A SURPRISE
The Sioux rode until dawn, and then they took shelter in a dense stand
of willows on the bank of a shallow stream. They knew that they were far
west of the Ute camp, and as they believed that they had eluded their
pursuers they determined to stop and rest the ponies until dark. Then as
a precaution against attack they sent scouts to the ridges to watch the
plain.
The day was more than half gone when a young warrior named Short Bear
brought word of a large company of horsemen approaching from the east.
He said that they were a long distance off, and were riding slowly.
Nevertheless the announcement caused great excitement.
"It is the Black Faces!" cried several of the war party.
"No, I believe they are different people," declared Sun Bird. "Does a
war party ride easy on the trail of an enemy? See, the ground is hard.
You all have sharp eyes, but do you see any tracks? No, the ground tells
you nothing. The wolf can follow a trail with his nose, but a warrior
must use his eyes. Are the Black Faces like the wolf? No, I do not
believe they can follow us. But perhaps we will meet other enemies in
this place. Yes, we must know about this thing."
Short Bear and a companion were sent back to watch the unknown horsemen,
and White Otter and Little Raven galloped away to find and warn the
Sioux scouts. Then Sun Bird advised his followers to remain in the
timber until they learned something about the plans of the strangers. He
said that the latter might pass at a safe distance, and that it would be
folly to venture upon the open plain until they knew that there was no
other alternative.
"Yes, we must wait here until Short Bear comes back," said Sitting
Eagle.
A short time afterward the scout returned. He declared that the horsemen
had altered their course and were riding farther toward the north.
Short Bear said that he did not believe the travelers would even come
within sight of the Sioux hiding place. Therefore, as the day would soon
be over, he advised his friends to remain where they were until darkness
made it safe to resume their journey across the plain.
"Do you know about those people?" inquired Sun Bird.
Short Bear said that although he and Lean Wolf, his companion, had
crawled as near as they dared on the open plain they were unable to
approach sufficiently close to identify the riders. However, they felt
quite sure that they were not Utes. Lean Wolf, who had remained behind
to watch, believed that the horsemen were Pawnees, but Short Bear did
not agree with him.
"No, my heart tells me something different. I believe those people are
Kiowas," he told Sun Bird.
"Well, we must know about it, my brother," replied Sun Bird. "I will ask
you to follow those people until they camp. Then you must come back and
tell us about it."
Short Bear was scarcely out of sight when another scout rode in from
the north. He, too, had discovered the horsemen. He had also seen Lean
Wolf following cautiously on their trail, and after making sure that the
scout was one of his own people he had set out to warn his companions.
This warrior had seen nothing of White Otter and Little Raven. While he
was talking, however, those very riders returned. They said that they
had found and warned the two remaining scouts.
"It is good," said Sun Bird. "Now we will wait here until we know where
those people have stopped."
Just before dark the other scouts arrived, but Short Bear and Lean Wolf
had not yet returned. The riders who had been watching to the south and
west of the camp said that they had seen nothing but antelope and
prairie wolves. Therefore, the Sioux waited in considerable suspense to
hear what Short Bear and his companion had learned about the travelers.
Night had already fallen when the two scouts finally returned. They said
that they had followed the riders until sunset, when they stopped and
made camp at a water-hole some distance to the north. Waiting until it
was dark, Short Bear left his pony with Lean Wolf, and approached
sufficiently near to identify the horsemen as Kiowas. He learned
furthermore that they were armed and painted for war.
"It is bad," declared Sitting Eagle. "Perhaps those people are going to
steal Sioux ponies. We must hurry away from here, and go back to our
village."
"Yes, that is the best thing to do," agreed Feather Dog. "The Kiowas are
our enemies. If they are traveling toward our village we must get ahead
of them and warn our people."
"What you say is true," declared Sun Bird. "I will tell you what it is
in my mind to do. I will ask my brother Sitting Eagle, and my brother
Lean Wolf to ride ahead and tell our people about this thing. We will
follow with the horses."
A few moments later the two warriors who had been selected to ride ahead
of the war party mounted their ponies and rode away. Their companions
followed soon afterward. Sun Bird and White Otter rode together at the
head of the company, and the others followed in single file, leading
the captured ponies. They rode some distance farther toward the west and
then they turned toward the north and hastened along at a brisk canter.
They had not gone far, however, when they were halted by a wide stream
which the spring freshets had transformed into an impassable barrier.
Even the most daring among them saw at once that it would be sheer
madness to attempt to swim the ponies through that raging flood.
However, they soon learned that their dilemma was not as serious as it
appeared, for Feather Dog and Spotted Elk both knew the stream. They
declared that if they followed it toward the east they would find that
it turned abruptly toward the north, and they could travel along
parallel with it.
"But if we go over there perhaps we will meet the Kiowas," suggested Sun
Bird.
"No, we will not go so far," replied Feather Dog. "But we must be very
cautious."
They changed their route, and rode swiftly along beside the swollen
stream. Short Bear declared that they were a long way west of the spot
where the Kiowas had encamped. However, the Sioux determined to take
every precaution, and after they had gone some distance they stopped and
sent Short Bear and Feather Dog forward to reconnoiter. They soon
returned and said that a short distance farther on the stream turned
toward the north. Short Bear told his companions that he had crawled to
the top of a ridge to look for the Kiowa camp, but had been unable to
find it. He had recognized the general contour of the plain, however,
and he said he felt sure that their foes were too far away to cause
concern.
Encouraged by the report of the scouts, Sun Bird gave the word to
advance. The little company rode along in silence, for they were
suspicious and apprehensive of an attack. They knew that if the Kiowas
were on a war expedition they would be almost sure to resume their
journey before daylight, and the Sioux feared they might encounter them
somewhere along their route. They reached the abrupt turn in the stream,
and had ridden an arrow-flight toward the north, when White Otter
suddenly stopped his pony and placed his hand on Sun Bird's arm.
"Stop!" he whispered. "My ears tell me there is danger."
The Sioux brought their ponies to a stand, and listened anxiously to
learn the cause of White Otter's alarm. For some moments they heard
nothing but the sullen roar of the torrent beside them, and then
directly ahead of them they heard the approach of a pony. As they fitted
arrows to their bows and peered eagerly into the dark the sound ceased.
It was evident that the rider had stopped. They wondered if he had
discovered them. Then one of the ponies snorted, and an instant later
they heard the mysterious horseman galloping wildly across the plain.
The perplexed Sioux remained silent as the hoofbeats of the racing pony
echoed through the night, for they were anxious to make sure which way
the rider had gone. Still they realized that they could not place much
confidence in such a hint, for they knew that an experienced scout would
alter his course to fool them. Therefore, when the hoofbeats finally
died away in the north the anxious listeners were unable to place much
faith in the clew.
"It is bad," said White Otter. "Whoever that rider is, I believe he has
gone to tell his people about us. Perhaps he is a Kiowa."
"Yes, I believe he is with the war party," replied Sun Bird. "My
brothers, I will tell you how the thing is in my mind. If we wait here
that scout will bring his people to fight us. If we go back perhaps we
will meet the Black Faces. We cannot cross this water. If we go the
other way we will find the Kiowas. There is only one thing to do. Come,
we will go ahead. If we find our enemies there then we must fight. I
have finished."
His words received the hearty approval of his companions, and as there
seemed to be no other alternative they resumed their way toward the
north. They rode in pairs with the captured ponies between them. Having
been discovered, they feared that an attack was unavoidable, and they
prepared to make a valiant defense. While they could not be sure of the
identity or whereabouts of the people who threatened them, still they
believed that they were Kiowas, who were advancing from the west. The
fact that the lone scout had galloped toward the north without
attempting to conceal his flight made the Sioux suspicious. They felt
quite sure that the maneuver was a clever ruse to mislead them. Hoping
that the way before them was unguarded, therefore, they raced through
the night at top speed.
A short distance farther on, however, they collided with a large company
of horsemen who had been awaiting them at the top of a shallow ravine.
As the Sioux slackened their pace to cross the gully the unknown war
party rushed upon them. For a moment all was confusion, and Sun Bird saw
his little force hesitating on the verge of panic. Then as he called
upon them to be men they recovered themselves, and began to fight
furiously.
"Stop! Stop! These people are not Kiowas. They are our brothers, the
Cheyennes!" cried Feather Dog, after the skirmish had continued a few
moments.
"Cheyennes, hold your arrows! We are fighting our brothers, the Sioux!"
shouted a warrior of the opposing force.
Then the conflict ended as suddenly as it began, for the two war parties
had quickly recognized each other. Fortunately no one had been killed,
and beyond the loss of several ponies and the slight wounding of a
Cheyenne warrior no serious damage had been done.
Once the blunder had been discovered order was soon restored, and the
two forces met to offer apologies and pledge their friendship. It was
then that Sun Bird and White Otter learned that the Cheyenne war party
was under the leadership of an old friend, a warrior named Red Dog, whom
they had saved from the Pawnees the year previous. At that time the two
young Sioux had joined forces with a large Cheyenne war party, which had
ultimately met defeat and disaster at the hands of a great company of
Pawnees. Now as the Cheyennes came forward to see the people whom they
had mistaken for Kiowas, the two lads were speedily recognized. As both
had established an enviable reputation among the Cheyennes they soon
found themselves surrounded by a host of enthusiastic admirers.
"My brothers, this thing has made clouds in my heart," Red Dog assured
the Sioux, in their own dialect. "We have done a foolish thing, but I
do not believe your hearts are black against us. No, we have not killed
any of your people. It is good. If we have killed some of your ponies we
will give you others. You have not killed any of my people. It is good.
The Great Mystery does not wish brothers to kill each other. But I see
that you have wounded my brother Running Buffalo. Well, I will tell you
that the sting of an arrow is nothing to a Cheyenne warrior. My
brothers, our hearts are peaceful toward you."
"I have listened to the words of my brother, Red Dog," replied Sun Bird.
"Yes, you have done a foolish thing, but we have wiped it out of our
minds. It is true that the Cheyennes are our brothers. We have smoked
the peace pipe together. It is good that the Great Mystery put the great
black robe between us so that our arrows went past. I see that there is
some blood on the arm of Running Buffalo, and my heart is heavy with
shame. I do not know what arrow did that. But I will tell you that I am
the war leader, and I will ask Running Buffalo to draw his knife and
take some blood from my arm. Yes, then the thing will be wiped out of
our hearts. I have finished."
There were few of the Cheyennes who understood the Sioux tongue, but Red
Dog translated Sun Bird's words, and it was apparent that the listeners
were much impressed. When he had finished there were many signs of
approval. Then all eyes turned upon Running Buffalo. The latter advanced
to meet Sun Bird, speaking earnestly in the Cheyenne dialect, which Red
Dog translated into Sioux.
"Running Buffalo says that he has listened to the words of his brother,
Sun Bird," said Red Dog. "He says that they have taken the sting from
his arm. He says that his heart is peaceful toward his brothers, the
Sioux. He says that Sun Bird's words must be carried out, so that the
thing will be forgotten."
Then Running Buffalo drew his knife, and turned to Sun Bird. The young
Sioux smiled and offered his arm. The Cheyenne pricked the flesh just
enough to draw blood. Then they clasped hands.
"It is good; now the thing is forgotten between us," said Sun Bird.
"Yes, Running Buffalo says that he has wiped it from his heart,"
declared Red Dog.
After this formal ceremony had been completed the two war parties
gathered in council. As the Cheyenne war leader dismounted to talk the
Sioux saw that he was badly crippled in both legs. He walked with
considerable difficulty, and once off his horse seemed quite helpless.
White Otter told his companions that Red Dog had been desperately
wounded the year previous, when in a fierce encounter with a roving band
of Pawnees he had been pinned beneath his dying pony and left for dead.
Some time later White Otter and Sun Bird, who had witnessed the battle
from a distant ridge, visited the battlefield to learn the identity of
the combatants. They discovered the wounded Cheyenne hiding in a clump
of sage. After convincing him that they were friends, they carried him
to a stream and attended him until his people returned with
reenforcements under cover of the night.
"That is why Red Dog has the legs of an old man," said White Otter.
Red Dog told the Sioux that he and his warriors had left the Cheyenne
village to intercept a large war party of Kiowas, who were advancing to
attack the Cheyenne camp. He said that when scouts brought word of the
intended attack, the Cheyennes had decided to organize a war party and
advance across the plain to surprise their foes. Red Dog said that one
of the scouts had discovered a dust-cloud along the stream late in the
day, and believing that their enemies were advancing along the water,
the Cheyennes followed the stream in the hope of surprising the Kiowas
under cover of the dark. When the lone scout reconnoitering in advance
of the war party collided with the Sioux he believed that he had found
the enemy, and raced back to warn his companions. The war party
determined to attack their foes at the ravine, and it was thus that the
blunder had occurred. Red Dog declared that several other scouts were
riding farther to the east, and he believed that they would soon bring
word of the Kiowas.
"I will tell you about those people," said Sun Bird, when the Cheyenne
had finished speaking.
"Have you seen them?" Red Dog inquired, eagerly.
"No, I have not seen them. But I will ask my brother, Short Bear, to
tell you about it," replied Sun Bird.
Short Bear told how he had discovered the Kiowa war party, and how he
and Lean Wolf had trailed them until they camped at the water-hole. When
Red Dog translated the talk to his companions they became greatly
excited, and were eager for Short Bear to lead them to the camp of their
enemies. While they were talking, however, two of the Cheyenne scouts
returned and said that they had found the Kiowas. They said that the
latter were still at the water-hole, and that by riding fast it would be
possible to reach the camp-site and make an attack before daylight.
When the Sioux learned that the Cheyennes were going to fight the
Kiowas, they held a council among themselves, and most of them wished to
enlist in the war party. Sun Bird at first talked against it, but when
he found White Otter and several of his closest friends determined to
go, he yielded.
"My brothers, a good war leader must always listen to the words of his
friends. You say that you will go to fight the Kiowas. You say that
those people have many good ponies. You say that the Kiowas are our
enemies. You say that the Cheyennes are our brothers. You say that a
Dacotah must help his brother, and fight his enemy. Well, I will tell
you that those words are true. But we have taken some good ponies from
the Black Faces. Yes, we have done what we set out to do. I did not ask
you to come out to fight the Kiowas. I am not going to fight those
people. No, I am going on with these ponies. I will show my people that
we have done what we set out to do. It is enough. If any of you go to
fight the Kiowas I will tell you that I have nothing to do with it. I
have brought you through what we set out to do. Now if you get killed I
have nothing to do with it. My brothers, I will ask some of you to help
me take the ponies to the village. I have finished."
When Sun Bird had finished speaking all but five of his companions
agreed to abandon the idea of fighting the Kiowas. Those who persisted
in their determination to go with the war party were White Otter, Little
Raven, Short Bear, Feather Dog and Spotted Elk and Sun Bird said
nothing further to deter them.
"My brother, it is in my heart to do this thing, and I must go," said
White Otter. "I believe we will bring back some fast ponies."
"You are very brave, and I will not ask you to hold back," replied Sun
Bird. "I will go to my people, and tell them that a great warrior is
coming to see them."
The Cheyennes were already mounting their ponies, and when Red Dog
learned that five of the Sioux had decided to join his company he was
overjoyed. He knew that White Otter was looked upon as a great warrior,
and he believed that the presence of the young Sioux would stimulate the
Cheyennes to deeds of great valor. When he told his followers that White
Otter and four of his companions were going to fight the Kiowas, the
Cheyennes greeted the announcement with shouts of approval.
"My brothers, the Sioux have brave hearts," said Red Dog. "It is good
that you are going with us to fight the Kiowas. Yes, we will count many
coups, and bring back some good ponies."
Both war parties were mounted and ready to depart. Before riding away,
however, Sun Bird called Little Raven and White Otter to his side.
"My brothers, you are going to fight our enemies, the Kiowas. It is
good. I believe you will bring back some ponies. White Otter, you are a
great warrior. The song of the arrow is sweet to your ears. Little
Raven, you are very young, but you are brave. You have taken some
ponies, but you have never fought in a great battle. I will tell you to
keep close to White Otter, and do what he tells you. I will ask the
Great Mystery to help you. Now, my brothers, I will take you by the
hand. Then I will go to the village to wait for you," said Sun Bird.
"I will keep your words in my heart," declared Little Raven.
Then White Otter and Little Raven rode away toward the east in pursuit
of the Cheyennes who had already departed, and a few moments afterward
Sun Bird and his companions resumed their journey toward the north.