TRAILING THE RUNAWAYS
Sun Bird and his companions were greatly encouraged when they looked
across the plain at daylight and saw several of the stray ponies feeding
a short distance to the northward. They hoped that others might be
concealed behind some of the low hummocks which broke the level of the
plain.
"See, there are some of the ponies!" said Sun Bird. "We will go and get
them. Then we will ride up on those little hills and look around. I
believe we will see some more ponies."
They cantered slowly toward the grazing ponies. There were five and they
were feeding close together. They raised their heads and watched
curiously as the horsemen approached, but they showed little fear. The
Sioux, however, determined to take no chance of frightening them into
another exhausting dash across the plain. As they rode within bow range
they separated and circled carefully about the ponies. Then they
gradually closed the net, and the ponies made little effort to escape.
"Now I will tell you what to do," said Sun Bird, when they had secured
the horses. "Some of you must keep these ponies. The rest of us will
ride up on those high places and look around. I will ask Falling Eagle
and Brave Bear and Two Elks to keep these ponies. Leave them where they
are until we come back. Then we will drive them away."
The three warriors who had been selected stationed themselves about the
ponies and their comrades turned toward a low grassy slope to the
westward. They had gone less than an arrow flight when their ponies
suddenly raised their heads and looked toward the north. A moment
afterward one of the ponies behind them whinnied. "There is something
over there behind that hill," said Sun Bird as he turned about.
At that instant a horseman appeared. They recognized him as Many
Feathers, one of the warriors who had been left in the ravine to watch
for the return of the Blackfeet. Having recognized his friends, Many
Feathers returned their signal, and then disappeared behind the ridge.
"Where has he gone?" Little Raven asked, anxiously.
"We must watch," Sun Bird told him.
Then Many Feathers and two comrades rode over the rise of the plain,
driving four of the stray ponies before them. They came directly toward
Sun Bird and his companions.
"It is good," said Lean Wolf. "Our brothers are bringing some more
ponies. Pretty soon we will find all that got away."
"Well, my brothers, I see that you found some ponies," said Sun Bird, as
Many Feathers and his comrades rode up.
"Yes, we found them back there on the plain," said Many Feathers.
The young warrior appeared to know about the stampede. He said that he
and his companions had read the story from the tracks which they had
followed from the pool.
"Did you see anything of the Blackfeet?" inquired Sun Bird.
"No," replied Many Feathers. "We waited a long time but they did not
come back."
"Did you see any more ponies?" Lean Wolf asked him.
"No, we did not see any more," said Many Feathers.
"My brothers, it is good you came here," Sun Bird told them. "Now I am
going to ask you to take these ponies over there where you see Falling
Eagle and Brave Bear and Two Elks. You must stay with them and help them
watch the ponies until we come back."
"We will go," said Many Feathers.
Then Sun Bird and his companions rode to the top of the low ridge to the
westward. They saw the rest of the ponies gathered in a small herd some
distance out on the open plain. The sight filled them with joy. As they
were about to go after them, however, they suddenly discovered two
riders watching from a ridge beyond the ponies.
"Hi, hi," Sun Bird cried, excitedly. "Someone has found the ponies. Now
they are watching us."
"It is bad," said Lean Wolf.
Feeling certain that they had already been seen, the Sioux made no
attempt to hide. They remained in open sight and tried to identify the
distant horsemen. The latter were too far away to be recognized. The
Sioux took hope at the thought. They knew that if they could not
identify their foes, the latter would find it impossible to recognize
them.
"They must be Crows or Flatheads," said Sun Bird. "Anyway, I believe
they are scouts."
"It is bad," said Running Dog. "They will bring their people here to get
those ponies."
The Sioux were greatly disturbed by the possibility. As their little
company numbered only eleven, they knew that they would be powerless
before a strong force of their enemies. Aware that the unexpected
emergency demanded quick action, they held a hurried council to decide
what should be done. They saw many difficulties. In the first place they
realized that if they rode directly toward the ponies they might drive
them toward their foes. Still, to circle around behind the herd it would
be necessary to approach close to their enemies. Then, too, the Sioux
knew that if they succeeded in running off the ponies they would
probably be followed by a strong force of their foes. As the ponies were
already fatigued from their strenuous exertions, another long race might
cause them to collapse.
"It will be hard to get them away if our enemies try to stop us,"
Running Dog said, gloomily.
As he spoke the horsemen suddenly disappeared from the ridge. The Sioux
looked at one another in alarm. They felt certain that one of the scouts
had gone to warn his people, while the other concealed himself to watch.
Sun Bird realized that it was time to act. Delay might prove fatal.
"Come, my brothers, we must do something," cried the bold young war
leader. "I am going to circle around behind those ponies. I will ask
Lean Wolf to go with me. The rest of you must hide behind this hill
until we drive the ponies to you. If our enemies come after us do not
wait to help us. Go to our brothers and help them drive away those
ponies. Send some one ahead of you to bring back the war party. Come,
Lean Wolf, we will go."
They were gone before their friends found time to reply. Moving boldly
down the ridge, the daring scouts turned sharply toward the north and
rode away at top speed. Their companions concealed themselves below the
crest of the slope and watched them with anxious eyes. They believed
that they were rushing into great peril and they had grave fears for
their safety.
"I do not feel good about this thing," Little Raven said, uneasily.
"Perhaps those people over there are trying to fool us. Perhaps they are
waiting until our brothers come close. Then they will come over the top
of that hill and kill them."
"Sun Bird is a good war leader. Lean Wolf is a great scout. They are
sharp. Their ponies are fast. I do not believe they will let those
people catch them," Feather Dog replied, reassuringly.
Sun Bird and Lean Wolf rode many arrow flights toward the north before
they finally swerved to the west. Some of the ponies were watching them,
but as yet showed no inclination to run. The Sioux felt much relieved.
They had feared that the nervous beasts might take fright at sight of
them and flee toward the distant ridge.
"If they keep still we will soon get behind them," Sun Bird said,
hopefully.
"Watch that hill," Lean Wolf cautioned him.
"Do you see any one up there?" Sun Bird asked him.
"No, I do not see any one, but we must be cautious," replied Lean Wolf.
When they had passed the ponies they began to circle to come up on the
other side of them. They were almost within arrow range of the ridge and
they kept a sharp watch for foes. Then, as they turned to approach the
ponies they heard a shout behind them. Glancing back they saw four Crow
warriors racing down the slope at breakneck speed.
"Come, get the ponies running!" shouted Sun Bird as he lashed his pony
into a furious sprint.
They rode madly toward the startled ponies, shouting and waving their
arms to get the animals in motion. Once started, the ponies needed
little urging. They had not entirely recovered from their wild panic of
the previous night and the fierce shouts behind them sent them racing
across the plain at their best speed.
"Keep after the ponies, I will fight the Crows," Sun Bird cried,
impulsively.
"No, no, you must keep going ahead!" Lean Wolf shouted, fiercely. "If
the Crows come close we will fight them back. Pretty soon we will reach
our brothers. Then these warriors will turn back."
He had barely ceased speaking before Little Raven and Feather Dog and
Many Feathers and Running Dog swept over the ridge some distance to the
northward of the ponies. Yelling savagely, they raced to the assistance
of their tribesmen and at sight of them the Crows stopped in confusion.
The odds had suddenly turned against them and they lost courage. They
turned and raced away before the Sioux got within bowshot of them. The
Sioux made no attempt to overtake them. Their one thought was to get
away with the ponies before a stronger force of their foes came upon
them.
"We have driven away our enemies, now we must run off the ponies," cried
Sun Bird.
"Yes, we must keep going," said Lean Wolf.
They drove the ponies over the ridges and ran them toward Falling Eagle
and the warriors who were waiting with the other horses. Then Little
Raven and Many Feathers hid below the top of the ridge to watch for the
Crows.
The Sioux knew that the Crow village was somewhere in the vicinity and
they had little doubt that a strong force of those foes would soon set
out in pursuit of them. However, they hoped to gain a sufficient lead to
make it impossible for the Crows to overtake them before nightfall. Then
they believed the Crows would abandon the chase.
When they reached Falling Eagle and his companions the Sioux turned
directly toward the south and drove the ponies across the plain at top
speed. They hoped to reach the deep ravine in which they had hidden from
the Crows and the Blackfeet.
"Perhaps the Crows took us for Blackfeet," suggested Running Dog.
"Perhaps they will go the other way to find us."
"No, I do not believe it," said Lean Wolf. "Those warriors came close. I
believe they know we are Dacotahs."
For some time they kept the ponies running at their best speed and then
as they saw nothing of their foes they gradually slackened the pace. For
the balance of the day they rode over the plain at an easy canter and
shortly before dark they came in sight of the abandoned stream bed.
Their spirits revived at sight of it. They believed that even if the
Crows should overtake them it would be possible to hold them off until
scouts found White Otter and the war party and brought them to the
ravine.
"I do not believe the Crows can catch us now," said Sun Bird, as they
drove the tired ponies into the ravine.
"We can make a big fight in this place," Lean Wolf told him.
As night fell Feather Dog followed the ravine toward the west to listen
for the approach of the Crows. Soon after he had gone Little Raven and
Many Feathers arrived. Their ponies showed the effects of fast riding.
"Tell us what you have seen," said Sun Bird.
"The Crows are coming," declared Little Raven. "It is a big war party.
Those scouts tried to follow you, but we drove them back. We did that
many times. Then the war party came and we ran away. The Crows are
coming straight ahead. We rode fast to keep ahead of them. Pretty soon
they will be here."
"Well, there will be many against us, but we must get ready to fight,"
Lean Wolf said, fearlessly.
"No, my brother, I believe that would be foolish," Sun Bird told him.
"The Crows are too strong for us. I am going to fool them. I will tell
you how to do it. I am going to ask Running Dog and Falling Eagle and
Brave Bear and Two Elks and Many Feathers and Broken Hand and Mad Bull
to ride away with the ponies. I will make Running Dog the leader. At
first you must turn toward the-place-where-day-begins. Then you must
circle back and go toward our village. Pretty soon you will find our
brothers. Then you must stop. When you go away the rest of us will stay
here to fool the Crows. When they come close we will ride out and make a
great noise. Then we will ride toward the mountains. We will keep
shouting as if we are driving ponies. The Crows will follow us. Then we
will circle around and fool them. I will ask Lean Wolf and Little Raven
and Feather Dog to help me do this thing. Come, my brothers, drive away
the ponies."
"Hi, that is a great thing to do," Lean Wolf said enthusiastically.
"Yes, I believe we will fool the Crows."
As there was little time to spare, Running Dog and his companions
immediately drove the ponies from the ravine and disappeared into the
night. Sun Bird listened anxiously until the sounds of the hoofbeats
had died away and then he turned to his comrades.
"Well, my brothers, pretty soon the Crows will come, we must be ready,"
he said.
A moment later Feather Dog appeared. He said that he had heard the sound
of galloping ponies and had come to investigate.
"It was our brothers taking away the ponies," explained Sun Bird.
Then he acquainted Feather Dog with the details of the wily trick to
fool the Crows. The famous Minneconjoux scout immediately endorsed the
plan.
"It is good," he said, as his eyes twinkled merrily.
"Listen," cried Little Raven.
The Sioux immediately became silent. The hoofbeats of many ponies echoed
across the plain. The Crows were galloping boldly toward the ravine. The
thought filled Sun Bird with anxiety. He realized that if the bold
stratagem failed, the warriors with the ponies were doomed. Once
overtaken on the open plain, he felt sure they would be speedily
surrounded and annihilated by the great Crow war party. He grew weak at
the possibility. Then his pony called and his thoughts were diverted.
The hoofbeats suddenly ceased. Having located their enemies the Crows
had become cautious. The Sioux pony called again and Sun Bird made no
attempt to stop it.
"It is good," he said. "The Crows will think the ponies are here. Come,
ride around and make a noise."
They rode rapidly to and fro to make it appear that there were a number
of ponies in the ravine. Then they suddenly swept up the side of the
gully and raced across the plain. As they rode they snapped their riding
quirts and yelled excitedly at imaginary ponies. Then they listened
anxiously for sounds from the Crows. When they failed to hear them they
gave way to despair. Sun Bird grew sick at heart. He feared that he had
sent his comrades to their death.
"Perhaps the Crows are keeping quiet until they get across that gully,"
suggested Lean Wolf. "Perhaps they believe that some of us are waiting
there to fight them back."
At that instant a shrill yell of triumph rang through the night, and a
moment afterward the Sioux heard the quick, sharp hoofbeats of galloping
ponies directly behind them. The Crows had been deceived. They were
following blindly on the false trail. The Sioux were wild with joy.
Unmindful of their own peril, they were satisfied to know that their
comrades and the ponies were safe.
"It is good! It is good!" Sun Bird cried, joyfully. "We have fooled the
Crows. Now our brothers will get away with the ponies."
They continued to make a great noise, lest the Crows should suddenly
discover their blunder. They rode furiously toward the west, and
rejoiced in the thought that each stride of the ponies was luring their
foes farther from those whom they wished to overtake. It was not long,
however, before the Sioux realized that the Crows were gaining upon
them. The discovery aroused them to their peril. They knew that if the
Crows came up with them there would be little chance of escape.
"Come, we must ride faster," Sun Bird cried, anxiously.
They lashed the ponies into a terrific burst of speed and slowly drew
away from their enemies. They knew, however, that it would be impossible
to maintain the pace. They also realized that each moment was taking
them farther from their course.
"Now we must try to circle around," Sun Bird told them. "Do not make any
more noise."
They suddenly subsided into silence and turned sharply toward the south.
Then their hearts bounded with joy as they heard the Crows blunder from
the trail and continue toward the west. Having once lost them in the
night, it seemed doubtful if the Crows would be able to find them before
daylight.
"We have got away," Sun Bird said, confidently. "The Crows cannot find
us. Pretty soon they will go back."
"Yes, I believe we are safe," replied Lean Wolf.
"Sun Bird, you have done a big thing," declared Feather Dog. "You are a
great war leader. I will tell our people about it."
The Sioux laughed gleefully as they heard the Crows signaling far away
toward the west. Then they turned toward the east to find their
tribesmen. They rode steadily through the night and at daylight came
upon the entire Minneconjoux war party at the waterhole which marked the
boundary of the Minneconjoux hunting grounds. They were within a short
day's travel of the great Sioux camp. The long war journey was almost at
an end. Success seemed assured. The Sioux were elated.
"My brothers, we have come together again," said Sun Bird. "I see you
have kept the ponies. Now we are close to our village. Pretty soon we
will be with our people. It is good."