SAFE AT LAST
The Sioux waited until the ponies had recovered somewhat from their fatigue and then they set out for the Minneconjoux camp. They rode gayly across the plain, talking and laughing and singing their war songs. Their task had been accomplished. Their fears had vanished. The wearying suspense was at an end. They were eager to reach their people, for they knew that a royal welcome awaited them. The day had almost ended, however, when they finally came in sight of the Minneconjoux village.
"See, there are the lodges of our people," said Sun Bird. "Pretty soon some one will see us. We must get ready to ride into the camp."
"You are the leader, you must go ahead," said Feather Dog.
"Yes, Sun Bird must go ahead," cried the others.
"Well, I will ask Dancing Rabbit to ride with me; it will make old Spotted Face feel good to see him," Sun Bird told them. "Then White Otter must follow close behind me. He has done the biggest thing of all."
"It is good," cried the Minneconjoux.
They advanced slowly toward the camp. Sun Bird and Dancing Rabbit rode in front. White Otter followed, leading the famous black war pony, and Little Raven rode beside him. Then came Lean Wolf and Feather Dog and Sitting Eagle and Running Dog and all the famous scouts. Behind them followed the great herd of ponies, surrounded by the balance of the war party.
The Minneconjoux soon discovered the approaching horsemen and rushed from the camp in great excitement. As they recognized the riders and saw the great herd of ponies they were thrown into an ecstasy of joy. They gathered at the edge of the camp, singing and dancing and calling out the names of the warriors who had gone to fight the Blackfeet.
"See, see, the great war party is coming!" they cried. "They are bringing many ponies."
The war party raised their voices in the piercing Dacotah war cry. It echoed triumphantly across the plain and threw the camp into a tumult. Then the Minneconjoux suddenly recognized Dancing Rabbit. Men, women and children began to call his name.
"Our brothers have brought back Dancing Rabbit!" they shouted. "See, Dancing Rabbit has come back to us! Look, Spotted Face, your grandson is alive! He is coming to your lodge."
The aged warrior shaded his eyes with his hand and looked eagerly across the plain. He was trembling with anxiety. The Minneconjoux waited for him to speak.
"Yes, my friends, it is Dancing Rabbit," he said, finally. "Wakantunka, the Great Mystery, has sent him back to me. It is good."
A moment afterward the Minneconjoux discovered the black war pony. The sight of it astonished them into silence. They looked upon it with wild, inquiring eyes. Had they been mistaken? Could it really be the famous war pony of the great chief Many Buffaloes?
"Yes, yes, it is the great black war pony!" Rain Crow cried, excitedly. "White Otter, my son, has brought it to our camp."
When the war party came within bow range they stopped and waited while a delegation of noted warriors rode out to escort them to the camp. At the same time a company of youths raced eagerly across the plain to take charge of the ponies.
Then the war party rode triumphantly into the village, singing their war songs and calling the names of the warriors who had been killed by the Blackfeet. As each missing warrior was mentioned his people began to mourn and cry out dismally in their grief. However, as his companions extolled his bravery the mourners stifled their sobs and thrilled with pride at his noble sacrifice.
"A warrior must be ready to die," said Pretty Star, the mother of Proud Hawk. "My son was very brave. They are calling his name. He did a great thing for his people. It is enough."
As the victorious warriors paraded through the village the people gathered eagerly about White Otter and the famous black war pony. Many of the old men and boys ran forward and struck the Blackfeet pony with their hands to count a coup against their foes. When he reached the center of the camp White Otter stopped and tied the Blackfeet pony before the lodge of Curly Horse, the Minneconjoux war chief.
"See, White Otter has given the black war pony to Curly Horse," said the Minneconjoux. "It is a great thing to do."
Curly Horse and the great men of the tribe had assembled before the medicine lodge to greet the war party. When the warriors lined up before him the famous chief stepped forward to address them.
"I will call Sun Bird and White Otter to come and stand before me," said Curly Horse. "My brothers, both of you are young men, but you have done big things. Sun Bird, you are the leader of this war party. You have done what you set out to do. You have brought back the ponies that the Blackfeet took away. It was a hard thing to do. White Otter, you are a great chief. You have done many big things. Now you have done the biggest thing of all. I see that you have tied that great pony in front of my lodge. It makes me feel good. But I will not take it. You must take it to your people. Now I will speak to those brave warriors who went with you. My brothers, you have done a big thing. You were very brave. Now I will ask Rain Crow to give you some words."
"My friends, you have done a great thing for your people," said Rain Crow, the Medicine Man. "Now we have many ponies. Some of them were Blackfeet ponies. It is good. Sun Bird, you are my son. Little Raven, you are my son. White Otter, I have called you my son. All three of you were very brave. It makes me feel big. White Otter, you have done the biggest thing of all. Our people will talk about it a long time. I have finished."
When Rain Crow ceased speaking the Minneconjoux cried out for Sun Bird to talk to them.
"Well, my people, you have asked me to give you some words," said Sun Bird. "First I will tell you about White Otter. He was very brave. He went into the Blackfeet camp. He fought back many Blackfeet. He rode after the great chief Many Buffaloes and caught up with him. Then he knocked him on the head and ran off with his pony. He has brought it here. Now I will tell you about Little Raven. He was very brave. He went with White Otter to the Blackfeet camp. He fought many Blackfeet. Now I will tell you about all these great warriors that you see standing here. They were very brave. Lean Wolf fought four Blackfeet warriors and killed all of them. Sitting Eagle ran off the ponies. Feather Dog did some great things. Running Dog found our enemies. All of these brave warriors fought hard to bring the ponies here. Now I have told you about it."
"White Otter! White Otter!" shouted the Minneconjoux. "Come, White Otter, give us some words."
The Ogalala received a stirring ovation. It was some time before he was able to speak.
"My brothers, I have not many words to give you," he said, modestly. "I will tell you that Sun Bird is a great war leader. He told us what to do. I will tell you that the Minneconjoux are very brave. I will tell my people about them. I will tell you that the Dacotah ponies can run. Curly Horse gave me that great pony that I rode to the Blackfeet camp. It is very fast. That is how I caught Many Buffaloes. I believe Rain Crow must have had something to do with it. He is a great Medicine Person. I believe he helped me to do this thing. Now I will speak to your great chief Curly Horse. Curly Horse, I have tied that black pony in front of your lodge. It must stay there. You gave me a great pony to ride to the Blackfeet camp. I will keep it. Now I will give you that great Blackfeet pony. You must keep it. Rain Crow, you have called me your son. Well, my father, I have brought you a fast spotted pony. I took it from the Flatheads. Now I will not talk anymore."
"White Otter, I see that you have a good heart," said Curly Horse. "I will listen to your words, I will keep that great war pony. I feel big to own that pony."
When it grew dark the Minneconjoux lighted a great fire and assembled about it to celebrate the success of the war party. They spent the entire night dancing and singing and telling of the great exploits performed by the men who had gone to the Blackfeet camp.