Three Sioux Scouts

Russell Gregor Elmer

Description

Three brave warriors on the trail of buffalo happen to discover that an enemy offensive is being mustered to attack their tribe. The trio band together to evade the enemy forces and warn their people in a masterful feat of courage, wits, and skill.

Sujets

• Westerns
• Western (genre)
• Western

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776591619
• Langue: English

Extrait

THREE SIOUX SCOUTS
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ELMER RUSSELL GREGOR
 
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Three Sioux Scouts First published in 1922 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-161-9 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-162-6 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - Watching for Buffaloes Chapter II - Mysterious Signals Chapter III - Old Enemies Chapter IV - Trailing a War Party Chapter V - Off to Warn the Cheyennes Chapter VI - A Perilous Mission Chapter VII - Red Dog's Stratagem Chapter VIII - The Attack on the Camp Chapter IX - Pawnees Chapter X - A Desperate Chase Chapter XI - A Night of Surprises Chapter XII - Friends Chapter XIII - The Abandoned Camp Chapter XIV - In Pursuit of the Kiowas Chapter XV - Daring Scouts Chapter XVI - A Thrilling Rescue Chapter XVII - Disaster Chapter XVIII - Reënforcements Chapter XIX - The Pawnees at Bay Chapter XX - A Hard Won Victory
Chapter I - Watching for Buffaloes
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White Otter, the famous young war chief of the Ogalala Sioux, and hisfriends Sun Bird and Little Raven, of the Minneconjoux tribe, weresearching the plains for buffaloes. It was early spring, the time ofThe-new-grass-moon, and the Sioux were expecting the great buffaloherds on their migration northward from the winter feeding grounds.
"Pretty soon Ta-tan-ka will come—then we will have some good days andplenty of meat," White Otter told his friends. "Yellow Horse issinging the Medicine Songs to bring the buffaloes. They will come."
"My father does that," said Sun Bird. "I have seen him do it manytimes."
"Your father is a great Medicine Person, like Yellow Horse," declaredWhite Otter.
Although the villages of the Ogalalas and the Minneconjoux were manydays' travel apart, the young warriors visited one another withconsiderable frequency. The year previous White Otter had accompaniedthe Minneconjoux on a great war expedition against the Blackfeet. NowSun Bird and his brother, Little Raven, had come to the Ogalalavillage to participate in the spring buffalo hunt.
The three young scouts made an impressive appearance as they canteredacross the plain on their speedy little hunting ponies. White Otterwas tall and lithe. Sun Bird was considerably shorter, and heavier inphysique. Little Raven was younger and less matured in face andstature. All showed the characteristics of the Dacotah warrior. Theywere fearless, cautious and crafty. Each had proved his courage andskill in a number of thrilling exploits, and despite theiryouthfulness all three were famous warriors. They wore the simpledress of the hunter, which consisted of moccasins, and buckskinleggins reaching to the thighs. They were naked above the waist. Theirhair was worn in two braids wrapped with fur. White Otter and SunBird, as chiefs of their respective tribes, were entitled to wear thecoveted war bonnet of eagle plumes. Both had left it off to be asinconspicuous as possible in their search for game. White Otter,however, wore a single eagle feather in his scalp lock. They werearmed with bows and arrows and flint hunting knives. White Otter andSun Bird carried fire sticks. Each was provided with a robe of elkskinwhich was folded beneath him, across the back of his pony.
For two days they had searched the plains to the southward of theOgalala camp. They had seen nothing, however, to indicate the approachof the great buffalo herds. Still they felt certain that it would beonly a day or so until the buffaloes appeared.
"When we see them we will ride fast and tell my people," said WhiteOtter.
"Yes, yes, we will be the first to tell about it," Little Ravendeclared, enthusiastically.
They were a considerable distance from the Ogalala village, and as thethird day drew toward its close they began to wonder if it might notbe foolhardy to venture farther to the southward. They knew that therewas a possibility of encountering both the Kiowas and the Pawnees inthat direction, and the Utes from the west and even their hated foes,the Crows, sometimes moved down into that disputed territory. TheSioux realized, therefore, that they were exposing themselves toconsiderable danger.
"We have come a long ways—we must watch out," White Otter cautioned.
"It is true," agreed Sun Bird. "The Pawnees travel in this country.Perhaps they are looking around for buffaloes. We must be cautious."
They had stopped at a little grove of cottonwoods, which offered feedand water for the ponies. As the day had almost ended, they weretempted to spend the night at that spot. White Otter, however, decidedagainst it.
"It would be foolish," he declared. "Our enemies know about thisplace. Perhaps they will come here when it gets dark. We must rideaway."
"It is the best thing to do," said Sun Bird.
They loitered until the ponies had finished feeding, and then theyprepared to ride away. At that moment a small band of antelopessuddenly appeared on the crest of a low ridge to the westward. Theyhad stopped, and seemed to be watching something on the other side ofthe ridge. It was evident that they had been alarmed. The Sioux becamesuspicious. They watched closely.
"Something has frightened Ta-to-ka-dan," said Sun Bird.
"See, they are running down the ridge," Little Raven whispered,excitedly.
The antelopes were bounding down the slope. When they reached thebottom they turned toward the little grove in which the Sioux hadtaken shelter. The latter watched them with considerable uneasiness.
"It is bad," declared White Otter. "Perhaps some one is peeping overthat hill. If those antelopes come close they will find out about us.Then they will run away. If hunters are watching on that ridge theywill know that something is over here in this place. Perhaps they willcome here to find out about it."
"It is bad," said Sun Bird.
The antelopes were still running toward the grove. Several old bucks,however, had stopped to look back at the ridge. The rest of the bandcontinued across the plain. They were running against the wind. Asthey came within arrow range of the grove they suddenly stopped, andappeared suspicious. They had caught the danger scent.
"Ta-to-ka-dan is sharp," laughed Sun Bird.
"The wind has told about us," said Little Raven.
White Otter kept silent. He watched the antelopes with gravemisgivings. Their behavior alarmed him. He felt quite sure that theywould arouse the distrust of any foes who might be loitering withinsight, and tempt them to investigate the grove. The idea suggesteddisturbing possibilities.
"See, Ta-to-ka-dan is standing out there like a frightened old woman,"he said, irritably. "If our enemies are about they will come over hereto see what has frightened Ta-to-ka-dan."
"Come, we will ride away," proposed Little Raven.
"Wait, wait," Sun Bird cried, excitedly. "I saw something peep overthe top of that hill."
"I see it," said Little Raven. "It looks like Ma-ya-sh, the wolf."
They saw what appeared to be the head of a prairie wolf risingcautiously above the top of the ridge. The buck antelopes haddiscovered it, and were flashing the danger signal and stampingnervously.
"It is bad," White Otter said, uneasily. "Perhaps it is Ma-ya-sh, thewolf—perhaps it is a hunter. We must watch sharp."
As they continued to watch the ridge, the little band of antelopessuddenly turned and bounded away toward the north. It was evident thatthey had determined to avoid the grove. In a few moments the bucksthat had been watching the ridge cantered after them.
"It is good," said White Otter. "Now we will find out who is overthere on that hill. If it is Ma-ya-sh and his people they will goaway. If it is our enemies they will keep watching this place."
"Something is watching," Sun Bird told him.
The head of the mysterious prowler still showed above the ridge. Itwas boldly outlined against the fading sunset sky. It appeared to bethe head of Ma-ya-sh, the prairie wolf. The Sioux distinctly saw thelong, lean snout, and the pointed ears of Ma-ya-sh. Still they weresuspicious. They knew that scouts often covered themselves with theskin of Ma-ya-sh to creep up on game, and also to spy upon their foeswithout arousing distrust.
"I do not believe it is Ma-ya-sh," White Otter declared, finally. "Itkeeps too still. Ma-ya-sh would move around. I believe it is ahunter."
"We will watch," said Sun Bird.
"Look, look, there is another!" cried Little Raven.
A second head had suddenly appeared. It, too, seemed to be the head ofa prairie wolf. The Sioux, however, were doubtful. If the distantobjects really were wolves, their actions were most unusual. They werecareful to keep themselves well concealed behind the ridge, and as theantelopes were a considerable distance to the northward, it wasevident that the mysterious creatures were watching the grove. TheSioux were concealed in the timber, and there was no possibility ofbeing seen. They determined to watch, therefore, until the strangeobjects on the ridge either showed themselves or disappeared. In a fewmoments one withdrew from sight.
"That is bad," said White Otter. "Now I believe they are scouts.Perhaps one has gone away to call the hunters. We must watch out."
Daylight was fading. Twilight was settling upon the plain. The Siouxfound it difficult to distinguish the remaining object on the ridge.They felt considerably relieved to know that night was close at hand.
"Pretty soon it will be dark," said White Otter. "Then we will rideaway."
They waited impatiently for nightfall. Their one fear was that acompany of foes might ride t