“The chief hurried to get up and dress, and so did others, and they soon left their lodges and approached the strange lodge. There was a fire within it. Voices were heard in low-toned conversation. Close around a few horses were picketed, and farther out grazed a large band of them, mostly grays and blacks. It was evident that the owner of the lodge was a chief, a bear medicine man, a very rich man. The Crow chief thrust aside the door curtain of the lodge, and entered, the others following. A fine-appearing man at the back of it gave them the sign for welcome, and motioned them where to sit. He lifted a big filled pipe and lighted it, and passed it. The Crow chief smoked first, and then one by one those with him.
“Having passed on the pipe, the Crow chief signed to the stranger: ‘You are a Blackfoot?’
“‘Yes, I am a Blackfoot,’ One Horn answered. ‘You are wondering why I, an enemy, have come here and set up my lodge beside you. You shall know! I have come to try to make peace between your people and my people. I am tired of all this war, and its wasting of men’s lives, and making women and children mourn.’
“‘You say well. Your talk deserves attention. Peace between us would be good for us both. I will talk to my people about it,’ said the Crow chief.
“And just then One Horn’s women set before him and the other Crows dishes of rich berry pemmican, the best of dried meat and back fat, and they ate with the outside chief. Then they smoked again and went home, the Crow chief saying that he would soon give a call for a council, and would send for the Blackfoot to join in it.
“It was not until near sunset, however, that a youth came to invite One Horn to the Crow chief’s lodge. He found assembled there all the head men of the tribe, and the chief told him that, after long talk, they had decided that they, too, were tired of war, and would be glad to make peace with the Blackfeet.
“‘But be not in a hurry to return home,’ the Crow chief concluded. ‘Make us a long visit, and during it we will decide together where and when our two tribes shall meet to make this lasting peace treaty.’
“Answered One Horn: ‘I shall be glad to camp here with you for the rest of this moon.’ And all those present signed to him: ‘Yes. Remain here with us for a time.’
“One Horn and the Crow chief became friends. They hunted together, visited often in each other’s lodge, and together were invited to other lodges to feast and smoke, and join in the warriors’ tales of raids and battles and adventures along far trails.
“The River Crows were at this time encamped just over the ridge from the Inside Lakes, on Little River, and some of them came frequently to visit their Mountain brothers at the foot of the lakes. Among others came a man who was always counting his coups. In a gathering of the warriors he would wait until all had told what they had done in war against their enemies, and then he would count one coup, only one, that was far greater than any of theirs.