THE BLACKFEET CAMP
They soon found Little Raven and Running Dog, and then they set out to join the war party. As they rode swiftly through the night Lean Wolf asked White Otter to tell about his daring stratagem against the Crows.
"How did you come to find us?" Lean Wolf asked him.
"When we came back from the ridge, Sun Bird asked our friends about you," said White Otter. "They told us that you went away and did not come back. We felt bad about it. Sun Bird sent us to look for you. Pretty soon we found the tracks of your ponies. We followed them to that gully. Then we saw what had happened. We thought the Blackfeet had caught you. It was easy to follow all those pony tracks. Then we came in sight of the place where you were hiding. We lay down behind a ridge to watch. We saw a war party of Crows. Then I told Running Dog and Little Raven how I fooled those people. I said, 'I will fool them again.' Then we frightened away the ponies and made the Crows run out. That is all I have to say about it."
Soon afterward they encountered the Minneconjoux war party advancing carefully along the edge of the timber. However, when Sun Bird learned that the Crows were only a short distance ahead of him, he immediately ordered a halt.
"If we keep going ahead we will run into those people," he told his companions. "That would be foolish. We have set out to fight the Blackfeet. We must keep ourselves strong until we meet them."
"Yes, it would be foolish to risk our lives until we have done what we set out to do," the Minneconjoux told one another.
They made a wide detour, therefore, and circled far out on the plain to avoid meeting their enemies. Daylight was close at hand when they finally returned to the foothills. Having passed safely by the cañon without hearing anything of the Crows, the Sioux believed that there was little further danger of again encountering those hated foes.
"We are getting close to the Blackfeet camp, the Crows will not come this way," said Sun Bird.
"They have gone to tell their people how the Blackfeet fooled them," Lean Wolf said, jokingly.
"White Otter can tell them about it," laughed the Minneconjoux.
As the last lingering night shadows lifted from the plain, the Sioux entered the timber to avoid being seen by prowling companies of Blackfeet. Although the danger of meeting the Crows appeared to have passed, they knew that they would be in constant peril from the Blackfeet. Dancing Rabbit said that they were within a day's journey of the great camp, and the announcement roused them to their danger. They moved carefully along the base of the ridge until they found a sheltered hiding place.
"Now, my friends, I will tell you what I propose to do," said Sun Bird. "You have heard the words of Dancing Rabbit. He says that we are getting near the great Blackfeet camp. It is good. That is what we set out to do. But we must be cautious. We must not let the Blackfeet see us until we run off those ponies. We must hide in the timber until we are ready to fight. But first we must find the Blackfeet camp. I believe we can see it from the top of this ridge. Pretty soon I am going to climb up there and look around. You must wait here until I come back. Then when it grows dark we will go ahead. I have finished."
Soon afterward he set out with White Otter and Dancing Rabbit. They climbed to the top of the ridge and looked anxiously toward the north. It was some time before Dancing Rabbit spoke. Then he pointed eagerly toward a low, sage-grown ridge.
"Do you see that long hill?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, I see it," replied Sun Bird.
"Well, there is a river on the other side of it," Dancing Rabbit told them. "Many trees grow along that river. The Blackfeet camp is between that river and that long hill. I hid on top of that hill when I ran away from the camp."
Sun Bird and White Otter heard him in silence. Now that the goal was almost in sight they showed little emotion. Only the sudden flash of their eyes betokened their interest. They were intently studying the low, sage-grown sweep of the plain which Dancing Rabbit declared concealed the Blackfeet camp.
"See, see, there is the smoke from the village!" cried Dancing Rabbit, as he pointed to a thin column of smoke which was rising above the ridge.
"I have been watching it a long time," Sun Bird told him.
"Yes, I saw it," said White Otter, as Sun Bird looked inquiringly at him.
"See, there is a high place over there," said Sun Bird, as he pointed toward a great ledge some distance to the northward. "If we climb up on those rocks we can see the Blackfeet lodges."
"Yes, I believe you can see the camp from that place," Dancing Rabbit declared, eagerly.
They made their way slowly along the ridge until they reached the base of the great ledge. It rose many bow lengths above them and was so bare and conspicuous that the Sioux were somewhat fearful of being seen if they climbed it. They knew that when enemies were expected, every great camp was protected by sentinels posted on elevations of the plain to watch for the approach of their foes. As the Blackfeet had every reason to expect an attack from both the Minneconjoux and the Crows, the Sioux felt quite certain that they had taken the usual precautions to guard their village. Still, the possibility of seeing the great Blackfeet camp was a strong temptation, and the Sioux finally decided to climb the ledge.
They had barely made the decision, however, when they saw something which instantly changed their plans. A small company of horsemen had suddenly appeared on the summit of the ridge which hid the camp. The Sioux knew at once that they were Blackfeet, and they watched anxiously to see which way they would go. They were considerably relieved when the riders reached the foot of the slope and turned toward the east. They rode off at a smart canter and soon disappeared into a dip of the plain.
"I believe they are hunters," said White Otter.
"Well, they have gone away," Sun Bird told him. "Come, we will climb up there and look around."
"No, it would be foolish," White Otter declared. "I see some one down there watching this place."
Sun Bird and Dancing Rabbit started in amazement. Both had unusually sharp vision, and they had kept their eyes steadily on the ridge, but neither of them had seen any one except the horsemen.
"Where is that person?" Sun Bird inquired, curiously.
"Look sharp at that twisted tree, near the top of the ridge," said White Otter.
His companions looked in vain. They could find no evidence of any one either in or about the tree which White Otter had designated. They feared that he had been mistaken.
"I do not see any one," declared Sun Bird.
"Well, there is a warrior sitting up there among the branches," White Otter told him. "If you look sharp along that crooked limb you will see him. He is far away, but my eyes tell me that he is looking this way. We must be cautious."
"Yes, yes, I see him!" Sun Bird said, excitedly.
"He must be a scout. Perhaps those riders left him there to watch for enemies. Perhaps it is a war party."
"We will wait and see what he is going to do," said White Otter.
As they were high up, and well sheltered in the timber, the Sioux had little fear of being discovered. They were curious to know what the warrior in the tree was watching for, and they determined to wait until they learned. Then they suddenly discovered a horseman near the spot where the Blackfeet had disappeared. The Sioux felt sure that he was one of the company. He was facing toward the ridge where the warrior was watching from the tree. Apparently aware that the latter had seen him, he dismounted and began to signal with his robe. First he held it directly in front of him between his outstretched arms. The Sioux recognized the signal as the sign for buffaloes. Then he waved the robe up and down several times before his body. It was the signal for many.
"Those men are Blackfeet hunters," declared White Otter. "They have found some buffaloes. That man is telling about it."
In the meantime the warrior had descended from the tree and hurried to the top of the ridge. Then he stooped and raised his robe from the ground. He faced toward the north, and repeated the signals which he had just received. Then both warriors disappeared.
"That man has told the people in the village about the buffaloes," said White Otter. "I do not believe it is a big hunt. Perhaps some buffaloes came near the camp and some young men went out to kill them."
"Well, we must not show ourselves," Sun Bird said, with a tinge of disappointment. "I would like to look at that camp, but I believe it would be foolish to climb up there."
"Yes, my brother, it would be foolish," White Otter warned him. "The Blackfeet are moving around. Their eyes are sharp. We must watch out."
"I will tell you how I feel about it," said Sun Bird.
"I am listening," replied White Otter.
"I am going to ask Dancing Rabbit to go back to our brothers," explained Sun Bird. "I am going to ask him to tell them to come ahead when it grows dark. Sitting Eagle knows this place. He must be the leader. When it gets light they must hide in the timber and wait for us. Dancing Rabbit, you must come back here and tell us where they are. Then we will go to them and tell them what we saw. White Otter, I will ask you to stay here with me. When it gets dark we will climb up on that high place and hide. When the light comes we will see the Blackfeet camp."
"It is the best thing to do," White Otter told him.
Shortly after Dancing Rabbit left them, they saw a great company of Blackfeet riding slowly over the ridge. There were both men and women, and many of the ponies were dragging the pole travois upon which burdens were transported across the plains.
"Those hunters have killed some buffaloes," said White Otter. "These people are going to bring in the meat."
They watched the interesting cavalcade move slowly across the plain and disappear on the trail of the hunters. The Blackfeet were sending their women to bring in the meat. It was apparent, therefore, that they had little fear of either the Minneconjoux or the Crows retaliating for the recent attacks which they had made upon them. The reckless boldness of their arrogant foes caused the eyes of the Sioux to flash with anger.
"We will fool those boastful people," Sun Bird said, fiercely.
"They feel safe—it is good," White Otter replied, quietly.
They saw nothing more of the Blackfeet until the end of the day and then the hunters returned. A short way behind them came the women and a few men, leading the pack ponies laden with meat. After the Blackfeet had passed over the ridge, the Sioux listened anxiously for sounds from the camp. When they failed to hear anything they began to wonder if the camp was farther away than they supposed.
"I do not believe it is far beyond that ridge," declared White Otter. "The wind has carried away the noise."
"Yes, that may be true," agreed Sun Bird.
They waited impatiently for darkness, and when it finally came they immediately began to climb the ledge. It was hard, perilous work, as the night was unusually black, and the ledge was high and steep. There were places where a false step would have meant severe injury, or even death, and the Sioux realized the necessity for caution.
"Well, we have had a hard time," Sun Bird panted, as they finally reached the top.
"Yes, it is a hard place to get to," agreed White Otter.
They went as far as possible along the top of the ledge, hoping at daylight to be able to see over the ridge which hid the camp. Then they concealed themselves behind two high pinnacles of rock which rose some distance above the ledge and waited anxiously for the night to pass.
"See, the light is coming," Sun Bird said, eagerly, as the first faint trace of dawn appeared in the east. "Pretty soon we will see the great Blackfeet camp."
"It is good," replied White Otter.
They waited impatiently for darkness to leave the plain. Dawn seemed a long time coming. However, the pale narrow streak across the eastern sky gradually widened, the stars grew dim, and a bird note sounded from the timber. Day was close at hand. The Sioux stirred restlessly. Their long vigil was almost over. Would they see the Blackfeet camp? they wondered. They longed to sweep aside the heavy black mantle which hid the plain. Then, after some moments of trying suspense, they saw the night shadows slowly retreating. The stars had disappeared. A soft gray twilight was creeping out of the east. Like a great hand, it spread slowly over the plain and wiped away the darkness. Dim, shadowy shapes appeared in its wake. It passed over the ridge and drove the shadows into the north. The Sioux followed it with eager eyes. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it extended across the plain and laid bare the secrets of the night.
"Look, look, there are the lodges!" Sun Bird cried, eagerly.
They seemed suddenly to have sprung from the plain—like pale, ghostly phantoms on the trail of dawn. One after the other, they appeared from the gloom in great sweeping circles that extended far out on the plain until the entire camp was exposed before the fascinated eyes of the Sioux. It was ideally situated beside the waters of a wide, willow-lined stream. The Sioux marveled at its size. For a long time they studied it in silence. Trained from infancy in the art of observation, they noted every detail. They counted the lodges, estimated the number of persons each would accommodate, determined the nearest and easiest approach to the camp, noted the distance from the ridge, the distance from the water, and many other details which skillful scouts were expected to know.
Then they turned their attention to the ponies. There was a great herd of them grazing some distance to the eastward of the lodges. The Sioux watched them with covetous eyes. They knew that many of those animals had come from the Minneconjoux camp. They intended to take them back, and many Blackfeet ponies besides. Near the edge of the camp was a smaller herd of ponies confined in a strong pole corral. The Sioux knew that those were the more valuable animals, the fleet-footed war and hunting ponies. White Otter studied them with great interest. He was trying to identify the famous black war pony of Many Buffaloes, the Blackfeet chief. However, he was unable to convince himself that any of the ponies in the corral was that animal. He had little doubt that it was securely guarded somewhere near the lodge of the chief.
"There are many lodges," Sun Bird said, finally.
"Yes, it is a great camp," replied White Otter.
The Blackfeet were beginning to stir. The Sioux saw them moving about between the lodges. They looked like dwarfs at the distance. Then smoke began to rise above the camp. Some people were running toward the river. The Sioux believed they were boys. The splashes were distinctly visible as they threw themselves into the water. The faint, far-away sound of their voices came up from the plain. Then a shadow swept across the ledge. The Sioux looked into the sky. Huya, the great war bird, was soaring out over the Blackfeet camp.
"Hi, there is our brother, Huya!" said Sun Bird. "He has come to bring our people to the Blackfeet camp."
"It is a good sign," declared White Otter.
They watched until the day was well advanced, and then they crept carefully over the top of the ledge and descended to the summit of the ridge. They found Dancing Rabbit waiting for them.
"Well, my brother, have you brought our friends here?" inquired Sun Bird.
"They are hiding down there in the timber," replied Dancing Rabbit.
"Come, we will go to them," said Sun Bird.