A FIGHT IN THE DARK
When White Otter and Little Raven overtook the Cheyennes they found
their three companions riding with Red Dog at the head of the war party.
It was an unusual honor, and the Sioux were much impressed. The Cheyenne
scouts had gone on in advance, and Short Bear was acting as guide. He
told Red Dog that his force was superior to the Kiowas, and assured him
that he would win an easy victory.
"Those are good words," said Red Dog. "Yes, I believe we will drive
those people back to their village."
It was evident that the Cheyennes shared his confidence. They rode along
in high spirits, chanting their war songs and making all sorts of
boastful threats against the Kiowas. If they had any doubts about the
result of the encounter they were sufficiently experienced to conceal
them.
"These people are very brave," said Little Raven.
"Yes, our brothers, the Cheyennes, know how to fight," declared White
Otter.
A short distance farther on they were intercepted by one of the Cheyenne
scouts. He said that the Kiowas were still at the water-hole. This news
greatly pleased Red Dog and his followers. They had feared that their
foes might desert the camp, and hurry forward under cover of the dark.
Now it seemed that they intended remaining until daylight. It was
evident, therefore, that they were sparing their ponies to have them in
good condition when they attacked the Cheyenne camp.
"The Kiowas think they are doing a good thing. Well, we will fool them,"
laughed Red Dog.
The Cheyennes had suddenly turned serious. They had learned that they
were close upon their enemies, and the thought sobered them. They knew
that a war party had the ears of a fox, and they advanced in silence
until the scout cautioned them to halt. He declared that they were
within sight of the Kiowa camp, and pointed out its exact location, but
they were unable to find it in the darkness.
"My brothers, you have heard the words of Standing Hawk," said Red Dog.
"We are near our enemies, the Kiowas. Pretty soon we will begin to
fight. But first we must surround the camp. Then we will close in, and
when I make the cry of the prairie wolf we will rush upon our enemies.
My brothers, I will tell you to look at these Sioux. They are very
brave. I want them to tell their people about this fight. Cheyennes, I
will ask you to be men."
While Red Dog was speaking another Cheyenne scout joined the war party.
He said that the Kiowas were apparently sleeping, but he felt sure that
the camp was surrounded by wide-awake sentinels. This was to be
expected, and the announcement seemed to give the Cheyennes little
concern. They knew that it was the duty of a war leader to overcome or
sweep aside such barriers, and they felt confident that Red Dog would
lead them to sure and speedy victory.
When the scout had finished speaking, therefore, the Cheyennes gathered
about Red Dog to receive final instructions for attacking the camp. As
the night was well advanced he said that they must proceed without
further delay. Red Dog told his followers that they must advance until
they saw the little stand of timber which sheltered their foes, and then
they must encircle the camp. Having done that, he ordered them to ride
slowly forward until he raised the cry of the prairie wolf. "Then you
must rush in, and fight," he concluded.
A few moments afterward the war party advanced cautiously in the
direction of the Kiowa camp. The two scouts rode on ahead, Red Dog
followed with the Sioux close behind him, and then came the gallant
force of Cheyenne fighting men. All moved forward in grim silence, ready
and eager to grapple with their foes. When they finally saw the little
patch of timber, they stopped to listen.
"See, there is the place where our enemies are sleeping. Now we will
surround them," said Red Dog.
The war party separated into two companies which filed away in opposite
directions, to meet behind the camp and draw the fatal circle about
their enemies. Red Dog remained where he was, and requested the two
scouts and the little company of Sioux to attend him. The latter
realized that his request was a compliment to their courage. They knew
that he would lead the attack against the camp, and that they would be
sure to participate in the fiercest fighting.
"I believe that Red Dog will take us into great danger," White Otter
told Little Raven. "When we rush in to fight the Kiowas you must stay
close by me. If you go ahead alone you may be killed."
"I will do as you tell me," replied Little Raven. "I have never fought
in a great battle, but I have done other things. Yes, I have led ponies
out of the Pawnee camp, and I have taken ponies from the Black Faces.
Now I am going to fight the Kiowas. Well, I will tell you that I am not
afraid."
Red Dog waited until he felt sure that his warriors were on every side
of the camp, and then he began to advance. The Cheyenne scouts and the
Sioux accompanied him. White Otter and Little Raven kept close
together. They realized that the Cheyennes were closing the net about
their foes, and they knew that the fight might begin at any moment. Then
a wild yell echoed across the plain, and it was evident that some of the
war party had encountered a Kiowa sentinel. Aware that further caution
would be useless, Red Dog raised his voice in the dismal howl of the
prairie wolf, and raced his pony toward the Kiowa camp.
A moment afterward the night reverberated with the defiant yells of the
attacking Cheyennes. They rode recklessly into the Kiowa camp, and
attempted to gain possession of the ponies. In spite of having been
completely surprised, however, the Kiowas soon rallied and fought
desperately. The little patch of timber was now the scene of a terrific
conflict. The fighting was at close range, and as darkness made it
difficult to distinguish between friend and foe, the wildest confusion
followed. To add still further disorder, many of the Kiowa ponies pulled
the picket stakes and raced madly among the excited combatants. The
Sioux soon found themselves in the thick of the combat. They kept close
together, and fought with great bravery. White Otter and Short Bear had
their ponies killed beneath them, but both secured new mounts and
continued the fight. Then the superior numbers of the Cheyennes began to
tell, and the Kiowas were forced to give way. They had lost many of
their ponies, and almost half of the warriors were fighting on foot.
They fought stubbornly until they were driven from the timber, and then
they scattered and fled across the plain.
"See, the Kiowas are running!" cried White Otter. "Come, we must take
some ponies."
At that instant, however, several mounted warriors dashed forward and
attacked the Sioux with great ferocity. In the desperate hand to hand
fighting which followed Little Raven was dragged from his pony, and
would surely have been killed but for the timely assistance of White
Otter. Then the Sioux vanquished their foes, and captured three ponies.
They had escaped unharmed, and as they heard the Cheyennes whooping
excitedly on the plain they galloped from the timber to join them.
"Come, we have chased away the Kiowas, now we will ride around and look
for ponies," said White Otter.
Once on the plain they separated, and began to look for horses. They
soon learned the folly of this maneuver, however, for White Otter had
barely left his companions when he was attacked by three mounted Kiowas.
After a desperate running fight he finally escaped with another Kiowa
pony. Similar encounters were being fought everywhere, for the crafty
Kiowas had separated into small bands and were lurking in the dark to
attack their foes whenever they could catch them at a disadvantage.
"It is bad," White Otter declared, as he rejoined his companions. "Yes,
we must keep together. We are in great danger. The big fight is over,
but perhaps we will be killed. The Kiowas are all around us. They are
like the wolves, which wait in the dark to pull down the elk that goes
out alone. We have helped our brothers, the Cheyennes. We have taken
some ponies for ourselves. There is nothing else to do. It is foolish to
wait here. Come, we will find Red Dog, and talk with him about this
thing."
"It is the best thing to do," agreed Feather Dog.
Then they heard the call of the prairie wolf a short distance to the
west of them, and they believed that Red Dog was summoning his warriors.
Still they determined to act with great prudence, for it was possible
that the Kiowas were attempting to decoy them into a trap. However, when
the signal was repeated they determined to investigate. They had not
gone an arrow-flight, when they heard a company of horsemen racing
directly toward them. Scorning to avoid an encounter, the Sioux fitted
arrows to their bows, and sent their war cry ringing through the night.
The approaching riders stopped at the sound, and the Sioux heard the low
murmur of their voices.
"Come, we will ride over there and fight these people," proposed Short
Bear.
"No, we must wait until we know who they are," cautioned White Otter.
A moment afterward his caution was rewarded. They heard themselves
addressed in their own tongue, and learned that the horsemen were their
allies, the Cheyennes. The latter instantly joined them, and the Sioux
saw that they were leading a number of captured ponies. The warrior who
spoke the Sioux dialect assured them that the Kiowas had been decisively
beaten, and were in full flight toward their village.
"It was a great fight, but I believe that some of our people were
killed," he said soberly.
Then they galloped across the plain to join Red Dog. When they reached
him they found the balance of the war party with many Kiowa ponies. The
Cheyenne war leader was thoughtful and serious, and the Sioux believed
that some of his friends had been killed in the fighting. They saw that
Red Dog himself had been severely wounded, but he appeared to be
unmindful of his injury. When he saw the Sioux he called them to him and
complimented them upon their courage. Then he addressed his warriors.
"My brothers, we have fought our enemies, the Kiowas. Yes, we have
chased them away like rabbits. We have taken many ponies. Now our
village is safe. The old men and the women and children can sleep
without fear. But my heart is filled with clouds because some of our
people have been killed. We will wait here until it is light, and then
we will go and tell our people about this fight. I have finished."
When Red Dog had ceased speaking a warrior called out the names of four
Cheyennes who had lost their lives in the encounter, and then their
friends rose and rendered glowing tribute to their memory. Among those
killed was Standing Hawk, the scout, a close friend of Red Dog, and a
man of prominence and influence in the tribe. A number of warriors had
been more or less severely injured, but, like Red Dog, they made light
of their injuries and scorned the concern and sympathy of their
companions.
Having rendered the customary honors to their dead, the Cheyennes turned
their attention to celebrating the victory over the Kiowas. The captured
ponies were paraded in a circle, and the warriors rushed forward and
counted coup upon them as they passed. Other trophies were exhibited
with much pride and boasting on the part of the warriors who had taken
them. The Sioux, too, were invited to take a prominent part in the
ceremonies. They had heard themselves complimented and praised by all
the speakers, and they saw that Red Dog and his followers desired to
show them every possible honor. White Otter, Short Bear and Feather Dog
all made speeches in which they highly commended the Cheyennes for their
bravery, and promised to tell the great chief, Curly Horse, and his
people about them. The celebration finally ended with a dance. Then
sentinels were posted about the camp, and the tired Cheyennes wrapped
themselves in their robes to rest until daylight.