Little Bear watched silently as Grandfather moved restlessly about the
camp. He seemed to be studying, trying to find some plan by which he
could rescue the hunters from the Pawnees. Little Bear had decided he
might as well take the horses back to the meadow when Grandfather spoke.
“Flying Antelope will be too late,” Great Bear repeated. “I will ride to
Buffalo Trap Canyon. Perhaps I can find a plan to save our warriors.”
Little Bear waited, hoping Grandfather would tell him to come, too. But
Great Bear mounted his horse without another word.
“Suppose you want to send a message back?” Little Bear asked. “You have
no one to bring it, Grandfather.”
A brief smile touched the corners of Great Bear’s mouth.
“You were going to offer to go with me and be my messenger?” he asked.
He shook his head. “It is too dangerous.”
“I am a Sioux.” Little Bear drew himself up proudly. “Many times you
have told me, ‘A Sioux’s first duty is to his tribe.’”
Still Great Bear hesitated. At last he nodded.
“I can trust you to obey orders,” he agreed. “I will have you stay
behind, as much out of danger as possible. I may need a messenger.”
Great Bear turned his horse to the west, and Little Bear followed him.
Little Bear wanted to ride as fast as their horses could go. He was
afraid the Pawnees might start an attack before he and Great Bear could
get to Buffalo Trap Canyon. But Grandfather kept his horse at a steady,
ground-eating lope. Despite his impatience, Little Bear knew Grandfather
was right. When they reached the canyon, their horses would not be too
tired to run.
He watched anxiously as the sun climbed across the sky. It seemed to
Little Bear they must have ridden far enough to reach the place where
the sun went to rest at night. At last Great Bear pulled his horse to a
stop in a small valley.
“Buffalo Trap Canyon is not far ahead,” Grandfather explained. “You
watch the horses. I will go to the top of the hill and see what is
happening.”
“And if you need a messenger, Grandfather?” Little Bear asked.
Grandfather hesitated.
“I am old and slow,” he admitted. “We might need speed. You follow me.
If anything happens to me, you are to run to our horses and ride to our
camp. You will wait there until help comes from the main camp.”
[Illustration]
Great Bear led the way up the hill. Near the top he got on his hands and
knees and crawled forward. Little Bear followed his lead. It was slow
work as they had to be careful not to make the least sound. The top of
the hill was flat with a few small trees scattered about. It was covered
with thick, dry grass.
Now they had to be doubly careful. They had to get through the dry grass
without making a sound and at the same time keep a sharp watch for
enemies. The Pawnees might be careful enough to have a lookout on this
hill. They edged forward to the rim of the hill. The last few yards they
lay on the ground and wriggled forward like snakes. When Little Bear
parted the grass and looked down, he could see a small valley with a
little stream running through it. Across the stream a large party of
Pawnees was waiting at the mouth of Buffalo Trap Canyon.
“That is the only way out of Buffalo Trap Canyon,” Great Bear whispered.
“Our men can’t escape.”
“We must help them,” Little Bear whispered fiercely.
“What can two of us do against all those Pawnees?” Great Bear asked
hopelessly.
“Perhaps we could give the Sioux war cry,” Little Bear suggested. “They
might think a war party was coming to help our hunters.”
“The Pawnees aren’t very smart,” Great Bear answered, “but they are too
smart to be fooled so easily.”
For a time they watched the Pawnees in silence. It soon became plain the
Pawnees were ready to go into action. Whatever the two of them would try
to do to save the hunters, they would have to do soon. There were four
mounted warriors at the entrance to Buffalo Trap Canyon. Now one of them
wheeled his horse and raced up to the main group of Pawnees. He waved
his bow and shouted something to the other warriors. Immediately they
began to gather their bows and equipment. They were ready to start their
attack!
“This isn’t a very good plan,” Little Bear whispered, “but if I can get
down this hill without being seen, it may work.”
Quickly he outlined his plan to Great Bear. He pointed out the tall
grass next to the stream as he spoke. Great Bear looked where Little
Bear pointed. He studied the hiding places the hillside offered. He
turned his glance towards the Pawnees. They had hesitated and were
talking together. At last Great Bear nodded.
“It might work,” he agreed. “Only I shall go and you will stay here.”
“That wouldn’t work, Grandfather,” Little Bear pointed out. “I am small.
I can bend over and go rapidly. If the Pawnees see the grass moving,
they will think I am some kind of animal. Besides, if I have to run,
your bow will protect me.”
Great Bear hesitated for so long a time that Little Bear was sure he was
not going to give his consent.
“We must try, Grandfather,” Little Bear insisted.
“Yes.” Grandfather nodded grimly. “You may be able to do it. Be sure
your first arrow only scares a horse. As soon as you shoot, turn and run
this way.”
Now that it was time for action, Little Bear was thoroughly frightened.
He could feel his heart pounding against his ribs. It took all of the
power of his will to force his legs to shove him forward across the rim
of the hill. The top part of the slope was almost bare of grass. If a
Pawnee warrior looked that way, he would be sure to see Little Bear. It
seemed to Little Bear it took hours for him to wriggle forward until he
was in grass high enough to cover him.
A bit farther on he came to grass high enough so that he could get on
his hands and knees. Now he could go faster. As the grass bent in front
of him, he was able to watch the Pawnees. One of them turned towards
him. Little Bear came to a complete halt, holding his breath. The Pawnee
took a step in his direction. Little Bear could see the warrior so
plainly that it seemed impossible the warrior would fail to see him.
Another warrior spoke to the one watching. The watcher turned towards
the speaker. Little Bear let his breath out in a sigh of relief.
The warrior did not turn back towards Little Bear. With new hope Little
Bear started forward. He kept his eyes on the Pawnees and was not able
to watch where he put his hands and knees. Sharp stones cut into his
hands and through his leggings. He saw the warriors were ready to start
for their horses. He moved ahead more rapidly.
[Illustration]
When he reached the grass at the side of the stream, he found it wasn’t
as high as it had looked from the top of the hill. He didn’t dare stand
erect. He fitted an arrow to his bow and, still kneeling, took careful
aim. The Pawnees were moving towards their horses. They were sure to see
the arrow and mark the spot from which it came. This first one had to be
exactly right. There would be no chance to fire a second one. Little
Bear drew the bow back and let the arrow fly.
It was an almost perfect shot. The arrow scraped across the back of one
of the Pawnee horses, just enough to hurt and frighten it. The horse
gave a squeal of terror and lunged forward. Instantly the whole herd of
horses stampeded.
The Pawnees had seen the arrow almost the moment it left Little Bear’s
bow. Two of them whirled towards him, drawing their bow strings back as
they turned. One of them sent an arrow flying towards Little Bear, but
before the other one could shoot, an arrow from the top of the hill
knocked him to the ground.
For a moment the Pawnees were in complete confusion. Little Bear sent an
arrow towards them and then slipped downstream in the tall grass. He
moved so carefully that the Pawnees could not tell he had left his
hiding place. Arrows struck where he had been hiding moments before. He
lay quiet, hoping they would think that they had hit him.
He raised his head enough to get a look at the war party. Their leader
had taken charge. He had called the mounted men from the entrance to
Buffalo Trap Canyon and sent them after the horses. Two warriors were
starting up the hill towards Great Bear and two more were coming towards
Little Bear. The rest of the party were running to try to help recapture
their horses.
Little Bear hesitated only a moment. He knew he would have no chance
against two Pawnee warriors. If the Sioux warriors would come charging
out of the canyon while the Pawnees were scattered, all of them could
escape. But evidently the Pawnees had kept the hunters so far back in
the canyon that they couldn’t see what was going on outside. Little Bear
knew there was only one chance for him to escape. He leaped to his feet
giving the Sioux war cry.
The two Pawnees, taken by surprise, hesitated. Little Bear turned and
started running up the steep hill. He heard Great Bear echo the war cry.
Then he gave all of his attention to escaping his pursuers. He ran in a
zig-zag course to make it harder for them to hit him. He saw Great Bear
stand and saw his arrow come whizzing by. There was a cry behind him.
Great Bear had stopped one of the pursuers.
Little Bear risked a backward glance. Great Bear’s arrow had knocked
down one of the Pawnees. The other warrior was bending over the one on
the ground. The two warriors who had been going towards Great Bear had
stopped. Both of them were sighting arrows towards Great Bear. Little
Bear gave a warning cry, but Great Bear was too slow. Little Bear saw
the Pawnee’s arrow strike and Great Bear crumple to the ground. Little
Bear stopped and turned towards the Pawnees. But their leader had seen
the danger of the Sioux hunters charging from the canyon. He was roaring
orders at the Pawnee warriors. The two who had started towards Great
Bear turned back. They went over and helped carry the warrior Great Bear
had hit.
The Pawnees, who were afoot, formed a compact squad and moved away from
the canyon mouth. At first they moved slowly, but when Little Bear again
raised the Sioux war cry, they broke into a run. Little Bear didn’t wait
to see if the hunters came out of the canyon to pursue the Pawnees. He
turned and dashed up the hill to Great Bear.
As Little Bear ran up to him, Great Bear was just struggling to a
sitting position. The Pawnee arrow had grazed the side of his head. It
had made a deep cut in the skin, which was bleeding badly. Little Bear
examined the cut quickly.
“I’m all right,” Great Bear assured him. “It just knocked me down.”
He got to his feet. Little Bear again gave the Sioux war cry, and Great
Bear joined him. They saw a Sioux warrior carefully edge out of the
entrance to the canyon. Both of them waved at the warrior. He saw them
and returned the signal. Then he darted back into the canyon. A few
minutes later the whole Sioux hunting party charged out of the canyon.
They crossed the stream and raced towards Little Bear and his
grandfather.
When the hunters were safely on top of the hill, all of them turned to
look towards the Pawnees. It was plain that the stampeded horses had not
yet been caught. A rider had come back to get the wounded warriors. The
others were still plodding away from the canyon.
“They won’t be back,” Big Buffalo stated.
“What became of their horses?” Flying Arrow asked.
“Stampeded,” Great Bear answered. “Big Buffalo is right. By the time
they catch their horses, they won’t want any more fighting.”
“You have saved our lives, Great Bear,” Flying Arrow said.
“Not I,” Great Bear answered quickly. “Little Bear stampeded their
horses.”
Flying Arrow turned to Little Bear.
“In the council I said you had a big mouth.” He spoke slowly and
gravely. “Now I say I was wrong. You shoot well. You have a strong right
arm.”
There were grunts of approval from the other warriors. Flying Arrow held
up his hand for silence.
“Since you have saved my life,” he went on, “I want to give you a
present. I know you want my roan colt. He is yours.”
Little Bear gave a choked gasp of pleasure. He had the bow Grandfather
had made for him and now the young horse he wanted. He searched his mind
for words with which to thank Flying Arrow. His glance moved to his
grandfather. Great Bear was watching him intently. There was some
question in Grandfather’s sober eyes, but Little Bear couldn’t decide
what it was. He wished he could ask Grandfather. Then he remembered
something Great Bear had told him about when it was proper to accept
gifts from friends. Slowly he turned towards Flying Arrow.
“I thank you.” He spoke as gravely as Flying Arrow had. “I cannot accept
my friend’s horse for doing what any Sioux should do. But if my friend
should care to give me something he has made with his own hands, I would
treasure it.”
A chorus of approval ran around the circle of warriors. Little Bear saw
the pleased look on Great Bear’s face. He heard one of the warriors say,
“Spoken like a Sioux warrior.”
Flying Arrow smiled at him.
“Sometime I will repay you, Little Bear,” he promised. “I see Great Bear
has made you a bow. Take this quiver I made. May it always hold arrows
that fly true!”
Flying Arrow took his quiver from around his neck. He tied his arrows
with a thong and handed the quiver to Little Bear. It was a beautiful
piece of leather. On it, Flying Arrow had carved a warrior chasing a
buffalo. He had worked the top with beads. As soon as Flying Arrow had
handed Little Bear the quiver, each of the warriors selected his
straightest arrow and put it in the quiver.
As Little Bear was trying to find the right words to express his thanks,
Flying Arrow glanced towards Great Bear.
“We must have buffalo fat for Great Bear’s wound,” the warrior said.
“Bring one of the fat young buffalo we killed.”
“That was a large party of Pawnees,” Rain-Maker reminded him. “They may
come back to attack us.”
“I don’t believe they will,” Flying Arrow answered. “However, the wind
is blowing from the north. When you get across the stream, set the grass
afire. They will have to flee from a prairie fire.”
Rain-Maker and another young warrior mounted horses and rode towards
Buffalo Trap Canyon. As soon as they were across the stream, they
stopped and set the grass afire. Then they raced into the canyon to be
out of the path of the fire. When they returned, they were carrying the
meat they had taken from the carcass of a young buffalo. Some of the
hunters had built a fire. While Flying Arrow tied buffalo fat across
Great Bear’s wound, others cooked meat for their meal. Little Bear stood
and watched the fire Rain-Maker and his companion had started. It had
already burned across the valley below and was sweeping over the hill.
Any Pawnees in front of it would have to run for their lives.
As soon as they had eaten, the hunters returned to Buffalo Trap Canyon.
They removed the meat from the buffaloes they had slain, wrapped it in
buffalo hides, and loaded it on the extra horses. When the party was
ready to leave, two young warriors were sent ahead. They were to ride in
front and stop any war party that might be coming from the main Sioux
camp. There was no longer any danger from the Pawnees.
The sun was down and it was almost dark when the party rode into camp.
The warriors dismounted and unloaded the meat from the pack horses. Then
Little Bear drove all of the horses across the hill to the meadow. At
the top of the hill he dismounted and let his own horse go with the
others.
He hurried back to Grandfather’s tepee and crawled into his blankets.
Soon he was fast asleep, dreaming he was training the roan colt Flying
Arrow had wanted to give him.