The Apache warriors had been waiting a long time for this revenge upon
the maurauding Kiowas and now the time had come. The leader of the
Apache band raised his hand and the attack was on. The Apache war party
swept down the hillside into the midst of the Kiowa camp. The camp had
been caught off guard and the raiding Apaches were making short work of
the few Kiowa braves who would stand and fight.
Broken Tooth, one of the most honored warriors of the Apache tribe, rode
down to a Kiowa brave and touched him with his coup stick. Then he rode
on a short ways, turned abruptly and sent an arrow into the Kiowa’s
chest.
The battle was short and furious. The Apache raiders withdrew from the
village and slowly returned home to count their coup and to sing of
their victory at the great council. As they rode, Broken Tooth was
thinking ahead to the great council that night. After this raid today a
great event would take place in his tepee on the morrow.
The party entered the camp and there was much rejoicing. Finally, the
evening meal was eaten and the word was sent out that the council would
meet to hear the deeds of the day.
When all the men of the tribe had gathered in the council lodge, they
rose one by one to recount their deeds of the day. Finally, Broken Tooth
rose and told of his riding down upon the Kiowa warrior and touching him
with his coup stick. He then related his other exploits of the day. The
great chief rose from his place and then he spoke, “Broken Tooth, you
have been a brave warrior and you have earned many honors. Today you
have added even more honors for your brave deeds.”
The council then broke up, but the following day word was passed that
Broken Tooth was on that day going to make a new headdress. As was the
custom, the men of the tribe gathered that afternoon in the tepee of
Broken Tooth and all his feathers were spread upon the ground. They were
then sorted according to size, and the making of the headdress began. As
each feather was being prepared for the headdress, Broken Tooth
recounted for the men the story of the deed that had won him that
feather. The men would listen and smoke and grunt approval after each
story. Finally, the bonnet was finished and there was no more beautiful
piece of handiwork in the whole village.
The following day there were reports from the scouts that the Arapaho
were banding together and would be attacking in force. The Apaches
gathered their warriors and rode forth to meet the enemy. A large plain
between the two villages was picked as the place of battle and the
tribes met in both hand-to-hand and long-range battle. It was a
hard-fought battle and soon both tribes withdrew, bearing their dead and
wounded.
Among the dead was Broken Tooth. As his body was borne back to the
Apache village many praised the beauty of the war bonnet which had been
worn so proudly by its owner for a single day.