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Big Horn rivers。 Her heart beat fast； and the sudden sense of her strange
mission almost overwhelmed her。 She remembered the only time in her
life that the Sioux were upon that river； and so had that bit of friendly
welcome from the valleya recol… lection of childhood！
It was near morning； the moon had set and for a short time darkness
prevailed； but the girl's eyes had by this time become accustomed to the
dark。 She knew the day was at hand； and with its first beams she was
safely tucked into one of those round turns left by the river long ago in
changing its bed； now become a little grassy hollow sheltered by steep
banks； and hidden by a fringe of trees。 Here she picketed her pony； and
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took her own rest。 Not until the afternoon shadows were long did she
awake and go forth with determination to seek for the battlefield and for
the Crow encamp… ment。
It was not long before she came upon the bodies of fallen horses and
men。 There was Matoska's white charger； with a Sioux arrow in his side；
and she divined the treachery of Red Owl！ But he was dead； and his
death had atoned for the crime。 The body of her lover was nowhere to be
found； yet how should they have taken the bravest of the Sioux a cap…
tive？
〃If he had but one arrow left； he would stand and fight！ If his bow…
string were broken； he would still welcome death with a strong heart；〃 she
thought。
The evening was approaching and the Crow village in plain sight。
Blue Sky arranged her hair and dress as well as she could like that of a
Crow woman； and with an extra robe she made for herself a bundle that
looked as if it held a baby in its many wrappings。 The com… munity was
still celebrating its recent victory over the Sioux； and the camp was alive
with songs and dances。 In the darkness she ap… proached unnoticed； and
singing in an under… tone a Crow lullaby； walked back and forth among the
lodges； watching eagerly for any signs of him she sought。
At last she came near to the council lodge。 There she beheld his face
like an apparition through the dusk and the fire…light！ He was sitting
within； dressed in the gala costume of a Crow。
〃O； he is living！ he is living！〃 thought the brave maiden。 〃O； what
shall I do？〃 Un… consciously she crept nearer and nearer； until the sharp
eyes of an Indian detected the slight difference in her manner and dress；
and he at once gave the alarm。
〃Wah； wah！ Epsaraka！ Epsaraka！ A Sioux！ A Sioux！〃
In an instant the whole camp had surrounded the girl； who stood in
their midst a prisoner； yet undaunted； for she had seen her lover； and the
spirit of her ancestors rose within her。
An interpreter was brought； a man who was half Crow and half Sioux。
〃Young and pretty daughter of the Sioux！〃 exclaimed the chief； 〃tell us
how you came here in our midst undetected； and why！〃
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〃Because；〃 replied the Blue Sky； 〃your brave warriors have slain my
only brother； and captured my lover； whom you now hold a pris… oner。 It
is for his sake that I have thus risked my life and honor！〃
〃Ho； ho！ You are the bravest woman I have ever seen。 Your lover
wag betrayed into our hands by the treachery of one of his own tribe； who
shot his horse from behind。 He faced us without fear； but it was not his
courage that saved his life。 He resembles my own son； who lately fell in
battle； and according to the custom I have adopted him as my son！〃
Thus the brave maiden captured the heart of the wily Crow； and was
finally allowed to return home with her lover； bearing many and rich
presents。 Her name is remembered among the two tribes； for this act of
hers resulted in a treaty of peace between them which was kept for a
generation。
VII THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS
Away beyond the Thin Hills； above the Big Lone Tree upon the
Powder River； the Uncpapa Sioux had celebrated their Sun Dance； some
forty years ago。 It was mid… summer and the red folk were happy。 They
lacked for nothing。 The yellowish green flat on either side of the Powder
was studded with wild flowers； and the cottonwood trees were in full leaf。
One large circle of buffalo skin tee… pees formed the movable village。
The Big Horn Mountains loomed up against the deep blue sky to the
westward； and the Black Hills appeared in the far southeast。
The tribal rites had all been observed； and the usual summer festivities
enjoyed to the full。 The camp as it broke up divided itself in three parts；
each of which had determined to seek a favorite hunting…ground。
One band journeyed west； toward the Tongue River。 One followed a
tributary of the Pow… der to the south。 The third merely changed camp；
on account of the grazing for ponies； and for four days remained near the
old place。
The party that went west did not fail to real… ize the perilous nature of
their wanderings； for they were trespassing upon the country of the
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warlike Crows。
On the third day at sunrise； the Sioux crier's voice resounded in the
valley of the Powder； announcing that the lodges must be razed and the
villagers must take up their march。
Breakfast of jerked buffalo meat had been served and the women were
adjusting their packs； not without much chatter and apparent confusion。
Weeko （Beautiful Woman）； the young wife of the war…chief Shunkaska；
who had made many presents at the dances in honor of her twin boys； now
gave one of her remain… ing ponies to a poor old woman whose only beast
of burden； a large dog； had died during the night。
This made it necessary to shift the packs of the others。 Nakpa； or
Long Ears； her kitten… like gray mule； which had heretofore been hon…
ored with the precious burden of the twin babies； was to be given a heavier
and more cumbersome load。 Weeko's two…year…old spotted po