eagle, you must keep going ahead with these ponies. When you get +near our village you must stop and wait for us. Do not let our people +see you until we come. My brothers, most of you must go with Sitting +Eagle to help him fight our enemies. Some of us must stay here until it +gets light. Then we will go out and look for the ponies that got away. I +believe we will find them close by. Now I will call out the names of the +men who must go with me to find the ponies. Listen, my brothers, I am +going to call those names: Lean Wolf, Little Raven, Feather Dog, +Running Dog, Falling Eagle, Brave Bear, Two Elks. These men will go with +me. The rest of you must go with Sitting Eagle." + +As he finished speaking they heard two ponies galloping toward them. A +few moments afterward White Otter appeared. The piebald and the +Blackfeet pony were lathered with sweat. Neither, however, showed the +slightest trace of exhaustion. + +"I have been a long ways," said the Ogalala. "These foolish ponies ran +the wrong way. It was a long time before I could turn them around. Then +I came very fast." + +"Now White Otter is here," said Sun Bird. "It is good. I am going to ask +him to be the leader of the men who go with Sitting Eagle." + +Then the Sioux separated. Sitting Eagle and his escort of warriors rode +away toward the south with the ponies while Sun Bird and his company of +scouts remained behind to search for the missing horses. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +TRAILING THE RUNAWAYS + + +Sun Bird and his companions were greatly encouraged when they looked +across the plain at daylight and saw several of the stray ponies feeding +a short distance to the northward. They hoped that others might be +concealed behind some of the low hummocks which broke the level of the +plain. + +"See, there are some of the ponies!" said Sun Bird. "We will go and get +them. Then we will ride up on those little hills and look around. I +believe we will see some more ponies." + +They cantered slowly toward the grazing ponies. There were five and they +were feeding close together. They raised their heads and watched +curiously as the horsemen approached, but they showed little fear. The +Sioux, however, determined to take no chance of frightening them into +another exhausting dash across the plain. As they rode within bow range +they separated and circled carefully about the ponies. Then they +gradually closed the net, and the ponies made little effort to escape. + +"Now I will tell you what to do," said Sun Bird, when they had secured +the horses. "Some of you must keep these ponies. The rest of us will +ride up on those high places and look around. I will ask Falling Eagle +and Brave Bear and Two Elks to keep these ponies. Leave them where they +are until we come back. Then we will drive them away." + +The three warriors who had been selected stationed themselves about the +ponies and their comrades turned toward a low grassy slope to the +westward. They had gone less than an arrow flight when their ponies +suddenly raised their heads and looked toward the north. A moment +afterward one of the ponies behind them whinnied. "There is something +over there behind that hill," said Sun Bird as he turned about. + +At that instant a horseman appeared. They recognized him as Many +Feathers, one of the warriors who had been left in the ravine to watch +for the return of the Blackfeet. Having recognized his friends, Many +Feathers returned their signal, and then disappeared behind the ridge. + +"Where has he gone?" Little Raven asked, anxiously. + +"We must watch," Sun Bird told him. + +Then Many Feathers and two comrades rode over the rise of the plain, +driving four of the stray ponies before them. They came directly toward +Sun Bird and his companions. + +"It is good," said Lean Wolf. "Our brothers are bringing some more +ponies. Pretty soon we will find all that got away." + +"Well, my brothers, I see that you found some ponies," said Sun Bird, as +Many Feathers and his comrades rode up. + +"Yes, we found them back there on the plain," said Many Feathers. + +The young warrior appeared to know about the stampede. He said that he +and his companions had read the story from the tracks which they had +followed from the pool. + +"Did you see anything of the Blackfeet?" inquired Sun Bird. + +"No," replied Many Feathers. "We waited a long time but they did not +come back." + +"Did you see any more ponies?" Lean Wolf asked him. + +"No, we did not see any more," said Many Feathers. + +"My brothers, it is good you came here," Sun Bird told them. "Now I am +going to ask you to take these ponies over there where you see Falling +Eagle and Brave Bear and Two Elks. You must stay with them and help them +watch the ponies until we come back." + +"We will go," said Many Feathers. + +Then Sun Bird and his companions rode to the top of the low ridge to the +westward. They saw the rest of the ponies gathered in a small herd some +distance out on the open plain. The sight filled them with joy. As they +were about to go after them, however, they suddenly discovered two +riders watching from a ridge beyond the ponies. + +"Hi, hi," Sun Bird cried, excitedly. "Someone has found the ponies. Now +they are watching us." + +"It is bad," said Lean Wolf. + +Feeling certain that they had already been seen, the Sioux made no +attempt to hide. They remained in open sight and tried to identify the +distant horsemen. The latter were too far away to be recognized. The +Sioux took hope at the thought. They knew that if they could not +identify their foes, the latter would find it impossible to recognize +them. + +"They must be Crows or Flatheads," said Sun Bird. "Anyway, I believe +they are scouts." + +"It is bad," said Running Dog. "They will bring their people here to get +those ponies." + +The Sioux were greatly disturbed by the possibility. As their little +company numbered only eleven, they knew that they would be powerless +before a strong force of their enemies. Aware that the unexpected +emergency demanded quick action, they held a hurried council to decide +what should be done. They saw many difficulties. In the first place they +realized that if they rode directly toward the ponies they might drive +them toward their foes. Still, to circle around behind the herd it would +be necessary to approach close to their enemies. Then, too, the Sioux +knew that if they succeeded in running off the ponies they would +probably be followed by a strong force of their foes. As the ponies were +already fatigued from their strenuous exertions, another long race might +cause them to collapse. + +"It will be hard to get them away if our enemies try to stop us," +Running Dog said, gloomily. + +As he spoke the horsemen suddenly disappeared from the ridge. The Sioux +looked at one another in alarm. They felt certain that one of the scouts +had gone to warn his people, while the other concealed himself to watch. +Sun Bird realized that it was time to act. Delay might prove fatal. + +"Come, my brothers, we must do something," cried the bold young war +leader. "I am going to circle around behind those ponies. I will ask +Lean Wolf to go with me. The rest of you must hide behind this hill +until we drive the ponies to you. If our enemies come after us do not +wait to help us. Go to our brothers and help them drive away those +ponies. Send some one ahead of you to bring back the war party. Come, +Lean Wolf, we will go." + +They were gone before their friends found time to reply. Moving boldly +down the ridge, the daring scouts turned sharply toward the north and +rode away at top speed. Their companions concealed themselves below the +crest of the slope and watched them with anxious eyes. They believed +that they were rushing into great peril and they had grave fears for +their safety. + +"I do not feel good about this thing," Little Raven said, uneasily. +"Perhaps those people over there are trying to fool us. Perhaps they are +waiting until our brothers come close. Then they will come over the top +of that hill and kill them." + +"Sun Bird is a good war leader. Lean Wolf is a great scout. They are +sharp. Their ponies are fast. I do not believe they will let those +people catch them," Feather Dog replied, reassuringly. + +Sun Bird and Lean Wolf rode many arrow flights toward the north before +they finally swerved to the west. Some of the ponies were watching them, +but as yet showed no inclination to run. The Sioux felt much relieved. +They had feared that the nervous beasts might take fright at sight of +them and flee toward the distant ridge. + +"If they keep still we will soon get behind them," Sun Bird said, +hopefully. + +"Watch that hill," Lean Wolf cautioned him. + +"Do you see any one up there?" Sun Bird asked him. + +"No, I do not see any one, but we must be cautious," replied Lean Wolf. + +When they had passed the ponies they began to circle to come up on the +other side of them. They were almost within arrow range of the ridge and +they kept a sharp watch for foes. Then, as they turned to approach the +ponies they heard a shout behind them. Glancing back they saw four Crow +warriors racing down the slope at breakneck speed. + +"Come, get the ponies running!" shouted Sun Bird as he lashed his pony +into a furious sprint. + +They rode madly toward the startled ponies, shouting and waving their +arms to get the animals in motion. Once started, the ponies needed +little urging. They had not entirely recovered from their wild panic of +the previous night and the fierce shouts behind them sent them racing +across the plain at their best speed. + +"Keep after the ponies, I will fight the Crows," Sun Bird cried, +impulsively. + +"No, no, you must keep going ahead!" Lean Wolf shouted, fiercely. "If +the Crows come close we will fight them back. Pretty soon we will reach +our brothers. Then these warriors will turn back." + +He had barely ceased speaking before Little Raven and Feather Dog and +Many Feathers and Running Dog swept over the ridge some distance to the +northward of the ponies. Yelling savagely, they raced to the assistance +of their tribesmen and at sight of them the Crows stopped in confusion. +The odds had suddenly turned against them and they lost courage. They +turned and raced away before the Sioux got within bowshot of them. The +Sioux made no attempt to overtake them. Their one thought was to get +away with the ponies before a stronger force of their foes came upon +them. + +"We have driven away our enemies, now we must run off the ponies," cried +Sun Bird. + +"Yes, we must keep going," said Lean Wolf. + +They drove the ponies over the ridges and ran them toward Falling Eagle +and the warriors who were waiting with the other horses. Then Little +Raven and Many Feathers hid below the top of the ridge to watch for the +Crows. + +The Sioux knew that the Crow village was somewhere in the vicinity and +they had little doubt that a strong force of those foes would soon set +out in pursuit of them. However, they hoped to gain a sufficient lead to +make it impossible for the Crows to overtake them before nightfall. Then +they believed the Crows would abandon the chase. + +When they reached Falling Eagle and his companions the Sioux turned +directly toward the south and drove the ponies across the plain at top +speed. They hoped to reach the deep ravine in which they had hidden from +the Crows and the Blackfeet. + +"Perhaps the Crows took us for Blackfeet," suggested Running Dog. +"Perhaps they will go the other way to find us." + +"No, I do not believe it," said Lean Wolf. "Those warriors came close. I +believe they know we are Dacotahs." + +For some time they kept the ponies running at their best speed and then +as they saw nothing of their foes they gradually slackened the pace. For +the balance of the day they rode over the plain at an easy canter and +shortly before dark they came in sight of the abandoned stream bed. +Their spirits revived at sight of it. They believed that even if the +Crows should overtake them it would be possible to hold them off until +scouts found White Otter and the war party and brought them to the +ravine. + +"I do not believe the Crows can catch us now," said Sun Bird, as they +drove the tired ponies into the ravine. + +"We can make a big fight in this place," Lean Wolf told him. + +As night fell Feather Dog followed the ravine toward the west to listen +for the approach of the Crows. Soon after he had gone Little Raven and +Many Feathers arrived. Their ponies showed the effects of fast riding. + +"Tell us what you have seen," said Sun Bird. + +"The Crows are coming," declared Little Raven. "It is a big war party. +Those scouts tried to follow you, but we drove them back. We did that +many times. Then the war party came and we ran away. The Crows are +coming straight ahead. We rode fast to keep ahead of them. Pretty soon +they will be here." + +"Well, there will be many against us, but we must get ready to fight," +Lean Wolf said, fearlessly. + +"No, my brother, I believe that would be foolish," Sun Bird told him. +"The Crows are too strong for us. I am going to fool them. I will tell +you how to do it. I am going to ask Running Dog and Falling Eagle and +Brave Bear and Two Elks and Many Feathers and Broken Hand and Mad Bull +to ride away with the ponies. I will make Running Dog the leader. At +first you must turn toward the-place-where-day-begins. Then you must +circle back and go toward our village. Pretty soon you will find our +brothers. Then you must stop. When you go away the rest of us will stay +here to fool the Crows. When they come close we will ride out and make a +great noise. Then we will ride toward the mountains. We will keep +shouting as if we are driving ponies. The Crows will follow us. Then we +will circle around and fool them. I will ask Lean Wolf and Little Raven +and Feather Dog to help me do this thing. Come, my brothers, drive away +the ponies." + +"Hi, that is a great thing to do," Lean Wolf said enthusiastically. +"Yes, I believe we will fool the Crows." + +As there was little time to spare, Running Dog and his companions +immediately drove the ponies from the ravine and disappeared into the +night. Sun Bird listened anxiously until the sounds of the hoofbeats +had died away and then he turned to his comrades. + +"Well, my brothers, pretty soon the Crows will come, we must be ready," +he said. + +A moment later Feather Dog appeared. He said that he had heard the sound +of galloping ponies and had come to investigate. + +"It was our brothers taking away the ponies," explained Sun Bird. + +Then he acquainted Feather Dog with the details of the wily trick to +fool the Crows. The famous Minneconjoux scout immediately endorsed the +plan. + +"It is good," he said, as his eyes twinkled merrily. + +"Listen," cried Little Raven. + +The Sioux immediately became silent. The hoofbeats of many ponies echoed +across the plain. The Crows were galloping boldly toward the ravine. The +thought filled Sun Bird with anxiety. He realized that if the bold +stratagem failed, the warriors with the ponies were doomed. Once +overtaken on the open plain, he felt sure they would be speedily +surrounded and annihilated by the great Crow war party. He grew weak at +the possibility. Then his pony called and his thoughts were diverted. +The hoofbeats suddenly ceased. Having located their enemies the Crows +had become cautious. The Sioux pony called again and Sun Bird made no +attempt to stop it. + +"It is good," he said. "The Crows will think the ponies are here. Come, +ride around and make a noise." + +They rode rapidly to and fro to make it appear that there were a number +of ponies in the ravine. Then they suddenly swept up the side of the +gully and raced across the plain. As they rode they snapped their riding +quirts and yelled excitedly at imaginary ponies. Then they listened +anxiously for sounds from the Crows. When they failed to hear them they +gave way to despair. Sun Bird grew sick at heart. He feared that he had +sent his comrades to their death. + +"Perhaps the Crows are keeping quiet until they get across that gully," +suggested Lean Wolf. "Perhaps they believe that some of us are waiting +there to fight them back." + +At that instant a shrill yell of triumph rang through the night, and a +moment afterward the Sioux heard the quick, sharp hoofbeats of galloping +ponies directly behind them. The Crows had been deceived. They were +following blindly on the false trail. The Sioux were wild with joy. +Unmindful of their own peril, they were satisfied to know that their +comrades and the ponies were safe. + +"It is good! It is good!" Sun Bird cried, joyfully. "We have fooled the +Crows. Now our brothers will get away with the ponies." + +They continued to make a great noise, lest the Crows should suddenly +discover their blunder. They rode furiously toward the west, and +rejoiced in the thought that each stride of the ponies was luring their +foes farther from those whom they wished to overtake. It was not long, +however, before the Sioux realized that the Crows were gaining upon +them. The discovery aroused them to their peril. They knew that if the +Crows came up with them there would be little chance of escape. + +"Come, we must ride faster," Sun Bird cried, anxiously. + +They lashed the ponies into a terrific burst of speed and slowly drew +away from their enemies. They knew, however, that it would be impossible +to maintain the pace. They also realized that each moment was taking +them farther from their course. + +"Now we must try to circle around," Sun Bird told them. "Do not make any +more noise." + +They suddenly subsided into silence and turned sharply toward the south. +Then their hearts bounded with joy as they heard the Crows blunder from +the trail and continue toward the west. Having once lost them in the +night, it seemed doubtful if the Crows would be able to find them before +daylight. + +"We have got away," Sun Bird said, confidently. "The Crows cannot find +us. Pretty soon they will go back." + +"Yes, I believe we are safe," replied Lean Wolf. + +"Sun Bird, you have done a big thing," declared Feather Dog. "You are a +great war leader. I will tell our people about it." + +The Sioux laughed gleefully as they heard the Crows signaling far away +toward the west. Then they turned toward the east to find their +tribesmen. They rode steadily through the night and at daylight came +upon the entire Minneconjoux war party at the waterhole which marked the +boundary of the Minneconjoux hunting grounds. They were within a short +day's travel of the great Sioux camp. The long war journey was almost at +an end. Success seemed assured. The Sioux were elated. + +"My brothers, we have come together again," said Sun Bird. "I see you +have kept the ponies. Now we are close to our village. Pretty soon we +will be with our people. It is good." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SAFE AT LAST + + +The Sioux waited until the ponies had recovered somewhat from their +fatigue and then they set out for the Minneconjoux camp. They rode gayly +across the plain, talking and laughing and singing their war songs. +Their task had been accomplished. Their fears had vanished. The wearying +suspense was at an end. They were eager to reach their people, for they +knew that a royal welcome awaited them. The day had almost ended, +however, when they finally came in sight of the Minneconjoux village. + +"See, there are the lodges of our people," said Sun Bird. "Pretty soon +some one will see us. We must get ready to ride into the camp." + +"You are the leader, you must go ahead," said Feather Dog. + +"Yes, Sun Bird must go ahead," cried the others. + +"Well, I will ask Dancing Rabbit to ride with me; it will make old +Spotted Face feel good to see him," Sun Bird told them. "Then White +Otter must follow close behind me. He has done the biggest thing of +all." + +"It is good," cried the Minneconjoux. + +They advanced slowly toward the camp. Sun Bird and Dancing Rabbit rode +in front. White Otter followed, leading the famous black war pony, and +Little Raven rode beside him. Then came Lean Wolf and Feather Dog and +Sitting Eagle and Running Dog and all the famous scouts. Behind them +followed the great herd of ponies, surrounded by the balance of the war +party. + +The Minneconjoux soon discovered the approaching horsemen and rushed +from the camp in great excitement. As they recognized the riders and saw +the great herd of ponies they were thrown into an ecstasy of joy. They +gathered at the edge of the camp, singing and dancing and calling out +the names of the warriors who had gone to fight the Blackfeet. + +"See, see, the great war party is coming!" they cried. "They are +bringing many ponies." + +The war party raised their voices in the piercing Dacotah war cry. It +echoed triumphantly across the plain and threw the camp into a tumult. +Then the Minneconjoux suddenly recognized Dancing Rabbit. Men, women +and children began to call his name. + +"Our brothers have brought back Dancing Rabbit!" they shouted. "See, +Dancing Rabbit has come back to us! Look, Spotted Face, your grandson is +alive! He is coming to your lodge." + +The aged warrior shaded his eyes with his hand and looked eagerly across +the plain. He was trembling with anxiety. The Minneconjoux waited for +him to speak. + +"Yes, my friends, it is Dancing Rabbit," he said, finally. "Wakantunka, +the Great Mystery, has sent him back to me. It is good." + +A moment afterward the Minneconjoux discovered the black war pony. The +sight of it astonished them into silence. They looked upon it with wild, +inquiring eyes. Had they been mistaken? Could it really be the famous +war pony of the great chief Many Buffaloes? + +"Yes, yes, it is the great black war pony!" Rain Crow cried, excitedly. +"White Otter, my son, has brought it to our camp." + +When the war party came within bow range they stopped and waited while a +delegation of noted warriors rode out to escort them to the camp. At the +same time a company of youths raced eagerly across the plain to take +charge of the ponies. + +Then the war party rode triumphantly into the village, singing their war +songs and calling the names of the warriors who had been killed by the +Blackfeet. As each missing warrior was mentioned his people began to +mourn and cry out dismally in their grief. However, as his companions +extolled his bravery the mourners stifled their sobs and thrilled with +pride at his noble sacrifice. + +"A warrior must be ready to die," said Pretty Star, the mother of Proud +Hawk. "My son was very brave. They are calling his name. He did a great +thing for his people. It is enough." + +As the victorious warriors paraded through the village the people +gathered eagerly about White Otter and the famous black war pony. Many +of the old men and boys ran forward and struck the Blackfeet pony with +their hands to count a coup against their foes. When he reached the +center of the camp White Otter stopped and tied the Blackfeet pony +before the lodge of Curly Horse, the Minneconjoux war chief. + +"See, White Otter has given the black war pony to Curly Horse," said the +Minneconjoux. "It is a great thing to do." + +Curly Horse and the great men of the tribe had assembled before the +medicine lodge to greet the war party. When the warriors lined up before +him the famous chief stepped forward to address them. + +"I will call Sun Bird and White Otter to come and stand before me," said +Curly Horse. "My brothers, both of you are young men, but you have done +big things. Sun Bird, you are the leader of this war party. You have +done what you set out to do. You have brought back the ponies that the +Blackfeet took away. It was a hard thing to do. White Otter, you are a +great chief. You have done many big things. Now you have done the +biggest thing of all. I see that you have tied that great pony in front +of my lodge. It makes me feel good. But I will not take it. You must +take it to your people. Now I will speak to those brave warriors who +went with you. My brothers, you have done a big thing. You were very +brave. Now I will ask Rain Crow to give you some words." + +"My friends, you have done a great thing for your people," said Rain +Crow, the Medicine Man. "Now we have many ponies. Some of them were +Blackfeet ponies. It is good. Sun Bird, you are my son. Little Raven, +you are my son. White Otter, I have called you my son. All three of you +were very brave. It makes me feel big. White Otter, you have done the +biggest thing of all. Our people will talk about it a long time. I have +finished." + +When Rain Crow ceased speaking the Minneconjoux cried out for Sun Bird +to talk to them. + +"Well, my people, you have asked me to give you some words," said Sun +Bird. "First I will tell you about White Otter. He was very brave. He +went into the Blackfeet camp. He fought back many Blackfeet. He rode +after the great chief Many Buffaloes and caught up with him. Then he +knocked him on the head and ran off with his pony. He has brought it +here. Now I will tell you about Little Raven. He was very brave. He went +with White Otter to the Blackfeet camp. He fought many Blackfeet. Now I +will tell you about all these great warriors that you see standing here. +They were very brave. Lean Wolf fought four Blackfeet warriors and +killed all of them. Sitting Eagle ran off the ponies. Feather Dog did +some great things. Running Dog found our enemies. All of these brave +warriors fought hard to bring the ponies here. Now I have told you about +it." + +"White Otter! White Otter!" shouted the Minneconjoux. "Come, White +Otter, give us some words." + +The Ogalala received a stirring ovation. It was some time before he was +able to speak. + +"My brothers, I have not many words to give you," he said, modestly. "I +will tell you that Sun Bird is a great war leader. He told us what to +do. I will tell you that the Minneconjoux are very brave. I will tell my +people about them. I will tell you that the Dacotah ponies can run. +Curly Horse gave me that great pony that I rode to the Blackfeet camp. +It is very fast. That is how I caught Many Buffaloes. I believe Rain +Crow must have had something to do with it. He is a great Medicine +Person. I believe he helped me to do this thing. Now I will speak to +your great chief Curly Horse. Curly Horse, I have tied that black pony +in front of your lodge. It must stay there. You gave me a great pony to +ride to the Blackfeet camp. I will keep it. Now I will give you that +great Blackfeet pony. You must keep it. Rain Crow, you have called me +your son. Well, my father, I have brought you a fast spotted pony. I +took it from the Flatheads. Now I will not talk anymore." + +"White Otter, I see that you have a good heart," said Curly Horse. "I +will listen to your words, I will keep that great war pony. I feel big +to own that pony." + +When it grew dark the Minneconjoux lighted a great fire and assembled +about it to celebrate the success of the war party. They spent the +entire night dancing and singing and telling of the great exploits +performed by the men who had gone to the Blackfeet camp. + + THE END + + + + +-----------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the | + | original document have been preserved. | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | | + | TOC Runways changed to Runaways + | Page 27 murmered changed to murmured | + | Page 33 murmered changed to murmured | + | Page 59 susspense changed to suspense | + | Page 96 unkown changed to unknown | + | Page 164 Siting changed to Sitting | + | Page 211 desperated changed to desperate | + | Page 253 Wakantanka changed to Wakantunka | + +-----------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Trail, by Elmer Russell Gregor + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TRAIL *** + +***** This file should be named 36888-8.txt or 36888-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/8/36888/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Barbara Kosker, Michael and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |