Part 30 (2/2)

”And this,” continued Bright Sun in his measured, precise English, ”is Ite-Mogu'Ju (Rain-in-the-Face), and this Kun-Sun'ka (Crow Dog), and this Pizi (Gall), and this Peji (Gra.s.s)”.

Thus he continued introducing them, giving to every one his long Indian appellation until all were named. The famous Sitting Bull (Tatanka Yotanka) was not present. d.i.c.k learned afterwards that he was at that very moment in his own tepee making medicine.

”What we wish to know,” said Bright Sun--”and we have ways to make you tell us--is whether you saw the white troops before we took you?”

d.i.c.k s.h.i.+vered a little. He knew what Bright Sun meant by the phrase ”we have ways to make you tell,” and he knew also that Bright Sun would be merciless if mercy stood in the way of getting what he wished. No shred of the white man's training was now left about the Indian chief save the white man's speech.

”I have not seen a white man in two years,” replied d.i.c.k, ”nor has my brother. We told you the truth when you took us.”

Bright Sun was silent for a s.p.a.ce, regarding him with black eyes seeking to read every throb of his heart. d.i.c.k was conscious, too, that the similar gaze of all the others was upon him. But he did not flinch. Why should he? He had told the truth.

”Then I ask you again,” said Bright Sun, ”where have you been all this time?”

”I cannot tell you,” replied d.i.c.k. ”It is a place that we wish to keep secret. It is hidden far from here. But it is one to which no one else goes. I can say that much.”

Rain-in-the-Face made an impatient movement, and said some words in the Sioux tongue. d.i.c.k feared it was a suggestion that he be put to the torture, and he was glad when Bright Sun shook his head.

”There are such places,” said Bright Sun, ”because the mountains are high and vast and but few people travel among them. It may be that he tells the truth.”

”It is the truth. I swear it!” said d.i.c.k earnestly.

”Then why do you refuse to tell of this place?” asked Bright Sun.

”Because we wish to keep it for ourselves,” replied d.i.c.k frankly.

The faintest trace of a smile was visible in Bright Sun's eyes.

”Wherever it may be it belongs to us,” said the chief; ”but I believe that you are telling the truth. Nor do I hesitate to tell you that we have asked these questions because we wish to learn all that we can. The soldiers of your people are advancing under the yellow-haired general, Custer, Terry, Gibbon, and others. They come in great force, but the Sioux, in greater force and more cunning will destroy them.”

d.i.c.k was silent. He knew too little to make any reply to the statements of Bright Sun. Rain-in-the-Face and Crazy Horse spoke to Bright Sun, and they seemed to be urging something. But the chief again shook his head, and they, too, became silent. It was obvious to both boys that his influence was enormous.

”You can go,” he said to d.i.c.k and Albert, and they gladly left the lodge. Outside, Lone Wolf and Pine Tree fell in on either side of them and escorted them to their own tepee, in front of which they stood guard while the boys slept that night.

Chapter XVII The Great Sun Dance

d.i.c.k and Albert remained in their tepee throughout the next morning, but in the afternoon they were allowed to go in the village a second time. Lone Wolf and Pine Tree, who had slept in the morning, were again their guards. Both saw at once that some great event was at hand. The excitement in the village had increased visibly, and a mult.i.tude was pouring toward a certain point, a wide, gra.s.sy plain beside the Little Big Horn. Lone Wolf and Pine Tree willingly took the captives with the crowd, and the two boys looked upon a sight which few white men have beheld in all its savage convulsions.

The wide, gra.s.sy s.p.a.ce before them had been carefully chosen by the great medicine men of the nation, Sitting Bull at their head.

Then the squaws had put up a great circular awning, like a circus tent, with part of the top cut out. This awning was over one hundred and fifty feet in diameter. After this, the medicine men had selected a small tree, which was cut down by a young, unmarried squaw. Then the tree, after it had been trimmed of all its branches and consecrated and prayed over by the medicine men, was erected in the center of the inclosed s.p.a.ce, rising from the ground to a height of about twenty feet.

To the top of the pole were fastened many long thongs of rawhide reaching nearly to the ground, and as d.i.c.k and Albert looked a swarm of young men in strange array, or rather lack of array, came forth from among the lodges and entered the inclosed s.p.a.ce.

d.i.c.k had some dim perception of what was about to occur, but Lone Wolf informed him definitely.

”The sun dance,” he said. ”Many youths are about to become great warriors.”

The greatest of sun dances, a sun dance of the mighty allied Sioux tribes, was about to begin. Forward went the neophytes, every one clad only in a breechclout ornamented with beads, colored horsehair and eagle feathers, and with horse tails attached to it, falling to the ground. But every square inch of the neophyte's skin was painted in vivid and fantastic colors.

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