Old Indian Days | Page 5

been dispatched to notify
the main war-party when they first saw Ante- lope, but he did not know
this, and his courage was undiminished. From time to time he con-
tinued to flash his signal, and at last like light- ning the little white flash
came in reply.
The sun was low when the besieged warrior discovered a large body of
horsemen approach- ing from the northwest. It was the Ute war- party!
He looked earnestly once more toward the Sioux camp, shading his
eyes with his right palm. There, too, were many moving specks upon
the plain, drawing toward the foot of the hill!
At the middle of the afternoon they had caught his distress signal, and
the entire camp was thrown into confusion, for but few of the men had
returned from the daily hunt. As fast as they came in, the warriors
hurried away upon their best horses, singing and yelling. When they
reached the well-known butte, tow- ering abruptly in the midst of the

plain, they could distinguish their enemies massed behind the hanging
rocks and scattered cedar-trees, crawling up closer and closer, for the
large war- party reached the hill just as the scouts who held Antelope at
bay discovered the approach of his kinsmen.
Antelope had long since exhausted his quiver of arrows and was
gathering up many of those that fell about him to send them back
among his pursuers. When their attention was withdrawn from him for
an instant by the sud- den onset of the Sioux, he sprang to his feet.
He raised both his hands heavenward in token of gratitude for his
rescue, and his friends announced with loud shouts the daring of Ante-
lope.
Both sides fought bravely, but the Utes at last retreated and were
fiercely pursued. An- telope stood at his full height upon the huge rock
that had sheltered him, and gave his yell of defiance and exultation.
Below him the war- riors took it up, and among the gathering shadows
the rocks echoed praises of his name.
In the Sioux camp upon Lost Water there were dances and praise songs,
but there was wailing and mourning, too, for many lay dead among the
crags. The name of Antelope was indelibly recorded upon Eagle Scout
Butte.
"If he wished for a war-bonnet of eagle feathers, it is his to wear,"
declared one of the young men. "But he is modest, and scarcely even
joins in the scalp dances. lt is said of him that he has never yet spoken
to any young woman!"
"True, it is not announced publicly that he has addressed a maiden.
Many parents would like to have their daughters the first one he would
speak to, but I am told he desires to go upon one or two more war-paths
before seeking woman's company," replied another.
"Hun, hun, hay!" exclaimed a third youth ill-naturedly. He is already
old enough to be a father!"

"This is told of him," rejoined the first speaker. "He wants to hold the
record of being the young man who made the greatest number of coups
before he spoke to a maiden. I know that there are not only mothers
who would be glad to have him for a son-in-law, but their young
daughters would not refuse to look upon the brave Antelope as a
husband!"
It was true that in the dance his name was often mentioned, and at
every repetition it seemed that the young women danced with more
spirit, while even grandmothers joined in the whirl with a show of
youthful abandon.
Wezee, the father of Antelope, was receiv- ing congratulations
throughout the afternoon. Many of the old men came to his lodge to
smoke with him, and the host was more than gratified, for he was of a
common family and had never before known what it is to bask in the
sunshine of popularity and distinction. He spoke complacently as he
crowded a hand- ful of tobacco into the bowl of the long red pipe.
"Friends, our life here is short, and the life of a brave youth is apt to be
shorter than most! We crave all the happiness that we can get, and it is
right that we should do so. One who says that he does not care for
reputation or success, is not likely to be telling the truth. So you will
forgive me if I say too much about the honorable career of my son."
This was the old man's philosophic apology.
"Ho, ho," his guests graciously responded. "It is your moon! Every
moon has its full- ness, when it lights up the night, while the little stars
dance before it. So to every man there comes his full moon!"
Somewhat later in the day all the young people of