Blackfoot Lodge Tales | Page 7

Dreams belong to the Sun. He gave them to us, so that we can
see ahead and know what will happen. The Piegans are not cowards.
Their dreams told them to turn back. So do not be angry with them any
more."
"There is truth in what you say, old man," replied Owl Bear; "I will
take your words."
IV
In those days the Piegans were a great tribe. When they travelled, if you
were with the head ones, you could not see the last ones, they were so

far back. They had more horses than they could count, so they used
fresh horses every day and travelled very fast. On the twenty-fourth day
they reached the place where Owl Bear had told the Snake they would
camp, and put up their lodges along the creek. Soon some young men
came in, and said they had seen some fresh horse trails up toward the
mountain.
"It must be the Snakes," said the chief; "they have already arrived,
although there is yet one night." So he called one of his wives, and
getting on their horses they set out to find the Snake camp. They took
the trail up over the mountain, and soon came in sight of the lodges. It
was a big camp. Every open place in the valley was covered with
lodges, and the hills were dotted with horses; for the Snakes had a great
many more horses than the Piegans.
Some of the Snakes saw the Piegans coming, and they ran to the chief,
saying: "Two strangers are in sight, coming this way. What shall be
done?"
"Do not harm them," replied the chief. "They are friends of mine. I
have been expecting them." Then the Snakes wondered, for the chief
had told them nothing about his war trip.
Now when Owl Bear had come to the camp, he asked in signs for the
chiefs lodge, and they pointed him to one in the middle. It was small
and old. The Piegan got off his horse, and the Snake chief came out and
hugged him and kissed him, and said: "I am glad you have come to-day
to my lodge. So are my people. You are tired. Enter my lodge and we
will eat." So they went inside and many of the Snakes came in, and
they had a great feast.
Then the Snake chief told his people how he had met the Piegan, and
how brave he was, and that now they were going to make a great peace;
and he sent some men to tell the people, so that they would be ready to
move camp in the morning. Evening came. Everywhere people were
shouting out for feasts, and the chief took Owl Bear to them. It was
very late when they returned. Then the Snake had one of his wives
make a bed at the back of the lodge; and when it was ready he said:
"Now, my friend, there is your bed. This is now your lodge; also the
woman who made the bed, she is now your wife; also everything in this
lodge is yours. The parfleches, saddles, food, robes, bowls, everything
is yours. I give them to you because you are my friend and a brave

man."
"You give me too much," replied Owl Bear. "I am ashamed, but I take
your words. I have nothing with me but one wife. She is yours."
Next morning camp was broken early. The horses were driven in, and
the Snake chief gave Owl Bear his whole band,--two hundred head, all
large, powerful horses.
All were now ready, and the chiefs started ahead. Close behind them
were all the warriors, hundreds and hundreds, and last came the women
and children, and the young men driving the loose horses. As they
came in sight of the Piegan camp, all the warriors started out to meet
them, dressed in their war costumes and singing the great war song.
There was no wind, and the sound came across the valley and up the
hill like the noise of thunder. Then the Snakes began to sing, and thus
the two parties advanced. At last they met. The Piegans turned and rode
beside them, and so they came to the camp. Then they got off their
horses and kissed each other. Every Piegan asked a Snake into his
lodge to eat and rest, and the Snake women put up their lodges beside
the Piegan lodges. So the great peace was made.
In Owl Bear's lodge there was a great feast, and when they had finished
he said to his people: "Here is the man whose scalp I took. Did I say I
killed him? No. I gave him my knife and told him to kill me. He would
not do it;