THE STAMPEDE
The Blackfeet made no attempt to follow the Sioux to the ravine. Instead, they turned about, and rode far from arrow range. They carried off their chief and several warriors who had fallen in the skirmish, and the Sioux were in doubt whether the famous war leader had been killed, or only wounded, by the blow from White Otter. It was plain, however, that the Blackfeet had finished the fight. They stopped for a few moments to shout idle threats against the Sioux and then rode slowly toward the north.
"Well, my brothers, the Blackfeet have gone," said Sun Bird. "It is good. We have done what we came here to do. We have taken away these ponies. We have made a big fight. We have sent the boastful Blackfeet back to their lodges. My friends, those are big things to talk about. Well, I will tell you that White Otter has done the biggest thing of all. You all know about it. Look at that black pony. You all know how it came here. It is something to tell about. Now, my brothers, I must tell you something different. We must not feel too big about these things. We are a long ways from our people. We have many ponies. We cannot travel fast. The Crows and the Flatheads are still ahead of us. Perhaps we shall meet them. We must keep thinking about it. Yes, my brothers, we must be cautious."
"My friends, those are good words," declared Lean Wolf. "What Sun Bird says is true. We have fought back the Blackfeet, but other enemies may be waiting for us. We have many good ponies. We must take them to our village. Perhaps it will be a hard thing to do. The Crows would like to get those ponies. Yes, I believe the Flatheads would like to get them. We would feel foolish if we lost them. We must be cautious."
The Minneconjoux found it difficult to restrain their enthusiasm. The younger warriors, especially, were eager to celebrate their victory over the Blackfeet. They rushed to the bottom of the ravine, and crowded forward to count coup upon the Blackfeet pony by striking it with their hands. The act was a substitute for striking an enemy, and gave them the privilege of reciting the details of some daring exploit which they had performed in the fight with their foes. Besides, the Minneconjoux still looked upon the black war pony as something mysterious, a strange Medicine Creature possessing superior powers of speed and endurance. They hoped that in laying their hands upon it they might in some way absorb some of its mystical powers.
In the meantime Sun Bird had sent scouts to follow the Blackfeet, to make sure that they were actually going to their village. Other riders had crossed the plain to the southward to learn if it would be safe to travel in that direction with the ponies. The day was well advanced when the scouts returned to the war party. The Minneconjoux gathered eagerly about them to learn what they had seen.
"The Blackfeet are still going ahead," said Running Dog, who had followed them. "I believe they are going to their village."
"Did you see anything of Many Buffaloes?" Sun Bird asked, anxiously.
"Yes, I saw him sitting on a pony," declared Running Dog. "He was between two riders. I believe they were holding him up. I saw some other warriors lying across the backs of ponies. I believe they were tied there. Perhaps they were dead. The Blackfeet are traveling slow."
"Well, we know that Many Buffaloes is alive," said Sun Bird. "No one can harm him. He must be very strong. Perhaps he is a Medicine Person."