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 thecompany 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 himwith 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," saidRain 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," saidSun 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 waitedfor 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 himwith 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 frenzyof 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 interpretingthe 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 thestars, 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.
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 appreciativeaudience 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 thewomen, 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 whowere 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, anda 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, asthey 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 acircle. 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 breathlessinterest. 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 theysaw 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.
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 thunderingdown 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 scarcelybelieve 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 signalwas 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. Thecautious 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. Hewas 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."