"He is a great chief," declared Sun Bird.
Many Buffaloes took no part in the ceremony. He stood apart with several of his associates and showed little interest in the wild capers of the dancers. His keen eyes, however, noted every action, and it was evident that his apparent indifference was largely assumed. He appeared to consider it beneath the dignity of a great war chief to show emotion upon so trivial an occasion.
"Where is his black pony?" White Otter asked, eagerly.
"I cannot tell you," said Sun Bird.
"Come, we will try to find it," White Otter told him.
Sun Bird looked uneasily into the eyes of his friend. White Otter's bold resolve filled him with alarm. A disturbing possibility swept through us mind. Did the daring Ogalala plan to enter the Blackfeet camp in search of the famous war pony? Sun Bird feared that it would be a fatal blunder to make the attempt at that time. Even if White Otter should succeed in leading away the pony without being seen, the loss would rouse the entire Blackfeet nation. They would immediately send strong war parties to search the plain, and the long, perilous journey of the Minneconjoux would have been in vain. Sun Bird appeared reluctant to agree to the proposal. White Otter instantly guessed the reason.
"I see that you do not feel good about it," White Otter said, quietly. "I am a war leader. I am not going to do anything foolish. I am not going to try to take away that pony. I am going to find out where it is. Then I will wait until our brothers have run off the other ponies. Then perhaps I will try to take away that black pony."
"It is good," Sun Bird said, with evident relief.
They began to circle cautiously about the camp. It was perilous work. Bow in hand, they crept stealthily along in the shadows from the lodges, stopping every bow length to watch and listen. Where were the dogs? They would have given much to know. They knew that at any moment they might stumble upon them. They had gone about an arrow flight when they suddenly discovered one of the dogs lying beside a lodge. Was it asleep? they wondered. It was lying with its back toward them, and was only five or six bow lengths away. The Sioux watched it with bated breath. They realized that the slightest sound might rouse it. They feared to move. Still, it seemed equally perilous to loiter.
"Come," breathed White Otter.