"My brothers, I have listened to your words," said Sitting Eagle. "You say that the Blackfeet are brave. It is true. I have fought many battles against them. They are braver than the Pawnees. They are braver than the Kiowas. They are braver than the Crows. Now you know that they are very brave. Well, my friends, the Dacotahs are braver than the Blackfeet. Yes, the Dacotahs are the bravest of all. We will go to that great camp, and take away those ponies. Sun Bird is a good leader. Our brother, White Otter, is a great chief. I see many brave warriors sitting here. We are very strong. Yes, my brothers, we will take away those ponies."
The boastful assurance of Sitting Eagle roused the Minneconjoux to a great pitch of enthusiasm. For the moment their ardor overcame their caution, and they began to talk loudly and utter wild threats against their foes.
"Come! come!" Lean Wolf cried, impatiently. "We are making too much noise. Are we like old women who cackle like foolish Magasapa, the goose?"
The Minneconjoux instantly subsided into silence. They knew that it was not the part of warriors to give way to their emotions, and they felt guilty and ashamed. As Sun Bird showed no inclination to tell them anything more about the Blackfeet camp, most of them threw themselves upon the ground and resumed their slumbers. The three young scouts who had just returned from the top of the ridge followed their example, and it was not long before all except the vigilant sentinels about the edge of the camp were sleeping soundly.
The day had ended and twilight had fallen upon the plain when Sun Bird and White Otter finally awakened. They felt rested and refreshed, and were eager to begin the great adventure which lay before them. As the entire company was awake, Sun Bird prepared to carry out his plans for advancing upon the Blackfeet camp. He called the sentinels who had watched through the night, and asked if they had seen or heard anything of their foes. They assured him that the night had passed without alarm.
"It is good," said Sun Bird. "Now, my friends, I will tell you what I propose to do. See! the light has almost gone. When it gets dark I am going away to find out about that great camp. I am going to creep up close. Then I will find out what we want to know. Then we will know how to get those ponies. Now I am going to ask White Otter to go with me. He is a great scout. He has been to the Pawnee camp. He has been to the Crow camp. He has crawled up to the lodges of the Kiowas. Now I will ask this great scout to go to the Blackfeet camp with me."
"I will go," White Otter told him.
There were many others who were anxious to risk their lives for a peep into the great Blackfeet camp, but Sun Bird refused them. He knew that numbers increased the chances of discovery, and he determined to run no unnecessary risks. Besides, there were few, if any, warriors among the Minneconjoux who could match the scouting abilities of the Ogalala. As Sun Bird realized that the success of the undertaking might depend upon the thoroughness of the reconnaissance which he planned to make, he determined to rely solely upon White Otter and himself to carry it through.
It was barely dark when they left the war party and set out for the Blackfeet camp. Their companions watched them depart, in silence, for they knew the danger to which they were about to expose themselves, and many alarming possibilities flashed through their minds.
"They are very brave," said Sitting Eagle, as Sun Bird and White Otter disappeared into the shadows.