Old Indian Days | Page 4

some of his rivals and comrades.
He had been running for two or three hours at a good, even gait, and
had crossed more than one of the smaller creeks, yet many deep
gulches and bad lands lay between him and the furthest peak that
melted into the blue dome above.
"I shall stand upon the Bear's Heart," he said to himself. "If I can do
that, and still report before the others, I shall do well!" His keen eyes
were constantly sweeping the country in his front, and suddenly he
paused and shrank back motionless in a crouching at- titude, still
steadily keeping an eye upon a moving object. It was soon evident that
some one was stealthily eying him from behind cover, and he was
outwitted by the enemy! Still stooping, he glided down a little ravine,
and as he reached the bed of the creek there emerged from it a large
gray wolf.
This was very opportune for Antelope. He gave the gray wolf's
danger-call with all his might; waited an instant and gave it a sec- ond
time; then he turned and ran fleetly down the stream. At the same
moment the wolf ap- peared upon the top of the bank, in full view of
the enemy.
"Here he comes!" they whispered, and had their arrows on the string as
the wolf trotted leisurely along, exposing only his head, for this was a
common disguise among the plains In- dians. But when he came out
into the open, behold! it was only a gray wolf!
"Ugh!" the Utes grunted, as they looked at each other in much chagrin.

"Surely he was a man, and coming directly into our trap! We sang and
prayed to the gods of war when our war chief sent us ahead to scout the
Sioux people, to find their camp. This is a mystery, a magic! Either he
is a Sioux in disguise, or we don't know their tricks!" exclaimed the
leader.
Now they gave the war-whoop, and their arrows flew through the air.
The wolf gave a yelp of distress, staggered and fell dead. In- stantly
they ran to examine the body, and found it to be truly that of a wolf.
"Either this is a wonderful medicine-man, or we are shamefully fooled
by a Sioux war- rior," they muttered.
They lost several minutes before they caught sight of Antelope, who
had followed the bed of the creek as far as it lay in his direction and
then came out of it at full speed. It would be safer for him to remain in
concealment until dark; but in the meantime the Ute war- riors would
reach the camp, and his people were unprepared! It was necessary to
expose himself to the enemy. He knew that it would be chiefly a
contest of speed and he had an ex- cellent start; but on the other hand,
the Utes doubtless had their horses.
"The Sioux who played this trick on us must die to-day!" exclaimed
their leader. "Come, friends, we cannot afford to let him tell this joke
on us at the camp-fires of his people!"
Antelope was headed directly for Eagle Scout Butte, for the camp was
in plain view from the top of this hill. He had run pretty much all day,
but then, that was nothing!
"I shall reach the summit first, unless the Ute horses have wings!" he
said to him- self.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw five horse- men approaching, so he
examined his bow and arrows as he ran.
"All is well," he muttered. "One of their spirits at the least must guide
mine to the spirit land!" where, it was believed by them, there was no

fighting.
Now he was within hearing of their whoops, but he was already at the
foot of the butte. Their horses could not run up the steep ascent, and
they were obliged to dismount. Like a deer the Sioux leaped from rock
to rock, and almost within arrow-shot came his pursuers, wildly
whooping and yelling.
When he had achieved the summit, he took his stand between two great
rocks, and flashed his tiny looking-glass for a distress signal into the
distant camp of his people.
For a long time no reply came, and many arrows flew over his head, as
the Utes ap- proached gradually from rock to rock. He, too, sent down a
swift arrow now and then, to show them that he was no child or woman
in fight, but brave as a bear when it is brought to bay.
"Ho, ho!" he shouted to the enemy, in token of a brave man's welcome
to danger and death.
They replied with yells of triumph, as they pressed more and more
closely upon him. One of their number had