DISASTER
When the Cheyennes finally returned to the ravine they found Standing
Bull and his companions awaiting them with a great herd of ponies.
Among them were the fast war ponies which the Cheyennes had liberated
from a corral at the end of the Kiowa camp.
"White Otter, we have done what you asked us to do," said Standing
Bull.
"You are a good leader," White Otter told him. "See, my brothers, we
have brought back your chief."
"Hi, hi, here is Red Dog!" Standing Bull cried, delightedly.
It was the signal for a great ovation to the Cheyenne chief. His
warriors gathered about him with wild enthusiasm. Their piercing yells
echoed shrilly across the plain, and put new terror into the hearts of
the fleeing Kiowas. Then the guards with the ponies called out and
warned the Cheyennes that the frightened animals were threatening to
stampede.
"Be quiet, be quiet!" shouted Running Crow, "You have frightened the
ponies."
The Cheyennes heeded the warning and became quiet. A few moments
afterward Red Dog addressed them.
"My brothers, first I will tell you about these brave Dacotahs," he
said. "When the Kiowas came to kill me, the Dacotahs shot their arrows
through them, and gave me my life. Then White Otter pulled me away.
Sun Bird fought back the Kiowas. Little Raven took away the Dacotah
ponies. It was a great thing to do. Dacotahs, my heart feels big. You
saved me from the Pawnees. Now you have saved me from the Kiowas. My
people will talk about it a long time.
"Now, Cheyennes, here are some words for you. You were very brave. You
came to that camp and fooled the Kiowas. You chased them out of their
lodges. You made them run like rabbits. The Kiowas killed our people,
but you killed many Kiowas. The Kiowas took our ponies, but you got
them back, and took away many Kiowa ponies. Now we feel different in
our hearts."
"Red Dog, I will tell you who brought your people to that camp to help
you," said Running Crow. "White Otter brought them. He was the
leader. He told us how to fool the Kiowas."
"White Otter is a great chief," replied Red Dog.
"White Otter, my people want you to give them some words," said
Running Crow.
"Cheyennes, you have done a big thing," White Otter told them. "You
were very brave. Running Crow, and Painted Weasel and Standing Bull
are good war leaders. All of them did what they set out to do. That is
how your chief, Red Dog, happens to be alive. Cheyennes, I will tell
you that my brother, Sun Bird, was very brave. He fought back many
Kiowas, while I was helping Red Dog. Cheyennes, I will tell you that
my brother, Little Raven, was very brave. He crawled into the Kiowa
camp and led out our ponies. Hi, my brothers, we feel good to get back
those ponies. Now Red Dog has come back to you. He must be the leader.
I have finished."
The Cheyennes remained at the ravine until daylight, and then as they
saw nothing of the Kiowas they set out toward the north. They rode
away in buoyant spirits, laughing, and shouting and singing the war
songs. As usual, scouts rode ahead and along either flank. The
warriors rode in pairs with Red Dog and White Otter in the lead. The
men in charge of the ponies followed close behind the war party. The
Cheyennes had little fear of pursuit, for they had thoroughly
demoralized the Kiowas and taken away most of their ponies.
"They will not follow us," laughed Red Dog.
Although they felt secure from the Kiowas, the Cheyennes realized that
there was a possibility of encountering the Pawnees. Having found them
upon their hunting grounds, they felt quite certain that the Pawnees
would keep a close watch. They believed, however, that the latter were
farther toward the west, and they hoped to avoid them.
"We will watch out," said Red Dog.
The warriors in charge of the captured ponies were having considerable
difficulty in holding them together, and the war party was forced to
travel slowly. It disturbed them, for they were eager to withdraw from
the Pawnee hunting grounds as soon as possible. They knew that the
Pawnees were constantly moving about the plain, and they feared that
some sharp-eyed scout might discover them. In that event they felt
quite certain that the large herd of ponies would tempt the Pawnees to
make an attack.
Half of the day had passed before they discovered anything to make
them suspicious. Then they saw one of the scouts racing toward them.
They stopped to wait for him.
"It is Turns Around," said Red Dog. "I believe he has found something
bad."
In a few moments Turns Around reached them. He rode directly to Red
Dog. They talked earnestly. Then Red Dog called out to the Cheyennes.
They looked anxiously toward the west.
"Turns Around says he saw a warrior over there," Red Dog told White
Otter. "He says he believes the warrior was a Pawnee. He says he
believes the warrior saw him. He came back to tell us about it."
"It is bad," White Otter said, soberly. "If that warrior saw Turns
Around, perhaps he will follow him and see us."
"It is true," replied Red Dog. "Well, we must keep going ahead. We
cannot travel fast. We must keep with the ponies. They are holding us
back. It is bad. I will feel good when we get away from this place.
Now I am going to send Turns Around, and Sitting Bear over there to
watch."
"Perhaps that scout will circle around and get behind us," suggested
White Otter.
"Yes, I am thinking about that," said Red Dog. "I will send Black
Beaver, and Fighting Wolf back there to watch."
Red Dog told his plans to the Cheyennes. The scouts immediately rode
away. At the same time the war party continued toward the north. Red
Dog sent a number of warriors to assist in keeping the ponies in
order. Then the Cheyennes attempted to make better speed.
"Perhaps that warrior is a hunter," Red Dog told White Otter,
hopefully. "If he is a hunter I do not believe he will try to follow
us."
White Otter was silent. The discovery of the solitary rider had made
him suspicious. Having encountered the strong force of Pawnees farther
to the westward, he feared that they were still roaming about the
plain. If one of their scouts came in sight of the Cheyennes, he
believed there would be a fight. He realized that it would be
difficult to escape without abandoning the ponies, and he knew that
the Cheyennes would be unwilling to make that sacrifice.
They heard nothing further from the scouts until late in the day, and
then Black Beaver overtook them. His announcement caused considerable
excitement. White Otter believed that the Cheyennes were alarmed. Red
Dog had left him, and was talking seriously with Running Crow.
"My brother, I believe the scouts have seen the Pawnees," Sun Bird
told White Otter.
"Something bad has happened," said White Otter.
Then Red Dog galloped up beside him. He appeared uneasy and troubled.
The Sioux asked no questions. In a few moments, however, Red Dog told
them what Black Beaver had said.
"Black Beaver says he saw three wolves peeping over the top of some
rocks," said Red Dog. "He says they did not look right. He asked
Fighting Wolf about it. Fighting Wolf said they did not look right.
Then they went away. Our brothers rode ahead. They kept looking back.
They did not see anything. Then they rode over a little hill. Then
Fighting Wolf held the ponies, and Black Beaver ran back to watch. He
peeped over the hill, and saw two warriors riding away toward the
Place-where-the-sun-sleeps. Then he saw a wolf peeping over the rocks.
Then Fighting Wolf stayed there to watch, and Black Beaver came to
tell us about it. My brothers, it is bad. I believe the Pawnees have
found out about us. Come, White Otter, you are a great war leader,
tell me what you make of it."
"It looks bad," White Otter told him. "I believe what you say is true.
I believe the Pawnees know about us."
"Well, if they know about us, they will bring a big war party to run
off these ponies," declared Red Dog.
"I do not believe those scouts know about the ponies," said Sun Bird.
"Perhaps they are only trying to find out who we are. We are going
away. Perhaps they will not try to follow us."
"I believe they will follow us," declared White Otter.
"Well, there is only one thing to do," Red Dog told them. "We must get
away as fast as we can. We are not afraid of those Pawnees, but we
must not lose the ponies."
"Those are good words," said White Otter.
Fearful that they were being followed, the Cheyennes surrounded the
ponies and lashed them into a sharp gallop. It was impossible to hold
them together. They soon scattered, and some broke from the herd and
raced wildly across the plain. The Cheyennes rode furiously to turn
them back.
"It is useless," they cried. "We cannot run them so fast."
Black Beaver had already turned back to join Fighting Wolf. The day
was far gone, and the Cheyennes believed that if they could avoid an
encounter before dark, they might be able to throw the Pawnees from
their trail under cover of the night. The thought encouraged them.
They ran the ponies at a brisk pace, and kept a sharp watch behind
them. Then they saw Turns Around and Sitting Bear approaching from the
west. When they reached the war party they told Red Dog that they had
seen nothing more of the solitary rider.
"It is good," said Red Dog. "Perhaps it was a hunter. I believe he has
gone away."
At that moment, however, the Cheyennes heard shouts behind them.
Looking back in alarm, they saw Black Beaver and Fighting Wolf racing
after them. They were lashing their ponies and riding at a furious
pace.
"Watch out, I believe the Pawnees are close behind them!" cried Red
Dog.
"Run the ponies! Run the ponies!" cried the scouts. "Many Pawnees are
coming!"
The two riders had barely reached them when the Cheyennes saw a great
company of horsemen ride over a hill. They knew at once that they were
Pawnees. When the latter discovered the herd of ponies they began
yelling excitedly. They raced across the plain at break-neck speed,
and the Cheyennes realized that they would soon be overtaken.
"Come, we will ride back there and fight them off," proposed several
young warriors.
"No, no," cried Red Dog. "Stay where you are. We must keep together
and try to hold the ponies. Keep them running. Stay on all sides of
them. Do not fight until the Pawnees try to rush in. Perhaps they will
be afraid to come close."
The Pawnees were gaining with each stride of the ponies, and the
Cheyennes knew it was hopeless to attempt to escape. Aware that an
encounter was inevitable, they had surrounded the ponies, and were
prepared to fight off their foes. The Sioux rode together at the head
of the herd.
"It looks bad," said Sun Bird. "The Cheyennes made a big fight to get
these ponies, but I believe the Pawnees will run them off."
"We must fight them back," White Otter told him.
"See, see, they are trying to get ahead of us," cried Little Raven.
The Pawnees had suddenly separated, and were moving forward along the
flank of the war party. The Cheyennes instantly guessed their plan.
"They are going to ride around and close us in!" cried Red Dog. "Come,
stop the ponies, and make a circle!"
They made desperate attempts to stop the ponies, but the wild yells of
the Pawnees had frightened them into a panic and they were beyond
control. They were running madly, but the Pawnees were passing on both
sides of them. Another company of foes were closing in from the rear.
The Cheyennes at the rear of the herd turned about and drove them back
with a fierce volley of arrows. Then the Pawnees who had passed began
to close in ahead of them. The Cheyennes saw the danger.
"Come, Cheyennes, follow me!" cried White Otter.
He raced forward, and a number of Cheyennes left the ponies and
followed him. Sun Bird and Little Raven rode close beside him. White
Otter raised his voice in the war cry and rode straight at his foes.
His reckless courage roused his companions, and they charged savagely
upon the surprised Pawnees and swept them from the path.
"Follow the Sioux! Follow the Sioux!" cried Red Dog.
The Cheyennes lashed the ponies into a wild burst of speed. The
Pawnees began to shoot their arrows. They charged within short
bow-range and made a furious attack upon the riders along the edge of
the herd. A number of Cheyennes fell from their ponies. Their
companions instantly closed the gap, and drove the riderless ponies
into the herd. Then they sent a deadly shower of arrows against their
foes. The Pawnees dropped behind their ponies for protection, but the
Cheyennes brought many of the ponies to the plain.
"Yes, yes, kill the Pawnee ponies!" cried Running Crow.
At that moment, however, the entire company of Pawnees charged
recklessly upon the herd. The Cheyennes fought valiantly, but they
were greatly outnumbered, and the Pawnees soon broke through them.
Once past the guards they rode wildly into the herd, yelling and
waving their arms. The terrorized ponies scattered like a covey of
frightened grouse, and fled across the plain. The Pawnees raced after
them.
"Come, we must catch them!" Running Crow cried, fiercely.
"Wait," shouted Red Dog. "The Pawnees are too strong for us. They are
near their camp. If we follow them many more warriors may come to help
them. It is useless to throw away our lives. If we let the Pawnees
kill us, what will become of our people? We must hold back. We are not
strong enough to fight them."
"Red Dog, your words are good," declared White Otter. "It is useless
to throw yourselves away."