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they got to the creek it seemed as if they had stepped inside a big
tepee； so thick was the brush and timber that the wind could not be
felt at all。 They hunted and found a place where the brush was
very thick and the grass very tall。 They quickly pulled the tops
of the nearest willows together and by intertwining the ends made
them fast； and throwing their tent robe over this； soon had a cosy
tepee in which to sleep。 They started their fire and cooked some
dried buffalo meat and buffalo tallow； and were just about to eat
their supper when a figure of a man came slowly in through the door
and sat down near where he had entered。 Hake； being the one who
was doing the cooking； poured out some tea into his own cup； and
putting a piece of pounded meat and marrow into a small plate；
placed it before the stranger； saying： 〃Eat； my friend； we are on
the warpath and do not carry much of a variety of food with us； but
I give you the best we have。〃
The stranger drew the plate towards him； and commenced eating
ravenously。 He soon finished his meal and handed the dish and cup
back。 He had not uttered a word so far。 Chaske filled the pipe
and handed it to him。 He smoked for a few minutes； took one last
draw from the pipe and handed it back to Chaske； and then he said：
〃Now； my friends； I am not a living man； but the wandering spirit
of a once great warrior； who was killed in these woods by the enemy
whom you two brave young men are now seeking to make war upon。 For
years I have been roaming these woods in hopes that I might find
some one brave enough to stop and listen to me； but all who have
camped here in the past have run away at my approach or fired guns
or shot arrows at me。 For such cowards as these I have always
found a grave。 They never returned to their homes。 Now I have
found two brave men whom I can tell what I want done； and if you
accomplish what I tell you to do； you will return home with many
horses and some scalps dangling from your belts。 Just over this
range of hills north of us； a large village is encamped for the
winter。 In that camp is the man who laid in ambush and shot me；
killing me before I could get a chance to defend myself。 I want
that man's scalp； because he has been the cause of my wanderings
for a great many years。 Had he killed me on the battlefield my
spirit would have at once joined my brothers in the happy hunting
grounds； but being killed by a coward； my spirit is doomed to roam
until I can find some brave man who will kill this coward and bring
me his scalp。 This is why I have tried every party who have camped
here to listen to me； but as I have said before； they were all
cowards。 Now； I ask you two brave young men； will you do this for
me？〃
〃We will；〃 said the friends in one voice。 〃Thank you； my boys。
Now； I know why you came here； and that one of you came to earn his
feathers by killing an enemy； before he would marry； the girl he is
to marry is my granddaughter； as I am the father of the
great Medicine Man。 In the morning there will pass by in plain
sight of here a large party。 They will chase the buffalo over on
that flat。 After they have passed an old man leading a black horse
and riding a white one will come by on the trail left by the
hunting party。 He will be driving about a hundred horses； which he
will leave over in the next ravine。 He will then proceed to the
hunting grounds and get meat from the different hunters。 After the
hunters have all gone home he will come last； singing the praises
of the ones who gave him the meat。 This man you must kill and
scalp； as he is the one I want killed。 Then take the white and
black horse and each mount and go to the hunting grounds。 There
you will see two of the enemy riding about picking up empty shells。
Kill and scalp these two and each take a scalp and come over to the
high knoll and I will show you where the horses are； and as soon as
you hand me the old man's scalp I will disappear and you will see
me no more。 As soon as I disappear； it will start in snowing。
Don't be afraid as the snow will cover your trail； but
nevertheless； don't stop traveling for three days and nights； as
these people will suspect that some of your tribe have done this；
and they will follow you until you cross your own boundary lines。〃
When morning came； the two friends sat in the thick brush and
watched a large party pass by their hiding place。 So near were
they that the friends could hear them laughing and talking。 After
the hunting party had passed； as the spirit had told them； along
came the old man； driving a large band of horses and leading a fine
looking coal black horse。 The horse the old man was riding was as
white as snow。 The friends crawled to a little brush covered hill
and watched the chase after the shooting had ceased。 The friends
knew it would not be long before the return of the party； so they
crawled back to their camp and hurriedly ate some pounded meat and
drank some cherry tea。 Then they took down their robe and rolled
it up and got everything in readiness for a hurried flight with the
horses。 Scarcely had they got everything in readiness when the
party came by； singing their song of the chase。 When they had all
gone the friends crawled down to the trail and lay waiting for the
old man。 Soon they heard him singing。 Nearer and nearer came the
sounds of the song until at last at a bend in the road； the old man
came into view。 The two friends arose and advanced to meet him。
On he came still singing。 No doubt he mistook them for some of his
own people。 When he was very close to them they each stepped to
either side of him and before he could make an outcry they pierced
his cowardly old heart with two arrows。 He had hardly touched the
ground when they both struck him with their bows； winning first and
second honors by striking an enemy after he has fallen。 Chaske
having won first honors； asked his friend to perform the scalping
deed； which he did。 And wanting to be sure that the spirit would
get full revenge； took the whole scalp； ears and all； and tied it
to his belt。 The buffalo beef which the old man had packed upon
the black horse； they threw on the top of the old man。 Quickly
mounting the two horses； they hastened out across the long flat
towards the hunting grounds。 When they came in sight of the
grounds there they saw two men riding about from place to place。
Chaske took after the one on the right； Hake the one on the left。
When the two men saw these two strange men riding like the wind
towards them； they turned their horses to retreat towards the
hills； but the white and the black were the swiftest of the tribe's
horses； and quickly overtook the two fleeing men。 When they came
close to the enemy they strung their arrows onto the bowstring and
drove them through the two fleeing hunters。 As they were falling
they tried to shoot； but being greatly exhausted； their bullets
whistled harmlessly over the heads of the two friends。 They
scalped the two enemies and took their guns and ammunition； also
secured the two horses and started for the high knoll。 When they
arrived at the place； there stood the spirit。 Hake presented him
with the old man's scalp and then the spirit showed them the large
band of horses； and saying； 〃Ride hard and long；〃 disappeared and
was seen no more by any war parties； as he was thus enabled to join
his forefathers in the happy hunting grounds。
The friends did as the spirit had told them。 For three days and
three nights they rode steadily。 On the fourth morning they came
into their own boundary。 From there on they rode more slowly； and
let the band of horses rest and crop the tops of long grass。 They
would stop occasionally； and while one slept the other kept watch。
Thus they got fairly well rested before they came in sight of where
their camp had stood when they had left。 All that they could see
of the once large village was the lone tent of the great Medicine
Man。 They rode up on to a high hill and farther on towards the
east they saw smoke from a great many tepees。 They then knew that
something had happened and that the village had moved away。
〃My friend；〃 said Chaske； 〃I am afraid something has happened to
the Medicine Man's lodge； and rather than have you go there； I will
go alone and you follow the trail of our party and go on ahead
with the horses。 I will take the black and the white horses with
me and I will follow on later； after I have seen what the trouble
is。〃
〃Very well； my friend； I will do as you say； but I am afraid
something has happened to Pretty Feather。〃 Hake started on with
the horses； driving them along the broad trail left by the hundreds
of travois。 Chaske made slowly towards the tepee； and stopping
outside； stood and listened。 Not a sound could he hear。 The only
living thing he saw was Pretty Feather's spotted horse tied to