"We will have something to tell about," laughed White Otter.
CHAPTER XII
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE FLATHEADS
The elated young Sioux lost little time in removing the great claws from Matohota and the cruel, sharp talons from fierce Imutanka. They longed to take the pelts as well, but they realized that it would be folly to burden themselves with them. They spent some time, however, examining the wounds which the savage creatures had inflicted upon each other. The lion had bitten deeply into the back of Matohota's neck and ripped terrible gashes in his back. Matohota had taken full revenge. His great claws had torn gaping wounds in the chest and shoulders of Imutanka and it was evident that the lion would have expired from loss of blood if the Sioux had not ended its agony with their arrows. They decided, therefore, that great Matohota should be credited with victory.
"Imutanka was very brave, but Matohota was too strong for him," declared Sun Bird.
"Yes, Matohota won the fight," agreed White Otter.
As the night was far advanced they determined to wait until daylight before setting out to rejoin their companions. They spent some time dancing solemnly about their victims, and chanting their war songs. Then they opened the carcasses of the bear and the lion and removed the hearts. They cut them into two parts and ate them with superstitious zeal. It was an ancient custom of the Dacotahs, who believed that by consuming the heart of a particularly strong and courageous bear or lion they would absorb the strength and courage of the animal itself.
At dawn the Sioux determined to follow the game trail to the plain, in the hope of encountering some of the war party. They had thoughtfully cut the arrows from the bodies of Matohota and Imutanka so that if either the Blackfeet or the Crows chanced to visit the spot they would be unable to guess who had ventured upon their hunting grounds.