AN ADVENTURE AMONG THE PEAKS
Several days after the great buffalo drive, White Otter and his two
friends set out to explore the gigantic snow-clad peaks which showed
against the sky, a day's journey to the westward. Sun Bird and Little
Raven had told the Ogalala many wonderful tales about a mysterious rocky
cave, whose walls were decorated with all sorts of queer drawings
representing animals and birds and reptiles. These fanciful stories had
aroused White Otter's curiosity, and he was anxious to see this strange
place, which Little Raven solemnly declared was the abode of all sorts
of uncanny monsters.
"I have never seen it, but I have heard the old men tell about it,"
Little Raven said, very seriously. "Yes, old Spotted Face was there a
long time ago. I have heard him talk about it. He says he met some funny
little people way back there in the darkness. He did not see them, but
he saw their eyes shine and heard them squeak like ground dogs. He says
they told him if he came any nearer he would be killed. Then he ran
out."
"Yes, what Little Raven says is true," agreed Sun Bird. "My people know
about this place. Short Bear once went far inside. Then he heard a great
noise, and he ran out. I have seen this place, but I have never gone in
so far."
These superstitious tales made a deep impression upon White Otter. Like
all his people, he had implicit faith in the weird stories which the old
men told around the fires on winter nights, and he had no doubt that the
queer hobgoblins of their imaginations really existed. It was part of
his life and faith. To have doubted the existence of both those good and
evil spirits which his people believed were constantly interfering in
their daily affairs, would have made him an object of ridicule and
distrust among his tribesmen. Therefore, having had his mind filled with
these simple superstitions since early infancy, White Otter saw no
reason to doubt the stories about the rocky den on the distant
snow-capped peak.
The three lads left the village soon after sunrise, and made their way
to the foothills. They followed the elk trails over the low ridges, and
descended into a beautiful wooded valley that extended to the base of
the great peaks they wished to reach. It was watered by the stream which
flowed past the Minneconjoux village, and well timbered with aspen,
birch and pine. This sheltered vale fairly teemed with game, and the
Sioux found themselves in a veritable "Happy Hunting Ground." They saw
many elk, the cows with long-legged spotted calves beside them, and the
bulls with their short, knobby velvet-covered horns of early spring;
deer bounded from the thickets; wild turkeys rose from beside the
stream; antelope appeared in the open parks; beavers swam about the
flooded meadows; song birds filled the balmy air with melody; and far
above in the azure sky a great golden eagle, the war bird of their
people, soared about on motionless wings.
The Sioux traveled slowly through this wonderful valley, and at the end
of the day they camped in the timber at the base of the mountains. Just
before dark White Otter killed a yearling black-tail deer, and they
immediately made a fire and broiled some of the meat. Then, as the night
closed in about them, they sat in the ruddy glow of the fire, talking
about the great peaks among which they intended to venture on the
following day. Sun Bird had explored their grim fastnesses many times,
but White Otter was a lad of the open prairie, and had only reached the
mountains on one other occasion, when he unexpectedly met Sun Bird.
Little Raven had never been above the foothills and pine-clad ridges.
The night passed without incident, and shortly after daylight the lads
picketed their ponies in an open park half-way up the steep wooded
slope, and set out to explore the snow-topped peaks that towered above
them. They followed a well-marked game trail up through the timber until
they reached the desolate reaches of slide-rock. Then they climbed
laboriously over the confused jumble of slabs and bowlders until they
were halted by a great precipitous field of snow. Sun Bird said that the
mysterious cave was above it, and the lads stopped and gazed
thoughtfully at the rugged pinnacles of rock that rose from the
treacherous white barrier like the warning fingers of some buried giant.
"Have you been up there?" White Otter asked Sun Bird.
"Yes, I have been there many times," replied Sun Bird.
"Then we will go," declared the Ogalala.
Sun Bird led the way, Little Raven followed, and White Otter brought up
the rear. It was slow, difficult climbing, and to guard against accident
Sun Bird continually tested the uncertain footing by thrusting his bow
into the snow ahead of him. When they were half-way to the top they
stopped to rest. As they stood gasping for breath they heard an ominous
rumble above them, and looking up they saw a large bowlder bounding down
the incline directly toward them. For an instant they seemed paralyzed
with fear. Then Sun Bird called a warning, and moved carefully to one
side. Little Raven and White Otter followed his example.
However, in his eagerness to escape from the bowlder, Little Raven
threw caution to the winds, and promptly lost his footing. With a wild
cry of alarm he sped down the steep descent, toward the rocks below. His
dismayed companions realized that he would be dashed to death unless he
checked his wild slide in time to save himself. They shouted
instructions, but the terrified young Minneconjoux failed to hear them.
Instinct, however, came to his aid, and, pressing with his feet and
clutching with his fingers, he finally stopped himself two-thirds of the
way down the slide. Then, waiting until he had regained some of his
confidence, he again began the laborious climb. Warned and encouraged by
his anxious comrades, he finally reached them without further mishap.
Once at the base of the massive granite peaks, the lads hurried on in
the direction of the mysterious cave. As they were moving carefully
along a narrow ledge, Sun Bird suddenly stopped and stooped to examine
something which had attracted his attention. He saw by several
indistinct marks on the rock, and several dislodged fragments of stone,
that something had passed across the narrow trail ahead of him.
"My brothers, something has gone along here," he said, soberly.
The announcement instantly aroused the interest of his comrades. Having
failed to discover a trail on the snow-field, they were at a loss to
account for the evidence discovered by Sun Bird. As they stopped to
study his find, they immediately began to think of the weird tales
connected with the rocky den.
"We have seen no footprints. Perhaps we have found the trail of the
mysterious people who live in the cave," suggested Little Raven.
"Well, perhaps it is so," replied Sun Bird. "But we will go on and find
out about it."
They moved cautiously along the narrow ledge, and although they examined
every foot of the rocky trail with great care they failed to discover
any further clews. Then a sudden explanation flashed across White
Otter's mind.
"My brothers, I have been thinking about that thing," he said. "I will
tell you about it. Perhaps the great war bird made those marks. See, he
is flying up there above us. I believe his lodge is near this place."
"Yes, that is true," replied Sun Bird. "But we have not seen the thing.
What we see we know about. Perhaps you have told how it happened. I do
not know about it."
"No, I do not believe it is that way," declared Little Raven. "I believe
that some of the mysterious Thunder People went along there."
A few moments afterward they came to a wider shelf of rock, and Sun Bird
stopped and pointed to a large cavern, which he declared was the
mysterious cave. They stood and gazed upon it for some time, and then
Sun Bird led them toward the entrance. When they reached it they found
that it apparently extended some distance into the granite cap of the
mountain. The smooth rock sides were decorated as described by Sun Bird.
White Otter saw all sorts of queer emblems and crude imitations of
animals, birds and reptiles. These mysterious picture-writings appeared
to have been chiseled into the rough granite, and some of them were
apparently very old, as they were dim and scarcely discernible. The lads
examined them with eager interest, for they had little doubt that they
had been made by the wonderful beings who were believed to dwell upon
the bleak, inhospitable peaks of these great mountains. Sun Bird
declared that his people had no knowledge of their origin, but he said
that his father had often told him that he understood their meaning.
"Perhaps he will tell us about it," suggested White Otter.
"No, that would break his medicine," Sun Bird assured him. "It is bad to
tell such things. My father is a great medicine-person. That is why he
knows those things. But he will not talk about it."
After they had spent some time studying these baffling decorations, the
lads advanced a little farther into the cavern. They moved very
cautiously, peering expectantly ahead of them, and straining their ears
to catch some of the strange noises which they had heard described. At
first they were able to stand upright, but after going a short distance
they found the dimensions of the cave shrinking, and they were compelled
to crouch to avoid striking their heads on the rocky roof. Sun Bird
said that he had never penetrated farther than that point, and he showed
no inclination to continue.
"If we stay here and listen, perhaps we will hear something," he said,
somewhat uneasily.
They squatted down close together, and waited in considerable suspense
to hear some strange sound from the interior of the cave. Ahead of them
all was dark, and still and mysterious. Behind them they still saw the
light of day streaming in at the mouth of the cave, and weakening as it
followed the rocky passageway until it faded to a dim, misty twilight at
the spot where they had stopped. When they had waited some time without
hearing anything, White Otter proposed that they should proceed to
explore the black recesses beyond them.
"No, my heart tells me that it would be a bad thing to do," declared Sun
Bird. "I have never gone beyond this place. Back there in that black
place are the Evil People. Yes, I have heard my father tell about them.
If you go back there, I believe something will happen to you."
"Well, now I know how you feel about this thing," said White Otter.
"You must do as you find it in your heart. But, my brother, I must tell
you that I am going back there. Yes, it is in my heart to do this thing.
Perhaps if I hear something I will run out. But I am going to start in
there. Perhaps I will meet those Evil People. I believe that this is a
very mysterious place, but I am going to find out something. Now I am
going ahead. My brother, Little Raven, how do you feel about this
thing?"
"I believe that you are very brave, but it is a foolish thing to do,"
replied Little Raven. "You do not know about this place. I have heard
some very brave warriors tell about it. If you go in there, I believe
that you will surely come to harm. No, I will not go any farther."
"Well, my brothers, I must do what it is in my heart to do," declared
White Otter, as he prepared to advance into the black depths of the
cave.
Aware that it would be useless to attempt to dissuade him, Sun Bird and
Little Raven remained silent. Their hearts filled with gloomy
misgivings, however, as White Otter drew several arrows from his quiver,
and crawled slowly forward into the dark, forbidding interior of the
cavern. When he had disappeared from their sight they sat in glum
silence, listening fearfully for some sound which might warn them of the
fate of their comrade. When they heard nothing their fears increased,
and Sun Bird called softly into the darkness. Then they waited in
nervous suspense as the moments passed and their eager inquiry went
unanswered. Tortured by a multitude of alarming possibilities, Sun Bird
again sent an anxious inquiry into the black depths of the cavern. This
time they received a short, indistinct reply. It assured them that for
the moment their comrade was safe, and their hearts bounded with joy.
"White Otter is very brave to do this thing," declared Little Raven.
"Yes, he is very fearless, but it is a bad thing to do," replied Sun
Bird. "Perhaps he will make the Evil People mad. Then they may bring
trouble to our people."
In the meantime the young Ogalala was advancing cautiously into the
unexplored depths of the cavern. As he continued he found that the cave
shrunk greatly in height, while it lost little in width. Therefore,
although he was compelled to crawl painfully along on his hands and
knees, he still had plenty of room if he cared to turn around. White
Otter found himself in a smother of darkness, which made it impossible
to see a bow-length before him. As his eyes were of little avail, he
depended upon his ears to warn him of peril. Keeping in mind the tales
which he had heard from Sun Bird and Little Raven, he moved forward very
slowly, stopping after every short advance to listen for the strange
noises which he expected to hear at any moment.
Then from somewhere in the impenetrable blackness came a peculiar
whimpering cry that sent a thrill through him, and made his heart beat
wildly. After waiting some moments in trying suspense he again heard the
uncanny sound, and located it some distance ahead of him. For some time
White Otter was undecided just what to do. His first impulse was to turn
about, and retreat from the weird place into which he had so rashly
ventured. Then curiosity overcame fear, and he determined to at least
have a look at these unknown demons that created such fear among the
superstitious Minneconjoux. He recalled that whoever claimed to have
ventured into the depths of the cave had escaped unhurt, and old Spotted
Face even declared that he had actually seen the eyes of these
mysterious creatures before he was warned to retreat from their
stronghold. Therefore, White Otter believed that he, too, would be
equally fortunate, and he decided to hold his ground and await further
developments.
Convinced that whatever threatened him was still in front, White Otter
peered anxiously forward into the darkness. The sounds had ceased,
however, and he wondered whether he had been discovered. Fitting an
arrow to his bow, he waited to be attacked. Then, as nothing came to
disturb him, he became bolder. Determined to learn what had made the
strange noise, he again crawled forward to investigate.
White Otter had not gone a bow-length when the same strange whimpering
cry brought him to a stop. Then, as he listened to hear it repeated,
another sound reached his ears. It was a low rumbling growl, and the
young Ogalala immediately read defiance in the tone. At first he failed
to recognize it, and all sorts of superstitious fears crowded into his
mind. He wondered if he had actually invaded the home of some great
Thunder Being. His confidence weakened at the thought, for he knew that
the bravest warrior could not survive an encounter with one of those
terrific monsters. Then he again heard the angry challenge, and at once
it became familiar. A few moments later he saw two spots of greenish
light shining in the darkness, and he realized that he was confronted by
one of the great mountain cats. Once before he had fought a fierce
encounter with one of these savage creatures, and he knew what to
expect. However, he was greatly relieved to know that he was threatened
by an adversary that was without magic power to turn aside his arrows,
as the mysterious Thunder Beings were said to do.
Realizing that this fierce beast had its den somewhere in the back of
the cavern, the young Ogalala believed that the strange noises had been
made by the kittens of the great cat. He felt sure, therefore, that the
latter would attack him with great fury, and he determined to kill it
before it came sufficiently near to spring at him.
In the meantime the weird glowing eyes had disappeared, and White Otter
wondered what had happened. He wondered whether the snarling brute had
slunk farther back into the cave. Then a more alarming possibility
entered his mind--perhaps the great cat was attempting to slink past him
to make an attack from the rear. He looked anxiously on both sides of
him, but saw nothing. Then he heard the whimpering cries ahead of him.
Holding his arrow ready for instant use, he peered expectantly forward
into the blackness. In a few moments he caught a flash of the blazing
eyes; they were considerably nearer. However, they disappeared before he
could release his arrow. Long, anxious moments passed before he again
saw the glowing signals. Then, as he aimed his arrow, a defiant,
deep-throated growl warned him that the fearless creature was about to
attack him. Aware that a moment's hesitation might prove fatal, White
Otter released his bow-string and sent his arrow at the tempting
target.
The next instant the cave echoed with the piercing scream of the dying
lioness, and Sun Bird and Little Raven looked at each other in wild
alarm. For an instant they hesitated, as a confused babel of sound came
from the black interior of the cavern. Then, as they realized that
something was happening to their comrade, they overcame their fears and
determined to go to his aid.
"Something has happened to White Otter!" cried Sun Bird. "Perhaps he has
met the Evil People. I am going in there to help him. If I do not come
out, you must tell our people about it. Now I am going."
"Well, I am going with you," declared Little Raven. "I am afraid of
those Evil People, but I will go in there to die with you. You are my
brother; White Otter is my friend. It is enough."
The excited lads hurried back into the cave, calling nervously to White
Otter. However, their frantic appeals were drowned by the fierce bedlam
of sound ahead of them. Screams, snarls and choking sobs were echoed
along the rocky passageway, and it really seemed that the mysterious
black cavern was indeed the abode of all the demons with which the vivid
imaginations of the Minneconjoux had peopled it. Still the loyal lads
continued to advance. They had little doubt that they were going to some
horrible death, but they were unwilling to save themselves by abandoning
their friend.
Then the sounds ceased as suddenly as they had begun, and Sun Bird and
Little Raven stopped in bewilderment. For a moment the unexpected
stillness was even more alarming than the wild outburst that had
preceded it. A sickening fear gripped their hearts. They believed that
White Otter had met some terrible fate. As they lay one behind the other
in the low black passageway, they felt that the last ray of hope had
fled. They would not retreat, and yet they had little doubt that to
continue meant death.
"We must go on," Sun Bird declared, resolutely.
"I will follow you, my brother," Little Raven said, quietly.
As they crawled slowly forward, Sun Bird again called the name of the
Ogalala. The next instant he heard his friend's voice from the blackness
directly ahead of him.
"Ho, my brother, you have come to see about this thing," cried White
Otter. "Well, I will tell you that I have had a great fight, but I am
alive. Yes, I will show you something."
"Have you met the Evil People?" Little Raven asked, excitedly.
"Ho, Little Raven, you are very brave to come in here. No, I have not
seen those mysterious people. But I have killed a very fierce animal,"
replied White Otter.
When his companions crawled to him, he told them how he had killed the
lioness. He said that the latter had destroyed her two kittens in her
dying rage. As Sun Bird and Little Raven could not see the great beast
in the impenetrable darkness, they crawled forward and passed their
hands over the carcass. Then White Otter said that after killing the
lioness he had crept forward to the den, which was in a rocky recess at
the end of the cave. A short distance beyond the body of his victim he
had found the mutilated bodies of the two kittens.
"Now we will pull this animal out of here," proposed the young Ogalala.
It took them a long time to drag the heavy body of the mountain lion to
the mouth of the cave. Once outside, however, they each counted coup
upon the carcass, and danced joyfully about the trophy. Then White Otter
cut off the claws, and removed the coarse tawny pelt. He also cut out
the heart, which he said they would eat at their fire, as old Yellow
Horse, the Ogalala medicine-man, declared it would give the hunter the
strength and courage of the great cat itself.
"Yes, it is true," declared Sun Bird. "I have heard my father say it is
a good thing to do."
The day was far spent when the lads finally returned to the ponies.
Realizing that they could not reach the Minneconjoux village until long
after dark, they moved farther down the wooded slope, and camped at the
spot where they had passed the previous night.
"I am thinking about that mysterious place up there," said Sun Bird, as
they sat before their fire. "I have heard my people tell how the Evil
People change themselves into animals. Perhaps that great mountain cat
was one of those people."
"I believe it is true," Little Raven declared, impulsively. "White
Otter, perhaps you have done a bad thing. Those people may find out that
you have killed a great chief. Perhaps they will do something bad to our
people."
"No, I do not feel that way," replied White Otter. "We cannot kill those
people with our arrows. No, I am not afraid about that."