FRIENDS
Having eluded their pursuers, the Sioux drew the ponies to an easy
canter and continued toward the north. They heard the Pawnees
signaling far away across the plain. They were still searching for the
Cheyennes. The Sioux wondered how the latter had escaped, and which
way they had gone.
"It is mysterious," declared White Otter.
"I do not know how they got away, but I believe they are ahead of us,"
said Sun Bird. "The Pawnees found the buffaloes and chased them off.
The Cheyennes know about it. I do not believe they will stay in this
place. I believe they will go to their people."
"Well, we must keep going ahead," said White Otter. "When it gets
light the Pawnees will begin to look around. If we stay here they will
find us. We did not find the Cheyennes, but we must go away. It is
bad."
They continued to ride until the night was half gone, and then they
stopped beside a little stream to rest the ponies. They believed that
the Pawnees were far behind them, but they determined to take
precautions. They took turns at watching until daylight. Then they
looked anxiously across the plain for signs of their foes. They were
nowhere in sight.
"It is good," declared Sun Bird. "Now we will go to the Cheyenne camp.
Perhaps we will find our brothers there."
White Otter kept silent. He was troubled and depressed. His mind was
filled with thoughts of Red Dog and his gallant little company. Having
failed to bring the hunters to their assistance, White Otter had grave
fears for their safety.
"Come, eat some of this meat, and then we will ride away," he told his
companions.
While the ponies grazed, the Sioux ate heartily of the dried elk meat
which Red Dog had given them. As they sat beside the stream they
continued to watch the plain. They were about to ride away when White
Otter discovered something moving along the top of a hill to the
westward.
"Watch sharp, there is something over there," he said, suspiciously.
It was some moments before his companions discovered the distant
object. Then they saw it moving slowly down the side of the ridge.
They tried to identify it.
"It looks like Ma-ya-sh, the wolf," said Sun Bird.
"Perhaps it is a scout," suggested Little Raven.
"I believe it is Ma-ya-sh," White Otter told them. "See, it is moving
down that hill. It does not see us. If it was a scout he would know
about us. Then he would hide behind that hill and watch. I believe it
is Ma-ya-sh."
"Yes, I believe it is Ma-ya-sh," said Sun Bird. "Now we know that
there is no one over there. If the Pawnees were over there Ma-ya-sh
would not show himself."
"It is true," replied White Otter.
Convinced that the object moving along the ridge really was a prairie
wolf, they mounted the ponies and continued into the north. Hopeful
that the Cheyenne hunters had preceded them, they determined to
separate to search for the trail. Sun Bird rode farther to the
westward, and Little Raven circled toward the east. As the plain was
level, it was easy to keep within sight of one another.
The day was well advanced when White Otter saw Sun Bird riding in a
circle. It was the danger signal, and White Otter immediately stopped.
Then he, too, rode in a circle to warn Little Raven. When the latter
saw him, White Otter galloped his pony toward Sun Bird. Little Raven
also rode toward the west.
"What did you see?" White Otter inquired, anxiously, as he approached
the Minneconjoux.
"Here are fresh pony tracks," Sun Bird told him.
The trail had come from the westward, and turned abruptly toward the
north. It showed the hoof marks of many ponies. For some moments they
studied it in silence.
"It must be the Cheyennes," Sun Bird said, finally.
"Yes, I believe those are the marks of the Cheyenne ponies," replied
White Otter.
"What is it?" inquired Little Raven, who joined them at that moment.
"Here are the marks of some ponies," White Otter told him.
"I believe it is the trail of our brothers, the Cheyennes," said
Little Raven.
"We are not sure about it," White Otter told him. "Perhaps it is the
Pawnees. Perhaps they passed by us when it was dark. Perhaps they
circled over here and went ahead to catch the Cheyennes. We must not
let them fool us again. We will watch out."
"You are a good leader," declared Sun Bird. "I see that what you say
may be true. Yes, we will be cautious."
They rode rapidly along the trail. It was plain and easy to follow.
They had not gone far, however, when they saw something which brought
them to a sudden stop. A riderless pony had appeared on a knoll
directly ahead of them. They watched suspiciously. At sight of them
the pony raised its head and whinnied. Then it began to feed. It moved
in an awkward and unnatural manner that aroused their fears.
"I believe some one is hiding behind that pony," declared White Otter.
"If he is a scout why did he go up on that high place?" Little Raven
asked, curiously. "If he kept hiding we would not know about him."
"Perhaps he was coming down that hill before we saw him," said White
Otter. "Then he saw us and hid behind his pony. Now he is trying to
lead it over the top of that hill."
"Yes, I believe that is what he is trying to do," declared Sun Bird.
The pony was still feeding, and moving slowly toward the top of the
hill. They felt sure that it was guided by some one behind it. It was
far beyond arrow range. As they were in no danger, the Sioux waited to
watch it.
"Perhaps it is a Cheyenne," said Sun Bird. "Come, White Otter, make
the signal."
At that moment a warrior sprang upon the pony, and disappeared over
the top of the hill. The Sioux had been unable to identify him. His
appearance, however, caused them considerable anxiety. They realized
that if he was a Cheyenne he had probably mistaken them for foes. In
that event he would warn his companions, and they might race away
before the Sioux could get in touch with them. If he was a Pawnee the
possibilities were more alarming.
"It is bad," said Sun Bird. "If we go ahead, perhaps we will run into
the Pawnees. If we hold back perhaps our brothers, the Cheyennes, will
ride away from us."
"We will go ahead," said White Otter.
They approached the hill with great care. They watched closely before
they ventured up the slope. When they reached the top they saw a
large company of horsemen, far away across the plain. They appeared to
be watching the hill. The Sioux believed the scout had warned them.
"Come, make the signal," said Sun Bird. "We will see what comes of
it."
"Yes, make the signal," urged Little Raven. "I believe they are
Cheyennes."
White Otter raised his hands high above his head. It was the sign for
peace. He repeated the signal several times. Then he rode his pony
part way down the hill, and returned to the top. In the meantime Sun
Bird had waved his robe up and down, and then spread it upon the
ground. He, too, repeated the signal. It was an invitation to come and
talk. Having thus proclaimed their peaceful intentions, and invited
the strangers to meet them, the Sioux watched for an answer to the
signals. The horsemen made no reply.
"They are cautious," said Sun Bird. "Perhaps they take us for
Pawnees."
"Perhaps it is the Pawnees after all," declared Little Raven.
"Well, they are far away, they cannot catch us," White Otter told
them. "We will go toward them. Then we will see what they propose to
do."
They rode a bowshot across the plain. Then they stopped and repeated
the signals. In a few moments a rider separated from his companions,
and replied to the signs. He raised his hands above his head. Then he
suddenly swept his right hand toward the ground. It, too, was an
invitation to approach and talk.
"They are trying to draw us over there," said Sun Bird. "No, we are
not so foolish. We will wait until we see who they are."
"It is the only thing to do," agreed White Otter.
Having previously mistaken the Pawnees for the Cheyennes, the Sioux
determined to be careful. Sun Bird dismounted and again signaled with
his robe. Then they waited. Many moments passed before they received
an answer. Then three riders started slowly across the plain.
"It is too many, watch out," cautioned White Otter. "Come, we will
tell them what to do. Follow me."
The Sioux rode forward abreast. When they had gone a short distance,
they turned and rode back. Then White Otter rode forward alone. The
signal was meant to warn the approaching horsemen that one only must
come to the council. The strangers, however, ignored the suggestion.
All three continued toward the Sioux. White Otter turned and cantered
toward his friends.
"Come," he said. "I believe those people are trying to fool us."
They rode back toward the hill. Their action made it plain that they
mistrusted the intentions of the strangers. The latter seemed to
understand. They had stopped, and were holding their hands above their
heads to proclaim their peaceful intentions. The Sioux continued
toward the hill. Then two of the horsemen turned about, and cantered
toward their companions. The third rider still waited with his hands
raised.
"It is good," cried White Otter. "I will go and find out who he is."
"Be cautious," Sun Bird warned him.
"I will watch out," declared White Otter.
He turned his pony, and rode toward the stranger. The latter
immediately lowered his arms. Sun Bird and Little Raven watched
anxiously. White Otter advanced with great caution. He was making
every effort to identify the horseman before he came within arrow
range. Neither of them had drawn their weapons. To have approached
weapons in hand would have been evidence of suspicion and lack of
faith. When they finally came within bow range, they stopped and
examined each other with close attention. Then White Otter suddenly
recognized a friend.
"Ho, Running Crow, now I see who you are," he cried, eagerly.
"Hi, hi, it is my brother, White Otter," shouted the Cheyenne.
A moment afterward they met and clasped hands. The Cheyenne was a
noted warrior and scout with whom White Otter had shared several
perilous adventures. Aware that White Otter had found a friend, Sun
Bird and Little Raven immediately rode forward to join them.
"Ho, my brothers," Running Crow cried cordially. "I see that one of
you is Sun Bird. I do not know about that other warrior."
"He is my brother, Little Raven," said Sun Bird. "Little Raven is a
great warrior."
"My brothers, how do you come to be in this place?" Running Crow
inquired, anxiously.
"Red Dog sent us to find you," White Otter said, soberly.
"Has something bad happened to our people?" Running Crow asked
quickly.
"The Kiowas were all around the camp," said White Otter. "It was a
great war party. I believe your people are in much danger."
The Cheyenne remained silent. For some moments he stared wildly into
the eyes of the Ogalala. The Sioux watched him with pity. They knew
that he was striving to master his grief before he spoke.
"When did you leave my people?" he asked, finally.
"Two suns have passed since we came away from your village," White
Otter told him.
"It is bad, it is bad," Running Crow declared gloomily. "Come, we will
go and tell my brothers about it."
"Who is the leader?" inquired Sun Bird, as they rode toward the
Cheyennes.
"I am the leader," said Running Crow.
The Sioux found many old friends and allies among the Cheyennes. There
was Red Crane, and Turns Around, and Black Beaver, and Sitting Bear
and Fighting Wolf and several more. Some were unable to speak the
Dacotah dialect, but they clasped hands with the young scouts and made
it plain that they were glad to see them. Then Running Crow addressed
his warriors.
"My brothers, I have bad words," he said. "There is little time to
talk. Listen sharp. These brave Dacotahs came here to find us. Red Dog
sent them. The Kiowas were all around our village. They say it was a
great war party. Two suns have passed since the Dacotahs came away. I
do not know what has happened to our people. Perhaps the Kiowas have
killed them. Come, my brothers, we must ride fast to the camp."