The Prairie-Bird

by Sir Charles Augustus Murray

The two parties, having taken their final leave of each other, the task of guide devolved upon Pierre, who resolved not to cross the Platte that evening, it being now rather late, but to encamp where they were, while the Crows returned some dozen miles upon their trail before they encamped for the night. They had seen enough of the effective force and discipline of the allied band to deter them from attacking it, and prudently resolved to return to their own country, with the goods which they had already acquired, without loss or risk; although it becomes us, as veracious historians, to state (however little credit the statement may reflect upon White–bull) that it had been, from the first, his intention to attack and plunder the party, had their carelessness or neglect afforded him an opportunity of doing so with impunity.

Besha, having ascertained the spot selected for the Crow encampment, lingered behind their line of march, accompanied by the lad before mentioned, as being his constant attendant, whom he left concealed, with two of his horses, behind a small hillock beside the trail, desiring him there to await his return. In order to avoid suspicion, he continued in the company of White–bull until it was dusk, and did not leave the camp until an hour later, when he threw a large dark–coloured blanket over his shoulders, and, slipping away unperceived, rejoined the lad left in charge of the horses.

Mounting one himself, he desired his companion to follow on the other, and trotted briskly forward, under the partial light of a young moon, over the ground which he had carefully noted during the day, until he reached a spot where the trail approached within a hundred yards of the banks of the Platte, and where a few alder bushes offered convenient shelter for the horses. Here the lad was again desired to await his master’s return; and as the dew began to fall heavy, he was not sorry that the latter left with him the large dark–coloured blanket above mentioned.

Besha now pursued his way on foot; and on reaching the outposts of the allied band found, as had been preconcerted, two of the Delawares, bearing several large packages, containing the presents and goods that he had earned in his mixed capacity of diplomatic agent and interpreter. The packages being inconvenient for the horse–dealer to carry alone, both on account of their weight and number, he prevailed upon one of the Delawares to assist him in carrying them to the spot where he had left the horses. It was only by offering the Indian, who was no other than Stony–heart, a little bag full of excellent kinne–kinnik for his pipe, that he prevailed upon him to undertake this task. But the materials for smoking had become scarce, and it was an indulgence from which, when within reach, Stony–heart could not refrain; he accordingly sent back his companion, and telling him that he would return in the course of an hour or two, set forth with the horse–dealer on the trail.

We must now see how it fared with the lad left in charge of the horses, who, being tired with the day’s march, fastened the end of their long halters to his arm, and, wrapping himself in the blanket, lay down upon the grass, and soon fell into a comfortable doze. One of the horses, probably disliking this unusual separation from those with which it was accustomed at this hour to feed, neighed several times aloud, for which disturbance of his slumber it received a pull of the halter, and a muttered execration from the youth, when he again fell into a state of unconsciousness.

Now it so happened that the neighing of the horse reached other ears at no great distance, being those of no less a person than the Osage, who, with his three companions, was on his homeward way, and had on the preceding day stolen an old canoe that they found on the bank of the river; and, after patching up a few rents and holes, had embarked in it, to save themselves a portion of their long foot journey. They had seen from a distance the moving bands of the white men and of the Crows, and had hauled their canoe under some alder bushes on the bank, in order to consult and determine whether they should drop farther down the river during the night, or, leaving it, strike a more southerly course.

Whilst holding this consultation, the neighing of Besha’s horse caught the quick ear of their leader; he listened—and hearing it repeated, crept towards the spot, followed by his three companions. As soon as the uncertain light of the moon enabled him to distinguish the two pack–horses fastened to the sleeping lad, he again crept noiselessly forward, and, springing upon him, enveloped him in his own blanket, stuffing the corner of it into his mouth, so that he could neither struggle nor make any noise.

Leaving one of his men in charge of the horses, he carried the youth swiftly to the water’s edge where he securely pinioned and gagged him, not, however, before he had recognised by the moonlight the countenance of Besha’s attendant. The Osage’s plan was soon formed; for he rightly conjectured that the horse–dealer was gone upon some errand, from which he would not return empty handed; and he also owed the horse–dealer a grudge for having, as he supposed, favoured Wingenund in that eventful scene which terminated Mahéga’s life.

Stripping the youth of his dark blanket and of the broad–brimmed hat of Mexican grass that he wore, the Osage put them on himself; and, taking his seat by the same bush, he held the halters of the horses, and partially concealing his face in one of the folds of the blanket, awaited in this disguise the return of the horse–dealer, while his three companions concealed themselves behind the adjacent bushes.

They had not been very long ensconced before Besha appeared, followed by the doughty Stony–heart, who muttered to himself as he came that he would not carry such a load so far again for all the kinne–kinnik in the camp. The horse–dealer as he drew near gave the usual signal–whistle for his attendant; and, finding that it was unanswered, looked towards the spot where he descried the slumbering figure in the slouched hat and dark blanket; while one of his pack–horses, lately cast loose, seemed to be deliberately walking off to seek better pasture. Hastily throwing his own package to the ground, he went to secure the stray animal, calling at the same time to Stony–heart,