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 lookedanxiously 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 thatneither 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 thelittle 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 continuedabsence 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 tofollow 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 hiscompanions 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.
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 Icrawled 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 theplain. 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 createdthe 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, andthey 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 toreach 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 thecontrol 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," heboasted, 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 answeredfrom 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 wordsand 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.
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 ofthe 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 superstitiouspremonitions. 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 grazingcontentedly 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 thetimber, 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 discoverymade 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 indistinctimpression 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. Thelatter 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 rodeup 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 satupon 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, thefox. 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 lookedtoward 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 theneck. 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 inhis 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 Imutankaand 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.