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〃The maiden looked at him and shook her head； but he sprang off and
lifted her upon his horse。 He struck him a smart blow upon the flank that
sent him at full speed in the direction of the Sioux encampment。 Then he
seized the exhausted buckskin by the lariat； and turned back to join the
rear…guard。
〃That little group still withstood in some fashion the all but irresistible
onset of the Crows。 When their comrade came back to them； leading the
War Maiden's pony； they were inspired to fresh endeavor； and though few
in number they made a counter…charge with such fury that the Crows in
their turn were forced to retreat！
〃The Sioux got fresh mounts and returned to the field； and by sunset
the day was won！ Little Eagle was among the first who rode straight
through the Crow camp； causing terror and consternation。 It was
afterward remem… bered that he looked unlike his former self and was
scarcely recognized by the warriors for the modest youth they had so little
regarded。
〃It was this famous battle which drove that warlike nation； the Crows；
to go away from the Missouri and to make their home up the Yel…
lowstone River and in the Bighorn country。 But many of our men fell；
and among them the brave Little Eagle！
〃The sun was almost over the hills when the Sioux gathered about
their campfires； recounting the honors won in battle； and naming the brave
dead。 Then came the singing of dirges and weeping for the slain！ The
sadness of loss was mingled with exultation。
〃Hush！ listen！ the singing and wailing have ceased suddenly at both
camps。 There is one voice coming around the circle of campfires。 It is
the voice of a woman！ Stripped of all her ornaments； her dress shorn of
its fringes； her ankles bare； her hair cropped close to her neck； leading a
pony with mane and tail cut short； she is mourning as widows mourn。 It
is Makatah！
〃Publicly； with many tears； she declared her… self the widow of the
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
brave Little Eagle； although she had never been his wife！ He it was； she
said with truth； who had saved her peo… ple's honor and her life at the cost
of his own。 He was a true man！
〃'Ho； ho！' was the response from many of the older warriors； but the
young men； the lovers of Makatah； were surprised and sat in silence。
〃The War Maiden lived to be a very old woman； but she remained true
to her vow。 She never accepted a husband； and all her lifetime she was
known as the widow of the brave Little Eagle。〃
THE END
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
GLOSSARY
A…no…ka…san； white on both sides （Bald Eagle）。 A…tay； father。 Cha…ton'…
ska； White Hawk。 Chin…o…te…dah； Lives…in…the…Wood。 Chin…to； yes； indeed。
E…na…ka…nee； hurry。 E…ya…tonk…a…wee； She…whose…Voice…is…heard…afar。 E…
yo…tank…a； rise up； or sit down。 Ha…ha…ton…wan； Ojibway。 Ha…na…ka…pe； a
grave。 Han…ta…wo； Out of the way！ He…che…tu； it is well。 He…yu…pe…ya；
come here！ Hi！ an exclamation of thanks。 Hunk…pa…tees； a band of Sioux。
Ka…po…sia； Light Lodges； a band of Sioux。 Ke…chu…wa； darling。 Ko…da；
friend。 Ma…ga…ska…wee； Swan Maiden。 Ma…ka…tah； Earth Woman。 Ma…to；
bear。 Ma…to…ska； White Bear。 Ma…to…sa…pa； Black Bear。 Me…chink…she； my
son or sons。 Me…ta； my。 Min…ne…wa…kan； Sacred Water （Devil's Lake。）
Min…ne…ya…ta； By…the…Water。 Nak…pa； Ears or Long Ears。 Ne…na e…ya…ya！
run fast！ O…glu…ge…chan…a； Mysterious Wood…Dweller。 Psay； snow…shoes。
Shunk…a； dog。 Shunk…a…ska； White Dog。 Shunk…ik…chek…a； domestic dog。
Ske…ske…ta…tonk…a； Sault Sainte Marie。 Sna…na； Rattle。 Sta…su； Shield
（Arickaree）。 Ta…ake…che…ta； his soldier。 Ta…chin…cha…la； fawn。 Tak…cha； doe。
Ta…lu…ta； Scarlet。 Ta…ma…hay； Pike。 Ta…ma…ko…che； His Country。 Ta…na…ge…la；
Humming…Bird。 Ta…tank…a…o…ta； Many Buffaloes。 Ta…te…yo…pa； Her Door。
Ta…to…ka； Antelope。 Ta…wa…su…o…ta； Many Hailstones。 Tee…pee； tent。 Te…yo…
tee…pee； Council lodge。 To…ke…ya nun…ka hu…wo？ where are you？ Tunk…a…
she…dah； grandfather。 Un…chee…dah； grandmother。 Unk…pa…pa； a band of
Sioux。 U…ya…yo！ come here！ Wa…ba…shaw； Red Hat （name of a Sioux chief）。
Wa…ha…dah； Buyer of Furs。 Wah…pay…ton； a band of Sioux。 Wa…ho； Howler。
Wa…kan； sacred； mysterious。 Wak…pay…ku…tay； a band of Sioux。 Wa…pay…na；
Little Barker。 Wee…ko； Beautiful Woman。 We…no…na； Firstborn Daughter。
We…sha…wee； Red Girl。 We…wop…tay； a sharpened pole。 We…yan…na； little
woman。 We…zee； Smoky Lodge。 Yank…ton…nais； a band of Sioux。 Zee…zee…
win； Yellow Woman。 Zu…ya…ma…ni； Walks…to…War。
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