The visitors had all gone away and the village was once more
quiet--that is, as quiet as it might be among the Dahcotas, the lovers
of the dance and of music.
Now and then some of the braves went forth on a war-party, or on a hunt
after bears or buffaloes. But the buffaloes were scarce, they told
their chief; the herds must have wandered far, and the hunters often
returned empty-handed. This was bad, because the winter was drawing
near and supplies of meat were needed for that long season of bitter
cold.
One morning Bent Horn rose earlier than usual and made his way to the
council house. There he staid for some time talking with the medicine
men and other leading braves of the village.
Should there be a bear dance and a buffalo dance to call the attention
of the Great Spirit to the needs of His people, that He might send
plenty of prey nearer the village? Or should the band first move to a
different part of the country, where no red man dwelt and where the
buffaloes, at least, might be plentiful?
When the talk was ended the men who had gathered at the council went
their way. Bent Horn's mind was made up. "My people must move to a
new camping ground," he said to himself. "We will journey to the
eastward. In that direction, the hunters say, we are likely to draw
near the feeding grounds of large herds of buffaloes. Tomorrow morning
at sunrise we must be on our way."
[Illustration: Bent Horn's mind was made up.]
The news was quickly carried from one tepee to another and the squaws
set to work with a will to prepare for moving.
When Timid Hare heard the news she thought sadly: "Shall I go farther
than ever from my dear White Mink?" The little girl had been so
frightened at the time of her capture that she was not sure in which
direction she travelled.
There was not a moment now, however, to consider herself, as Sweet
Grass and her mother kept the child helping them prepare for the
moving. The stores of grain and other dry food, the dishes and kettles
and clothing must be packed in readiness for the early start on the
morrow.