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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39899-8.txt b/39899-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e89550 --- /dev/null +++ b/39899-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4431 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Star, by Forrestine C. Hooker, Illustrated by +Charles Livingston Bull + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Star + The Story of an Indian Pony + + +Author: Forrestine C. Hooker + + + +Release Date: June 2, 2012 [eBook #39899] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAR*** + + +E-text prepared by sp1nd, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 39899-h.htm or 39899-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39899/39899-h/39899-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39899/39899-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/starstoryofindia00hook + + + + + +STAR + +The Story of an Indian Pony + +by + +FORRESTINE C. HOOKER + +With an Introduction by Lieut.-General Nelson A. Miles, U.S.A. + +Jacket Painting by Charles Livingston Bull + + + + + + + +The Sun Dial Press, Inc. +Garden City, New York + +Copyright, 1922, by Doubleday, Page & Company. +All Rights Reserved. +Printed in The United States at the +Country Life Press, Garden City, N. Y. + + + + TO + YOU, THE ONE + + Like a ray of light in a stormy sky your love has encouraged and + guided me through years when the dim, rough trail was hard to + follow. + + + + +[Illustration: _Son of Running Deer, daughter of the swiftest racer of +all the Comanche ponies_] + + + + +FOREWORD + + +The recording of historic facts and events in the romance of a story +must be interesting and instructive to the readers; especially when the +scenes occurred in a vast country, formerly occupied by an ancient and +departed race and later by one now rapidly disappearing. + +In vain might we search history for the record of a people who contended +as valiantly against a superior race, overwhelming numbers, and who +defended their country until finally driven toward the setting sun, a +practically subjugated nation and race. The art of war among the white +people is called strategy, or tactics; when practised by the Indians it +is called treachery. + +Their wealth consisted of their herds of horses--which the Western +Indians obtained from the Mexicans after the Spanish had invaded +Mexico--their lodges and the few appliances for camp-life. They +worshipped the God of nature, and the Great Spirit was their omnipotent +Jehovah. They believed that death was a long journey to the Happy +Hunting Grounds. They were grateful for the abundance of the earth--the +sunshine, air, water, and all the blessings of nature--and believed that +all should share them alike. For one to wish to monopolize any part of +the earth was to them the manifestation of a grasping disposition. Often +the men of the most influence and greatest popularity in the tribe were +the poorest, or those who gave most to others. + +They believed that the Great Spirit had given them this beautiful +country with its natural resources, advantages, and blessings for their +home. + +One great cause of disaffection among the Indians was the destruction of +their vast herds of buffalo, which seemed like ruthless sacrifice. +Within a few years millions of buffalo were killed for their hides, and +thousands of white men, the best rifle-shots in the world, were engaged +in the business. + +Among their own tribe and people they had a code of honour which all +respected. An Indian could leave his horse, blanket, saddle, or rifle at +any place by day or night and it would not be disturbed, though the +whole tribe might pass near. This could not be done in any community of +white people. + +These conditions existed in 1874, when the Southwest Indians assembled +at Medicine Lodge and decided to drive out the buffalo hunters. + +In August, 1874, I was directed to organize a command at Fort Dodge, on +the Arkansas River in southwestern Kansas, and move south against the +hostile Indians. Other commands were ordered to move: one east from New +Mexico, under Major Price; one north from Texas, under General +Mackenzie; one west from Indian Territory, under Colonel Davidson, Tenth +Cavalry. + +My command consisted of two battalions of eight troops of cavalry, +commanded by Majors Compton and Biddle; one battalion of four companies +of infantry, commanded by Major Bristol; a company of friendly Indians, +a detachment of artillery, and a company of civilian scouts and guides. +These latter were mostly hunters and expert riflemen, familiar with the +country. + +In one of the many engagements with the hostile Indians Captain Frank D. +Baldwin (now Major General) a very gallant officer, recaptured two +little captive white girls, Julia and Adelaide Germaine, seven and nine +years old, whose father, mother, brother, and older sister had been +massacred. From the children we learned of their two sisters, still in +the hands of the savages, and we made it a condition that they should be +brought in safely and surrendered with the whole tribe, which was done +immediately on receipt of my demand. The other two girls had been +brought by order of Chief Stone Calf to a tent next his own, where they +were treated with marked care and consideration until formally +surrendered to us. + +That campaign, lasting for many months, closed after most difficult and +laborious efforts on the part of the troops, with the satisfactory +result that the vast southwestern country has been free from the +terrifying and devastating presence of hostile Indians, and the citizens +of the States of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico have +enjoyed an era of peace. Scarcely a hostile shot has been heard in that +country since that year. + +In a report to Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, Commanding General of +the U. S. Army, November 23, 1874, which was published in report of +Secretary of War, Vol. I, 1875, I said: + +"It would have been better for the Indians had they been considered a +part of the population of the United States and dealt with generously; +and when forced on reservations--which is always the case--let +reservations be reasonable in size, subject to special rule and +government until the Indians are fitted to obey the ordinary laws of the +country which have been made to control educated and intelligent white +people. + +"If the Indians had always been humanely and honestly dealt with, there +would have been but few of the troubles which have occurred in the many +years gone by." + +[Illustration: Signature: Nelson A. Miles, Lieut.-General US Army] + + July 21, 1922 + Washington, D. C. + + + + +STAR: + +_The Story of an Indian Pony_ + + + + +Chapter I + + +The first streak of dawn was turning the sky from gray to pale pink as +Star lifted his head and looked sleepily at the twelve hundred Comanche +ponies stretched on the ground around him. + +Farther away were many tepees made from buffalo skins, but only the +wolf-dogs, curled in holes they had dug near the tepees, showed that the +camp was not deserted. Star knew that the Comanche braves, squaws, and +papooses would soon awaken and come out wrapped in blankets which had +been woven by the squaws and dyed in bright colours made from roots and +berries. + +One tepee, larger than the others, belonged to Quannah, Chief of the +Quahada Comanches, and Star looked at it as he recalled the story his +mother, Running Deer, had told him many times while they grazed side by +side or rested on the banks of the creek near the camp. Star loved +Quannah, but more than all else he loved Quannah's little daughter, +Songbird, for she was Star's mistress. He remembered the day when he had +been too tiny and weak to stand up, and Quannah, with Songbird, had +stooped to pat Running Deer's colt. + +"We will name him Star," the chief had spoken. "He belongs to you, as +his mother belongs to me, and as his mother's mother belonged to my +father. Swift, sure, and strong, they have been worthy to carry the +Chiefs of the Quahadas." + +So the colt understood the honour given his mother and the honour that +was to be his when he was big enough to be ridden. And the tale his +mother told many times never wearied him. + +"My mother told me the tale," she would always begin, "and now that she +is dead I tell it to you. When I am dead, you shall tell it to other +ponies, so that it may be remembered as long as Comanche herds wander +over the plains. + +"The squaws tell their papooses the great deeds of their forefathers, +that none will forget, that the young boys may become great warriors, +while the girls grow to be worthy squaws and train their own sons to +live with honour. So I, too, tell the story of our part in the life of +our great Chief and his Pale-face Mother, as my mother told it to me, +long ago, before you were born. + +"When she was a very young mare, the swiftest racer of all the Comanche +ponies, our tribe wandered long distances over plains covered with grass +knee-high. Vast herds of buffaloes and thousands of beautiful antelopes +shared the prairie lands with us. When the tepees were set up there were +so many that they reached out like stars covering the sky at night. Our +pony herd was so large that each brave owned many ponies, and he who +owned the most ponies was the richest man of all. + +"The Comanches could not live without us. It needs a swift, sure-footed +pony to follow the antelope near enough to send an arrow to its heart as +it runs. You know, as well as I, that antelope meat must be brought to +the camp to feed the women and children. Because the Comanches are such +great hunters, other tribes call them the 'Antelope Eaters.' And from +the hundreds of buffaloes ranging on the plains, our warriors obtain +hides for clothing, for warm robes and to make tepees that will defy the +cold winds and snows that rush upon them from the place where the Great +White Spirit of Winter dwells. + +"Without good ponies the Comanches would be cold and hungry, as you must +see. And so we are honoured by the warriors and loved by the women and +children for whom we provide food and shelter. When the enemies of the +tribe come against us in battle, the ponies share the dangers with their +owners. None of us has ever been vanquished. Ponies have died beside +their masters, but have never deserted them. When a warrior dies, his +favourite pony dies with him, that the warrior may ride it in the Happy +Hunting Grounds to which he and it have journeyed through the Land of +Shadows. There they are happy together. That is a great honour, but the +greatest honour of all is to be the favourite pony of the Chief." + +"Like you!" interrupted Star with a proud toss of his head as he glanced +at other colts whose mothers belonged to men who were not chiefs. + +"Like me and like my mother," Running Deer never failed to answer. "Lie +down beside me while I tell you the tale again, so that you will make no +mistake in telling it to other ponies when you are old and others have +forgotten it all." + +Star settled himself comfortably at her side, and as she talked, he +nipped daintily at bits of tender grass which made a soft bed beneath +over-hanging branches of a tall tree. + + + + +Chapter II + + +"Long before I was born," began Running Deer, "the warriors of our tribe +wove bits of red cloth into the manes and tails of their ponies. Each +warrior, decked in brightest blankets and with war-bonnets of eagle +feathers that bound their heads, fell over their shoulders, then trailed +almost to the ground, rode rapidly across the prairie with their quivers +full of sharply pointed arrows. + +"White-faced men had come on the land of the Comanches and were taking +possession of our hunting grounds. So word was brought to camp for our +fighting men to go out and protect the game that belonged to the +Indians. The Great Spirit put the game on the prairies that the +Comanches and other Indians might use it for food. + +"Like leaves swept by fierce winds the warriors rushed onward. Peta +Nocona, the old chief's young son, rode my mother at the head of the +Quahadas. He was almost a child in years, but a man in daring, and +often the chief gave him the honour of leading the warriors. All at once +in the distance a few specks caught his keen eyes, and he drew my +mother's reins, while all the Comanches halted to talk. Then each +warrior leaned down against the shoulder of his pony, and they raced +until they had formed a large circle around the moving spots. Gradually +closing about them, Peta Nocona led his men. + +"My mother said that those in the centre greeted them. It was +Pa-ha-u-ka's band, and with them were a boy and a girl with white skins, +who looked at the Comanches in fear. The girl's hair was long and gold +like the arrows of the sun, her eyes were like the summer sky, her skin +like untrodden snow. + +"The son of our chief rode to her side, and when she shrank back in +fear, he smiled and told her that no harm should come to her. She did +not understand his words, for she spoke in a strange tongue, but she did +understand his kindly eyes and voice and smile. So she made no struggle +when he lifted her from the arms of the warrior who was holding her. +Placing her before him on my mother's back, he held her carefully until +they reached our camp." + +"Did the white boy come, too?" asked Star as Running Deer paused to take +a bite of grass. + +"My mother said that the boy did not come into our camp and she did not +know where he went. Part of the Comanches, who belonged to Pa-ha-u-ka's +band, followed another trail and were gone a long time. But the little +white girl was not unhappy, for she had our chief's son as her +companion. We called her Preloch. All the care that would have been +given to the daughter of our chief was given to her until she reached +womanhood. Then she and the chief's son, Peta Nocona, were married with +great feasting and dancing that lasted many days, and everyone was very +happy for they all loved her and the chief's young son. + +"When the old chief, worn with the weight of many winters, slept with +his forefathers, the young chief ruled in his place. There was much +rejoicing when a son was born to Peta Nocona and his golden-haired +squaw, Preloch. They called him Quannah, which, as you know, means +'Fragrant.' Later a little daughter came to them, and her name was +Prairie Flower, for she was so pale and delicate that it seemed as +though a rough hand could crush her, or a strong wind carry her away on +its breast. The warriors honoured and obeyed Peta Nocona, who became a +great War Chief, and the women, children, and ponies loved his white +squaw, Preloch, for her gentle ways. Wherever he went, she rode at his +side, her baby daughter clasped in her arms, while little Quannah +followed closely behind on his pony, often shooting arrows as he rode. + +"The young chief had given my mother, Blackbird, to Preloch, and I was a +colt, past two years old, when white men found our camp. I do not know +just what happened, for in the darkness of night Gray Beard, Big Wolf, +and Spotted Leopard led me into a strange place among great trees, and +there we found Quannah waiting us. They spoke earnestly to him, then he +leaped to my back and we dashed away. + +"For many days we were alone, except when a warrior came and sat talking +gravely. I heard Karolo, the Medicine Man, tell Quannah one day, that +the white men had taken Preloch and Prairie Flower away with them. Then +he told that his mother had sent a message, bidding her son remain with +his father's people and rule them wisely and justly. She did not want to +leave her son and the Comanche people whom she loved so much, but she +had been made a prisoner by the white men and they were taking her and +her baby away to their own homes." + +"Why?" asked Star, wonderingly. + +"I do not know," answered Running Deer. "I am telling the story as it +all happened. How could an Indian pony understand the white man's ways, +when the wise men of the tribe did not understand? My mother told me the +story of the little white girl, and I heard what the old warriors said +to Quannah while we hid in the mountains; but I do know that neither +Preloch nor Prairie Flower ever came back to us again, and Quannah never +saw them again. + +"That is all I know. Quannah rode me back to camp and when you were born +he gave you to Songbird. You must serve her as faithfully as I have +served him, and as my mother, before me, served his father, Peta Nocona. +The big chiefs also told Quannah that his father, Peta Nocona, had been +killed by the white men as he stood, wounded, against a tree, singing +the Death Song of the Quahada Comanches. So Quannah, his son, became our +chief." + +Star thought about the story as he lay beside his mother, and he felt +very sure that he would not make any error in telling it when he had +grown old. The sun peeped over the edge of the world and shot a golden +arrow of light into the pony's eyes, to warn him and the other ponies +that it was time to roll and get up. + +It was not an easy thing to roll over. Star had tried it many times, for +his mother had told him that when a pony could roll completely over the +first thing in the morning, it was the sign he was very strong. So now +he stiffened his muscles and tried it, but only got partly over. Again +he tried and failed. But the third time he turned completely over, and +full of pride, leaped to his feet. Then he leaned down and nipped his +mother, who blinked up at him. + +"I did it!" he bragged, tossing his head so that the thick black mane +waved like a flag. "Mother, I rolled all the way over, this morning." + +"I knew you would do it," she answered proudly as she scrambled up +hastily. "Now you can carry a man." + +The two ponies saw the flap of Quannah's tepee lifted, and their ears +cocked sharply. A little girl, about six years old, with large dark +eyes, long glossy braids hanging to her waist, and clothed in a garment +of buckskin, with moccasins of buckskin on her feet, stood in the +opening of the tepee. + +"Star!" she called softly yet clearly. + +The pony answered with a low nicker of delight, tossed his shaggy mane, +kicked his hind heels and galloped to her side, where he bent his head +that she might pet his nose and pull his ears gently, while his eyes +told her how much he loved her. + + + + +Chapter III + + +Ever since Star had been strong enough to bear Songbird's weight on his +back, they had wandered together near the camp. Sometimes they climbed +the steep mountains so that they could look down on the tepees which +seemed only tiny white spots; or they raced after a coyote across the +prairie, and again they moved more slowly beside the streams where they +could see silvery fish darting from one deep pool to another. + +Always Star watched carefully that he might not step on a loose rock, or +into a prairie-dog hole. That would make him stumble and throw his +little mistress, and Star's mother had warned him of the danger. Many +times they paused beside the stream so that Star could thrust his +velvety nose into the cool ripples, while Songbird, higher up the creek, +would lie flat, face downward, and touch the water with her lips. + +At times she would sit in the shade of a tree near the stream and Star +would lie down beside her. Then she would pluck wild flowers and weave +them into his mane and make a wreath of them for her head, while she +told the pony that the big, white clouds drifting slowly over them were +the tepees of great warriors who had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds, +where they rode their favourite ponies all day long. But when the Spirit +of the Sun rode over the edge of the world at night, the warriors +followed him that the Spirit of Darkness might not overtake them, and +the clouds followed after them. + +One morning Songbird came to him and said, "There is a long journey for +you to-day." + +As she patted his neck, he noticed unusual excitement in the camp. The +warriors were gathering the pony herd instead of letting it wander to +graze until night. Men were rushing about, and the squaws were taking +down many tepees. Some of the men were helping them roll things in +buffalo robes which they tied with long thongs cut from cured hides. +Then these bundles were placed on the backs of pack-ponies and fastened +so that they could not slip off. Even the children were helping instead +of playing about. + +Quannah was directing everything while he stood near his tepee, a short +distance from Songbird and Star. At last the packing ended and the +warriors, mounted on their best ponies, moved slowly away from camp, +while behind them came extra ponies and then, still farther behind, +trotted the pack-ponies. + +As Star watched, wondering what it all meant, an Indian led Running Deer +to Quannah. The chief spoke hastily yet tenderly to Songbird, who +listened seriously to his words. Then Quannah sprang to Running Deer's +back. + +Songbird slipped her arms about Star's neck and he felt her soft lips +touch the white spot in the middle of his forehead. He was a jet-black +pony except for this white mark which formed a perfect star, and which +was almost hidden by the heavy forelock of hair that dangled to his +eyes. + +Quannah sat on the back of Running Deer, and watched Songbird, who +turned suddenly and spoke. + +"I have no brother! Let me go with you?" + +"You must stay here with the women and children," Star heard the chief +reply. "We go to meet men. It is safe here for the women and children. +You must stay with them until I return." + +The pony saw that all the Comanche herd was moving away from the camp, +and he turned quickly to his mother. + +"Must I stay, too?" he asked anxiously. + +"No," she replied, "you go with me, so that Quannah may ride you to rest +my back on the journey. It will be hard riding for many long days. We go +to fight the white men and if we find them, many warriors and ponies may +never come back. You are old enough and strong enough now to do your +part in the work of the Comanche ponies. Come, keep beside me and I will +tell you what to do." + +Star felt very proud and important as he trotted at his mother's side, +but he could not help twisting his neck to look back now and then at his +little mistress who stood alone in front of the big tepee of the chief. +He saw her stretch out her arms toward her father, but Quannah did not +see her do it. Suddenly she drew a corner of her blanket over her head, +so that her face was hidden that none might see her grief; then she +turned into the tepee and the flap closed. + +While Star had been watching all this, the other ponies had moved past +him, and he heard his mother calling angrily, urging him to hurry to +her side. She was in the lead. Far ahead of Star the ponies were moving +swiftly. Some carried packs, others bore warriors, and the unmounted +ponies of the herd were kept from straying by warriors who rode on +either side. Not one Comanche pony had been left in the camp where the +women and children now remained. It was all very strange. Star galloped +to his mother knowing she could explain everything, for she was a very +wise pony and the favourite of the chief. She was very angry, and +snapped at his shoulder when he reached her side. + +"You are disgracing me when you lag at the back of the herd. You belong +at the front of it, with me. The chief's pony travels ahead of all the +others." + +"Where are we going?" he asked after a short silence. + +"I do not know," she answered, still angry. "That does not concern +either of us. When the chief speaks no one questions and all obey. He +gives orders to the warriors and they do his bidding. He moves his hand +and I obey the rein. That is all I know. Ponies do not need to know +anything else. Your duty now is to follow me and keep at my side, so +that you may be near if I fall or am hurt or weary. Then Quannah will +ride you." + +As they travelled many miles, Star kept closely beside his mother, but +he could not forget Songbird and how she had held out her arms, then +with covered face had gone alone into the big tepee of her father, the +Chief of the Quahada Comanches. + + + + +Chapter IV + + +As Star travelled contentedly beside his mother in the days that +followed, other Indian tribes crossed the trail of the Comanches, some +of whom came from the far north. They had seen the white men, whom they +called soldiers. Sometimes there had been fighting. + +Kiowa riders often rode strange ponies into Quannah's camp and rested +for a few days. While the Indians talked with Quannah and his braves, +the ponies of the strangers told the Comanche ponies about the big bands +of white men, all dressed alike, riding very large horses, many of which +were almost twice as big as a small pony. + +"These men do not carry bows and arrows like the Indians, but have +shining sticks that roar like angry buffaloes and which spit fire that +kills any Indian or pony it touches," explained a pony from the Kiowa +Indians' camp. + +Running Deer shivered and looked at Star, as she said, "My mother saw +such men. She called them soldiers, and she, too, spoke of the sticks of +fire that slew our braves and our ponies, though they were so far away +that arrows could not reach them." + +The ponies stopped talking as they saw Quannah and a Kiowa messenger +reach the herd. Star cocked his ears so that he might hear all that was +said. Running Deer touched her big colt with her nose, to remind him +that he must keep perfectly quiet, for Quannah's hand rested on Star's +mane and the chief looked at him with serious eyes while the Kiowa +Indian talked in a low voice. At first Star could not understand what +they said, but in a short time he heard more distinctly. + +The Kiowa brave was speaking. "Our Medicine Man, who is so wise and good +that the Great Spirit talks to him, has told our Big Chief that we must +drive these white people from our land, so that none of them shall ever +come back. Then the antelope and buffalo will belong to us, our ponies +will roam where the grass grows most thickly, and our people will be +happy and thrive." + +"I wish to live peacefully with the white people. My mother was of their +race," answered Quannah slowly. + +"The white men will not dwell peacefully with the Indians. Many times +our fathers' fathers moved to avoid conflict, but the white men have +always followed and whenever they found us they have warred with us," +the Kiowa interrupted angrily. "Even now they are gathering in great +bands, and making ready to sweep upon us from all four sides of the +earth at once, hoping to scatter us like dry leaves before a windstorm. +Soon we shall be driven to the edge of the earth. Then only the cold +ashes of our camp fires will be left to tell the places where our +children once dwelt." + +"Yes, that is true," the Chief of the Quahadas spoke, and his head sank +so that his chin rested on his breast, while his eyes were fixed on the +ground. "My mother, Preloch, bade me rule the Quahadas wisely. If I war +on the white men, they will come in still greater numbers, and my tribe +will suffer. But the white men killed my father and took my mother and +sister away. My mother did not want to leave us, and she sent word to me +by old Moko, the Picture-maker, that she would try to escape from the +white men and come back to me. Maybe she is dead now. When the sun +shines on the winter snow, no one can bring it back. But the moisture +sinks into the heart of the earth where the flowers are born. So though +my mother has never come back to me, the memory of her words lives in my +heart. I wish to rule my people wisely and help them. Maybe it would be +best not to fight. I will ask my warriors. What they say, that will I +do!" + +When the Quahadas had gathered about their chief and the Kiowa +messenger, the Kiowa spoke quickly. + +"My chief sent me to ask whether Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas, will +join us and lead your tribe to help us save our people from the white +men who will kill the Comanches and Kiowas, take our children and squaws +captives, and laugh at our humiliation. Shall I go back and say to my +chief that Quannah, Chief of the Quahada Comanches, is a squaw because +his white blood is afraid to fight his mother's people who stole her?" + +Quannah's eyes flashed angrily, and he flung out his hand while he +replied, "Tell your chief that I and my warriors will fight against the +white men because we must save the game and grass and protect our women +and children. That is all. Go!" + +Star and Running Deer watched the Kiowa messenger leap on the strange +pony's back. Then, with a shrill call, the rider was lost in a cloud of +dust that arose from the swiftly running pony, while Quannah, surrounded +by his warriors, looked after the vanishing Indian. + +"Why should the white men drive us from our camps?" asked Star as he +turned to his mother. "We do not drive the Kiowas from their camps, and +the Comanche ponies graze beside the ponies of other tribes, for there +is grass enough for us all." + +"White men are different from ponies," answered Running Deer. "That is +all I know. Maybe the white men war among themselves and destroy each +other's camps, and carry away the women and children as prisoners." + +During that evening, when the shadows grew longer and darker, and the +huge campfire sent shafts of light like golden arrows between the trees, +the warriors gathered in consultation. + +Their faces were very stern as they seated themselves on the ground in a +half circle, while Quannah and the Medicine Man faced them. The Medicine +Man was very old. The face he lifted toward the stars was wrinkled, his +raised hands trembled, and the words he spoke to the Great Spirit asked +that help might be given the warriors so that the grass and game might +be saved for the tribe. + +While he was speaking, coyotes yelped from the darkness beyond the light +of the camp fire, and Star, standing very closely against his mother, +twitched nervously and kept looking backward to see how near the coyotes +might be. All the ponies understood that a band of coyotes would chase +any pony if it were alone, and if they overtook it, they would tear it +to pieces. So when a bunch of coyotes came near the pony herd, the mares +surrounded the colts in the very centre of the group, keeping their +noses closely against the colts, and the mothers would lash out their +heels and protect them. But fear of a band of coyotes never died as the +colts grew older. + +"The warriors are holding a War Council now," Running Deer told Star. +"Our wise old Medicine Man will tell them what the Great Spirit tells +him. Then he will bless them that the strength of the Great Spirit may +enter their hearts and help them conquer their enemies and save the game +and the grass." + +Through the night the fire burned brightly, while the Comanches sat in a +large circle talking together. Star, waking many times, lifted his head +that he might watch the warriors who faced the Medicine Man and Quannah. +Once the pony half rose to his feet, but Running Deer kicked at him as +she lay beside him. + +"Lie down and be quiet," she whispered angrily. "It is not dawn yet. You +will waken the other ponies and they are weary. What is the matter with +you to-night?" + +"I want to go back to Songbird, Mother," he answered. "If the white men +find the camp they may take her away as they took Quannah's mother and +sister, and she may never come back again!" + +"Quannah would follow them and get her back. He loves her more than +anything else," Running Deer said. + +"But all the Comanche ponies are here with us," Star went on anxiously. +"If I go back to her, she could ride swiftly from the white men, if +they try to capture her." + +"Stop talking so foolishly," snorted Running Deer. "Quannah is wiser +than you are. He will guard her from harm. Go to sleep at once, for we +have many miles to travel yet." + + + + +Chapter V + + +While Star was travelling with the other Comanche ponies, he thought +many times of Songbird and wondered what she was doing without him to +share her days. If he had known the loneliness of his little playmate, +he would have raced back to her, even though his mother had told him +that his duty was now beside her so that Quannah might ride him. + +Meantime, Songbird wandered sadly among the tepees where the other +children played happily while their fathers rode with Quannah to fight +the white men. The squaws tried to interest her in the work they were +doing, and took the best bits of venison and thrust green willow twigs +through the meat, so that she might hold it in the campfire and cook it. + +Songbird smiled gravely when they did this and shook her head. She was +not hungry, but the other children crowded up noisily and ate the crisp +tender meat, laughing when one child held his stick too long, so that +it burnt and let the meat fall into the hot wood ashes from which he at +once fished it with his twig. + +New clothes, fashioned from soft buckskin, new moccasins made from +buckskin with soles of tough buffalo hide, were laid in her father's +tepee for Songbird. Though she put them on, she did not run to show them +to the other children. Always she had hurried to her father first, that +he might praise her new things. As she remembered it, she slipped away +alone to the edge of the creek near camp. Sitting beneath the tree where +she had woven the wild flowers in Star's mane, she wondered when her +father would come back. + +"If he had left Star with me," she said at last, as though the fishes in +the creek could hear her and understand, "I could follow him when it +grew dark, and if I found him he would not send me back." + +But the fishes did not pause to listen, and at last she rose and went +back to the camp. The buffalo calf, tied by a plaited rope made of +strips of cured hides, rubbed its thickly haired head against her +shoulder, and pretended to fight her, but she did not laugh at it as she +had always done while her father stood beside her. She changed the calf +to another place, and fastened the rope carefully; then, having brought +fresh water to it in a bucket made of dry hide, she went into the big +tepee. + +Her pet horn-toads were kept in one of the deep pottery bowls made from +dirt and clay, then set in the sun to dry and harden. She carried the +little creatures outside and let them run about on the ground and eat +small insects. The bright orange, black, and red colouring of their +backs made a beautiful design and looked as though an artist had painted +them. Each head had a circlet of small sharp horns, while two larger +ones stood up very fiercely, and all over their backs were other tiny +horns, reaching to the tapering tail. Songbird knew the horn-toads could +not hurt her with their many horns, nor could they bite, for they had no +teeth. + +After eating, the toads became sleepy, so she placed them back in the +bowl and carried them to their accustomed place in the tepee. + +"Caw! Caw!" a crow croaked outside, and Songbird hastened to the black, +shining bird that walked jerkily at the entrance of her home. Its beady +eyes blinked up at her, and its head twisted sidewise in a very knowing +manner; then it straightened up and gave its hoarse call, as though it +had a sore throat. + +"Caw! Caw!" + +She did not clap her hands to-day and imitate its cry, but moved quietly +into the tepee and soon came back, holding a deep earthen bowl which she +placed on the ground. The crow sidled up, cocking its head to see if +anything were coming upon it from the sky or from the back. Satisfied +that no robbers were near, it began eating. + +Songbird watched it as she sat on the ground with her knees drawn up and +her hands propping her chin. Very gravely she decided that the crow was +getting fatter. + +For several months she had cared for it. Some accident had happened to +its upper bill and half of it was gone, so the crow had not been able to +pick up food from the ground or eat anything solid as the others could +do when they pecked very hard. It had been almost dead from starvation +when Songbird noticed it lying in the camp. She had driven away the +other children who were teasing it with sticks. + +Her father had shown her how to fix soft food in a deep bowl so that +the poor crow could thrust its entire beak down deeply to eat the moist +mixture. So day after day it came to the tepee, knowing it would find +food. The meal finished, it always bobbed and stalked around, repeating +its cry, "Caw! Caw!" until at last it flapped its glossy wings and +darted high above Songbird's head. But even when almost out of sight she +could hear it calling to thank her and say that it would come again the +next day. + +When she picked up the bowl to return it to its proper place, as Quannah +had taught her to do, a beautiful fawn, with skin like brown velvet +dotted with small white spots, leaped from the side of the tepee as +though it were trying to frighten her. Its nose sniffed the empty bowl +as it stood poised on slender legs and stretched its graceful neck. +Songbird tipped the bowl. The fawn licked it perfectly clean. Then its +pink tongue touched the little brown hand that held the bowl, and +Songbird, looking into the beautiful dark eyes, stroked the soft nose. + +The fawn waited at the entrance of the tepee until she came out. It kept +pace with her to the place where Moko, the Picture-maker, lived. She was +a very wonderful old squaw with pure white hair. It was her work to +paint pictures on the backs of dried buffalo robes. + +One side of these robes was always covered with brown, thick hair, while +the under side, dried and stretched very smoothly, had to be painted +carefully with colours made from roots, berries and earths, mixed in a +way that the old Picture-maker alone understood. Moko did not like any +one to watch her at work, but Songbird was always welcomed. The child +would sit for hours wondering at the magic way in which Moko made +figures of Indians on ponies, sometimes chasing buffaloes, hunting +antelope, or possibly a camp with warriors walking about the many +tepees. + +"Who showed you how to make pictures, Moko?" asked Songbird. + +"The Great Spirit," replied the Picture-maker, and Songbird pondered +over the answer. The painting Moko was now doing was the most wonderful +of all that Songbird had ever seen. The robe was the largest buffalo +hide that any Comanche had ever owned. Quannah had killed the enormous +beast with just one arrow, and the meat had provided food for many days. +Now the hide, cured and dried, was being painted for him, and Songbird +knew that some day it would be given to her to keep. + +The picture showed a lot of Indians fighting white men. The Indians +could be easily told by their war-bonnets. All around the edges, the +robe was bordered with the fighters, but in the very centre was an +Indian boy riding a swiftly running pony. In his arms was a little girl. +Songbird knew that the boy was Peta Nocona, and the girl in his arms was +Preloch, the white child who had afterward been the mother of Quannah +and of Prairie Flower. + +"Why do the brothers of my father's mother war with us?" she asked at +last, for the question had been puzzling her a long time. + +The old squaw kept on with her work, as she replied, "Because they want +our lands, our ponies, our grass for their own pony herds, and they want +to kill all the buffalo and antelope, so there will be none left for us. +Then we could not make new tepees, nor warm robes, nor clothes, nor +moccasins. Our ponies would all die if the white men had the prairie +lands, and the white hunters killed the game which they did not need for +food. Other Indians have told us how the white men cut the hides from +buffaloes that lie as thick as fallen leaves, and then leave the meat +to spoil or for coyotes to eat. Indians hunt that they may have enough +meat and robes to provide for their tribes. So it will be with the +grass. The white men's herds will eat it all, leaving our ponies to +starve." + +"But the world is so big," Songbird spoke, "why cannot all men dwell in +peace and share the game and grass?" + +"Because the white people want to rule us," the Picture-maker answered +quickly. "We lived here long before the white men came. We are the +children of the Great Spirit. He gave us the land, He gave us the wild +horses that we might tame and use them, He gave us the buffalo and deer, +the antelope on the flats, the fish in the streams, that we might live +happily. And because these things all belong to the Great Spirit, we did +not kill more than we needed. + +"The tribes did not quarrel with each other, for each had its own land +and no one sought to drive them from it. Men were taught not to lie or +steal, and a man who pledged his word was dishonoured if he broke it. +But long years ago tales came to us through other tribes, of men with +white faces who lied, stole, and cheated Indians who had believed in +them. These white-faced men killed the game, killed the Indians, burned +their tepees, then came in still greater numbers and drove the Indians +from place to place, saying, 'This is our land. This game belongs to us. +You must not touch it!'" + +Moko paused and Songbird kept silent, fearing the old woman might not +speak further, but at last she went on. + +"When game grew scarce in the places where we had been driven, our +warriors went in search of foods and robes for the old people, the +squaws, and the children. White men, who saw them coming, did not ask +why our men had wandered from the camps, but began to fight. After that +day our warriors fought every white man they met. Each chief knew that +unless he fought, his own tribe would be driven until it had no place to +go, no game to eat, no robes for tepees or to sleep under when cold +nights brought wind and snow, and soon all the Indians would die." + +"My father's mother did not want to go away from us," said Songbird. +"Many times he has told me she loved the Comanche people." + +"I saw her grief"--the old Picture-maker spoke slowly, and now her +wrinkled hand lay idly in her lap--"I heard her beg the white men to +leave her with us, but they would not listen to her. So Preloch, the +white squaw of Peta Nocona, and her baby daughter, Prairie Flower, went +away and none of us ever saw them again. That is how the white men would +treat all of the Indians if we did not fight them." + +"My father tells me that his mother was three winters older than I am +now, at the time his father carried her to our camp." Songbird leaned +forward. Her body rested on the ground, but her elbow propped her cheek, +so that she might still watch the work of the old Picture-maker. "Tell +me about her, please." + +Moko nodded, but her hand moved less swiftly as she began talking, while +her eyes looked through the tepee opening across the rolling prairie, as +though she saw once more the young son of the chief coming into camp +with the white child in his arms. + +"I can see her now as he rode past me. Her hair was like sunshine, and +when the Great Spirit made openings in the sky so that we could see the +stars at night, two little pieces must have been kept to make her blue +eyes. As she grew up among us she was different, for she was as gentle +as a young doe. Many times she made peace between hot-blooded young +warriors who wished to fight one another. The children followed her just +to see her smile at them." + +A deep sigh interrupted Moko's story, and for a few seconds the old +woman forgot the little girl who waited patiently. + +"I remember the day the white men took her away. Dark clouds gathered +overhead. Peta Nocona, our chief, was dead, but he had told us to flee +to our camp in the hills where the white men could not follow nor find +us. As we fled, the rain fell upon us, and Karolo, the Medicine Man, +called upon the Great Spirit to send the spirits of Peta Nocona and all +the other Comanche warriors from the Happy Hunting Grounds, that they +might follow Preloch and her daughter, Prairie Flower, into the land of +the white men and bring them back again to their own people. + +"The Great Spirit will send them both back some day," Karolo said as the +rain beat on his face. "He is weeping now because his children are +captives among the white people." + +"Then we who heard him drew our robes over our faces that none but the +Great Spirit might see our grief. And for many moons the Comanches of +the Quahadas kept their hair cut short because we were mourning the +death of our great War Chief, Peta Nocona, and the loss of his white +squaw, Preloch, with her baby daughter, Prairie Flower. Many winters +have passed, but they have never come back to us." + +"The snows of many winters have fallen on my head," the old +Picture-maker spoke after a short silence. "I am weary and my heart is +sad for my people. But I have asked the Great Spirit to let me stay +until I have painted one more robe, so that you may hang it in your +tepee with this one. Your children's children shall read the pictures +and learn how your father, Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas, conquered the +white men who robbed him of his mother and sister. After I have finished +that robe, the Great Spirit will let me rest, for I am old and weary, +and my children wait me in the Happy Hunting Grounds." + +"I wish I could go with my father, as Preloch went with Peta Nocona," +said Songbird. "I can shoot arrows as well as the boys, and Star can go +as fast as Running Deer!" + +"Some tribes take their squaws to help in the fight, but Quannah will +not allow it," asserted Moko. "Women and children must obey his orders +and stay in camp while the men go out to fight. Our chief says that the +work of women is to teach children to be fearless and truthful. That +work is as great as fighting. Sometimes I think it may be greater work. +Preloch said that it was better to make men love each other rather than +teach them to hate and kill one another. Maybe she was right, but the +white men hate us and we have to save our own lives and our homes." + +Muttering to herself the old woman rose from the place where she had +been sitting, and as Songbird saw the thin lips tighten, she knew that +the Picture-maker would not talk any more, so she slipped away from the +tent and sat watching the sun drop over the edge of the world. Two white +clouds closed together, and Songbird knew that the Spirit of the Sun had +dropped the flap of its tent so that it could sleep. Soon the Spirit of +Night would ride his big black pony across the sky and the shadow would +hide everything from sight. + +Somewhere in the world of darkness Songbird's father would be sleeping. +Her eyes filled with tears and her lips trembled. She was so little, so +afraid and so lonely. + +In the big tepee of the Quahada Chief, Songbird crept to bed, and as she +lay staring into the darkness toward her father's couch of skins, she +heard the shrill yelps of coyotes gathering around the camp. Suddenly +she drew the buffalo robe over her head and sobbed herself to sleep. + + + + +Chapter VI + + +Far away from the camp where Songbird waited her father's return, Star, +with his mother and the other Comanche ponies, travelled rapidly, while +Quannah watched the country with eyes as sharp and bright as those of an +eagle. + +Strange warriors from the Kiowas rode into camp on ponies which were +covered with dry lather that told how far and how fast the men had +ridden. At the same time Comanche messengers were being sent off on +ponies, and there was a constant stir in the camp. + +Star wondered about it, until he could restrain his curiosity no longer. + +"Where do they go?" he questioned Running Deer, at last. His mother had +been very nervous and cross, and she answered sharply: + +"They go to see where the white men travel, so that Quannah may know +where to find them. Be quiet, now. Watch and you will learn everything +for yourself. Do not talk too much, but watch and listen, then you will +grow wise." + +Quannah was lifting his hand, and Star's bright eyes saw one of the +youngest warriors ride up to the chief. + +"Let me go this time," begged the young man. + +"Your pony is not swift enough," replied the chief, and the young man +bowed his head in shame. + +"He has but one pony," Running Deer spoke scornfully to Star. "He is +poor and his mare is old. When his father went to the Happy Hunting +Grounds he left but two ponies for his son, and one of them has died. +His heart is brave, but his pony's legs are weak, so he will not be +sent." + +As Quannah began speaking, Star lifted his head quickly. + +"You shall go. Running Deer is the swiftest pony of the Comanche herd, +and Star, her colt, though young and untried, should be fleet-footed and +sure. You shall ride him to-day." + +In a few minutes the young warrior was seated on Star's bare back. +Running Deer watched anxiously. But the colt's back did not weaken, nor +did he flinch beneath the man's weight. It seemed no more of a burden +than when Songbird had ridden him. + +"Watch out for prairie-dog holes and loose, smooth stones," cautioned +Running Deer. "When you go most swiftly, hold your nose level with your +shoulders, and look straight before you without turning your head from +side to side. Do not leap high, but let your body drop low to the earth +when you run, and in that way you can outstrip other ponies and not +weary for many long miles. If your rider falls from you, do not leave +him, but stay near by until he climbs again to your back, or someone +comes for you. And always remember that you belong to the Chief of the +Comanches." + +While Running Deer was speaking, Quannah was talking in a low voice to +the young man who sat on Star's back. As the chief's words ceased, the +pony felt the rider lean forward, and his knees press closely against +his sides; then, like an arrow shot from a strong bow, Star, son of +Running Deer, darted on his way. + +The fresh breeze swept into the pony's nostrils, it tossed his thick, +black mane, and his long tail streamed like a tattered black flag, while +the Comanche lying low against Star's shoulder seemed to be a part of +the animal he was riding. + +Across the wide prairie the pony raced, guided by a noose of plaited +rawhide. He did not need the pressure of this rope on his neck, for the +mere movement of the Indian's body was enough to tell him which way to +go. No whip or blow from the rider's heels was necessary. Star +understood that the chief had sent him, and the son of Running Deer must +prove himself worthy of her training and his heritage. + +All day they travelled. At intervals the Indian made him walk a short +distance, then once more Star broke into the smooth, swift run. They +passed near a band of startled antelopes which whirled and dashed away; +farther off, a bunch of galloping buffaloes thudded with their heads +held low down, the humps on their shoulders rising and falling like +small waves of dark water, but the Indian on Star's back paid no heed to +them. The quiver full of sharply pointed arrows remained slung across +his back. + +Just before dusk the Comanche halted among huge rocks. Slipping from the +pony's back, he held his fingers tightly about Star's nose, to prevent +the animal from calling out. Some distance below them, the pony saw a +great multitude of white-faced men and big ponies. The men were dressed +in strange clothes instead of the robes that Indians wore. Some of them +lifted things from their heads, and Star stared in surprise at the short +hair. Quannah and all the Indians the pony had ever seen had worn long +braids of hair called scalp-locks. It was a disgrace for a warrior to +lose his scalp lock, and a great trophy of victory for any foe who cut +it off. So the pony wondered why Quannah should be so grave about +fighting men who had lost their scalp-locks. + +As the men rode nearer, Star saw belts filled with things that gleamed, +and there were long, bright sticks in their hands. The pony understood +at once that these were what his mother had spoken about. Things that +could roar like angry buffaloes and spit fire that killed Comanche +warriors and ponies. He shivered and shrank back, but as he felt the +Indian's fingers tighten, the pony remembered that Quannah had sent them +here, and he must stay with his rider. + +Star forgot his fears in watching the men fix many white tepees in long +rows, and there were strange things that looked like long, round-topped +hills of snow which moved slowly forward, each dragged by six +queer-looking animals. Star had never seen such strange ponies. They +were all dark brown like the bark on trees, their ears were very long, +their heads large, they had no flowing manes, and the only hair on their +tails was in a thick bunch at the very end. While Star watched them, one +of the creatures lifted up its nose and uttered a terrific noise. +Instantly the others joined, and the din was so frightful that Star +would have turned and raced away had not the Comanche held tightly to +the pony's nose. It was the first time in his life that Star had seen +white men, and he had never heard any pony speak of mules or wagons. + +The young warrior crouched low. Before the noise ceased, he had led Star +very cautiously until they gained a spot out of sight and hearing of the +white men. Then leaping to the pony's back, the Indian raced furiously +toward Quannah's camp in the sheltering hills. It was past dawn when the +Comanche halted at Quannah's side. The whole camp was astir. + +Other couriers had arrived from different points, on ponies streaked +with dust. While the animals rubbed noses together, the messengers told +Quannah what each had seen. + +The man who had ridden Star was the first to speak. + +"Great bands of white men are coming from all four sides of the world. +The band I saw is larger than all the Kiowas and Comanches together. +They are one day's ride from here and they are travelling this way." + +"And in another place I saw a band of fighting men coming this way," +spoke a second courier. + +"Still another big band comes from the opposite side," the third man +spoke. + +"And back on our own trail, I saw them travelling toward us." The last +speaker was one of the head chiefs under Quannah. "I left my pony a long +way off that he might not make any noise and warn the white men. Then I +crawled like a snake until I reached a hill near the white tepees. I +heard men's voices but I could not understand what they said. They speak +a different tongue from ours. But there were so many men and so many +ponies that they were as the leaves on the trees or the blades of grass. +How shall we fight them and hope to conquer?" + +"They will surround us from all sides, as the hunters gather around a +herd of antelopes," one of the men said. "If they were not in back of +us, we could go to the camp where the women and children wait." + +Quannah looked at the trail which led toward his little daughter, as he +said in a voice that all could hear plainly, "We will do it. I have a +plan. We must protect our women and children!" + +Then the Medicine Man, who had remained silent, stood beside the +Comanche Chief. With hands uplifted toward the sky the old man called +upon the Great Spirit to hear his children and aid them in the fight to +save the game and the grass and the homes of the Comanche people from +the white men who wished to destroy them. + +After that Star watched the warriors hold up their long bows and quivers +filled with slender arrows, that the Medicine Man's blessing might make +the arrows strong and sure, give strength to their fingers and clear +vision to their eyes in the battle for their homes and those whom they +loved. + + + + +Chapter VII + + +Among those who journeyed with Quannah were the youths of the Quahada +Comanches who had reached the age of twelve. These boys knew how to use +bows and arrows as well as the older men. Children of the tribe were +given tiny bows and arrows for toys as soon as they were big enough to +hold them, and each day they practised shooting at targets, while their +parents watched them proudly. + +They were also taught to ride a pony bare-back, lying close against its +neck and leaning forward, so that from the opposite side nothing could +be seen of the little rider except one brown leg and a hand that clung +to the pony's thick mane. + +Another lesson they had to learn was to creep silently through the +grass, taking great care not to make it move so that other boys could +not see where they were hiding. Because of this training and their small +size, some of these boys had been allowed to travel with the warriors +under Quannah, that they might be used as spies when the Indians drew +near the camps of the white men. + +So when the different couriers returned to Quannah and reported that the +white men were coming from every side to surround the Comanches, and +that part of these men were between Quannah's band and the camp where +the Comanche women and children had been left, Quannah called his +followers about him while the old Medicine Man stood beside the chief. + +Star, who had been resting for a short time after his long trip, lifted +his head curiously as he noticed the warriors gathering. Then as he saw +Running Deer close to the edge of the group about Quannah, he leaped +lightly to his feet and hastened to his mother's side. She rubbed her +nose against his to show how pleased she was at the way he had done his +part of Quannah's work. Then Quannah began speaking. + +"We must go back to take care of the women and children," the chief said +very plainly. + +Star saw all the warriors nodding to show that they agreed with the +chief, but no one spoke a word. It was so quiet that the chirp of a +grasshopper close to Star's feet could be heard distinctly, and the song +of a mockingbird sounded clearly from a nearby tree. Even the big herd +of twelve hundred ponies seemed to be listening for Quannah's words. +There was no moving of restless hoofs, or soft sounds of grass roots +being torn by grazing ponies. + +Star felt a thrill of joy at what the chief said, for he knew that he +would be near Songbird again. Then if the white men came, he could help +her run away, as his mother had helped Quannah escape and hide. He +turned to speak about this to his mother, but Running Deer shook her +head quickly and he was silent. Quannah was talking. + +"The white men are between us and the camp where we left our women and +children," he said slowly. "To the front of us are more white men. They +are coming from the east and the west, also. We must make a path through +them to reach our camp. The white men outnumber us many times. If we +face them in open battle they will kill or take us all prisoners, then +our women and children will be helpless." + +"Our chief speaks the truth," the Medicine Man spoke, and the others +grunted and nodded at one another to show that he was right. + +"To-day," Quannah went on, "we must ride hard until we are near the +white men, then we will halt and hide. It is the dark of the moon now, +and when the sun has gone, I shall send the smallest boys on our +swiftest ponies to stampede the ponies of the white men. While all is +confusion in their camp, we can dash past them in the dark, taking their +ponies with us as we go on our way. Without ponies how can they catch +us?" + +All the warriors showed their satisfaction in the words and looks that +Star and Running Deer understood plainly. In a short time the Indians +were riding the trail that led directly back toward the camp of the +squaws and children and old, weak men who could not fight. + +During the day messengers were sent ahead, and Star kept close beside +his mother on whom Quannah was riding. When the couriers returned late +in the afternoon, Star and Running Deer listened intently to their +words. + +"The white men are moving toward us," spoke one man who had ridden away +that morning. His tired pony stood with low-hanging head while its drawn +sides and quick breathing told how hard the pace had been. "When the sun +goes to sleep for the night, they will be not more than two hours from +here." + +"They have big white ponies," another messenger said. "Last night I lay +so close to their camp that I could hear voices in the strange white +tepees. A few men who do not sleep walk around and keep watch. All of +the men have fire-sticks. The ponies are unsaddled and each one is tied +to a long rope, so they make a line, side by side!" + +"That is good!" Quannah's eyes brightened. + +Turning to the Medicine Man he spoke in a low voice, so that neither +Star nor Running Deer was able to hear what he said. The other Comanches +began making preparations for food, so Running Deer, with Star at her +side, moved slowly away, cropping the thick, tender grass as they talked +together. + +"Mother, do you think we will be sent to-night?" Star asked suddenly. + +"Maybe," she answered. "I am the swiftest pony of the herd, and you have +proved your speed and strength to-day. It would be a great honour if +both of us were sent. But now stop talking. Eat, that you may rest, for +no one can tell when we may be needed, nor how long and hard the trail +before we can graze and rest again." + +Star obeyed. After he had eaten his fill of juicy grass he wandered with +his mother to a stream where they thrust their noses into the clear, +cool water and drank all they wished. Then the two of them found a spot +which they pawed to make more soft, and doubling their front knees they +sank slowly to the ground and soon lay sleeping side by side. + +Several hours had passed when Star wakened suddenly at a whisper from +his mother, whose lips touched one of his ears. It was quite dark, but +the stars gleamed overhead. When the little spots of light flickered in +the sky Star knew that it was from the hoofs of ponies in the Happy +Hunting Grounds just as the Comanche ponies made sparks of fire when +rocks were tossed together violently by the ponies' flying hoofs. + +"Listen!" whispered Running Deer. "The men are picking the ponies for +to-night's work!" + +The colt's body quivered with excitement, his lips twitched and his ears +cocked sharply, while his eyes peered into the darkness where he could +hear the soft tread of moccasined feet that were coming nearer and +nearer to him and his mother. He wanted to leap up and call out to the +warriors that he was awake and ready, but a nudge from his mother made +him lie down quietly and wait. + +In a few seconds an indistinct figure stood beside him. A hand touched +his forelock. Star rose quickly to his feet as a rawhide noose slipped +about his neck. He felt his mother's nose against his own, but the nip +she gave him this time was not an angry one. It told him as plainly as +she could speak how proud she was that her son had been picked out for +the work. + +"Do your best," he heard her say. "Remember, you are my colt. Your +honour is my honour. If you fail it is my disgrace as well as yours!" + +Then he was led away, leaving his mother watching him as he disappeared +in the darkness of night. She knew that the quick little bite he had +given her was a promise that he would not forget all she had taught him. + +The man whom Star followed stopped where Quannah and all the warriors +stood with two little Comanche boys, who were looking up at the chief +and listening carefully to every word he was speaking to them. Star was +close enough to hear what was said. + +"Ride swiftly," Quannah commanded. "Make no noise. When you are near +the white men's camp lie closely and hold your hands tightly across your +ponies' noses to keep them from calling out to the white men's ponies +and warning them of danger." + +"We will do as you say," the boys promised sturdily. + +"Good!" the chief answered. "Leave your ponies while you crawl +cautiously to the rope that holds the white men's ponies. Cut the rope +and leap on the nearest pony, then shout loudly and beat the ponies with +the pieces of buffalo hide you carry. That will frighten them so they +will run away. Your own ponies will follow. You must drive the white +men's ponies toward the place where we will be waiting to help you. Thus +we will capture the white men's ponies, so the men cannot follow us to +our women and children." + +"We understand," replied the boys in one voice, while the Indians +watched them and whispered to one another, "These children will be great +warriors when they are full-grown men!" + +Once again Quannah spoke to the boys. "The honour of the Quahada +Comanches is in your hands. Guard it with your lives. If you are +captured, let no man know why you were sent, nor where we are waiting. +Do not whisper it even between your two selves, for the wind might steal +your words and carry them to the white men's ears." + +Then the old Medicine Man stepped before the two children, and his thin +arms and trembling hands were extended over their heads. The boys knelt +down. Around them like shadows in the faint starlight stood all the +Quahada Comanche warriors, and their chief watched the two slender lads, +his eyes full of pride. + +"Great Spirit, hear the cry of your children. Help us save the game and +the grass that we may live in peace and happiness in the land you gave +to our fathers long ago. Send their spirits from the Happy Hunting +Grounds this night that they may travel beside these children and give +them courage and cunning to save the Comanche people. We are weak, we +are few, and the white men are many and strong. We must go out to fight +and we ask the Great Spirit to help us, for with the Great Spirit and +the spirits of our forefathers we shall win over all our foes!" + +In the silence that followed the Medicine Man's blessing, the boys rose +to their feet. Then Star shivered with excitement as one of the boys +grasped the mane that fell thickly on the pony's neck. With a quick, +light bound the lad vaulted to Star's bare back. Beside them the other +boy was astride a pony named Hawk. + +Silently the circle of warriors parted so that there was a space. The +young riders leaned down on the necks of the ponies and darted, side by +side, through the pathway of Comanches, then on through darkness that +wrapped the prairie like a heavy black cloak. + + + + +Chapter VIII + + +Star and Hawk kept a steady pace for more than an hour. Neither of the +boys had spoken a word during that time, then Star's rider whispered +softly--"Sh----" like the hiss of a snake in the grass, or the noise of +wind through the leaves. + +Small, strong hands reached from either side of Star's neck, and fingers +were pressed firmly on his nostrils. The pressure did not interfere with +the pony's breathing, but so long as it continued Star knew that it +would be impossible for him to whinny. His rider did not know that the +pony understood the reason and the importance of being quiet. + +Faintly the sound of stamping, restless hoofs came to Star's ears, and +told him that strange ponies were near. His nose touched Hawk's neck, +and the other pony signalled an answer. Star and Hawk had been friends +and playmates ever since they had been born. Hawk was two days older +than Star, but Star had always been more swift when they had chased +each other about the Comanche camp in play. Hawk belonged to a young +warrior who had not many ponies, so, long before Star had been fully +grown, Hawk had been carrying his owner. The work had made the muscles +of his back and legs very strong for so young a pony. + +The two boys now released their grip on the ponies' noses and slid +cautiously down. Star watched them lying flat and crawling slowly in the +direction from which the noise of ponies could be heard. Hawk and Star, +with noses together, waited patiently. + +For a long time everything was silent, then shrill yells caused the two +ponies to jump nervously. They heard snorting of ponies and trampling of +hoofs, and men's voices were calling loudly in words that were not like +the Comanche tongue. Star reared and plunged against a small rope of +buffalo hide by which he was fastened to a scrubby tree. Hawk, also +tied, was lunging and kicking. + +Then something terrible happened. Frightful noises, like cracking of +thunder, seemed everywhere. Lightning flashed close to the ground. It +did not come from the sky, like other lightning when it stormed. Star +crouched and trembled in fear of the thing he could not understand, but +Hawk with a still greater effort broke loose. + +"Come!" he called to Star, turning to run from the noise that was +deafening. "Come quickly! It is the fire-stick that kills Comanches and +their ponies. Run! Run! Run!" + +He did not wait while Star fought and struggled against the stout +rawhide rope which held him fast. Fire leaped from darkness and noises +grew louder. Then the thud of racing ponies grew more distinct and in +the dim light Star saw a vast herd of pure white ponies rush past him +and vanish like snowflakes blown by a strong wind. + +But the flashes of fire did not cease, and the pony threw his whole +weight against the rope. It broke and he was free. With a shrill squeal +Star followed the fleeing animals. Though they had passed him so quickly +he had seen two small dark forms on white ponies at the end of the herd. +They were ahead of him now, and Star redoubled his efforts until he came +abreast of Hawk. Together they raced, but slowly and surely Star passed +him. + +Like a thin cloud the white ponies kept ahead of Star. His ears cocked +sharply, his nose was thrust far out and level with his shoulders, his +eyes peered into the gloom to gauge the distance and make his own pace, +his body flattened more closely to the ground, and the steady stride of +his slender legs never wavered, while his mane tossed wildly and his +long black tail fluttered in the air that he cut in his wild race. + +He reached the fear-crazed white animals, and edging his way between +them, Star found the boy who had ridden him now seated astride one of +the largest white ponies. Star looked at it as he ran beside it. He had +never seen such a big pony in all his life. But the Comanche pony saw +that the white pony was breathing very hard, while its legs moved +uncertainly and heavily as it ran. + +"It is a big pony," Star said to himself, "but I can out-run it without +trouble. Buffaloes are big and heavy. They can run fast, too. But an +antelope or deer is more swift. I can out-race an antelope. So can my +mother!" + +He tossed his saucy head and slyly poked the big white pony in the ribs, +to make it go faster. But the poor beast was doing its very best, and it +rolled its eyes toward Star. + +"Please don't bite me," it spoke. "I am too old and too fat to run so +fast and so far!" + +"I won't hurt you," replied the Comanche pony, crowding more closely. + +The Indian boy on the white pony's back saw Star, and twisting sidewise, +the lad gathered himself, leaped from the horse he was riding and landed +firmly on the back of the Comanche pony. + +The boy's shout of triumph mingled with Star's squeal of delight as out +of the darkness rode Quannah on Running Deer, while back of the chief +dashed the rest of the warriors. + +Circling about the white horses the Comanches urged them rapidly over +the low rolling hills until they were completely hidden in thick +undergrowth, where they halted. + +The white horses showed plainly how hard the pace had been, for they +stood with heads hanging low, their sides drawn and nostrils dilating +rapidly. Many of them lost no time in lying down where they stood, +without even seeking a comfortable soft spot. + +"They tire easily," Star said to his mother who was near him. "Hawk and +I could have left them far behind and it would not have made us puff +like these white ponies. They must belong to squaws and children. They +are too fat and too slow for fighting men." + +"No herd can run as fast as the ponies of the Quahadas," replied his +mother. "Come, lie down and rest while there is time. When we are out +with the warriors it is our duty to rest and feed whenever we have time, +for when we travel we cannot tell when we will stop. Only Quannah knows +that." + +Star glanced at the warriors who sat on the ground and talked together, +while still others, on their ponies, guarded the captured white animals. +Two days and a night of fast travelling made Star feel that he had +earned a good rest, so he slipped to the ground and soon was fast +asleep. + +But in his dream he was racing again. This time he was trying to reach +Songbird who was calling to him that the white men were taking her away, +as they had taken Quannah's mother and sister, so that she could never +come back again to her people. He was running faster than any Comanche +pony had ever run before--twice as fast as Running Deer could run, for +he thought she was trying now to keep pace with him and was falling +behind. Only the storm wind could travel that fast. Star found that no +matter how swiftly he raced Songbird was always beyond him. He could not +see her, but her voice came back to him. + +"I am coming," he whinnied shrilly. + +Her voice grew more faint and at last it ceased altogether while he +whinnied despairingly, hoping to hear her answer. + +Then he felt his mother touch him, and opened his eyes to see her lying +beside him. + +"What is the matter?" she asked. "You are kicking so that you wakened +me." + +He told her the dream and she listened gravely, though she answered +carelessly, "You are over-tired. After all, you are but a colt and your +muscles are soft. You have been tested as few colts are tested at your +age. Go to sleep again, so that you will be ready to travel with us, for +last night I heard Quannah say that as soon as the big white ponies have +rested, we would start for the camp of the women and children. Now that +we have captured the white men's ponies they cannot catch us. That is +why we are to rest for to-day." + +When it was time to get up, Star felt as well as though he had never +raced, but the big white ponies were still weary. Some of them did not +rise. Many others moved stiffly as they mingled with the Comanche herd +while they cropped the grass together like old friends. + +Most of the warriors had gone across a small ridge into a gully or +ravine, where they made a camp. This was done so that the smoke from +their camp fire might not be seen from afar, and thus tell the white men +where to hunt their lost ponies. Only dry wood was used for the camp +fire. Wood fresh or green would have made too much smoke. A few warriors +were left to guard the herd, for the Comanche ponies were trained to +keep together, while the white ponies were too tired to run away, even +if given a chance to escape. + +Star wandered near the white horse that had begged him not to bite it +because it was too old and too fat to run so fast. With raised head and +a bunch of grass hanging from its lips, it looked curiously at the +Comanche pony. Slowly its eyes travelled from Star's velvety nose, along +his straight back, his slender legs and strongly muscled flanks to the +sweeping black tail that almost touched the ground. The white horse +swallowed the clump of grass before it spoke. + +"You are a beautiful horse!" + +"I am not a horse," Star answered indignantly, "I am a Comanche pony. +What is a horse, anyway?" + +"A horse is a big pony," replied the other. "I am a horse. We cannot run +as swiftly as you ponies, but we are stronger to haul burdens when we +are hitched to wagons by our masters." + +Star was so surprised that he stopped grazing to talk with the +good-natured white beast, and it told him there were thousands of men +with white faces, who carried guns and lived in houses made of rocks +instead of tepees of hides. He told how these men fed corn and hay to +their horses, as well as grass. Then he explained how some horses were +taught to be gentle, so that saddles were placed on their backs and bits +in their mouths; other horses learned to drag carriages in which women +and children rode safely, and still other horses hauled heavier wagons +loaded with blankets and food. + +"They even build houses for us," he continued, "and when it storms we +are warm and dry and have nothing to do but chew our grain. If we have +to go out in a rain, when we come back we are rubbed dry and a warm +blanket covers us to our heels so that we may not be chilled. But +sometimes white men are cruel to us," he added. + +"I hate men with white faces," snorted Star, stamping his forefoot +angrily. "My mother says that they will take our game and our grass and +kill all the Comanche ponies and people. The white men took Quannah's +mother and sister away and they never came back to us. That is why I +hate men with white faces!" + +"Not all of them are that way," the big horse said earnestly. "Many +white people do not wish to fight. Sometimes Indians have killed white +women and children and have burned their homes, or taken them prisoners. +Then the Great Father of the whole world, who is over the white people +and the Indians, too, has to send soldiers to find the white prisoners +and make the Indians keep away from the homes of the white men." + +Star thought over these words before he asked, "Who told you all this?" + +"I learned it myself, through many years of hard work," was the reply. +"Ever since I was five years old I have belonged to the White Horse +Troop which was captured by the Indians last night. Only white horses +are in that troop, but in other troops there are blacks and bays and +sorrels. Each of the troops has three officers and the captain is in +command while the others are under him. So for many years I have gone +with the troop over miles of rough country, sometimes swimming great +rivers, and often we encountered big bands of Indians who fought us. +Maybe the Indians are wrong, maybe it is the white man, but men are our +masters and so, right or wrong, we obey them and love them. Yet we +horses do not understand, nor do we fight the Indian ponies. I am old +and I do not wish to fight any one. But we must obey our masters. When I +was young I did not ask questions, but now that I am stiff from years, I +wonder why people fight one another." + +"Do all your horses fight?" was Star's puzzled comment. + +"Not the band horses," replied the white horse. "They do not go out of +the garrison where we all live together. Their riders have shining horns +and big drums that make such beautiful music that when we troop horses +come out on parade, we cannot keep our feet from dancing or our necks +from curving with pride. The Band horses are very proud and keep to +themselves when we are all out grazing, and of course, no one could +blame them for that." + +Star listened in amazement. He was anxious to learn all that he could, +so as to repeat this wonderful story to his mother. + +"You use so many strange words," he said at last. "What is a parade?" + +"Why, just a big green piece of ground, but all around it are buildings +where officers and soldiers live. In the centre of each parade is a very +high white pole. On top of it floats a beautiful flag." + +"What is that?" interrupted Star, bewildered. + +"It is like a big blanket made of fine cloth. There are stripes of white +and red and in one corner is a patch of blue with white stars on it." + +"I know what a star is," said the Comanche pony. "My name is Star +because I have the white mark on my forehead. Songbird, the little +daughter of Chief Quannah, gave me that name when I was too small and +too weak to stand up on my legs. I belong to Songbird, and my mother, +Running Deer, is the favourite pony of the chief," he ended proudly. + +"I saw her talking to you," was the answer, "and I thought how beautiful +she was!" + +Star edged more closely to his new acquaintance. "Even though our +masters fight, I like you and we will be friends," he said, rubbing his +nose against the white horse's neck, then letting his neck rest across +the troop horse's back, Star bit gently, while the big horses did the +same to him. Only horses who are fond of one another give this pledge of +friendship. + +"I wish our masters would be friends, too," said the old troop horse at +last. "If every one would be friends there would be no more fighting." + +"There is enough grass and room for all the tepees, so maybe they will +stop fighting soon," Star spoke hopefully. + +"Some horses kick and bite and steal grain from the others," the white +horse answered, "and when one horse in a team kicks, balks, or will not +pull its share of the load, the other horses must do it all. White men, +Indians, and horses are all the same. Some are good, some are bad, but +the burdens of those who are bad must be carried by those who try to do +right. I am the oldest of those in the White Horse Troop and I speak of +things I have seen in many long years. I am sorry for the horse that +kicks and bites and steals, but I do not hate him. The whip is made to +punish him, and some day he will suffer." + +The day passed quickly for the troop horse and the Comanche pony. When +the shadows of the trees disappeared because the sun was straight above +the camp, the troop horse stretched out for a noonday sleep, and Star's +black head rested on the white horse's neck. + +Running Deer, searching for her colt, found them together and she lay +down beside them. + + + + +Chapter IX + + +Two hours before sunset Star awakened from his sound sleep, but the +white horse only lifted its head long enough to blink at the Comanche +pony as it rolled over. Then Star scrambled to his feet and gave a hard +shake of his body, which is the way a pony stretches after a good nap. + +Running Deer was not far off, so the colt joined her, and after an +exchange of gentle bites, they moved slowly away from the herd, grazing +as they went. Star told his mother all that the troop horse had been +talking about, and Running Deer was as much surprised as her colt had +been, for she had no idea of how white men lived. + +The two Comanche ponies were so interested in their conversation that +neither of them noticed they had wandered quite a distance from the +herd. The Indians on guard over the other ponies had not tried to stop +Star or Running Deer, because all the Comanches knew that neither of +these ponies would stray far away. But the rolling hills stretched +temptingly, and at times Star and his mother raced after each other, +kicking up their heels or even lying down to roll and kick, then jumping +up to dash away side by side. When the sun dropped out of the sky +Running Deer was startled, and reminded her colt that they must go back +at once. + +They were standing on a little knoll overlooking a shallow depression +between a group of small hills. The sun had disappeared, but like a +warrior's banner beautiful crimson rays were flung across the deep blue +sky. The cool evening breeze twisted its fingers in the ponies' manes, +lifting the heavy black hair and tumbling it across their eyes, so that +it tickled their ears until Star tossed his head. The only sound was the +song of a mockingbird guarding the nest on which its mate sat patiently +with her wings spread over the little ones that the night air might not +chill them. The grassy slopes were studded with wild flowers, many of +which, sleepy from their long day's play with the breeze, nodded on +their stems with their petals folded as though their hands were clasped +in prayer. + +Here and there jack-rabbits, their long ears perked nervously, twisted +to see if any danger threatened, then dropping on all four feet they +hopped, and chased one another in play, or nibbled at the grass roots. +An antelope with her fawn at her side appeared for an instant on one of +the hilltops, her head lifted alertly, her nostrils twitching as she +sniffed the air. She started, whirled on her slender legs, then with her +fawn dashed out of sight. + +Running Deer watched her go, but Star spoke and she looked at him. + +"Now that we have the ponies of the white men, they cannot follow us any +more," he was saying. "But I like the old white horse, and I am glad +that he is going to stay with us. He is a very wise animal, I think, and +I am going to ask him to tell me all he knows, then I shall be wise, +too!" + +Before his mother could reply, the sharp "Yip, yip, yip" from a distant +point warned the two ponies that the coyotes were gathering for the +night. Both Star and Running Deer snorted and glanced quickly about, to +see if any had crept too near. + +They knew the ways of the small gray wolves. Each night at sunset the +pack followed its leader to a point where he could command a view for +some distance. Then he squatted silently, watching everything with his +keen, green eyes while his pointed nose sniffed the wind for hidden foes +or some animal that would furnish the pack with food. + +So long as the wind came toward him from any living thing, he could +escape, but when the wind blew away from him toward another animal or a +man, the coyote knew that he was not safe from surprise or attack. + +Trained from puppyhood by their mothers how to meet their enemies and +preserve their own lives, the coyotes always picked the strongest, +swiftest, and most daring of a pack for the leader. At nightfall these +leaders raced ahead of their packs across the prairie land, and when one +leader reached high ground he squatted down on his lean haunches and +sent out the call of his tribe. + +Before the echo had died away into silence, another leader gave answer. +After that other coyotes took up the cry, and then from all sides the +packs swept down the slopes and came together in a big gray mass. + +Their long tongues lolled from their mouths as they ran, their green +eyes glanced ravenously from side to side. Rabbits and other small +game, hearing the cry of the pack, scurried into hiding. Antelopes and +deer huddled more closely, keeping the young, weak fawns in the centre. +Often the hungry coyotes formed yelping circles about the antelopes, and +at times made dashes at them, hoping to frighten some fawn so that it +would run alone. For if it left the shelter of the herd only half a +minute, the coyotes would leap upon it and tear it to pieces. + +The does and the stags of the herd knew the danger. So while the +mothers' bodies sheltered their little ones, the stags, with long, +many-pronged horns, dashed at the coyotes and, if close enough, tossed +or gored their foes, often rearing straight up on their hind legs to +stamp on the coyotes with sharply pointed little hoofs that cut like +keen knives. + +With all other animals of the plains, the Comanche ponies knew that if +any colt ever strayed alone from the herd, he might fall a victim to the +coyote packs. Even buffalo calves had been dragged down by a bunch of +the prowling animals. Star's mother had many times shown him torn bits +of buffalo hide and scattered bones which told that the pack had found a +buffalo calf unprotected. Hundreds of coyotes gather in each band, and +swift as the wind, they cover many miles in search of a victim. + +Now, as the first call of the gathering coyotes died away, Running Deer +spoke hurriedly to Star, who needed no urging. Turning sharply on their +hind hoofs, they started on a swift run toward the place where all the +other ponies were being herded. + +It was much farther than Running Deer or Star had thought. The coyotes +were not far behind. The sound of the pack grew louder, and the gray +brutes came over the hill yelping with glee as they saw the two ponies. +Running Deer kept talking quietly to her colt as they ran. + +"Don't jump high, run low and save yourself all you can," she said, her +nose near Star's, but her eyes straight ahead of her. "They run fast +to-night because they have not eaten nor found water. So we must be +careful." + +It was the first time that Star had been chased by coyotes. He knew that +his mother had been followed many times, so he listened to every word +and obeyed her. Both ponies were puffing slightly, but their pace did +not change though their way often led up steep slopes then down +opposite banks while their forefeet ploughed deeply into the earth. + +"Don't slip," warned Running Deer as they raced neck and neck. "The +coyotes cannot catch either of us unless we stumble. If I should fall, +you must not stop, but go right on to camp." + +Star did not answer. He knew that if his mother fell, he would stay with +her and fight the coyotes with his teeth and his heels so the hungry +beasts could not tear her to pieces before she could get up again and +run with him. + +Twice he slipped on loose stones that rolled down the slopes in front of +him, and once he fell and skinned his knees, but he leaped to his feet +and kept at his mother's side. + +At times the pack behind them ran silently, then Running Deer's eyes +rolled backward to see how near they were. Star wondered how it would +feel to have a coyote leap on him. He shivered, but all his fears +vanished at his mother's next words. + +"They are falling back now! We are gaining at every step!" + +He glanced around. She was right. The coyotes were farther away, and +evidently realized that the ponies had outdistanced them, for they were +all running much more slowly. A few had halted and showed plainly that +they intended to look elsewhere for their dinner that night. One by one +the pack thinned, and finally a mournful howl told that the last pursuer +had given up the chase, leaving Star and his mother alone and safe. + +"When you fell to your knees"--Running Deer was walking now, and her +nose reached across to Star's--"I thought we two had run our last race. +They were very close just then." + +"But you could have escaped," replied Star, whose bleeding knees made +him wish he could stand in cool water for a little while, and he thought +happily of the creek near camp. + +"I would have stayed with you," his mother said quietly. Star was not +surprised at her words, for he knew that he would have done the same +thing for her, but he was glad it had not been necessary for either of +them to make such a fight against their foes. With several hundred +hungry coyotes against them, how could two ponies have kept up the fight +till dawn? That was what he asked himself, and Running Deer had the same +thought, though neither spoke of it. + +In a few more minutes they both recognized the top of an elevation that +overlooked the grazing place and safety for the night. Star, because of +his raw knees, lagged slightly behind his mother, and as she stopped +suddenly he hastened to her side, where both of them stared in +amazement. + +"I thought we had reached the herd." Star was the first to speak as they +looked down on a place where no pony was in sight. + +"It is where we left the herd," she answered. "They have moved it to +Quannah's camp. Come! We must hurry. They must have missed us by this +time. Quannah will be angry with the herders and punish them for letting +us get away." + +Without going down into the former herding camp, Running Deer led her +colt along the top of the ridge, knowing that it would take them just +above Quannah's camp, about a mile farther on. Star understood her +worry, or at least he thought he did; but he wondered at her nervous +starts and snorts, for there was nothing that threatened either of them +now. Coyotes sometimes ventured close to the camps, but they only +squatted at the outer edge and Star knew that they would keep away from +any camp fire, lurking in the shadows to avoid being seen or shot at by +the Comanches guarding the herd. + +Though it was now more than an hour after sunset, it was still quite +light when Star caught the scent of the pony herd and knew they were +close by. But he jumped back snorting as he saw his mother, who had +reached a higher point of ground, rear suddenly and turn. + +"Run! Run! Run as fast as you can! The white men have all our ponies! +They have captured the herders, too! Quannah is over the hill. We must +go to him! He may need us now!" + +Before they could cover the ground between the captured ponies and +Quannah's camp, almost a mile away, they heard the terrible noise of +fire-sticks. It came from the direction of Quannah's camp. The white men +were there, too! + +Star and his mother stopped instantly and looked at each other. Both +trembled with fear of the fire-sticks. They knew what those things +meant. + +"What shall we do?" the colt asked in fright. + +"I belong to Quannah," his mother spoke. "I shall follow him wherever he +goes. You belong to Songbird. You must go to her and help her escape +the white men, so that they may not take her away as they took Quannah's +mother and sister. Go back to the camp and find Songbird!" + +The colt hesitated. He had never been anywhere by himself. Always the +pony herd and his mother had been with him, except for the few hours +when Songbird had ridden him near the big camp. He thought of the packs +of coyotes and the long, lonesome miles that he must travel to reach the +camp where the women and children waited the return of Quannah and his +warriors who were now fighting the white men and the fire-sticks. Star +knew they were fighting, for the noise hurt his ears as he stood facing +his mother. + +She heard it too. Her ears went flat back against her beautiful head, +her nostrils were drawn in so that her nose looked thin, and little red +sparks of anger glittered in her dark eyes. Then she said in a voice +that made Star shrink back ashamed of himself. + +"Is the big colt of Running Deer a coward? Go! I tell you go at once! +You belong to Songbird! She needs you now!" + +Running Deer's strong teeth caught Star's back and sank deeply into the +soft flesh. With a squeal of pain and surprise, the colt leaped away. +Forgetting the coyotes and the loneliness of the trail and with no +further thought of his cut knees, he raced furiously into the gathering +darkness of night to find his little mistress, who had no one but +himself to help her, now that Quannah was unable to reach her. + + + + +Chapter X + + +Star had no trouble following the dim trail of the Comanche ponies back +toward their camp. Though he had travelled it only once he did not +forget it, and what was still more strange, he, like other ponies raised +on the prairies and in the mountains, was able to go over dangerous +places in the dark. + +The only thing that really bothered him was that the coyotes were near +him at night when he could not see them. But he slept in the daytime, +taking short naps, or just rested with his eyes wide open; then when +darkness fell, he rose and went steadily on. + +Of course, he worried about his mother, wondering where she was and what +had happened to Quannah and the warriors and all the Comanche ponies. If +Star had not seen his mother's fright and had not heard the fire-sticks +talking so angrily, he would have thought it a great lark to be alone, +with no one to control him. + +More than once he was tempted to go back to his mother, but when he +hesitated he remembered that she probably was no longer in the place he +had left her; besides, he dared not risk her anger by disobeying her. +Her teeth were sharp and her jaws strong, and his back still hurt where +she had bitten him. She had often pinched him, but never before had +Running Deer hurt her colt. It was not actually the bite that hurt most, +but what she had said when she thought he was a coward. So Star decided +he had better go on, and he trotted or loped toward the camp where +Songbird had remained with the women and children. + +The coyotes, though following, kept a respectful distance from his teeth +and heels. Several times they tumbled over each other in their haste to +dodge him when, with a squeal of fury, he raced after them. He knew that +they could not catch him as long as he was awake and could see them, and +his hearing was so keen that even the crackling of a dry twig awoke him +and brought him with a bound to his feet ready to meet his foes. + +There were many little streams of clear water and plenty of good feed, +and Star would have been quite happy had he not been anxious about his +mother, Quannah, and the Comanche pony herd. Songbird, he believed quite +safe in the camp with the women, papooses, and old men who had been too +aged or feeble to join the warriors in the fight. + +It took a week for Star to reach the top of a gentle slope from which he +looked down upon the camp. Smoke was rising lazily from fires in the +tepees, children were playing in front of their homes, and the squaws +were moving about attending to their everyday work. But as the pony +looked, it seemed strange not to see even one animal of the immense +Comanche pony herd. + +"Suppose I should never see them again!" he thought for the first time. +"Maybe the white men will take my mother away, too!" + +Unable to resist his feeling of loneliness and fear, Star lifted his +head and called loudly, though he knew perfectly well that all the +ponies were with Quannah, and that it had taken a journey of one week to +get to this camp. Of course he did not expect an answer, but he gave +call after call. Even the sound of his own voice made it seem less +lonesome just now. + +A squaw, carrying a bundle of dry faggots on her bent back, was the +first to hear him, and after the first glance her cry of surprise +brought other women from the tepees. Someone called to Songbird, and as +the child ran out of her father's big tepee, Star gave a shrill nicker +and raced pell-mell down the slope until he gained her side. Songbird's +arms wound around his neck, and his head bent low, while he listened to +the loving words of his little mistress and felt her soft hands caress +him. + +The other children gathered, while the squaws talked among themselves, +each one trying to understand how Star had come alone to the camp. Many +of them were certain that Quannah and his warriors were returning, and +that Star had just galloped ahead to find Songbird. + +They hastened to assure the child that this was the only solution to the +puzzle, and so they left Songbird and Star and hastened to make +preparations for the returning warriors, who would be very hungry and +tired after so long a journey. + +Star followed Songbird when she climbed the hill, where they watched +together while below them the other children and all the women rushed +about preparing a great feast. But the hours passed, and when it was +too dark to see anything except the flickering fires and the shadowy +figures near the light, Songbird and Star moved slowly down the +hillside. The pony's head drooped, for he was very tired, and Songbird's +cheeks were streaked where she had wiped away tears that she must not +allow any one except Star to see, for she was the daughter of the chief. +Moko gave a sharp glance at Songbird, then spoke in a low voice. + +"Quannah will come, and I shall paint a robe for him, and it will show +how he conquered the white men, and I shall paint Songbird, the daughter +of Quannah, and Star, the colt of Running Deer, waiting for the return +of Quannah and his warriors." + +Songbird looked soberly at Moko. "What will you paint if my father does +not come back again, Moko?" + +"I will paint a chief's daughter who did not cry," the old woman +answered. "Men fight with spears and arrows or knives, and they win +honour and praise, but women fight alone and no one knows when they +fight. Brave women do not weep. You are the daughter of the chief. His +mother rode beside his father when the fire-sticks screamed at them, +and she was not afraid. You will not cry even though Quannah does not +return to us." + +"No"--the voice that answered Moko was very low and trembling--"I will +not cry, Moko." + +The old Picture-Maker, clutching a lock of Star's mane in her wrinkled +hand, looked after the little figure that walked proudly away and +disappeared into the chief's tent. Moko shook her white head sadly as +she gave some dried corn to Star, then tethered him with a long rope +made from plaited strips of buffalo hide. In the big tepee Songbird lay +across the bed of furs, choking back sobs that must not be heard. + +During the following week the squaws and children watched, while +Songbird and Star went daily to the highest point overlooking the camp, +hoping for some sign of the returning warriors. As the two were about to +start up the hill on the morning of the eighth day, a Comanche warrior, +mounted on a black pony, appeared on the point above the camp. Star was +the first to see him. Star knew that black pony had sharp teeth and very +strong jaws. Running Deer answered her colt's welcoming call, then Star +tore madly toward his mother, who, with Quannah on her back, scrambled +hastily to meet her colt. + +As the ponies met, Songbird held out her arms, and her father lifted her +from Star's back. Holding her before him, the chief rode down into the +camp, while Songbird's eyes glowed with pride and joy. Star, keeping +closely beside his mother, kicked his heels, shook his head, and nipped +his mother's neck. + +Over the crest of the hill behind Quannah, rode the cavalcade of +Comanche warriors. Their war-bonnets trailed over their shoulders and +fell almost to the ground, their shields were held aloft, and the silver +trinkets on each pony jingled loudly. One by one the Comanches dashed +furiously into the camp, formed in single files and raced in and out +between the tepees, uttering shrill cries of triumph, while the women +and even tiny children joined in the song of victory. + +Songbird had been dropped lightly to the ground, and now, among the +other children, she watched her father as he sat on Running Deer +towering above all the other warriors. Her little heart seemed ready to +burst with pride. Never had there been such a Comanche Chief, she +thought. + +The war-bonnet of eagle feathers which encircled his forehead swept down +his back, and over Running Deer's glossy black flank to the mare's +fetlocks. Large hoops of brass were in the chief's ears, and a necklace +of bear's claws hung about his neck. Quannah had killed those bears, and +each one had been big and very fierce. Only a brave warrior could have +killed them alone. Tight trousers of buckskin, fringed at the outer +seams, and moccasins trimmed with bits of red cloth, finished the best +clothes of a Comanche chief. Songbird thought it a beautiful way of +dressing. + +His hair, braided with otter fur and tied with strips of red material, +formed a long scalp-lock. It was a disgrace for a warrior to have no +scalp-lock. In battle his enemies always tried to capture it as a trophy +of victory and proof of bravery. + +Many of the ponies were striped with different colours. The stripes were +used on buckskin, white, gray, or sorrel ponies to prevent detection by +foes, but the darker ponies, such as blacks or bays, did not need such +precautions. Running Deer, being coal-black like Star, had not been +painted. The mare's bridle was heavy with silver ornaments which had +been hammered firmly on reins and headstall, while her long tail and +thick mane were braided with the same kind of red cloth that tied +Quannah's scalp-lock. + +An hour after the return of the men, the ponies had been unsaddled and +turned loose to rest and graze, while their owners scattered in the +village to prepare for the feast that awaited them, and to relate to the +eager squaws and papooses how their chief had outwitted and evaded the +white men who had hoped to capture the Comanches. For Quannah had lured +them over misleading trails, up and down steep cañons, out on the border +of the sandy desert called the Staked Plains, where white men, unable to +find water or food, lay down to die, but where the Comanche Indians +travelled without disaster. + +The boys who had sneaked into the picket-lines of the soldiers and had +then stampeded the white horses were praised and feasted by the squaws, +envied by all the other boys, and smiled at by the girls who watched the +little heroes admiringly. + +The next day the camp was bustling with activity before the sun peered +curiously over the hill tops. That night the warriors were to celebrate +the Pipe Dance, and when the full moon rose over the distant mountains +all of the Quahadas gathered for the ceremony. + +Songbird was dressed in her new buckskin robe, her hair was smoothly +braided and fell in two long plaits. She walked proudly, for no other +child was to have the honour of standing with the squaws in the Dance. +Already a ring was forming. In the very centre were the women, whom +Songbird joined, and with the women stood a few of the very old men. +Beyond them was a still larger circle composed of the warriors, +including Gray Beard, Big Wolf, and Spotted Leopard. + +Karolo, the Medicine Man, stood beside Quannah, who held a lighted pipe +made of red sandstone. At a signal the warriors began dancing slowly +about their chief, all moving in the same direction, like a revolving +wheel. As each man came opposite Quannah, the chief held out the smoking +pipe and the warrior who received it took a whiff or two; then, handing +it back to Quannah, the man kept on dancing, all the while the others +went on with their weird chant. + +Star and Running Deer stood together on the outer edge watching the +dancers, who finished with great whoops of excitement. Then men, women, +and children squatted near the big camp fire where a feast had been set. +The light of the moon made each face as distinct as though it were being +seen in early morning. Beyond the edge of the camp, coyotes gathered, +sniffing the air and yelping because they dared not come nearer the food +that smelled so good. + +It was a night to be long remembered by the Quahada Comanches, but at +last the men, women, and sleepy children rose and went to their homes, +where, with a few parting words to one another, they lifted the flaps of +their tepees and slipped through the entrances. In a short time even +their murmuring voices were silent. + +The moon continued slowly on its journey through the sky, and the pony +herd huddled together for the rest of the night. Among the sleeping +animals was the old white troop horse, and Star, with Running Deer, +stretched closely beside him. They had all been very glad to meet again. + +Star had noticed another strange horse not far away. He was a big, gray +animal. Just now he was moving nervously and lifting his head, looked +about him. Star's eyes met those of the stranger. + +For a second the two horses stared curiously at each other. Then the +gray horse let his head fall slowly to the ground. Star, too sleepy to +think of anything but rest, closed his eyes and pillowed his head +comfortably on his mother's neck. She blinked at him, but the bite she +gave his neck did not hurt this time. Then they all slept. + +None of them ever stirred when the Comanche on guard over the pony herd, +seeing a coyote sneaking too near, seized a burning brand from the +smouldering camp fire and tossed it at the shadowy, skulking form. +Countless little sparks scattered as the burning stick hit the ground, +and the cry of the coyote pack grew fainter and fainter, until it died +in the distance. + + + + +Chapter XI + + +The next morning when Star, with his mother and the Old White Horse, had +found a nice place to graze near the other ponies, the Big Gray Horse +that Star had noticed the previous night joined them, and the Old White +Horse hastened to rub noses with him. + +Star watched curiously, then edged cautiously toward them. His nose +twitched, for Star was not quite sure whether he had better bite the Big +Gray Horse or not. The stranger was so big and was certainly very +handsome. He had a beautiful long silver tail and a heavy silver mane. +His ears were very small and tapered to delicate points, his forehead +was broad, and his eyes unusually large and bright. His neck arched +proudly and when he moved every muscle beneath his glistening dappled +skin told how powerful he was. Star reached him, and as they faced each +other, the Big Gray Horse lifted a front hoof and pawed the ground +lightly. + +The Old White Horse watched him respectfully, and Running Deer joined +the group, so that the four of them stood with their noses almost +touching. + +"Who are you?" asked Running Deer, when the Big Gray Horse showed +plainly that he wanted to be friends. + +"I am the horse of a general," was the proud answer. + +"What is a general?" Star hastened to inquire, and the Big Gray Horse +looked at him in surprise. + +"A general is a great soldier who commands many men," he said. "General +Mackenzie owns me, but I was confused by the noise and the darkness and +thought that I was running with our troop horses. When I learned that I +was among the Indian ponies it was too late for me to escape, for the +Comanches chased me back into their own herd each time I tried to get +away." + +"I was confused, but not afraid," the Old White Horse explained. "I have +been so many years a troop horse that I am not a coward in a fight. You +believe that, don't you?" He looked anxiously at the Big Gray Horse. + +"Yes," it answered. "Neither a man nor a horse that has grown old in +the service turns coward when he grows old. Sometimes we horses run just +because other horses are running; sometimes we misunderstand our orders +and run wild. That was how many horses broke loose when the Indian boys +hit us over the heads and backs with those bits of buffalo hide. When +some picket-ropes broke, the rest of us thought we would be left behind, +so we all struggled until we were free. Then I ran, guided by the sound +of other hoofs in the darkness, and not waiting to know whether those +around me were troop horses or Comanche ponies. I thought I was doing +what was right and best." + +"And then what happened?" Star questioned eagerly. + +"The soldiers fired their guns, and many tried to catch the running +horses which were dragging long ropes. The Comanches were all around in +the darkness. Then all I really knew after that was that a lot of us +were among the Comanche ponies and the warriors were urging us on. It +was dawn when we halted, and the soldiers were nowhere to be seen." + +"Nearly all of the White Troop horses are with us," the Old White Horse +spoke. + +Star lifted his head and glanced over the peacefully grazing herd, where +a large number of white animals were mixed among the Comanche ponies. +They were easily picked out, not only because of their colour, but also +because they were much larger than the Indian ponies. + +"Your fighting men cannot follow us," bragged Star, "for they have no +ponies now." + +"You are wrong," replied the Big Gray Horse. "There are hundreds more +horses, hundreds more soldiers who will follow the Comanches. The white +men are like the blades of grass, the stars in the sky, or the leaves of +the trees in a great forest. No one can count them. Others will join our +masters and keep on the trail until the Indians are all conquered. I +know what I say, for I have listened to my General and all his officers +talking while they rode together." + +"Why do they wish to conquer us?" demanded Star angrily. "The land, the +grass, the rivers belong to us! Why do the white men come out of far +places to take these things away from us?" + +"I am only a horse," the other replied. "How can I tell? I only know +that my General holds the rein that guides me, and I love and obey him. +Sometimes while he rides slowly, he and the other officers talk +together. Then we, their horses, listen. So we learn much, but there are +many things none of us understand." + +"Have you, too, heard them talk?" Running Deer questioned the Old White +Horse which had kept silent all this time. + +"I do not belong to an officer," he said. "I am only a troop horse. A +soldier rides me and we must follow the officers. My rider is an old +soldier. I am a very old troop horse. Our duty is to obey, not ask +questions, nor reason. Whether we are on parade or fighting, all I have +to remember is to mind the reins quickly, to listen sharply for the +bugle calls, and to keep my eyes fixed on the little pointed flag of our +troop. For that is the troop guidon. Where it leads, we follow." + +"We horses do not want to fight you ponies," the Big Gray Horse went on +as the Old White Horse stopped speaking. "We have no quarrel between +us." + +"Maybe if the Indians and the white men could understand one another's +talk it would stop the fighting," Running Deer joined the conversation +again. "We horses understand one another and we do not want to fight. +Preloch understood the Comanche tongue, and she did not fight them. She +made peace between those who wished to fight in the tribe. When people +do not understand one another that must be the reason for all the +trouble!" + +"Then white men never fight with one another!" Star exclaimed suddenly. + +The Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse hung their heads and were +silent, while the two Comanche ponies looked at them. + +"_Do the white men fight one another?_" demanded Running Deer at last. + +"Yes, sometimes," the Big Gray Horse replied. "There are white men who +steal, kill, betray, and oppress the weak and helpless. Those who know +the law and break it are punished by the law." + +"But the Indians do not know the white man's law, neither do they speak +the same tongue," snorted Running Deer, while her eyes showed little red +sparks of anger. "It was the white men who fought the Quahadas and took +away Preloch and Prairie Flower." + +"The Comanches had killed and stolen white women and children," replied +the Big Gray Horse. "So that was why the white men fought the Indians +and took Quannah's mother and sister captive." + +"Then how are the white men any better than the Comanches?" Running Deer +snapped angrily. "You tell us that the white men are wise and good, and +that the Comanches should learn the white men's ways and their laws, and +yet you also say that the white men fight, steal, oppress, and kill one +another, and if the Comanches take a white man's squaw or children, it +is right for the white men to kill us, steal our women and children, and +destroy our homes! If that is the right law for them, it is the right +law for us. How can they teach us to be better than they are, +themselves?" + +"Just as you speak, I once heard an officer speak," responded the Big +Gray Horse. "But when an order comes to an officer, he must obey. If we +horses feel the reins, hear the bugle calling, see the troop guidon +fluttering ahead of us, we ask no questions. Like our masters who ride +us, we obey, for wherever the flag leads, we must follow and uphold it. +There is much I do not understand, but I do know we horses have no +quarrel with the Comanche ponies." + +"Let us leave those things to men," the Old White Horse said. "We horses +are good friends and will not bite or kick one another. Why should we +fight when there is grass enough for us all? The world is big!" + +"You are right," was Running Deer's comment. "And now if you will come +with me I will show you where the grass is sweeter and more tender than +any other spot for miles around. Only a few ponies besides myself and +Star know the place. We will share it with you." + +Side by side the troop horse and the horse of the general followed the +Comanche mare and her colt. + + + + +Chapter XII + + +Life in the Quahada village went very happily for Star and Songbird +after the return of Quannah and his warriors. The white men had +evidently withdrawn from their chase of the Comanches, and Quannah did +not intend to cause further trouble unless the buffalo hunters or other +white people encroached upon the land which the Quahadas considered +their own. + +The Old White Horse and the Big Gray Horse seemed to be very well +satisfied among the Indian ponies, but Star was a special favourite. +More than once his mother chided him for liking the white men's horses +better than older friends among the Comanche ponies. Sometimes she even +drove him away from the cavalry horses and forced him to stay with the +others. At such times Star did his best to escape her watchful eyes and +return to his friends, but it was not an easy thing to accomplish. When +his efforts failed, he would call loudly to the two horses, and their +answers told him that they understood he had not deserted them. + +"Why do you want to stay beside them all the time?" Hawk asked him one +day when Running Deer had shouldered and nipped Star until he was in the +very midst of the herd. + +"Because they teach me so many things our ponies do not know," he +answered quickly. + +"What can a white man's horse tell a Comanche pony?" Hawk said +scornfully. + +"A great many things," was Star's reply. "I listen to them talking to +each other about big camps of white men, of strange houses that move as +swiftly as lightning, and of the wonderful flag that floats every day +from a tall white lodge-pole in the place where they live with many +horses and soldiers." + +"We have lodge-poles, too," Hawk spoke impatiently. "Can their flag +bring rain like the Thunder Bird that lives in the forks of the pole of +the Sacred Sun Lodge?" + +"No," Star shook his head, "I asked the Big Gray Horse about that, and +told him how the Sun caught the Thunder Bird and kept it prisoner in the +forks of the tall pole of the Sacred Sun Lodge, and that no rain could +fall until our Medicine Men and warriors vanquished the Sun and set the +Thunder Bird free; and how the Thunder Bird spread its great black wings +and rain fell from its pinions upon the thirsty earth, so that the grass +and flowers awoke from their sleep." + +"Can their flag do that?" demanded Hawk. + +"No; but he said that the flag on the lodge-pole meant that all those +who came to it for help are treated kindly, and all who live under it +are protected. I asked him if he thought that it could make the buffalo +hunters and other men with fire-sticks leave the Quahadas in peace. He +and the Old White Horse both said they were sure of it, if Quannah would +lead us all there to talk." + +"That was what the messengers from the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and Kiowa +camps said to Quannah," retorted Hawk. "The white men wanted them to +make a treaty of peace in a big Medicine Lodge, and then the Indians +would go and live where the white men put them. Quannah did not do it. +He was wise. He would not trust the white people, nor let them rule the +Quahadas, as though we were all captives. Who can tell what they would +do afterward? Why do you trust the two strange horses and their +stories?" + +"They are my friends!" Star's eyes were angry, his ears flattened +backward, his lips twitched so that his teeth showed. As he thrust his +head forward, Hawk jumped aside to avoid Star's strong teeth, and +Running Deer stood in front of her colt. + +"Why do you fight Hawk?" she snorted as Star moved out of her reach. +"You and he have played together all your lives. His mother and I grew +up together, and our mothers slept side by side before I was born. These +strangers are not of our people. They will leave us when they have a +chance to return to their own people, but we shall remain together until +we die. That is right. The white men and their horses have their own +ranges; the Indians and their ponies have other places. Whenever they +meet there is trouble and sorrow. When they dwell apart there is peace. +So why should you quarrel with Hawk about these strange horses of the +white men?" + +"I am sorry," spoke Hawk, edging more closely toward Star. + +The other pony moved quickly and rubbed his nose against Hawk's +shoulder, saying, "I'm sorry, too. I was to blame, but I do like to +listen to them talking." + +"Let me go with you now and hear them," suggested Hawk. + +"Yes, go!" said Running Deer, and she watched the two ponies trotting +together toward the Old White Horse and the Big Gray Horse, who showed +their pleasure at having the youngsters join them. + +A couple of hours later as the ponies rested beside the big horses under +the shade of a tree, Star scrambled hastily to his feet, saying, +"Songbird is calling me. Good-bye!" + +It did not take long for him to reach her side. She was standing before +the opening of the big tepee and a short tether was in her hand. Star +bent his head so that she could slip the crude bridle back of his ears +and around his nose, but there was no bit to be thrust into his mouth. + +Then without saddle or blanket she prepared to mount. Grasping his +shaggy mane in her strong little hands, she sprawled against his side +and balanced her body across his back, after which she wriggled until +she sat erect, with the single strand of rawhide in her left hand. + +Star knew that the pressure of her knee meant for him to turn one way or +the other. When she leaned forward and her bare brown legs clamped +closely against his body, the pony understood, without whip or spur, +that he must go faster. The lightest pull on the rawhide loop around his +nose caused him to stop at once. Besides all this, the tones of +Songbird's voice guided him, and he always did his best to obey and +please her, because he loved her. + +Often Songbird's pet fawn accompanied them. The fawn thought it great +sport to out-run the pony, but at times Star reached slyly to nip the +little creature, which took delight in teasing the pony and getting in +front of it. + +Some days the other Comanche children rode with Songbird, and when they +raced their ponies Star could easily outdistance the rest. Most of the +children rode the old ponies that were too stiff to be of value in +trades. The Comanches traded ponies instead of using money like white +people. The children bragged one to the other, about the number of +ponies his, or her, father owned, and how fast those ponies could run. +Songbird did not talk like the rest. Everyone knew that her father, +Quannah, had the most ponies of any warrior in any Indian tribe, and +that his ponies were faster and more beautiful than all others. + +She thought proudly of the pony races during festivals. When only the +ponies of the Quahadas ran, Quannah's ponies were not among them, for he +would not humiliate his own warriors by showing how slowly their ponies +ran. But when the Cheyennes, Kiowas, or Arapahoes brought their best +ponies to race against those of the Quahadas, Running Deer was led into +the line of strange ponies. + +As she stood among them, her bright eyes would note each lithe body, +each nervous nostril, and the outlines of steeled muscles. Measuring her +rivals she would toss her dainty head, and when the signal was given, +would shoot away like an arrow from the other ponies and reach the goal +ahead of them. Then amid wild shouts the Quahadas would gather about +Running Deer who had upheld the honour of the tribe. + +Later the defeated warriors would go back to their own camps, but the +best ponies would be left behind with the herd of the Quahadas. Songbird +knew that some day Star would race for the honour of the tribe. So while +the other children raced and bragged, Songbird watched and was silent. + +The games that Songbird played with the children were not so very +different from many games played by white children in other parts of the +world. Both boys and white girls shot arrows at targets, or, mounted on +high stilts, chased one another between the tepees. There were wooden +tops carved from tough limbs of trees, and the boys made whistles of +reeds on which they blew music that the Indians loved. + +Tiring of this they would turn to playing "Wolf" or "Chaser," which is +much like "Tag," or it might be a game of "Hide Things" which was the +name for "Hide and Seek." "Cat's Cradle" was played with strings +of tough buckskin, and a great favourite among the boys was a +breath-holding contest in which the boy who could hold his breath the +longest was the winner, and the one who was first to fail was ridiculed +by boys and girls. + +Songbird and the other little girls had dolls which the squaws made for +them. These were of buckskin painted gaily, and hair from the tails of +ponies was sewed to the heads. The women used threads of fine sinews, +and sharply pointed bits of stout wood pushed the queer thread through +the material. That was the way the Comanche women sewed, even in making +their tents, their clothes, and their moccasins. + +Keeping house and having feasts like dinner parties made many merry +hours. The boys, who scorned to play with the dolls, were very glad to +join the games when they saw cactus-fruit, pine nuts, dried wild +berries, dried acorns, and maybe deer meat that had been cut into long +narrow strips and hung in the sun until cured so that it could be eaten +without being cooked. There might even be little cakes made of dried +buffalo meat that had been pounded between two stones and mixed with +dried berries. + +Instead of candy they chewed dried mesquite beans, which were juicy +inside, and though sweet were tart. Possibly a special treat had been +prepared for the little housekeepers, and their mothers had given them +cactus-fruit. Eagerly the children watched the gorgeous yellow blossoms +form on the prickly-pear bushes, and when the petals fell, leaving the +delicious fruit, they knew enough not to touch it, for it was thickly +encrusted with tiny stickers. These were so fine as to be almost +invisible and were very painful as they worked into the flesh. + +A tough stick was used to knock the fruit from the edge of the thick, +flat, fleshy leaves that formed great clumps of the prickly-pear cactus. +The thorns and skin were then removed with sharp sticks, or by placing +for a few moments in hot ashes. The feast usually wound up with chewing +gum obtained from the sweet sap of certain trees. It oozed through the +bark, formed into dry lumps, and was all ready for any little Comanche +who happened near. + +So the men hunted deer and buffalo and made plans to protect their +families and homes, and the women searched for roots, nuts, and berries +for food and medicine, made clothes and cooked, while the children +played their games, like other children all over the world, and listened +to stories told in the tepees and by the camp fires, until the Spirit of +Darkness rode his big black horse across the sky. + + * * * * * + +Then the children of the Quahada Comanches went into their tepee-homes, +curled up on their beds of furry robes and slept. + +But Songbird knew that Quannah and the wisest and bravest men of the +tribe sat in the big tepee talking very gravely, night after night, when +they thought that she was sound asleep. She heard enough to understand +that they did not think the white men had given up the fight, but would +come again some day, and come in greater numbers to conquer the +Quahadas. + + + + +Chapter XIII + + +Songbird awakened early one morning and lost no time getting into her +moccasins and buckskin dress. Then she braided her hair and fastened it +with bits of red string. + +Aided by one of the older squaws, she set the tepee in order for the +day. The home of the Quahada Chief, though larger than other dwellings +in the big village, was built like the rest. + +A circular framework of poles had been erected to form a peak where they +joined near the top. There were twenty poles made of hewn cedar trees. +The poles were lashed together by hide ropes, then firmly sewed buffalo +skins, stretched tautly over them, were pegged solidly to the hard +ground. But an opening at the top of the tepee permitted the ends of the +poles to protrude. + +In the centre of Songbird's home was a fire, arranged so that the smoke +would pass through the opening at the top of the tepee. On either side +of this pit hung skins on crude frames. By moving these screens the +smoke from the fire pit could be controlled when the wind shifted, thus +making an inside chimney which carried off the smoke but allowed the +warmth to spread in the tepee. Near the fire crotched sticks supported a +pole on which clothes, robes, or moccasins could be hung when wet. + +The doors or openings of all the tepees in the village faced the east, +and were closed by flaps of buffalo hides on frames which enabled them +to be lifted easily, yet which stayed in place during bad weather. + +Two beds, or seats, were arranged inside the dwelling. One at a side, +the other at the back. These beds were merely slightly raised platforms +on which many soft robes had been thrown. But there were pillows of +buckskin stuffed with the feathers of wild turkeys, geese, or ducks, +mixed with long, soft hair cut from buffalo hides. + +Decorated skins hung slanting from the centre of the room across and +over the two beds, so that any water would be drained from the smoke +hole in rainy weather, and thus the fire was protected, as well as the +beds. The entire inside of the tepees had been painted by Moko in +designs of queer characters, or pictures of Comanches hunting or +fighting. + +Mats of woven bark and plaited rushes lay on the smooth, hard dirt +floor. A border of interwoven twigs around the two beds kept cold drafts +away in winter. During the summer the edges of the tepee were lifted and +tied, thus allowing the breeze full sway. + +Songbird was very proud of her home as she bustled around, sweeping the +earth floor with her broom made of coarse grass and twigs. Then with the +wing of a wild turkey, she carefully brushed the scattered ashes to the +centre of the fire-pit. Her father's best saddle hung on a post, and on +another was his big shield made of toughened buffalo hide. + +She stood looking at the shield, for it was beautifully painted, and a +fringe of buckskin bordered it all around. The buffalo hide had been +shrunken over fire to make it twice as tough and thick as originally. +Moko had told her about the important ceremony which took place when a +new shield was made, and how the Medicine Man blessed it, so that it +would protect the warrior who carried it. + +She had also told how the Quahadas in battle formed long lines, and the +other Indians who were enemies made a line opposite. After that, one +warrior rode out alone. Holding his shield high in the air, and +balancing his long lance, he challenged his foes to send a warrior to +meet him in single battle between the two lines of Indians. + +Then the other Indians sent their best fighter, and the two tribes +waited as the horsemen dashed toward each other, their ponies' manes and +long tails flying while the silver mountings on their bridles clinked. +The warriors leaning forward, with war bonnets of tall feathers that +trailed almost to the ground, met in a crash, and then if the spear were +not of tough wood, or the shield were not strong and tightly stretched, +the tribe of the wounded warrior was humiliated as their champion fell +from his pony. + +No lance had ever pierced Quannah's shield, though he had met the foes +of his tribes many times. But Songbird, small as she was, knew that the +white men did not fight with lances and shields. Moko had said that the +fire-sticks would tear the best shield the Quahadas could make, and that +the men with the fire-sticks could stand far away yet kill the Quahada +warriors before the Indians could reach their white foes. + +"They will come back to-day." The old squaw, who was puttering among the +cooking utensils at the back of the tent, spoke. "May the Great Spirit +grant they bring much meat, for our dried meat must be cured before the +days grow wet and cold." + +"I have two prayer-sticks," answered Songbird, proudly pointing at +little sticks fastened by cactus thorns to the wall of the tepee. "They +will bring my father and his warriors back to us safely with all the +meat and robes that are needed." + +The little sticks, about as long as the hand of a grown man, were +decorated with feathers, and other objects were attached by strings of +buckskin. The feathers, from the breast of an eagle, were called "breath +feather," for when the prayers were offered to the Great Spirit for any +warrior, the "breath feather" carried it to the Great Spirit and the +warrior was protected. Songbird knew that Karolo, the Medicine Man, had +moistened the prayer-sticks with wonderful medicine, and that he had +sprinkled them with sacred pollen. Karolo had given the prayer-sticks to +Songbird to comfort her when she was alone. + +"Yes," muttered the old woman, inspecting the bit of dried meat that +swung over the fire on a crotched stick, the other end of which was +thrust into the ground, "this time we need not fear, for the white men +have fled far away." + +As she spoke, she sliced off some hot meat and placed it in a dish made +from the bark of a tree. Songbird seated herself on the ground. On mats +of woven grass were ladles of wild gourds, spoons fashioned from buffalo +horns, shallow baskets woven of fine grass, and bowls made of red clay. + +There were sharp utensils made of flint rocks or of crude metal to cut +the food, if necessary, but mostly the breakfast consisted of pounded +berries and nuts, and the freshly roasted meat, with a mushy substance +prepared from maize. + +This was a kind of corn grown by the Indians, and when dry it was soaked +in lye made from wood ashes, to remove the tough outer skin. Then the +squaws placed it in a hollowed stone, and with a round flat stone that +fitted closely into the cavity they worked and pounded until there was a +fine powder. The food was ready to be eaten at once, either dry or +moistened with water, and was very nourishing. + +After breakfast, Songbird was free to roam where she pleased until such +time as her father and his men should return from the big buffalo hunt +on which they had started ten days before. + +She had not told any one of her plan to slip away and ride out to meet +her father. So without loss of time she reached Star where he was +grazing among other ponies that had not been taken on the hunt. + +When Star saw the rawhide rope in her hand, he lowered his head quickly, +so that she could slip the noose across his nose and back of his ears. +He was glad of a chance to run that morning, for the sun was so bright, +the air so bracing, the grass so soft and green and the sky so blue, as +he galloped across the rolling prairie with his little mistress on his +back. + + + + +Chapter XIV + + +Several miles from the village, Songbird saw the hunting party coming +toward her, and she dug her heels sharply into Star's side to urge him +faster on the way. Star did not need pushing, for he knew that Quannah +was riding Running Deer. The greeting between the colt and his mother +was as affectionate as that between the father and daughter. + +Side by side Star and his mother loped happily, while Songbird chattered +to her father, who looked at her with loving pride as she sat gracefully +on her pony's back, her cheeks pink from the touch of the breeze and her +excitement showing in her dark, glowing eyes. + +Back of Quannah and his little daughter rode the warriors, leading +ponies laden with antelope and buffalo meat, while still other ponies +carried rolled buffalo hides. + +The meat that had been obtained on the hunt would be cut into thin +strips and dried in the sun. This would preserve it for use without any +danger of its spoiling, and the robes would be tanned and used for many +purposes. No lack of food or warm robes need be feared now, and where +the tepees needed mending it could be done without trouble. The extra +robes would be exchanged by the Quahadas for articles which they might +desire from some other tribe, or even traded for more ponies. + +So there was much rejoicing when the hunting party reached the village +an hour later, and preparations were rushed for a great celebration. In +addition to the successful hunt it was time for the Festival of the +Green Corn. This was the Quahada Thanksgiving Day, when they thanked the +Great Spirit for an abundance of maize and other necessities of their +daily lives. + +Songbird, turning Star loose, wandered about the camp and watched the +squaws at work. Children ran from their tepees to the place where the +camp fires had been built. Each family had a separate fire for the +celebration, and when everything was ready big bunches of corn were +carried by each to the special family fire, where the squaws roasted the +ears of maize. + +While they were doing this the men formed in a large circle about the +fires. The Medicine Man, Karolo, and Quannah, with Gray Beard, Spotted +Leopard, and Big Wolf, were in the centre. The other men who formed the +circle danced around the chiefs, and as they danced they shouted the +Song of the Green Corn. This was accompanied by monotonous music made by +the pounding with dry buffalo bones on skins tightly drawn over hoops of +bent wood. + +When the dancing was over, the men all sat down close together, while +Karolo spoke to them and made a prayer of thanksgiving to the Great +Spirit. Each of the chiefs spoke after him. Then Karolo walked around +the circle of little fires and lifting his hands above each heap of +roasted corn, he blessed it. + +After he had blessed all the corn, the Quahadas, men, women, and +children, began to eat it, talking and laughing or calling across to one +another as they enjoyed the feast that the Great Spirit had provided and +blessed through Karolo. + +The children listened to the talk of their elders as they sat beside the +fires after the feast. There were stories of brave deeds, tales of +mighty hunters, and then all were silent as Moko related the story of +how the buffaloes were sent to the Comanches. Moko was not only the +Picture Maker of the Quahadas, but also the Story Teller. It was +through the Story Teller of the tribe that the younger people knew of +those who had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds long before the +grandparents of old Moko had been born. And Moko was the oldest living +person among the Quahadas. So all of them, young and old, men and women, +listened respectfully as she spoke. + +"So many moons ago it happened, that the Indians cannot count them now," +she said, poking the ashes with a long stick. "The Sun Spirit, angered +because the Thunder Bird had flown across the sky day after day, made a +trap and caught him. So the Sun held the Thunder Bird captive that it +might not fly across the sky and make shadows with its great black +wings. Because of this there was no rain and the earth grew thirsty. +Then the grass died and the young corn shrivelled away. + +"The ponies grew thin and weak, the streams shrank to small threads of +water and many of them became dry sand. The antelopes moved away or died +because there was no grass, and though the Medicine Man planted his +prayer-sticks and begged the Great Spirit to help his children, the +Great Spirit did not listen to his voice. + +"Then a young man of the Quahadas, and his wife, knowing that their +people would starve, wandered away together, hand in hand, to seek the +Great Spirit and offer him their own lives for the sake of their people +with whom the Great Spirit was angry. + +"For three days before they started neither of them had eaten even a +mouthful of maize, nor had they taken any water, so that there might be +more left for the others who were not so strong as they were. + +"Across the desert of hot sand that burned like fire against their bare +feet, they two wandered alone. For many days they found nothing but +heat, thirst, and hunger, and often they lay down on the scorching sand, +too weak to go farther. But when they had rested a few minutes, they +remembered their people, and so they rose wearily and continued their +search for the Great Spirit. + +"And one day the Great Spirit, who had been watching them all the time, +appeared before them and said that because he had seen their great love +and pity and knew that their own sufferings had not made them weaken in +their search for him, their prayers would be answered, and the sacrifice +of their lives was not desired by him. He touched the dry sand, and a +stream of clear water ran past their feet, so they fell upon the sand +and thanked the Great Spirit. Then they laid their lips in the cool +ripples, and drank their fill. + +"As they arose they saw food before them and many strange beautiful +fruits, which the Great Spirit bade them eat. Then he told them of the +Sun Dance and how the big Sun Lodge must be built, and how the chiefs +and the Medicine Men could vanquish the Spirit of the Sun when it held +the Thunder Bird captive. + +"After they had eaten and had thanked the Great Spirit, they promised to +do as he bade them. Then the man and the woman returned rejoicing of +their people and gave the message to them. + +"And the Quahadas obeyed the Great Spirit, and made a prisoner of the +Sun, so the Thunder Bird was free. Then it stretched its broad wings and +flew swiftly over the land. The rain fell from the black feather tips +until the land was flooded and the grass leaped up, the flowers +bloomed, the antelopes returned, the ponies of the Quahadas grew fat and +strong and the whole tribe rejoiced because the Great Spirit smiled upon +them and their children. + +"One day they saw a great black mass like a thunder cloud sweeping +across the prairie close to the ground. As it drew nearer they saw that +it was not a cloud, but a vast herd of strange, big, black animals, such +as none of them had ever seen before, and of which no one had ever told +them or their forefathers. Then the Quahadas hid their faces, for they +heard the voice of the Great Spirit speaking from the sky. + +"Because you have obeyed me, my anger has passed away and I give you +this new food. Kill these buffaloes when you need meat, when you need +clothes, when you need tepees. These are all mine and I give them to +you, my children. You must take only what you need. If you slay them +when you have enough food, clothes, robes, or tepees, I will take all +the buffaloes away, and I will also take from you again the grass and +water." + +"So the buffaloes were given to the Indians; and we must never forget +the words of the Great Spirit as he spoke to our forefathers that day, +many, many moons ago. So many moons that none of us can count them now!" + +Shaking her white head and muttering to herself, old Moko went to her +tepee, and Songbird, with the other children, sat watching the games +played by the men and women. + +Some of the men held arrows, which they tossed while other men threw +their own arrows to try to stop the flight of the first arrow as it went +swiftly past. It required great skill and a keen eye to measure the +flight of the arrow and break it. + +Other men, holding netted bats, like tennis rackets, played with a ball +and kept it moving between them for a long time. The players had to keep +the ball from falling to the ground and the rule was that if any man +touched the ball with his hand, he must leave the game and pay a fine. + +The younger men wrestled in pairs, each one striving to throw the other +to the ground and hold him down until Big Wolf, Spotted Leopard, or Gray +Beard had decided which one was the winner. + +Little Songbird, sitting among the other children, cracked nuts between +stones, and with a sharp, stout cactus thorn picked out the meats and +ate them, until at last, too tired to keep her eyes open any longer, she +curled herself on a buffalo robe and went to sleep. + +So soundly she slept that she did not awaken, even when her father found +her and carried her to their tepee home. + + + + +Chapter XV + + +The women of the Quahada village were very busy for weeks after the +return of the buffalo hunters and the Festival of the Green Corn. Not +only did they have their usual duties to perform, but in addition they +had to preserve the meat and tan the hides of the buffaloes and +antelopes that had been brought back by the men. + +The children helped cut the meat into long, thin pieces so that it could +be hung in the hot sun until the outer part was dry and hard. It was +then tied together with bits of buckskin or dried sinews and stored away +for future use. Thus prepared it could be eaten without further cooking, +or carried by the Comanches from place to place. Often, as they rode +along, they ate the meat without stopping for other food. With this and +a little pounded maize, or a bit of dry vegetable root, they were able +to travel many days. + +The big skins had to be cured at once, lest they spoil. So while the +children were cutting the meat, the women staked all the hides on the +ground, fur side down. Then two women took charge of each hide. + +Songbird did not help the other children cut the meat, but she watched +the squaws who bent over a very large hide which Quannah had brought +home. The women were busy scraping off all the tiny bits of flesh that +still clung to the inner surface, using flat, sharp-edged bones, while a +thong of buckskin around their wrists gave extra strength to their +efforts. She was greatly interested in that robe, for when it had been +thoroughly cured Moko was going to paint on it the picture of the big +fight. + +"Let me help," she begged the women. + +But they shook their heads and answered, "It is Quannah's robe. We must +be very careful of it." + +Then Songbird ran to where her father was standing not far away from his +tepee and looked wistfully into his face. + +"Let me help the women cure the big robe you brought," she pleaded. "I +will be very careful not to hurt it. I cannot fight, nor hunt, nor paint +stories, but I want to help with the robe because you brought it back, +and Moko is going to paint the picture of your big fight with the white +men." + +She caught the slight nod and waited no longer, but raced back in almost +breathless delight to tell the squaws. They made room for her between +them, slipping thongs over her small wrists so that her stroke might be +strong and steady. + +Very gravely she imitated their motions and listened to their +instructions. Then, the first part of their work completed, they gave +her a tool made like a hoe with a long handle attached, the bottom part +formed of a sharp stone. Several women joined them in the work, and all +of them warned Songbird to be most cautious not to tear or roughen the +hide with the sharply edged tool. + +So as the days went by she did her part in curing the robe. When it was +staked out, hair side up, she too, rubbed the long fur with a cooked +mixture made of meat, roots and herbs. Then she watched the women +arrange masses of dried grass in the centre, gather up the ends and +sides, and twist the robe into a tight ball which they put to soak over +night. + +She felt very proud and important the next morning as she hurried to +the women, who already held the ends, and were standing far apart +twisting the hide into a long, hard rope, from which liquid was +dripping. When they began to stretch three sides of the robe on a large, +slanting frame, Songbird helped industriously, and she also did her part +in staking the lower end of the skin to the ground. + +After that she sat quietly watching work that she was not tall enough +nor strong enough to do. One of the two women who had first worked on +the hide now took a broad blade of thin stone, almost six feet long. A +piece of bone made a handle in the centre of the thin stone slab. The +blade was pressed strongly against the upper end of the hide, and then +drawn quickly and firmly toward the bottom, so that all moisture oozed +down. + +The second woman, with the same kind of tool, at once did the same +thing, so that no water could be again soaked up by the hide. This work +went on until no moisture rose to the surface, then the skin was left to +dry and bleach on the frame. + +A number of days passed before the robe was dry enough for the next +work, which had to be done while the skin was still on the frame. Each +of the women had a round buffalo joint, like a large knuckle, and with +this they rubbed the entire surface of the hide, to make it the same +thickness all over. + +When that had been properly finished, every tear was mended carefully +with threads of strong sinews thrust through tiny holes made by awls +which were fashioned of sharply pointed tough wood, or of thin flint +stones. + +Then nothing remained to do except for the squaws to hold the +cross-corners of the robe around a large rough tree and draw it back and +forth, fur-side out. This removed the last bit of stiffness, and the +women of the village gathered about the robe, examining and praising its +softness. + +Songbird ran to her father. "It is done!" she cried in delight. "Come +see it! All the women say that it is the largest and finest robe the +Quahadas have ever seen!" + +Her hand was tugging, while her eager feet danced ahead of Quannah's +more sedate pace. But at last they came to the place where the women +formed an admiring group about the largest buffalo robe that had ever +been brought into their camps. They made way for the chief, who passed +between them in quiet dignity, and Songbird, beside him, held her little +head high with pride--not pride for herself, but pride of her father, +the chief, who was so brave, so great, and so good. + +"It is good," he spoke at last, after he had studied the robe closely. +"Moko shall paint on it the story of the Big Fight when our little boys +frightened the white horses. So, the children of our children shall +learn the story." + +Songbird trotted beside the chief, followed by the two women, until they +all reached Moko's tepee. Then the squaws went their way, and Songbird +listened to her father telling Moko about the fight and how the little +boys had captured the white horses while the fire-sticks had shrieked +and spit, but did not hurt them. + +"They were little boys," said Quannah with a smile of pride on his lips. +"Just children! but some day they will make great warriors." + +"I shall paint the story as you have told it," Moko answered, while her +fingers stroked the long hair on the robe. "The children of our children +shall be proud of their forefathers, and the story shall be told in +tepees and by the camp fires long after the Great Eagle shall bring the +message of the Great Spirit to call Quannah, Chief of the Quahada +Comanches, to the Happy Hunting Grounds, where Peta Nocona is waiting +for his son!" + + + + +Chapter XVI + + +As Moko painted the battle on the big robe, Songbird sat beside her, day +after day, watching the picture grow. There were white men with +fire-sticks, Comanches with war-bonnets, and horses running in every +direction, while two little boys waved pieces of buffalo robes to +frighten the horses of the white men and keep the animals running toward +the Comanches. + +The old Picture Maker talked while she worked, and Songbird kept +perfectly quiet as she heard the stories of the great warriors or wise +men of the tribe. + +"They are gone," said Moko. "All of whom I had told you, heard the cry +of the Great Eagle and answered it with the Death Song of the Quahadas. +They did not fear that call, for they knew that the Great Eagle is the +messenger from the Great Spirit, and when the shadow of the Great Eagle +fell upon them, the big, strong wings lifted and carried them to the +Happy Hunting Grounds to meet the Great Spirit and the spirits of their +friends. But the cry of the Great Eagle is a terrible thing to hear if a +man has not lived with honour. Then he cowers and cries out in fear, +because he knows that he must stand alone and face the anger of the +Great Spirit, who will drive him away from his friends and make him +travel alone forever in darkness." + +"Only three tribes now are left of the five big tribes of the Comanches +who came out of the land of snows so many winters ago that no living man +knows when it was," continued Moko. + +"Each tribe was under its own chief, yet all lived together and were +brothers. They did not fight one against the other. There were the +Cost-che-teght-kas, or Buffalo Eaters; the Pen-e-teght-kas, or Honey +Eaters; the No-ko-ness, or Wanderers; the Yam-per-i-cos, or Root +Diggers, and the Quahadas, who were called Chatz-ken-ners, or Antelope +Eaters." The old woman had been speaking very slowly, checking off each +tribe on the gnarled fingers of her left hand. + +Songbird's eyes were full of questions, but she knew that when Moko told +a story, it made her angry to be interrupted by questions, and then the +story was left unfinished. + +"Together their forefathers came from the far north where snow covers +the ground all the time," Moko went on. "They came on sleds made from +hides of strange snow animals, and the sleds were drawn by wild dogs +that were more like lobo wolves than our Indian dogs. + +"For a long distance they travelled; but the snow melted and the dogs +sickened and died, so the Comanches could go no farther. Then the head +chiefs and all the Medicine Men of the five tribes prayed that the Great +Spirit would help them, and while they prayed a big herd of wild horses +approached the camp. + +"The Comanches worked patiently until they caught a pony using a long +rope and noose made of hides from their broken sleds. After they had +caught the first pony, an Indian got on it and rode among the others, +and soon they had a pony for each Comanche. That was how the Comanches +became "pony Indians" instead of foot Indians who followed the dog teams +in the land of long snows. + +"Then they started south once more, and the wild ponies followed those +which the Comanches rode, until they found a place where the snows fell +only a short time. There they found grass for the ponies. Antelopes, +roots, and berries furnished food for the Indians, and fish swimming in +the rivers were caught by hooks made from curved thorns on the bushes +near the water. So the Comanches stayed there and thrived and were happy +until strange people found the place. + +"The Comanches met them as friends, for they had no quarrel with any man +in those days, and they believed that the new people were sent by the +Great Spirit and were his children. The faces of the strangers were +white, and they were so tall that even the tallest Comanche's head did +not reach these men's shoulders. + +"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the strange men built strong +forts and big towns on high places. They were brave, war-like and proud, +and the Comanches were their friends and brothers, until the white men +forgot justice and mercy and honour and fought the Indians, driving them +from their homes and taking their lands. Our people moved back, but the +others followed, until the Indians, in despair, begged the Great Spirit +to save their families and their homes. + +"Then the anger of the Great Spirit fell upon the white men, and he +swept them with fires that destroyed their great cities and forts. +Floods carried away their horses, and disease wiped their people from +the face of the earth, until only great earth mounds and a few crumbling +ruins were left of the cities and fortresses, and not one of their +people remained in the land. + +"But the Comanches were blessed by the Great Spirit, so that they +thrived and were happy. And now, other white men have come, and they, +too, fight us and wish to take our lands and ponies and game and destroy +our homes. But in the same way, sorrow will come to these other white +men who are driving the Indians from their homes. They forget that the +Great Spirit watches all. He sent Preloch, the mother of Quannah, to us +and through her son the Quahadas shall find the way to honour and peace +and their children shall prosper." + +"Moko"--Songbird leaned nearer the Picture Maker, who looked down into +her face--"my father wants to bring Preloch and Prairie Flower back here +again. Do you think the white men will let them come if my father does +not fight?" + +"They will come back," answered Moko, looking through the opening of the +tepee and across the prairie, as though she saw the mother and the baby +coming toward the camp. "The white men took them away, but the Great +Spirit will bring her back to her own people. The white men are strong +and many, but the Great Spirit is stronger. The white men will do as the +Great Spirit bids, and Preloch and Prairie Flower will come back again +with honour, and her husband, Peta Nocona, will be honoured, and the +white men will honour their son, Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas." + +"When will they come, Moko?" whispered Songbird, her eyes shining with +joy. "My father speaks many times of his wish to bring them back so that +some day he may sleep beside them among our people." + +"Only the Great Spirit knows," the Picture Maker said, and her white +head bent over the wrinkled hands that lay idly in her lap. "I am old +and weary with sorrow. Before many moons I shall hear the cry of the +Great Eagle, but you, the daughter of Quannah, shall see and know that I +have spoken the truth this day. Preloch and Prairie Flower will come +back to the Quahadas. The trees, the wind, the stars have given me this +promise because I am old and weary and cannot stay with my people much +longer, but I know it is the truth, for the Great Spirit watches over us +all, and he is just." + +So months passed in the Comanche village, and there was great rejoicing +when the big buffalo robe had been finished and hung in the tent of +Quannah. + +Songbird often sat before it when she was alone, and as she looked at +it, she remembered Moko's promise that some day Preloch and Prairie +Flower would come back to the Quahadas with honour. She knew that it +would make her father very happy, but she asked the Great Spirit to +bring them back very soon, so that Moko might see them once more before +the call of the Great Eagle came to the old Picture Maker who had loved +Preloch so dearly. + +While Songbird had been helping with the robe and listening to Moko's +tales, Star had been learning many things about the white people from +the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse. Running Deer tolerated the +two cavalry horses, but she never became their friend. Hawk, after +grazing with them and Star for a few days, deserted them. When Star +asked the reason, Hawk whirled and faced him. + +"I like the Indian ponies better," was his reply. "The strange horses +talk of things I never heard about." + +"That is just why I listen to them," said Star. + +Hawk yawned sleepily. "What good does it do you to know about those +things? All I want to know is where to find the best grass and clearest +pools of water, and what tree casts the heaviest shadow when the sun is +hot." + +"You do not belong to the chief," retorted Star. "A chief must know more +than his people, so that he can lead them, and the ponies of a chief +should know other things besides eating and drinking and sleeping. That +is why I like to hear the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse talk." + +"How can their talk help you, or the Quahadas?" snorted Hawk +contemptuously. + +"I do not know." Star spoke slowly. "Someday, they say, the white men +will come back to fight the Quahadas and conquer them, as the Big Gray +Horse says they have conquered other Indians. Maybe if I listen +carefully and ask questions I shall be able to help Quannah and Songbird +when the white men come to fight." + +"You must have been eating crazy weed," grunted Hawk, "for you do not +know how to think right any more. If the white men come, Quannah will +send little boys to whip them and frighten them and their horses, as he +did that other time. Go back to the strange horses, if you wish, but I +shall keep away from them and their foolish talk." + +Hawk tossed his head, kicked his heels high in the air, and galloped +away, while Star went slowly back to the two cavalry horses. Both of +them nickered softly as he drew near, then their noses touched him, and +their soft eyes were so friendly that Star forgot how much Hawk's +unkindly manner had hurt him a few minutes before. + +In his heart Star knew that Hawk was wrong to believe that nothing was +worth while except eating and drinking and sleeping, but he and Hawk had +been companions ever since they had been old enough to stand on their +feet, and it was not easy to give up his old friend. + + + + +Chapter XVII + + +It was September, as the white men count the months, and three years had +passed since the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse had come to live +among the Quahada ponies. The summer had been very hot and no rain had +fallen, so there was only a scant supply of dry feed for the ponies and +buffaloes and antelopes. + +What grass had grown in spite of the drought had been eaten by a swarm +of locusts, so that only the bare stalks remained, and these held no +nourishment. Where small streams had rippled, there were beds of dry +sand. Larger rivers, big enough to have floated a good-sized boat when +there was no drought, dwindled down to shallow threads or formed in +pools of stagnant water coated with green slime. It was a hard time for +the Quahada ponies, and still harder for the Indians. + +Songbird watched her father's face anxiously. She knew that he would not +allow any one to see whether he were worrying, rejoicing or grieving at +any time. It would be unworthy of a warrior to show his feelings, and +most unworthy of a chief. She had heard the squaws talking when no men +were near. + +They had said that when the last winter had gone and it had been time +for the green grass to show above the ground, all the Indians from long +distances had gathered at Medicine Lodge to hold a great council of war. + +Reports had been brought that Indian runners, or messengers, had found a +big camp where a large number of buffalo hunters lived, and from it each +day the white men went to kill buffaloes. They did not use the meat, but +left it to spoil in the hot sun, after the hunters had skinned the dead +animals and taken the hides away. As far as the Indians could travel, +dead buffaloes that had been skinned lay in herds just as they had +fallen when the hunters had shot them with fire-sticks. + +On their fingers the Indians counted how many buffaloes had been found +in one day of travel. Some of them had seen as many as two hundred, and +other Indians who had come from different directions told the same tale. +Soon there would be no buffaloes left. The grass was gone, the water +was growing less each day, the ponies would become thinner and weaker, +and when the hunters had killed the buffaloes, the Indians would die, +and the white men would cover the land. + +So the Indians from all the tribes of the Southwest gathered at Medicine +Lodge and formed a war party to drive out the white hunters and save the +buffaloes. + +That had been six moons ago, when the grass was just starting above the +ground. In a little while they had thought that the rains and warm sun +would make plenty of feed for the ponies, antelopes, and buffaloes, and +there would be pools of water in low places between hills, or in hollows +of large rocks. Then it would be the time to begin fighting. + +But the rains did not come, and Songbird, listening to the talk of the +squaws, longed to speak to her father and ask him about it all, but she +knew that such things were not for children's talk. Nor did she ask the +squaws, for they would be angry that she had listened to them. + +"If only Moko were here I could ask her," she said to herself sadly. + +But Moko had heard the call of the Great Eagle six moons ago, and now it +was nearing winter. Songbird greatly missed her old friend, the Picture +Maker. Moko had always answered questions and explained things without +being cross. The other women were too busy asking one another what they +would do in the winter, when the dry summer had killed the berries and +nuts and maize and the buffalo hunters had killed all the game. + +So Songbird kept her thoughts to herself and watched her father's grave +face as he talked with Karolo or the head chief. + +Then one day a Kiowa runner dashed into the Quahada village and the +warriors gathered quickly about him. His pony wandered over and joined +the Quahada ponies and the two cavalry horses, where they were nosing at +dry stubble and hoping to find a bit of green feed at the roots. + +"The white men are fighting the Indians again," the Kiowa pony said. + +"The Indians cannot hide from them always," spoke the Big Gray Horse, +who looked alertly at the Kiowa pony. + +"I told you that the white men would keep coming until all the Indians +have been conquered"--the Old White Horse turned to Star. "It makes no +difference how bravely the Indians fight, nor whether they are right or +wrong, the end is the same. They are conquered and must obey the white +men. But maybe that is best for all." + +"It would be best for all if each let the other alone!" answered Star. +"If men had as much sense as horses have, there would be less trouble +for all of us. We do not fight, though some of us belong to the +Quahadas, others to the Kiowas, and you," he turned to the cavalry +horses, "belong to a general and to a soldier who obeys the general. If +there were ponies here from the Arapahoes and the Cheyennes, or any +other tribes, we would all graze together and not bite nor kick one +another. Why, then, do men fight one another?" + +"Men are different," the Big Gray Horse spoke. + +"It is a pity they do not know how silly we think they are!" snorted +Hawk, joining the group. + +"They are our masters," the Old White Horse rebuked him quickly. "Young +horses kick and buck and bite, or run away when they first are brought +to a troop. But they learn soon what it means to be hurt by heavy bits +in their mouths, or sharp spurs digging into their sides. If a horse +throws a man, another man gets on the horse's back at once, and then +another and another, until the horse is too weary to fight. I have heard +young horses talk about men, but it does no good. They all talk the +same, then they understand, and so they stop fighting against the bit, +the spur, the saddle, and the rider, and they obey. After that they, +too, listen when young horses talk as they themselves once did. For when +all is said and done, men are our masters! We will obey them whether +they are white men or Indians, because we belong to them and must serve +them. I, too, bit and fought and bucked men from my back, long ago." + +As they talked, Quannah and his head chiefs, accompanied by the Kiowa +warrior, approached the ponies. When the Quahadas stopped, the Kiowa +slipped his bridle of rawhide over the nose of his pony, which submitted +quietly. Its owner's hand rested lightly on the pony's neck and the +animal's eyes watched its master's face. He was speaking to the Quahadas +now. + +"This is the message. The Big Father at Washington has sent his +soldiers. They come in numbers like the leaves on the trees, or the +blades of grass on the prairie. Our runners have brought word that the +soldiers are coming to surround and kill all of the Indians. Big chiefs +lead the white men from four sides. A friendly Indian sent us word that +a big chief named Miles leads them all, and that Mackenzie, who fought +us three winters ago, is with the others. He has not forgotten the rout +of the White Horses yet." + +The Old White Horse cocked his ears, and the Big Gray Horse lifted his +head high. Star saw them look at each other, and he remembered they had +often talked of these big white chiefs. + +"I am Mackenzie's horse," the Big Gray Horse said proudly. "Officers and +soldiers do not lie to Indians, nor kill their game, nor take their land +from them for themselves. When the Indians give a pledge of peace the +officers do not harm them, nor their women or children. They make the +buffalo hunters keep away from the Indian's land and protect the Indian +who does not go on the warpath." + +"I know that is true"--the Old White Horse spoke earnestly--"for I +lived many years in the White Horse Troop and have seen all these things +myself. If Quannah would be friends with the big white chiefs, it would +be better for him and for the Quahadas. Listen! He is speaking now." + +The horses turned their eyes on the Quahada chief, who, with the best +warriors of the tribe, faced the Kiowa runner. The Comanches, like the +ponies, watched Quannah's face and waited to hear his words. Karolo, the +Medicine Man, stood beside him. + +Karolo had offered many prayer-sticks to the Great Spirit, asking that +the Thunder Bird might be sent over the land with rain and that the +buffaloes might be spared. But the Great Spirit was angry and would not +listen. Then Karolo knew that it was because the white men had come on +the Indians' land and were killing the buffaloes that belonged to the +Great Spirit, who had said the buffaloes must not be killed except for +food and clothing. Only by driving the white men away and saving the +buffaloes, would the Great Spirit's anger be appeased. + +Yet Karolo was sad. He knew that the white men were many times the +number of the Comanches, and that their fire-sticks could reach much +farther than the Quahada arrows. In his heart the old Medicine Man felt +that the Indians could not win, but would be conquered and made +prisoners by the white men, if they were not all killed in the fight. +Quannah had talked this over with Karolo many, many times. + +The chief looked past the Indians, past the tepees of the village, and +fixed his eyes on the crest of a hill beyond the camp. For a little +while he did not speak, then he glanced at the faces of his chiefs +before he answered the Kiowa runner. + +"Tell your chiefs that the Quahadas will join them against the white +men." + +He held out both his hands and the Kiowa grasped them, saying, "It is +good!" + +Turning quickly the messenger leaped to his pony's bare back. Sitting +erect, he gave the loud, fierce battle cry of the Kiowas. Instantly the +Quahadas answered it with their own call. Then the women, running from +their tepees, and the children who stood beside them, took up the cry. + +The Kiowa, leaning low on his pony's neck, darted out of sight, carrying +word that Quannah would lead his warriors to join the fight against the +white men. + +When the last echoes of the war cries had died away, the Quahada +warriors heard their chief say slowly, "We will fight! It is the last +stand of the Quahada Comanches, but we will fight so that our fathers +will not be ashamed when they hear the Great Eagle calling us." + +Then they left him standing there, and went to their own tepees, where +their wives and children awaited them. + +For the next week the village was bustling with preparations, and day by +day the Kiowa warriors arrived from distant points. At last the entire +body of Kiowas and Quahadas, riding their best ponies and driving the +immense herd of extra ponies and those that were laden with food, robes, +bows and arrows, formed a great cavalcade. All the warriors were decked +in gorgeous war bonnets and armed with lances and shields, while quivers +that were full of arrows hung across their backs beside strong bows. +Only the women and small children were left behind. Even the oldest men +and youths who were ten years old rode behind the Quahada chief. + +Songbird watched her father lead them up the slope of the hill. He +turned Running Deer about, and his figure stood plainly against the blue +sky where the incline ended sharply. + +For a few minutes he looked down on the homes of his people, then his +eyes wandered to those who rode up the hill toward him. His arm was +raised high above his head, and Running Deer leaped at the touch of his +heels. Swirling at the pressure of the rein, the mare disappeared over +the crest of the hill. + +The last of the riders vanished. Their cries came more faintly, until a +strange silence fell upon those who stood watching the hilltop where no +living thing was now visible. Long after the women and other children +had dispersed to take up the everyday routine of their lives, Songbird +stood alone watching the top of the hill. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + + +Songbird was not the only one who was lonesome. Star, too, had been left +in camp, where only a few ponies, whose knees were too stiff, or whose +backs were weak from age, kept him company. Although he was no longer a +colt, he hated to be away from his mother and friends. Even the Big Gray +Horse and the Old White Horse had been taken with Quannah. + +Star had heard Quannah say to Songbird, "He is your pony. I have enough +without him, for I will take the Big Gray Horse to ride if Running Deer +grows tired. So I will leave Star with you." + +Three weeks after the warriors had left the village, Star wandered up to +the big tepee and poked at the entrance with his nose. Songbird lifted +the flap and stroked his nose, for she had heard him coming. Then she +dropped the flap again, as she did not want any one to see what she was +doing. + +First she took pieces of dry buffalo meat and tied them together in a +bunch, then she laid them carefully in a large square of buckskin. With +them she placed some of the little cakes made of pounded meat and nuts, +and as she glanced around she saw a prayer-stick, which she laid on the +other things. The four corners of the buckskin were then drawn together +and bound securely by a twisted thong. + +After these preparations she took her doll and tucked it into the belt +that held her robe at the waist. It was now almost dark. + +She went out of the tepee and mingled with the other children, until +they scattered for the night. Then Songbird returned to the tepee and +sat alone, her arms about her knees, and her eyes staring steadily +beyond the raised flap at the dim outline of the hill over which her +father had ridden. + +Satisfied, at last, that no one would notice her, she slipped cautiously +from the tepee and made her way to where Star was stretched out among +the old ponies. A hobble was on his front ankles, so that he would not +stray during the night. + +Songbird unfastened the hobble and thrust it into the bundle she was +carrying, and Star rose to his feet. His head bent for the bridle in her +hand. She did not mount the pony, but led him away from camp without +arousing any one. Then clutching the bundle which she had prepared in +the tepee, she climbed to Star's back and turned his head in the +direction in which her father had led the warriors. + +She had no fear that she would not be able to find them, for she knew +their ponies would make a plain trail, and though she could not see it +herself, Star would know and follow it. The Great Spirit taught ponies +how to do that. + +It was the memory of Preloch, who had ridden beside Peta Nocona when he +had gone to fight the white men, that made Songbird determine that she +would find her father and ride with him. She could shoot arrows as well +as any large boy, and she could ride much better than most of them. + +If her father told her that she could not stay and fight, she would +remind him that the little boys who had frightened the white horses had +not been any older than she was now. So she had brought her bow and all +the arrows that she had been saving for a long time, and when she found +her father she would show him that she was not a baby. She had her bow, +her arrows, food to eat, and Star, who could out-run any other Quahada +pony except Running Deer. + +So she rode while it was dark, trusting Star to keep the trail. When the +sun rose, the hoof prints of unshod ponies could be seen distinctly, +though in some places the wind had stirred dry sand over them. + +As a slight rise in the ground gave her a chance to look back, Songbird +saw nothing moving, and felt quite sure that no one in the village had +yet discovered her absence. Knowing that only slow old horses remained +in the camp with the squaws, she hastened on her way, determined to lose +no time in putting as many miles as possible between herself and any who +might try to follow her. + +It was only when the sun was low in the sky that Star and his little +rider halted beside a shallow pool that had once been a deep water-hole +in a swiftly running stream. + +While Songbird lay on her face and drank her fill, Star, a short +distance away, thrust his hot nose into the water and gulped greedily. +Then he turned his attention to some green grass that had grown about +the edge of the pool, in spite of the drought, while Songbird, sitting +beside the water-hole, munched a piece of dry buffalo meat and one of +the little cakes made of pounded corn and nuts that she had packed for +her journey. + +As the sun sank beyond the edge of the land, Songbird, weary but not +afraid, lay down on the ground to sleep. Star, hobbled carefully to +prevent his straying far, stretched near her. He did not sleep. + +At the least sound he lifted his head and pricked up his ears, while he +peered with bright eyes into the night. He knew that coyotes might be +prowling close, and he was ready to leap to his feet and fight them with +his strong teeth and nimble heels if they came where his little mistress +slept so soundly. Once in the night she woke. He heard her move, then +suddenly she called in a half-frightened voice: + +"Star!" + +His soft nicker answered that he had not left her, and he rose to go +close to her. When he settled down again, Songbird's hand rested on his +shoulder and her head was pillowed on his neck. Her other hand held her +doll. + +Thus the sun saw them when it peeped over the opposite edge of the +world the next morning. Then it shot golden arrows silently, and +Songbird's eyes opened. For a few minutes she wondered where she was, +but as Star twitched a little she raised her head quickly and sat up, +rubbing her eyes sleepily. + +Star lost no time in getting on his feet. He had kept very still so that +he might not disturb her, and it felt good to move about. Songbird +reached down and unfastened the hobbles that held his front feet so that +he could take only short steps of about eight inches, or hop with both +front feet at the same time. As soon as he was free he lay down and +rolled over three times without stopping, kicking his heels in the air. +It was easy to roll over now that he was so strong and fully grown. + +It did not take long for the two wanderers to finish breakfast. A drink +of water from the pool, and food such as they had eaten for dinner the +previous night, satisfied them both. After that, Songbird slipped the +rawhide bridle on Star, picked up her doll and carefully brushed the +dust from it, then tucked it safely into her belt. Mounting her pony, +she started again on her way to find her father. + +But the trail became more faint, and a hot, dry wind blew dust into her +eyes. As the sun rose higher the wind became stronger, and at last +nothing but a haze of yellow dust could be seen. Star plodded on, but at +intervals he whinnied shrilly, hoping to hear an answer through the dust +storm. Only the sound of the wind and the hiss of blowing sand came back +to him. + +All day they travelled in the sandstorm, and Songbird dropped the rein +on her pony's neck, not knowing which way to guide him. The wind died +down at sunset, but when the haze of dust lifted, Songbird faced a +stretch of desert, where only tiny clumps of dry weeds showed here and +there, half-buried by the heaped up sand that formed small mounds about +each weed. + +She knew then that she was lost on the Great Desert of the Staked +Plains, where no white man could venture and come out safely, and where +even the best trailers of the Quahadas travelled only when the warriors +had no other way of outwitting their pursuers. + +As she sat on Star, looking at the endless sand, all the stories she had +heard the older people tell about the suffering from thirst on the +Staked Plains came back to her. They had spoken of lost trails where +the sand had shifted and buried all traces even in one hour. There had +been a Quahada runner, who, lost for five days without water, had found +his way back to camp but had died before he could swallow the water that +the Indians held to his lips. + +Songbird knew that there was no water on this desert except when the +rain fell heavily, and then it gathered only for a short time in a +hollow, for the hot sun and the dry sand soon made it disappear. This +summer there had been no rain. + +Since leaving the pool that morning, Songbird and Star had found no +other water, but she had hoped that the trail of her father would lead +to some. He knew all the country and just where to find water each night +for his warriors and ponies. But the terrible dust storm had blinded her +and the wind had blown the loose sand over the Quahada trail. + +Her eyes grew big with fear, and her shoulders, which had been held so +bravely when the sand storm beat upon her, now drooped as though a heavy +weight were placed on her neck. + +Miles and miles of silence and loneliness threatened her on every side. + +Her head sank forward until it rested on Star's shaggy mane, and her +arms clung tightly about his neck. There was no one to remind her that +she was the daughter of a chief. Only Star and the Great Spirit heard +the sobs of a frightened, lonely little child. + +But at last she raised her head, and sat thinking intently. Then she +turned Star's head in the opposite direction. That morning when she had +wakened, she remembered now, the sun had shone in her eyes, and she had +travelled toward it until it was straight above her head. + +Songbird knew that the village must lie in the same direction as the +sunset. If Star could take her to the water pool once more, she could +find her way to the Quahada camp. She understood now the risk of trying +to follow her father, and that made her decide that she would try to +return to the camp and stay there until he should come back. + +The tracks made earlier in the day by Star's feet were already +indistinct, as the loose sand did not hold an impression very long, and +the faintest wind hid it completely. Beyond the desert a trail remained +distinct for a long time. + +It was growing dark. Songbird was so tired that she wanted to cry again, +but she blinked her eyes fiercely, reminding herself that her father +was a chief. As they travelled toward the place where the sun set, she +took a piece of the dry meat from her bundle and started to chew it. But +she was so thirsty that it choked her. So she put it back uneaten. + +Hopefully she looked about for a sign of a mesquite bush, knowing that +she could quench her thirst by chewing the beans that grew in pods from +the branches. But lack of rain had kept any beans from forming, and she +remembered that the mesquite bushes near the camp had yielded no crop. +Only a bit of shrivelled desert brush, half buried in the sand, met her +eyes as she rode. + +A terrible fear conquered her, and she struck Star's sides sharply with +her moccasined heels. At once he swung into an easy, swift lope, his +ears cocked and his eyes fixed straight ahead of him. Songbird did not +try to guide him now, but allowed the rein to lie loosely on his neck, +while she balanced herself to his movements. + +At times the pony slowed down to a walk, but he did not stop, and +Songbird did not have to urge him to resume his quicker gait. Where she +had guided him earlier in the day, he now went of his own free will. +Some instinct beyond that of any human being told Star which way to go. + +More than once Songbird, too sleepy to sit erect, laid her head on +Star's neck, where the thick mane made a soft pillow. Then the pony +walked very slowly and very carefully while Songbird slept. Once she +slipped from his back to the soft sand. Though it wakened her at once, +the fall did not hurt her, and as she lay on her back, staring up, she +saw Star standing beside her. Patiently he was waiting for her to climb +on his back. Then Songbird knew that her pony would not desert her, even +though it were dark and he wore no hobbles. + +So through the long night Star carried her safely. With the first gray +light of dawn, the pony gave a soft nicker of pleasure, and broke into +his swiftest run. Songbird leaned down and patted his black neck. Ahead +of them loomed a group of trees, and she knew, as well as Star, that the +trees grew beside the water-hole. + +When they reached it, both pony and child drank as though they would +never stop. Songbird bathed her face and held her arms in the water, +while Star walked out to the deepest part of the pool and stood there +heaving great sighs of content. + +Afterward, still standing knee deep in the pool, he stretched his neck +so that he could nibble the grass growing on its edges while Songbird +ate the dry meat that no longer choked her. + +Then, side by side, Star and Songbird lay down to sleep. + +Only the buckskin Indian doll guarded them, but its painted eyes glared +so fiercely that it would have taken a very brave person to have +ventured near! + + + + +Chapter XIX + + +When Songbird awoke the next morning, Star had already eaten his +breakfast, so she lost no time in satisfying her own hunger with a bit +of the dried meat and pounded maize, finishing off her meal with a drink +of water from the pool. + +Then carefully tying up her bundle and tucking her doll into her belt, +Songbird mounted her pony and started back to the village. She had no +trouble following the trail now, for the ground was not so sandy or +soft. Besides, Star knew his way without any guidance. + +When they had left the Quahada village it had been dark, so they had +travelled more slowly. It was late in the afternoon when at last they +neared the hill which overlooked the camp. Songbird knew that all the +women and children would be preparing the evening meal. + +She felt very happy knowing that she would be with them safely in a few +minutes, and she knew they would all be glad that Star had brought her +out of the terrible desert. But she was now rather ashamed of herself at +having run away without telling any one of her plans. Then she hoped +that her father had not returned and found her missing, for his anger at +the women would have been terrible, yet they were not to blame at all. + +Star loped lightly up the hill and stopped on the very top. Where +Quannah had halted Running Deer and looked down on the village, Songbird +now looked down. Then she gave a startled cry. + +All signs of the village had vanished. Where she had left many tepees, +she now saw empty space. Where children had shouted at play, silence +greeted her. Where camp fires had blazed, cold ashes stirred in the +light breeze. + +Scarcely believing her own eyes, she urged Star on a run down the hill, +as though hoping the village might be there when she reached the very +spot where the camp had once been. But it was more lonely than even the +desert had been. For out there she had believed that she had a home and +now she had nothing. + +Almost frantic, she jumped from her pony and ran to the spot where her +father's tepee had been, calling his name over and over again, and +begging him to come back to her. Nothing familiar met her eyes except +the fire pit and the poles on which she had many times hung her father's +moccasins to dry. + +In a frenzy of grief and fear, she flung herself beside the fire pit, +and Star, knowing that something was very wrong, called as loudly as he +could. But no pony answered, and no Quahada woman or child came to +comfort his little mistress who lay sobbing on the ground. So Star could +do nothing but wait patiently. + +Songbird's sobs finally stopped, and she raised herself slowly until she +was sitting with her knees drawn up, her elbows propped upon them and +her chin resting in her palms. For some time she sat staring at the top +of the hill, while Star, only a few paces away, nibbling dry roots, +paused frequently to look at her. + +"My father came back while I was gone," she said to Star, at last. "He +is angry with me and has moved the camp so that I cannot find him. But I +will look for him until I find him and tell him I am sorry I did not +obey him. I know he will not send me away from him, even though he is +very angry. If he will not let me come into his tepee, I will wait at +the entrance, and maybe some day he will forgive me." + +Comforted by this thought, she ate rather sparingly of her food supply. +Then she curled beside the fire pit where her father's tepee had once +stood, and slept until morning, for she was very, very tired. + +So soundly she slept that she did not know the coyotes, sneaking about +the deserted camp site, had more than once tumbled over one another to +avoid a sudden dash of an angry pony. Then, when they had sought safety +from his teeth and heels, Star returned to his vigil over his little +mistress. + +The sun had not yet peeped over the rim of the world when Songbird and +Star started on their search for the vanished Quahadas. Both of them +watched for signs along the trail, and had no difficulty in finding +where the lodge poles of the tepees had dragged on the ground. + +Star also noticed something that puzzled him. No unshod hoof prints +mingled with the Quahada trail, but there were many distinct marks of +shod horses. He remembered that the Big Gray Horse and the Old White +Horse, when they had first come to live among the Quahada ponies, wore +strange metal things on the bottom of their hoofs, and they had told +Star and the other ponies that all the white men's horses wore these +things, which they called shoes. + +The Quahada ponies had thought it very strange that the white men's +horses could not travel on sharp rocks with bare feet, as the Indian +ponies always did. + +Star had not forgotten this, nor how the two cavalry horses had limped +at first, after the metal shoes had worn thin and finally fallen off in +pieces. However, in a little time the Big Gray Horse and the Old White +Horse had been able to scramble over rough places just as well as the +Quahada ponies could do. + +Songbird did not notice all these things as Star did. While they +travelled she kept her eyes on the marks made by the trailing lodge +poles. That was all she cared to know. For wherever the lodge poles led, +she knew that she would find the Quahadas, and that her father would be +with them. + +For three days Songbird and Star followed, not resting until the light +was too dim to see the trail. Then they lay down together on the ground +till morning. Wherever water could be found, the pony and the child +drank, but as they had no way to carry water with them, both suffered +from thirst many times. Only dry mud had been left in many water holes, +because of the long drought. + +Star's sides shrank until his ribs showed and his hips stood out in +sharp points. Sparse clumps of dry grass constituted his only feed, and +even that had been cropped to its roots by the big band of horses on the +trail that Songbird was following. + +Her own supply of food was almost gone. The third night when she opened +her bundle and saw only enough for the next morning, her lips quivered +as she wondered where she could find anything more to eat. Yet the next +morning, after dividing what was left of her food, so as to make two +meals of it, she rose courageously and resumed her journey, always +keeping her eyes on the marks of the trailing lodge poles. + +It was late in the afternoon of the third day when Star, looking ahead +from a high bit of ground, saw an object that made his ears cock sharply +and his nostrils distend, as he sniffed the air. Far away something +fluttered at the tip of a white lodge pole. Then he remembered what the +Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse had said about the flag which +protected Indians who were not fighting the white men. Songbird had been +so intent upon the track of the lodge poles that she did not see what +Star had noticed, and when the pony gave a loud squeal and broke into a +wild run, she did not know what to make of his actions. + +Down the slight slope he rushed. Then Songbird saw a tall white lodge +pole with something striped in red and white fluttering at its tip. She +did not know what it meant, but she clung tightly to Star's mane as he +ran directly toward a hollow square surrounded with strange buildings, +which were different from anything she had ever seen in her life. + +Fast as Star ran, Songbird was able to catch a glimpse of men near these +buildings, and the men had white faces. But Star did not stop until he +stood directly at the foot of the big lodge pole. There, with Songbird +on his back, the pony lifted his head very high and called again and +again, as loudly as he could. + +Songbird, bewildered, saw men running toward her from all sides, +shouting to one another. And knowing these were the terrible white men +who had carried Preloch away, and Prairie Flower, too, she bowed her +head, believing that they were coming to kill her. + +But as they reached her side, she saw kindly faces, and heard voices +that were not harsh or threatening. One man spoke to the others, who +listened respectfully. Then another man led Star between a row of +buildings, which Songbird stared at, half frightened, half curious. + +Back of these long buildings, which were made with places where men +looked out at her, she saw a great line of the familiar Quahada tepees, +and in front of the very largest one stood her father, who started +toward her, calling her name. + +Like a flash, Songbird jumped from Star's back, past the men who watched +her, and then she was in her father's arms. She knew that he was not +angry with her, and nothing else mattered now. She had heard his voice +and had seen his joy, which this time he had not tried to hide, even +though he was the chief of the Quahada Comanches. + + + + +Chapter XX + + +The days that followed were the happiest of Songbird's life. Not only +was she with her father and the rest of her people once more, but she +knew that there would be no more fighting between the Quahadas and the +white men. Quannah had given his pledge of peace, and now the white +people were his friends. + +Little white children, dressed in clothes that seemed strange to +Songbird, came to the Quahada camp and brought things that were very +nice to eat. It did not take long for the Quahada children to rush +eagerly and greet these visitors, though of course not one Quahada child +could understand what the white children were saying. But that made no +difference. + +Sometimes the white mothers came, too. They brought clothing like the +things the white children wore, and the Quahada squaws were much pleased +when they saw their own youngsters dressed in the new finery, with shoes +and stockings on their feet. + +While the young Comanches walked awkwardly in their new things, or +talked among themselves about the toys that had been given them, +Songbird sat apart, silent but happy. A wonderful doll with real yellow +hair, and blue eyes that closed in sleep sat primly beside her, but a +dirty buckskin Indian doll was more often hugged to Songbird's breast. + +Then one great day Songbird was taken to play with two children in the +home of an officer. They brought toys and games, and she watched each +thing they did, trying to act in the same way. Her father had told her +to watch and learn to be like the white children, now. + +After a little while she stopped playing and listened to the most +beautiful sounds she had ever heard. Then she rose to her feet and moved +softly toward the room from which the music came. + +Standing by the door she stared at one of the ladies who was seated +before a big box that had a great many teeth, and as her fingers touched +these white, shining teeth, the Spirit in the Box sang sweetly. +Wide-eyed with wonder, Songbird listened without moving. She heard in +the music the wind blowing through trees, the noise of the stream, the +song of wild birds and the cry of the Thunder Bird. + +The music stopped, and the lady, turning suddenly, saw the child in the +doorway. Smiling, she beckoned Songbird, who came forward shyly. The +little brown hand was lifted by the white, ringed hand of the lady. +Songbird's fingers were pressed on the teeth of the box that sang, and +as it spoke to her, Songbird's big, black eyes sparkled with joy, while +her solemn little face lighted with a smile. + +Then the lady motioned her to a chair, and for a long time Songbird sat +listening to the singing of the Spirit in the Box. All this she told her +father when she went back to his tepee. Each day after that when she +went to play with the children, the mother of the children first took +Songbird to the room where the Spirit in the Box sang for her. + +And each day her father talked to her, telling her that she should learn +everything that the white people knew, even how to make the Spirit in +the Box sing when her fingers touched it. + +There were many councils between Quannah and his head chiefs with the +big white chiefs. But there was no more talk of war among the Quahadas. +And one day Quannah told Songbird that they were free to go and build +their camp again. Songbird did not tell him that she did not want to +part from her new friends, but he understood her wistful face. + +"I will come back many times to see them," he said, "and you shall come +with me. Our new camp will not be far away from here." + +So she was happy again. And the next day the Quahadas set busily to work +taking down all the tepees and preparing to move to their own camping +grounds. Songbird and Quannah did not spend these last hours with the +Indians, for they were in the home of an officer. + +After they had all eaten lunch together, the officer led the way to the +front porch. There, before the house, stood a soldier holding the Big +Gray Horse by its bridle, and on its back was a cavalry saddle. + +"The horse and bridle and saddle are gifts to you from General +Mackenzie," the officer said to Quannah, and an interpreter, who knew +how to speak both the white men's language and that of the Comanches, +repeated it to the chief. + +The officer spoke again. This time he looked at Songbird and smiled, +while the interpreter said, "The officers give Quannah's daughter the +black pony which carried her into Fort Sill." + +Then Quannah and Songbird noticed a soldier leading Star to the gate. +Star's little mistress ran down the porch steps and did not stop until +her arms were about the pony's neck. + +When she was on Star's back, and Quannah had mounted the Big Gray Horse, +Songbird saw her father hold out his hand to the officers who had +gathered about them. Very gravely she did the same thing. None of the +officers smiled as they took her small, brown hand, for she was a +daughter of a great chief who had won their respect as a soldier and as +a man. + +Side by side Quannah and Songbird went slowly along the gravel road in +front of the officers' homes; but when they had reached a point directly +opposite the tall white lodge pole where the flag fluttered gracefully, +Quannah reined the Big Gray Horse, so that it faced the lodge pole. +Songbird did the same. + +Her father lifted his hand, as she had seen the men and officers do many +times. Without understanding, and without hesitation, Songbird, too, +raised her hand and saluted the flag. + +Her father smiled approval, then he said: "That is the flag of the +Great Father, and we are his children now. It is as my mother, Preloch, +would wish; and it is best for me, for you, and for all the Quahadas. +The white men are our brothers. Together we shall dwell in peace." + +So they rode to the place where their new camp was to be built, not far +away from the garrison. Quannah explained, as they rode, that the +buffalo hunters could not come there to fight the Quahadas, and that +there would be food enough for the Indians, and that now the white +soldiers would be their friends. He told her how he planned to make his +people understand the white men's ways, their children to learn the +things that white children were taught, and then, some day, maybe, he +could bring back Preloch and Prairie Flower. For the officers had told +him, through the interpreter, that his mother and sister were both dead. + +Little Prairie Flower had lived only a short time after reaching the +home of the white people, and Preloch, grieving constantly for her son, +had died a year later, so the mother and the baby had been buried among +the white people. + +The officers who had told him this had shown their sympathy in their +faces, and when Quannah asked if they thought that some day he might +bring his mother and sister back to sleep among their own people, the +officers had all been sure that the Great Father would think it was just +and right. + +Then Quannah and Songbird reached a little knoll where they had a view +of a wide sweep of prairie land, broken by the outline of trees along +the banks of a stream. Sitting silently on their horses, father and +child gazed at the place where a new era was to dawn for their people. + +Star's nose rubbed the neck of the Big Gray Horse, but his friend paid +no attention to him. He was too busy watching a distant object which +Star had not seen. Then, he, too, saw a slowly moving black pony. Its +head hung dejectedly and it stumbled wearily as it approached them. +Star's loud, shrill call caused the black pony to stop suddenly and +fling its head high, while it gave answer. Neither Quannah nor Songbird +tried to check the swift pace of the Big Gray Horse and Star, as, side +by side, they raced joyously to meet Running Deer. + +When they met, Star pawed the ground in his delight, and his mother kept +nipping his shoulder with her teeth to tell how glad she was to find +him. Later, as she trotted beside him, when Quannah and Songbird again +rode forward, Running Deer told her colt how she, returning to camp with +Quannah, had found that Star and Songbird both were missing. + +After the white soldiers had captured and taken Quannah and all the +braves and women and children to the garrison, Running Deer, assured now +that her master would not need her for some time, stole quietly from the +garrison one night to search for Star and Songbird; for Star was very +dear to her, and she had noticed, too, how Quannah, when alone, grieved +for his beloved daughter who was lost. She had come back to the Quahada +camp and waited there several days, feeling sure that Star and Songbird +would return. When they did not, she continued on her way to find them, +and finally came to the Great Desert of the Staked Plains. With +sorrowing heart she had reluctantly turned her steps back to the +garrison, for now she knew not where to search for them on the vast, +trackless sand plains; and she herself was weak and lean from thirst and +hunger. Imagine, then, her joy upon finding Star and his little mistress +safe and happy. But neither Star nor Running Deer knew that they alone +were left of the once great Quahada pony herd. All the others were dead. + +As the sun went down that evening, Quannah and Songbird, with the Big +Gray Horse, Running Deer, and Star, reached the place where the new +village was to be built. Back of them, on the road, the Quahadas toiled, +but the eyes that watched the setting sun were hopeful. They knew that +it would rise again to-morrow. + + + + +Chapter XXI + + +Quannah kept his pledge. Never again did the Quahada Comanches war with +the white people, for when their chief had given his word of honour, it +became their honour to uphold him and keep his promise. + +Near the garrison of Fort Sill he taught his tribe the best ways of the +white men, and he did his utmost to preserve a sense of fairness and +justice in all his transactions with his own people as well as with the +white men. The children of the Quahadas were educated, and so Quannah's +little daughter was taught the things that white children learn. + +Songbird saw her father honoured by the most prominent men of the United +States; saw him living in a large house that was built and furnished and +given to him as a token of regard from white people who had learned to +understand and admire the "White Comanche Chief." She saw him a guest in +homes of the most noted men in the great city of Washington, and she +watched him ride in the big parade in Washington when Theodore Roosevelt +was elected for the second term as President of the United States. + +All that Moko had predicted the day Songbird had sat watching the old +Picture Maker work on the big buffalo robe had come true. Even Quannah's +desire to have his mother, Preloch, and his baby sister, Prairie Flower, +come back to sleep among the Quahada people had been fulfilled. + +The Congress of the United States, twenty-four years after Quannah had +given his pledge of peace passed a law which gave an appropriation of a +thousand dollars for a monument to be erected to the memory of Cynthia +Ann Parker, whom the Quahadas called Preloch. It not only honoured the +mother of Quannah, but was also an acknowledgment of the valued services +of her son, in coöperating with the United States to keep peace between +the Indians and the white people. + +And so Preloch and Prairie Flower came back at last to the Quahadas, and +when Quannah died, he slept beside them, while the Indians mourned the +passing of the greatest chief they had ever known. Untutored and +unlettered, he had taught his people the lesson of forgiveness and of +honour, and in so doing he had won the respect of all men. + +Moko's words were again proved true when a town, Nocona, was named after +Quannah's father, Peta Nocona; and to-day, still another town bears the +name of the son, Quannah. + +Star and Running Deer, after living happily many years, at last went to +join the other Quahada ponies in the Happy Hunting Grounds. + +Sometimes when the Thunder Bird wings its way across the sky, and white +people think they hear distant thunder, Songbird stands with uplifted +face. It is not thunder, but the sound of galloping hoofs that she +hears. + +Beyond the dark shadows of the Thunder Bird's wings, she knows that +Quannah is riding on Running Deer. Near him is Peta Nocona, and with +them rides Preloch, holding little Prairie Flower closely against her +breast. + +On the other side of Running Deer gallops a black pony without a rider, +his thick mane and long black tail streaming like the edges of a dark +cloud. Songbird knows that the pony is Star, and that some day she will +ride him again beside her father. + +As the thunder dies away, she smiles and turns back to the work that +Quannah left for her to do, until she, too, shall answer the cry of the +Great Eagle. + + + + * * * * * + + +_Books by Forrestine C. Hooker_ + +PRINCE JAN + +STAR: The Story of an Indian Pony + +THE LONG DIM TRAIL + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAR*** + + +******* This file should be named 39899-8.txt or 39899-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/8/9/39899 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Hooker</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Star, by Forrestine C. Hooker, Illustrated by +Charles Livingston Bull</h1> +<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a +href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> +<p>Title: Star</p> +<p> The Story of an Indian Pony</p> +<p>Author: Forrestine C. Hooker</p> +<p>Release Date: June 2, 2012 [eBook #39899]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAR***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by sp1nd, Mary Meehan,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive<br /> + (<a href="http://archive.org">http://archive.org</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + <a href="http://archive.org/details/starstoryofindia00hook"> + http://archive.org/details/starstoryofindia00hook</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/tp.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>STAR</h1> + +<h2><i>The Story of an Indian Pony</i></h2> + +<h2>BY FORRESTINE C. HOOKER</h2> + + +<p class="center">WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lieut.-General</span> NELSON A. MILES, U.S.A.</p> + +<p class="center">JACKET PAINTING BY<br /> +CHARLES LIVINGSTON BULL</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">The Sun Dial Press, Inc</span>.<br /> +GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK</p> + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE<br /> +& COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.<br /> +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE<br /> +COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center">TO<br /> +YOU, THE ONE</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/ded.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + + + +<p>Like a ray of light in a stormy sky your love has encouraged and guided +me through years when the dim, rough trail was hard to follow.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/front.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Son of Running Deer, daughter of the swiftest racer of +all the Comanche ponies</i></h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FOREWORD</h2> + + +<p>The recording of historic facts and events in the romance of a story +must be interesting and instructive to the readers; especially when the +scenes occurred in a vast country, formerly occupied by an ancient and +departed race and later by one now rapidly disappearing.</p> + +<p>In vain might we search history for the record of a people who contended +as valiantly against a superior race, overwhelming numbers, and who +defended their country until finally driven toward the setting sun, a +practically subjugated nation and race. The art of war among the white +people is called strategy, or tactics; when practised by the Indians it +is called treachery.</p> + +<p>Their wealth consisted of their herds of horses—which the Western +Indians obtained from the Mexicans after the Spanish had invaded +Mexico—their lodges and the few appliances for camp-life. They +worshipped the God of nature, and the Great Spirit was their omnipotent +Jehovah. They believed that death was a long journey to the Happy +Hunting Grounds. They were grateful for the abundance of the earth—the +sunshine, air, water, and all the blessings of nature—and believed that +all should share them alike. For one to wish to monopolize any part of +the earth was to them the manifestation of a grasping disposition. Often +the men of the most influence and greatest popularity in the tribe were +the poorest, or those who gave most to others.</p> + +<p>They believed that the Great Spirit had given them this beautiful +country with its natural resources, advantages, and blessings for their +home.</p> + +<p>One great cause of disaffection among the Indians was the destruction of +their vast herds of buffalo, which seemed like ruthless sacrifice. +Within a few years millions of buffalo were killed for their hides, and +thousands of white men, the best rifle-shots in the world, were engaged +in the business.</p> + +<p>Among their own tribe and people they had a code of honour which all +respected. An Indian could leave his horse, blanket, saddle, or rifle at +any place by day or night and it would not be disturbed, though the +whole tribe might pass near. This could not be done in any community of +white people.</p> + +<p>These conditions existed in 1874, when the Southwest Indians assembled +at Medicine Lodge and decided to drive out the buffalo hunters.</p> + +<p>In August, 1874, I was directed to organize a command at Fort Dodge, on +the Arkansas River in southwestern Kansas, and move south against the +hostile Indians. Other commands were ordered to move: one east from New +Mexico, under Major Price; one north from Texas, under General +Mackenzie; one west from Indian Territory, under Colonel Davidson, Tenth +Cavalry.</p> + +<p>My command consisted of two battalions of eight troops of cavalry, +commanded by Majors Compton and Biddle; one battalion of four companies +of infantry, commanded by Major Bristol; a company of friendly Indians, +a detachment of artillery, and a company of civilian scouts and guides. +These latter were mostly hunters and expert riflemen, familiar with the +country.</p> + +<p>In one of the many engagements with the hostile Indians Captain Frank D. +Baldwin (now Major General) a very gallant officer, recaptured two +little captive white girls, Julia and Adelaide Germaine, seven and nine +years old, whose father, mother, brother, and older sister had been +massacred. From the children we learned of their two sisters, still in +the hands of the savages, and we made it a condition that they should be +brought in safely and surrendered with the whole tribe, which was done +immediately on receipt of my demand. The other two girls had been +brought by order of Chief Stone Calf to a tent next his own, where they +were treated with marked care and consideration until formally +surrendered to us.</p> + +<p>That campaign, lasting for many months, closed after most difficult and +laborious efforts on the part of the troops, with the satisfactory +result that the vast southwestern country has been free from the +terrifying and devastating presence of hostile Indians, and the citizens +of the States of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico have +enjoyed an era of peace. Scarcely a hostile shot has been heard in that +country since that year.</p> + +<p>In a report to Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, Commanding General of +the U. S. Army, November 23, 1874, which was published in report of +Secretary of War, Vol. I, 1875, I said:</p> + +<p>"It would have been better for the Indians had they been considered a +part of the population of the United States and dealt with generously; +and when forced on reservations—which is always the case—let +reservations be reasonable in size, subject to special rule and +government until the Indians are fitted to obey the ordinary laws of the +country which have been made to control educated and intelligent white +people.</p> + +<p>"If the Indians had always been humanely and honestly dealt with, there +would have been but few of the troubles which have occurred in the many +years gone by."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/sign.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3> Nelson A. Miles +Lieut.-General US Army</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">July 21, 1922<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Washington, D. C.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>STAR:</h2> + +<h3><i>The Story of an Indian Pony</i></h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter I</h2> + + +<p>The first streak of dawn was turning the sky from gray to pale pink as +Star lifted his head and looked sleepily at the twelve hundred Comanche +ponies stretched on the ground around him.</p> + +<p>Farther away were many tepees made from buffalo skins, but only the +wolf-dogs, curled in holes they had dug near the tepees, showed that the +camp was not deserted. Star knew that the Comanche braves, squaws, and +papooses would soon awaken and come out wrapped in blankets which had +been woven by the squaws and dyed in bright colours made from roots and +berries.</p> + +<p>One tepee, larger than the others, belonged to Quannah, Chief of the +Quahada Comanches, and Star looked at it as he recalled the story his +mother, Running Deer, had told him many times while they grazed side by +side or rested on the banks of the creek near the camp. Star loved +Quannah, but more than all else he loved Quannah's little daughter, +Songbird, for she was Star's mistress. He remembered the day when he had +been too tiny and weak to stand up, and Quannah, with Songbird, had +stooped to pat Running Deer's colt.</p> + +<p>"We will name him Star," the chief had spoken. "He belongs to you, as +his mother belongs to me, and as his mother's mother belonged to my +father. Swift, sure, and strong, they have been worthy to carry the +Chiefs of the Quahadas."</p> + +<p>So the colt understood the honour given his mother and the honour that +was to be his when he was big enough to be ridden. And the tale his +mother told many times never wearied him.</p> + +<p>"My mother told me the tale," she would always begin, "and now that she +is dead I tell it to you. When I am dead, you shall tell it to other +ponies, so that it may be remembered as long as Comanche herds wander +over the plains.</p> + +<p>"The squaws tell their papooses the great deeds of their forefathers, +that none will forget, that the young boys may become great warriors, +while the girls grow to be worthy squaws and train their own sons to +live with honour. So I, too, tell the story of our part in the life of +our great Chief and his Pale-face Mother, as my mother told it to me, +long ago, before you were born.</p> + +<p>"When she was a very young mare, the swiftest racer of all the Comanche +ponies, our tribe wandered long distances over plains covered with grass +knee-high. Vast herds of buffaloes and thousands of beautiful antelopes +shared the prairie lands with us. When the tepees were set up there were +so many that they reached out like stars covering the sky at night. Our +pony herd was so large that each brave owned many ponies, and he who +owned the most ponies was the richest man of all.</p> + +<p>"The Comanches could not live without us. It needs a swift, sure-footed +pony to follow the antelope near enough to send an arrow to its heart as +it runs. You know, as well as I, that antelope meat must be brought to +the camp to feed the women and children. Because the Comanches are such +great hunters, other tribes call them the 'Antelope Eaters.' And from +the hundreds of buffaloes ranging on the plains, our warriors obtain +hides for clothing, for warm robes and to make tepees that will defy the +cold winds and snows that rush upon them from the place where the Great +White Spirit of Winter dwells.</p> + +<p>"Without good ponies the Comanches would be cold and hungry, as you must +see. And so we are honoured by the warriors and loved by the women and +children for whom we provide food and shelter. When the enemies of the +tribe come against us in battle, the ponies share the dangers with their +owners. None of us has ever been vanquished. Ponies have died beside +their masters, but have never deserted them. When a warrior dies, his +favourite pony dies with him, that the warrior may ride it in the Happy +Hunting Grounds to which he and it have journeyed through the Land of +Shadows. There they are happy together. That is a great honour, but the +greatest honour of all is to be the favourite pony of the Chief."</p> + +<p>"Like you!" interrupted Star with a proud toss of his head as he glanced +at other colts whose mothers belonged to men who were not chiefs.</p> + +<p>"Like me and like my mother," Running Deer never failed to answer. "Lie +down beside me while I tell you the tale again, so that you will make no +mistake in telling it to other ponies when you are old and others have +forgotten it all."</p> + +<p>Star settled himself comfortably at her side, and as she talked, he +nipped daintily at bits of tender grass which made a soft bed beneath +over-hanging branches of a tall tree.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter II</h2> + + +<p>"Long before I was born," began Running Deer, "the warriors of our tribe +wove bits of red cloth into the manes and tails of their ponies. Each +warrior, decked in brightest blankets and with war-bonnets of eagle +feathers that bound their heads, fell over their shoulders, then trailed +almost to the ground, rode rapidly across the prairie with their quivers +full of sharply pointed arrows.</p> + +<p>"White-faced men had come on the land of the Comanches and were taking +possession of our hunting grounds. So word was brought to camp for our +fighting men to go out and protect the game that belonged to the +Indians. The Great Spirit put the game on the prairies that the +Comanches and other Indians might use it for food.</p> + +<p>"Like leaves swept by fierce winds the warriors rushed onward. Peta +Nocona, the old chief's young son, rode my mother at the head of the +Quahadas. He was almost a child in years, but a man in daring, and +often the chief gave him the honour of leading the warriors. All at once +in the distance a few specks caught his keen eyes, and he drew my +mother's reins, while all the Comanches halted to talk. Then each +warrior leaned down against the shoulder of his pony, and they raced +until they had formed a large circle around the moving spots. Gradually +closing about them, Peta Nocona led his men.</p> + +<p>"My mother said that those in the centre greeted them. It was +Pa-ha-u-ka's band, and with them were a boy and a girl with white skins, +who looked at the Comanches in fear. The girl's hair was long and gold +like the arrows of the sun, her eyes were like the summer sky, her skin +like untrodden snow.</p> + +<p>"The son of our chief rode to her side, and when she shrank back in +fear, he smiled and told her that no harm should come to her. She did +not understand his words, for she spoke in a strange tongue, but she did +understand his kindly eyes and voice and smile. So she made no struggle +when he lifted her from the arms of the warrior who was holding her. +Placing her before him on my mother's back, he held her carefully until +they reached our camp."</p> + +<p>"Did the white boy come, too?" asked Star as Running Deer paused to take +a bite of grass.</p> + +<p>"My mother said that the boy did not come into our camp and she did not +know where he went. Part of the Comanches, who belonged to Pa-ha-u-ka's +band, followed another trail and were gone a long time. But the little +white girl was not unhappy, for she had our chief's son as her +companion. We called her Preloch. All the care that would have been +given to the daughter of our chief was given to her until she reached +womanhood. Then she and the chief's son, Peta Nocona, were married with +great feasting and dancing that lasted many days, and everyone was very +happy for they all loved her and the chief's young son.</p> + +<p>"When the old chief, worn with the weight of many winters, slept with +his forefathers, the young chief ruled in his place. There was much +rejoicing when a son was born to Peta Nocona and his golden-haired +squaw, Preloch. They called him Quannah, which, as you know, means +'Fragrant.' Later a little daughter came to them, and her name was +Prairie Flower, for she was so pale and delicate that it seemed as +though a rough hand could crush her, or a strong wind carry her away on +its breast. The warriors honoured and obeyed Peta Nocona, who became a +great War Chief, and the women, children, and ponies loved his white +squaw, Preloch, for her gentle ways. Wherever he went, she rode at his +side, her baby daughter clasped in her arms, while little Quannah +followed closely behind on his pony, often shooting arrows as he rode.</p> + +<p>"The young chief had given my mother, Blackbird, to Preloch, and I was a +colt, past two years old, when white men found our camp. I do not know +just what happened, for in the darkness of night Gray Beard, Big Wolf, +and Spotted Leopard led me into a strange place among great trees, and +there we found Quannah waiting us. They spoke earnestly to him, then he +leaped to my back and we dashed away.</p> + +<p>"For many days we were alone, except when a warrior came and sat talking +gravely. I heard Karolo, the Medicine Man, tell Quannah one day, that +the white men had taken Preloch and Prairie Flower away with them. Then +he told that his mother had sent a message, bidding her son remain with +his father's people and rule them wisely and justly. She did not want to +leave her son and the Comanche people whom she loved so much, but she +had been made a prisoner by the white men and they were taking her and +her baby away to their own homes."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Star, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," answered Running Deer. "I am telling the story as it +all happened. How could an Indian pony understand the white man's ways, +when the wise men of the tribe did not understand? My mother told me the +story of the little white girl, and I heard what the old warriors said +to Quannah while we hid in the mountains; but I do know that neither +Preloch nor Prairie Flower ever came back to us again, and Quannah never +saw them again.</p> + +<p>"That is all I know. Quannah rode me back to camp and when you were born +he gave you to Songbird. You must serve her as faithfully as I have +served him, and as my mother, before me, served his father, Peta Nocona. +The big chiefs also told Quannah that his father, Peta Nocona, had been +killed by the white men as he stood, wounded, against a tree, singing +the Death Song of the Quahada Comanches. So Quannah, his son, became our +chief."</p> + +<p>Star thought about the story as he lay beside his mother, and he felt +very sure that he would not make any error in telling it when he had +grown old. The sun peeped over the edge of the world and shot a golden +arrow of light into the pony's eyes, to warn him and the other ponies +that it was time to roll and get up.</p> + +<p>It was not an easy thing to roll over. Star had tried it many times, for +his mother had told him that when a pony could roll completely over the +first thing in the morning, it was the sign he was very strong. So now +he stiffened his muscles and tried it, but only got partly over. Again +he tried and failed. But the third time he turned completely over, and +full of pride, leaped to his feet. Then he leaned down and nipped his +mother, who blinked up at him.</p> + +<p>"I did it!" he bragged, tossing his head so that the thick black mane +waved like a flag. "Mother, I rolled all the way over, this morning."</p> + +<p>"I knew you would do it," she answered proudly as she scrambled up +hastily. "Now you can carry a man."</p> + +<p>The two ponies saw the flap of Quannah's tepee lifted, and their ears +cocked sharply. A little girl, about six years old, with large dark +eyes, long glossy braids hanging to her waist, and clothed in a garment +of buckskin, with moccasins of buckskin on her feet, stood in the +opening of the tepee.</p> + +<p>"Star!" she called softly yet clearly.</p> + +<p>The pony answered with a low nicker of delight, tossed his shaggy mane, +kicked his hind heels and galloped to her side, where he bent his head +that she might pet his nose and pull his ears gently, while his eyes +told her how much he loved her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter III</h2> + + +<p>Ever since Star had been strong enough to bear Songbird's weight on his +back, they had wandered together near the camp. Sometimes they climbed +the steep mountains so that they could look down on the tepees which +seemed only tiny white spots; or they raced after a coyote across the +prairie, and again they moved more slowly beside the streams where they +could see silvery fish darting from one deep pool to another.</p> + +<p>Always Star watched carefully that he might not step on a loose rock, or +into a prairie-dog hole. That would make him stumble and throw his +little mistress, and Star's mother had warned him of the danger. Many +times they paused beside the stream so that Star could thrust his +velvety nose into the cool ripples, while Songbird, higher up the creek, +would lie flat, face downward, and touch the water with her lips.</p> + +<p>At times she would sit in the shade of a tree near the stream and Star +would lie down beside her. Then she would pluck wild flowers and weave +them into his mane and make a wreath of them for her head, while she +told the pony that the big, white clouds drifting slowly over them were +the tepees of great warriors who had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds, +where they rode their favourite ponies all day long. But when the Spirit +of the Sun rode over the edge of the world at night, the warriors +followed him that the Spirit of Darkness might not overtake them, and +the clouds followed after them.</p> + +<p>One morning Songbird came to him and said, "There is a long journey for +you to-day."</p> + +<p>As she patted his neck, he noticed unusual excitement in the camp. The +warriors were gathering the pony herd instead of letting it wander to +graze until night. Men were rushing about, and the squaws were taking +down many tepees. Some of the men were helping them roll things in +buffalo robes which they tied with long thongs cut from cured hides. +Then these bundles were placed on the backs of pack-ponies and fastened +so that they could not slip off. Even the children were helping instead +of playing about.</p> + +<p>Quannah was directing everything while he stood near his tepee, a short +distance from Songbird and Star. At last the packing ended and the +warriors, mounted on their best ponies, moved slowly away from camp, +while behind them came extra ponies and then, still farther behind, +trotted the pack-ponies.</p> + +<p>As Star watched, wondering what it all meant, an Indian led Running Deer +to Quannah. The chief spoke hastily yet tenderly to Songbird, who +listened seriously to his words. Then Quannah sprang to Running Deer's +back.</p> + +<p>Songbird slipped her arms about Star's neck and he felt her soft lips +touch the white spot in the middle of his forehead. He was a jet-black +pony except for this white mark which formed a perfect star, and which +was almost hidden by the heavy forelock of hair that dangled to his +eyes.</p> + +<p>Quannah sat on the back of Running Deer, and watched Songbird, who +turned suddenly and spoke.</p> + +<p>"I have no brother! Let me go with you?"</p> + +<p>"You must stay here with the women and children," Star heard the chief +reply. "We go to meet men. It is safe here for the women and children. +You must stay with them until I return."</p> + +<p>The pony saw that all the Comanche herd was moving away from the camp, +and he turned quickly to his mother.</p> + +<p>"Must I stay, too?" he asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, "you go with me, so that Quannah may ride you to rest +my back on the journey. It will be hard riding for many long days. We go +to fight the white men and if we find them, many warriors and ponies may +never come back. You are old enough and strong enough now to do your +part in the work of the Comanche ponies. Come, keep beside me and I will +tell you what to do."</p> + +<p>Star felt very proud and important as he trotted at his mother's side, +but he could not help twisting his neck to look back now and then at his +little mistress who stood alone in front of the big tepee of the chief. +He saw her stretch out her arms toward her father, but Quannah did not +see her do it. Suddenly she drew a corner of her blanket over her head, +so that her face was hidden that none might see her grief; then she +turned into the tepee and the flap closed.</p> + +<p>While Star had been watching all this, the other ponies had moved past +him, and he heard his mother calling angrily, urging him to hurry to +her side. She was in the lead. Far ahead of Star the ponies were moving +swiftly. Some carried packs, others bore warriors, and the unmounted +ponies of the herd were kept from straying by warriors who rode on +either side. Not one Comanche pony had been left in the camp where the +women and children now remained. It was all very strange. Star galloped +to his mother knowing she could explain everything, for she was a very +wise pony and the favourite of the chief. She was very angry, and +snapped at his shoulder when he reached her side.</p> + +<p>"You are disgracing me when you lag at the back of the herd. You belong +at the front of it, with me. The chief's pony travels ahead of all the +others."</p> + +<p>"Where are we going?" he asked after a short silence.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," she answered, still angry. "That does not concern +either of us. When the chief speaks no one questions and all obey. He +gives orders to the warriors and they do his bidding. He moves his hand +and I obey the rein. That is all I know. Ponies do not need to know +anything else. Your duty now is to follow me and keep at my side, so +that you may be near if I fall or am hurt or weary. Then Quannah will +ride you."</p> + +<p>As they travelled many miles, Star kept closely beside his mother, but +he could not forget Songbird and how she had held out her arms, then +with covered face had gone alone into the big tepee of her father, the +Chief of the Quahada Comanches.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter IV</h2> + + +<p>As Star travelled contentedly beside his mother in the days that +followed, other Indian tribes crossed the trail of the Comanches, some +of whom came from the far north. They had seen the white men, whom they +called soldiers. Sometimes there had been fighting.</p> + +<p>Kiowa riders often rode strange ponies into Quannah's camp and rested +for a few days. While the Indians talked with Quannah and his braves, +the ponies of the strangers told the Comanche ponies about the big bands +of white men, all dressed alike, riding very large horses, many of which +were almost twice as big as a small pony.</p> + +<p>"These men do not carry bows and arrows like the Indians, but have +shining sticks that roar like angry buffaloes and which spit fire that +kills any Indian or pony it touches," explained a pony from the Kiowa +Indians' camp.</p> + +<p>Running Deer shivered and looked at Star, as she said, "My mother saw +such men. She called them soldiers, and she, too, spoke of the sticks of +fire that slew our braves and our ponies, though they were so far away +that arrows could not reach them."</p> + +<p>The ponies stopped talking as they saw Quannah and a Kiowa messenger +reach the herd. Star cocked his ears so that he might hear all that was +said. Running Deer touched her big colt with her nose, to remind him +that he must keep perfectly quiet, for Quannah's hand rested on Star's +mane and the chief looked at him with serious eyes while the Kiowa +Indian talked in a low voice. At first Star could not understand what +they said, but in a short time he heard more distinctly.</p> + +<p>The Kiowa brave was speaking. "Our Medicine Man, who is so wise and good +that the Great Spirit talks to him, has told our Big Chief that we must +drive these white people from our land, so that none of them shall ever +come back. Then the antelope and buffalo will belong to us, our ponies +will roam where the grass grows most thickly, and our people will be +happy and thrive."</p> + +<p>"I wish to live peacefully with the white people. My mother was of their +race," answered Quannah slowly.</p> + +<p>"The white men will not dwell peacefully with the Indians. Many times +our fathers' fathers moved to avoid conflict, but the white men have +always followed and whenever they found us they have warred with us," +the Kiowa interrupted angrily. "Even now they are gathering in great +bands, and making ready to sweep upon us from all four sides of the +earth at once, hoping to scatter us like dry leaves before a windstorm. +Soon we shall be driven to the edge of the earth. Then only the cold +ashes of our camp fires will be left to tell the places where our +children once dwelt."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is true," the Chief of the Quahadas spoke, and his head sank +so that his chin rested on his breast, while his eyes were fixed on the +ground. "My mother, Preloch, bade me rule the Quahadas wisely. If I war +on the white men, they will come in still greater numbers, and my tribe +will suffer. But the white men killed my father and took my mother and +sister away. My mother did not want to leave us, and she sent word to me +by old Moko, the Picture-maker, that she would try to escape from the +white men and come back to me. Maybe she is dead now. When the sun +shines on the winter snow, no one can bring it back. But the moisture +sinks into the heart of the earth where the flowers are born. So though +my mother has never come back to me, the memory of her words lives in my +heart. I wish to rule my people wisely and help them. Maybe it would be +best not to fight. I will ask my warriors. What they say, that will I +do!"</p> + +<p>When the Quahadas had gathered about their chief and the Kiowa +messenger, the Kiowa spoke quickly.</p> + +<p>"My chief sent me to ask whether Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas, will +join us and lead your tribe to help us save our people from the white +men who will kill the Comanches and Kiowas, take our children and squaws +captives, and laugh at our humiliation. Shall I go back and say to my +chief that Quannah, Chief of the Quahada Comanches, is a squaw because +his white blood is afraid to fight his mother's people who stole her?"</p> + +<p>Quannah's eyes flashed angrily, and he flung out his hand while he +replied, "Tell your chief that I and my warriors will fight against the +white men because we must save the game and grass and protect our women +and children. That is all. Go!"</p> + +<p>Star and Running Deer watched the Kiowa messenger leap on the strange +pony's back. Then, with a shrill call, the rider was lost in a cloud of +dust that arose from the swiftly running pony, while Quannah, surrounded +by his warriors, looked after the vanishing Indian.</p> + +<p>"Why should the white men drive us from our camps?" asked Star as he +turned to his mother. "We do not drive the Kiowas from their camps, and +the Comanche ponies graze beside the ponies of other tribes, for there +is grass enough for us all."</p> + +<p>"White men are different from ponies," answered Running Deer. "That is +all I know. Maybe the white men war among themselves and destroy each +other's camps, and carry away the women and children as prisoners."</p> + +<p>During that evening, when the shadows grew longer and darker, and the +huge campfire sent shafts of light like golden arrows between the trees, +the warriors gathered in consultation.</p> + +<p>Their faces were very stern as they seated themselves on the ground in a +half circle, while Quannah and the Medicine Man faced them. The Medicine +Man was very old. The face he lifted toward the stars was wrinkled, his +raised hands trembled, and the words he spoke to the Great Spirit asked +that help might be given the warriors so that the grass and game might +be saved for the tribe.</p> + +<p>While he was speaking, coyotes yelped from the darkness beyond the light +of the camp fire, and Star, standing very closely against his mother, +twitched nervously and kept looking backward to see how near the coyotes +might be. All the ponies understood that a band of coyotes would chase +any pony if it were alone, and if they overtook it, they would tear it +to pieces. So when a bunch of coyotes came near the pony herd, the mares +surrounded the colts in the very centre of the group, keeping their +noses closely against the colts, and the mothers would lash out their +heels and protect them. But fear of a band of coyotes never died as the +colts grew older.</p> + +<p>"The warriors are holding a War Council now," Running Deer told Star. +"Our wise old Medicine Man will tell them what the Great Spirit tells +him. Then he will bless them that the strength of the Great Spirit may +enter their hearts and help them conquer their enemies and save the game +and the grass."</p> + +<p>Through the night the fire burned brightly, while the Comanches sat in a +large circle talking together. Star, waking many times, lifted his head +that he might watch the warriors who faced the Medicine Man and Quannah. +Once the pony half rose to his feet, but Running Deer kicked at him as +she lay beside him.</p> + +<p>"Lie down and be quiet," she whispered angrily. "It is not dawn yet. You +will waken the other ponies and they are weary. What is the matter with +you to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I want to go back to Songbird, Mother," he answered. "If the white men +find the camp they may take her away as they took Quannah's mother and +sister, and she may never come back again!"</p> + +<p>"Quannah would follow them and get her back. He loves her more than +anything else," Running Deer said.</p> + +<p>"But all the Comanche ponies are here with us," Star went on anxiously. +"If I go back to her, she could ride swiftly from the white men, if +they try to capture her."</p> + +<p>"Stop talking so foolishly," snorted Running Deer. "Quannah is wiser +than you are. He will guard her from harm. Go to sleep at once, for we +have many miles to travel yet."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter V</h2> + + +<p>While Star was travelling with the other Comanche ponies, he thought +many times of Songbird and wondered what she was doing without him to +share her days. If he had known the loneliness of his little playmate, +he would have raced back to her, even though his mother had told him +that his duty was now beside her so that Quannah might ride him.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Songbird wandered sadly among the tepees where the other +children played happily while their fathers rode with Quannah to fight +the white men. The squaws tried to interest her in the work they were +doing, and took the best bits of venison and thrust green willow twigs +through the meat, so that she might hold it in the campfire and cook it.</p> + +<p>Songbird smiled gravely when they did this and shook her head. She was +not hungry, but the other children crowded up noisily and ate the crisp +tender meat, laughing when one child held his stick too long, so that +it burnt and let the meat fall into the hot wood ashes from which he at +once fished it with his twig.</p> + +<p>New clothes, fashioned from soft buckskin, new moccasins made from +buckskin with soles of tough buffalo hide, were laid in her father's +tepee for Songbird. Though she put them on, she did not run to show them +to the other children. Always she had hurried to her father first, that +he might praise her new things. As she remembered it, she slipped away +alone to the edge of the creek near camp. Sitting beneath the tree where +she had woven the wild flowers in Star's mane, she wondered when her +father would come back.</p> + +<p>"If he had left Star with me," she said at last, as though the fishes in +the creek could hear her and understand, "I could follow him when it +grew dark, and if I found him he would not send me back."</p> + +<p>But the fishes did not pause to listen, and at last she rose and went +back to the camp. The buffalo calf, tied by a plaited rope made of +strips of cured hides, rubbed its thickly haired head against her +shoulder, and pretended to fight her, but she did not laugh at it as she +had always done while her father stood beside her. She changed the calf +to another place, and fastened the rope carefully; then, having brought +fresh water to it in a bucket made of dry hide, she went into the big +tepee.</p> + +<p>Her pet horn-toads were kept in one of the deep pottery bowls made from +dirt and clay, then set in the sun to dry and harden. She carried the +little creatures outside and let them run about on the ground and eat +small insects. The bright orange, black, and red colouring of their +backs made a beautiful design and looked as though an artist had painted +them. Each head had a circlet of small sharp horns, while two larger +ones stood up very fiercely, and all over their backs were other tiny +horns, reaching to the tapering tail. Songbird knew the horn-toads could +not hurt her with their many horns, nor could they bite, for they had no +teeth.</p> + +<p>After eating, the toads became sleepy, so she placed them back in the +bowl and carried them to their accustomed place in the tepee.</p> + +<p>"Caw! Caw!" a crow croaked outside, and Songbird hastened to the black, +shining bird that walked jerkily at the entrance of her home. Its beady +eyes blinked up at her, and its head twisted sidewise in a very knowing +manner; then it straightened up and gave its hoarse call, as though it +had a sore throat.</p> + +<p>"Caw! Caw!"</p> + +<p>She did not clap her hands to-day and imitate its cry, but moved quietly +into the tepee and soon came back, holding a deep earthen bowl which she +placed on the ground. The crow sidled up, cocking its head to see if +anything were coming upon it from the sky or from the back. Satisfied +that no robbers were near, it began eating.</p> + +<p>Songbird watched it as she sat on the ground with her knees drawn up and +her hands propping her chin. Very gravely she decided that the crow was +getting fatter.</p> + +<p>For several months she had cared for it. Some accident had happened to +its upper bill and half of it was gone, so the crow had not been able to +pick up food from the ground or eat anything solid as the others could +do when they pecked very hard. It had been almost dead from starvation +when Songbird noticed it lying in the camp. She had driven away the +other children who were teasing it with sticks.</p> + +<p>Her father had shown her how to fix soft food in a deep bowl so that +the poor crow could thrust its entire beak down deeply to eat the moist +mixture. So day after day it came to the tepee, knowing it would find +food. The meal finished, it always bobbed and stalked around, repeating +its cry, "Caw! Caw!" until at last it flapped its glossy wings and +darted high above Songbird's head. But even when almost out of sight she +could hear it calling to thank her and say that it would come again the +next day.</p> + +<p>When she picked up the bowl to return it to its proper place, as Quannah +had taught her to do, a beautiful fawn, with skin like brown velvet +dotted with small white spots, leaped from the side of the tepee as +though it were trying to frighten her. Its nose sniffed the empty bowl +as it stood poised on slender legs and stretched its graceful neck. +Songbird tipped the bowl. The fawn licked it perfectly clean. Then its +pink tongue touched the little brown hand that held the bowl, and +Songbird, looking into the beautiful dark eyes, stroked the soft nose.</p> + +<p>The fawn waited at the entrance of the tepee until she came out. It kept +pace with her to the place where Moko, the Picture-maker, lived. She was +a very wonderful old squaw with pure white hair. It was her work to +paint pictures on the backs of dried buffalo robes.</p> + +<p>One side of these robes was always covered with brown, thick hair, while +the under side, dried and stretched very smoothly, had to be painted +carefully with colours made from roots, berries and earths, mixed in a +way that the old Picture-maker alone understood. Moko did not like any +one to watch her at work, but Songbird was always welcomed. The child +would sit for hours wondering at the magic way in which Moko made +figures of Indians on ponies, sometimes chasing buffaloes, hunting +antelope, or possibly a camp with warriors walking about the many +tepees.</p> + +<p>"Who showed you how to make pictures, Moko?" asked Songbird.</p> + +<p>"The Great Spirit," replied the Picture-maker, and Songbird pondered +over the answer. The painting Moko was now doing was the most wonderful +of all that Songbird had ever seen. The robe was the largest buffalo +hide that any Comanche had ever owned. Quannah had killed the enormous +beast with just one arrow, and the meat had provided food for many days. +Now the hide, cured and dried, was being painted for him, and Songbird +knew that some day it would be given to her to keep.</p> + +<p>The picture showed a lot of Indians fighting white men. The Indians +could be easily told by their war-bonnets. All around the edges, the +robe was bordered with the fighters, but in the very centre was an +Indian boy riding a swiftly running pony. In his arms was a little girl. +Songbird knew that the boy was Peta Nocona, and the girl in his arms was +Preloch, the white child who had afterward been the mother of Quannah +and of Prairie Flower.</p> + +<p>"Why do the brothers of my father's mother war with us?" she asked at +last, for the question had been puzzling her a long time.</p> + +<p>The old squaw kept on with her work, as she replied, "Because they want +our lands, our ponies, our grass for their own pony herds, and they want +to kill all the buffalo and antelope, so there will be none left for us. +Then we could not make new tepees, nor warm robes, nor clothes, nor +moccasins. Our ponies would all die if the white men had the prairie +lands, and the white hunters killed the game which they did not need for +food. Other Indians have told us how the white men cut the hides from +buffaloes that lie as thick as fallen leaves, and then leave the meat +to spoil or for coyotes to eat. Indians hunt that they may have enough +meat and robes to provide for their tribes. So it will be with the +grass. The white men's herds will eat it all, leaving our ponies to +starve."</p> + +<p>"But the world is so big," Songbird spoke, "why cannot all men dwell in +peace and share the game and grass?"</p> + +<p>"Because the white people want to rule us," the Picture-maker answered +quickly. "We lived here long before the white men came. We are the +children of the Great Spirit. He gave us the land, He gave us the wild +horses that we might tame and use them, He gave us the buffalo and deer, +the antelope on the flats, the fish in the streams, that we might live +happily. And because these things all belong to the Great Spirit, we did +not kill more than we needed.</p> + +<p>"The tribes did not quarrel with each other, for each had its own land +and no one sought to drive them from it. Men were taught not to lie or +steal, and a man who pledged his word was dishonoured if he broke it. +But long years ago tales came to us through other tribes, of men with +white faces who lied, stole, and cheated Indians who had believed in +them. These white-faced men killed the game, killed the Indians, burned +their tepees, then came in still greater numbers and drove the Indians +from place to place, saying, 'This is our land. This game belongs to us. +You must not touch it!'"</p> + +<p>Moko paused and Songbird kept silent, fearing the old woman might not +speak further, but at last she went on.</p> + +<p>"When game grew scarce in the places where we had been driven, our +warriors went in search of foods and robes for the old people, the +squaws, and the children. White men, who saw them coming, did not ask +why our men had wandered from the camps, but began to fight. After that +day our warriors fought every white man they met. Each chief knew that +unless he fought, his own tribe would be driven until it had no place to +go, no game to eat, no robes for tepees or to sleep under when cold +nights brought wind and snow, and soon all the Indians would die."</p> + +<p>"My father's mother did not want to go away from us," said Songbird. +"Many times he has told me she loved the Comanche people."</p> + +<p>"I saw her grief"—the old Picture-maker spoke slowly, and now her +wrinkled hand lay idly in her lap—"I heard her beg the white men to +leave her with us, but they would not listen to her. So Preloch, the +white squaw of Peta Nocona, and her baby daughter, Prairie Flower, went +away and none of us ever saw them again. That is how the white men would +treat all of the Indians if we did not fight them."</p> + +<p>"My father tells me that his mother was three winters older than I am +now, at the time his father carried her to our camp." Songbird leaned +forward. Her body rested on the ground, but her elbow propped her cheek, +so that she might still watch the work of the old Picture-maker. "Tell +me about her, please."</p> + +<p>Moko nodded, but her hand moved less swiftly as she began talking, while +her eyes looked through the tepee opening across the rolling prairie, as +though she saw once more the young son of the chief coming into camp +with the white child in his arms.</p> + +<p>"I can see her now as he rode past me. Her hair was like sunshine, and +when the Great Spirit made openings in the sky so that we could see the +stars at night, two little pieces must have been kept to make her blue +eyes. As she grew up among us she was different, for she was as gentle +as a young doe. Many times she made peace between hot-blooded young +warriors who wished to fight one another. The children followed her just +to see her smile at them."</p> + +<p>A deep sigh interrupted Moko's story, and for a few seconds the old +woman forgot the little girl who waited patiently.</p> + +<p>"I remember the day the white men took her away. Dark clouds gathered +overhead. Peta Nocona, our chief, was dead, but he had told us to flee +to our camp in the hills where the white men could not follow nor find +us. As we fled, the rain fell upon us, and Karolo, the Medicine Man, +called upon the Great Spirit to send the spirits of Peta Nocona and all +the other Comanche warriors from the Happy Hunting Grounds, that they +might follow Preloch and her daughter, Prairie Flower, into the land of +the white men and bring them back again to their own people.</p> + +<p>"The Great Spirit will send them both back some day," Karolo said as the +rain beat on his face. "He is weeping now because his children are +captives among the white people."</p> + +<p>"Then we who heard him drew our robes over our faces that none but the +Great Spirit might see our grief. And for many moons the Comanches of +the Quahadas kept their hair cut short because we were mourning the +death of our great War Chief, Peta Nocona, and the loss of his white +squaw, Preloch, with her baby daughter, Prairie Flower. Many winters +have passed, but they have never come back to us."</p> + +<p>"The snows of many winters have fallen on my head," the old +Picture-maker spoke after a short silence. "I am weary and my heart is +sad for my people. But I have asked the Great Spirit to let me stay +until I have painted one more robe, so that you may hang it in your +tepee with this one. Your children's children shall read the pictures +and learn how your father, Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas, conquered the +white men who robbed him of his mother and sister. After I have finished +that robe, the Great Spirit will let me rest, for I am old and weary, +and my children wait me in the Happy Hunting Grounds."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could go with my father, as Preloch went with Peta Nocona," +said Songbird. "I can shoot arrows as well as the boys, and Star can go +as fast as Running Deer!"</p> + +<p>"Some tribes take their squaws to help in the fight, but Quannah will +not allow it," asserted Moko. "Women and children must obey his orders +and stay in camp while the men go out to fight. Our chief says that the +work of women is to teach children to be fearless and truthful. That +work is as great as fighting. Sometimes I think it may be greater work. +Preloch said that it was better to make men love each other rather than +teach them to hate and kill one another. Maybe she was right, but the +white men hate us and we have to save our own lives and our homes."</p> + +<p>Muttering to herself the old woman rose from the place where she had +been sitting, and as Songbird saw the thin lips tighten, she knew that +the Picture-maker would not talk any more, so she slipped away from the +tent and sat watching the sun drop over the edge of the world. Two white +clouds closed together, and Songbird knew that the Spirit of the Sun had +dropped the flap of its tent so that it could sleep. Soon the Spirit of +Night would ride his big black pony across the sky and the shadow would +hide everything from sight.</p> + +<p>Somewhere in the world of darkness Songbird's father would be sleeping. +Her eyes filled with tears and her lips trembled. She was so little, so +afraid and so lonely.</p> + +<p>In the big tepee of the Quahada Chief, Songbird crept to bed, and as she +lay staring into the darkness toward her father's couch of skins, she +heard the shrill yelps of coyotes gathering around the camp. Suddenly +she drew the buffalo robe over her head and sobbed herself to sleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter VI</h2> + + +<p>Far away from the camp where Songbird waited her father's return, Star, +with his mother and the other Comanche ponies, travelled rapidly, while +Quannah watched the country with eyes as sharp and bright as those of an +eagle.</p> + +<p>Strange warriors from the Kiowas rode into camp on ponies which were +covered with dry lather that told how far and how fast the men had +ridden. At the same time Comanche messengers were being sent off on +ponies, and there was a constant stir in the camp.</p> + +<p>Star wondered about it, until he could restrain his curiosity no longer.</p> + +<p>"Where do they go?" he questioned Running Deer, at last. His mother had +been very nervous and cross, and she answered sharply:</p> + +<p>"They go to see where the white men travel, so that Quannah may know +where to find them. Be quiet, now. Watch and you will learn everything +for yourself. Do not talk too much, but watch and listen, then you will +grow wise."</p> + +<p>Quannah was lifting his hand, and Star's bright eyes saw one of the +youngest warriors ride up to the chief.</p> + +<p>"Let me go this time," begged the young man.</p> + +<p>"Your pony is not swift enough," replied the chief, and the young man +bowed his head in shame.</p> + +<p>"He has but one pony," Running Deer spoke scornfully to Star. "He is +poor and his mare is old. When his father went to the Happy Hunting +Grounds he left but two ponies for his son, and one of them has died. +His heart is brave, but his pony's legs are weak, so he will not be +sent."</p> + +<p>As Quannah began speaking, Star lifted his head quickly.</p> + +<p>"You shall go. Running Deer is the swiftest pony of the Comanche herd, +and Star, her colt, though young and untried, should be fleet-footed and +sure. You shall ride him to-day."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the young warrior was seated on Star's bare back. +Running Deer watched anxiously. But the colt's back did not weaken, nor +did he flinch beneath the man's weight. It seemed no more of a burden +than when Songbird had ridden him.</p> + +<p>"Watch out for prairie-dog holes and loose, smooth stones," cautioned +Running Deer. "When you go most swiftly, hold your nose level with your +shoulders, and look straight before you without turning your head from +side to side. Do not leap high, but let your body drop low to the earth +when you run, and in that way you can outstrip other ponies and not +weary for many long miles. If your rider falls from you, do not leave +him, but stay near by until he climbs again to your back, or someone +comes for you. And always remember that you belong to the Chief of the +Comanches."</p> + +<p>While Running Deer was speaking, Quannah was talking in a low voice to +the young man who sat on Star's back. As the chief's words ceased, the +pony felt the rider lean forward, and his knees press closely against +his sides; then, like an arrow shot from a strong bow, Star, son of +Running Deer, darted on his way.</p> + +<p>The fresh breeze swept into the pony's nostrils, it tossed his thick, +black mane, and his long tail streamed like a tattered black flag, while +the Comanche lying low against Star's shoulder seemed to be a part of +the animal he was riding.</p> + +<p>Across the wide prairie the pony raced, guided by a noose of plaited +rawhide. He did not need the pressure of this rope on his neck, for the +mere movement of the Indian's body was enough to tell him which way to +go. No whip or blow from the rider's heels was necessary. Star +understood that the chief had sent him, and the son of Running Deer must +prove himself worthy of her training and his heritage.</p> + +<p>All day they travelled. At intervals the Indian made him walk a short +distance, then once more Star broke into the smooth, swift run. They +passed near a band of startled antelopes which whirled and dashed away; +farther off, a bunch of galloping buffaloes thudded with their heads +held low down, the humps on their shoulders rising and falling like +small waves of dark water, but the Indian on Star's back paid no heed to +them. The quiver full of sharply pointed arrows remained slung across +his back.</p> + +<p>Just before dusk the Comanche halted among huge rocks. Slipping from the +pony's back, he held his fingers tightly about Star's nose, to prevent +the animal from calling out. Some distance below them, the pony saw a +great multitude of white-faced men and big ponies. The men were dressed +in strange clothes instead of the robes that Indians wore. Some of them +lifted things from their heads, and Star stared in surprise at the short +hair. Quannah and all the Indians the pony had ever seen had worn long +braids of hair called scalp-locks. It was a disgrace for a warrior to +lose his scalp lock, and a great trophy of victory for any foe who cut +it off. So the pony wondered why Quannah should be so grave about +fighting men who had lost their scalp-locks.</p> + +<p>As the men rode nearer, Star saw belts filled with things that gleamed, +and there were long, bright sticks in their hands. The pony understood +at once that these were what his mother had spoken about. Things that +could roar like angry buffaloes and spit fire that killed Comanche +warriors and ponies. He shivered and shrank back, but as he felt the +Indian's fingers tighten, the pony remembered that Quannah had sent them +here, and he must stay with his rider.</p> + +<p>Star forgot his fears in watching the men fix many white tepees in long +rows, and there were strange things that looked like long, round-topped +hills of snow which moved slowly forward, each dragged by six +queer-looking animals. Star had never seen such strange ponies. They +were all dark brown like the bark on trees, their ears were very long, +their heads large, they had no flowing manes, and the only hair on their +tails was in a thick bunch at the very end. While Star watched them, one +of the creatures lifted up its nose and uttered a terrific noise. +Instantly the others joined, and the din was so frightful that Star +would have turned and raced away had not the Comanche held tightly to +the pony's nose. It was the first time in his life that Star had seen +white men, and he had never heard any pony speak of mules or wagons.</p> + +<p>The young warrior crouched low. Before the noise ceased, he had led Star +very cautiously until they gained a spot out of sight and hearing of the +white men. Then leaping to the pony's back, the Indian raced furiously +toward Quannah's camp in the sheltering hills. It was past dawn when the +Comanche halted at Quannah's side. The whole camp was astir.</p> + +<p>Other couriers had arrived from different points, on ponies streaked +with dust. While the animals rubbed noses together, the messengers told +Quannah what each had seen.</p> + +<p>The man who had ridden Star was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"Great bands of white men are coming from all four sides of the world. +The band I saw is larger than all the Kiowas and Comanches together. +They are one day's ride from here and they are travelling this way."</p> + +<p>"And in another place I saw a band of fighting men coming this way," +spoke a second courier.</p> + +<p>"Still another big band comes from the opposite side," the third man +spoke.</p> + +<p>"And back on our own trail, I saw them travelling toward us." The last +speaker was one of the head chiefs under Quannah. "I left my pony a long +way off that he might not make any noise and warn the white men. Then I +crawled like a snake until I reached a hill near the white tepees. I +heard men's voices but I could not understand what they said. They speak +a different tongue from ours. But there were so many men and so many +ponies that they were as the leaves on the trees or the blades of grass. +How shall we fight them and hope to conquer?"</p> + +<p>"They will surround us from all sides, as the hunters gather around a +herd of antelopes," one of the men said. "If they were not in back of +us, we could go to the camp where the women and children wait."</p> + +<p>Quannah looked at the trail which led toward his little daughter, as he +said in a voice that all could hear plainly, "We will do it. I have a +plan. We must protect our women and children!"</p> + +<p>Then the Medicine Man, who had remained silent, stood beside the +Comanche Chief. With hands uplifted toward the sky the old man called +upon the Great Spirit to hear his children and aid them in the fight to +save the game and the grass and the homes of the Comanche people from +the white men who wished to destroy them.</p> + +<p>After that Star watched the warriors hold up their long bows and quivers +filled with slender arrows, that the Medicine Man's blessing might make +the arrows strong and sure, give strength to their fingers and clear +vision to their eyes in the battle for their homes and those whom they +loved.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter VII</h2> + + +<p>Among those who journeyed with Quannah were the youths of the Quahada +Comanches who had reached the age of twelve. These boys knew how to use +bows and arrows as well as the older men. Children of the tribe were +given tiny bows and arrows for toys as soon as they were big enough to +hold them, and each day they practised shooting at targets, while their +parents watched them proudly.</p> + +<p>They were also taught to ride a pony bare-back, lying close against its +neck and leaning forward, so that from the opposite side nothing could +be seen of the little rider except one brown leg and a hand that clung +to the pony's thick mane.</p> + +<p>Another lesson they had to learn was to creep silently through the +grass, taking great care not to make it move so that other boys could +not see where they were hiding. Because of this training and their small +size, some of these boys had been allowed to travel with the warriors +under Quannah, that they might be used as spies when the Indians drew +near the camps of the white men.</p> + +<p>So when the different couriers returned to Quannah and reported that the +white men were coming from every side to surround the Comanches, and +that part of these men were between Quannah's band and the camp where +the Comanche women and children had been left, Quannah called his +followers about him while the old Medicine Man stood beside the chief.</p> + +<p>Star, who had been resting for a short time after his long trip, lifted +his head curiously as he noticed the warriors gathering. Then as he saw +Running Deer close to the edge of the group about Quannah, he leaped +lightly to his feet and hastened to his mother's side. She rubbed her +nose against his to show how pleased she was at the way he had done his +part of Quannah's work. Then Quannah began speaking.</p> + +<p>"We must go back to take care of the women and children," the chief said +very plainly.</p> + +<p>Star saw all the warriors nodding to show that they agreed with the +chief, but no one spoke a word. It was so quiet that the chirp of a +grasshopper close to Star's feet could be heard distinctly, and the song +of a mockingbird sounded clearly from a nearby tree. Even the big herd +of twelve hundred ponies seemed to be listening for Quannah's words. +There was no moving of restless hoofs, or soft sounds of grass roots +being torn by grazing ponies.</p> + +<p>Star felt a thrill of joy at what the chief said, for he knew that he +would be near Songbird again. Then if the white men came, he could help +her run away, as his mother had helped Quannah escape and hide. He +turned to speak about this to his mother, but Running Deer shook her +head quickly and he was silent. Quannah was talking.</p> + +<p>"The white men are between us and the camp where we left our women and +children," he said slowly. "To the front of us are more white men. They +are coming from the east and the west, also. We must make a path through +them to reach our camp. The white men outnumber us many times. If we +face them in open battle they will kill or take us all prisoners, then +our women and children will be helpless."</p> + +<p>"Our chief speaks the truth," the Medicine Man spoke, and the others +grunted and nodded at one another to show that he was right.</p> + +<p>"To-day," Quannah went on, "we must ride hard until we are near the +white men, then we will halt and hide. It is the dark of the moon now, +and when the sun has gone, I shall send the smallest boys on our +swiftest ponies to stampede the ponies of the white men. While all is +confusion in their camp, we can dash past them in the dark, taking their +ponies with us as we go on our way. Without ponies how can they catch +us?"</p> + +<p>All the warriors showed their satisfaction in the words and looks that +Star and Running Deer understood plainly. In a short time the Indians +were riding the trail that led directly back toward the camp of the +squaws and children and old, weak men who could not fight.</p> + +<p>During the day messengers were sent ahead, and Star kept close beside +his mother on whom Quannah was riding. When the couriers returned late +in the afternoon, Star and Running Deer listened intently to their +words.</p> + +<p>"The white men are moving toward us," spoke one man who had ridden away +that morning. His tired pony stood with low-hanging head while its drawn +sides and quick breathing told how hard the pace had been. "When the sun +goes to sleep for the night, they will be not more than two hours from +here."</p> + +<p>"They have big white ponies," another messenger said. "Last night I lay +so close to their camp that I could hear voices in the strange white +tepees. A few men who do not sleep walk around and keep watch. All of +the men have fire-sticks. The ponies are unsaddled and each one is tied +to a long rope, so they make a line, side by side!"</p> + +<p>"That is good!" Quannah's eyes brightened.</p> + +<p>Turning to the Medicine Man he spoke in a low voice, so that neither +Star nor Running Deer was able to hear what he said. The other Comanches +began making preparations for food, so Running Deer, with Star at her +side, moved slowly away, cropping the thick, tender grass as they talked +together.</p> + +<p>"Mother, do you think we will be sent to-night?" Star asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," she answered. "I am the swiftest pony of the herd, and you have +proved your speed and strength to-day. It would be a great honour if +both of us were sent. But now stop talking. Eat, that you may rest, for +no one can tell when we may be needed, nor how long and hard the trail +before we can graze and rest again."</p> + +<p>Star obeyed. After he had eaten his fill of juicy grass he wandered with +his mother to a stream where they thrust their noses into the clear, +cool water and drank all they wished. Then the two of them found a spot +which they pawed to make more soft, and doubling their front knees they +sank slowly to the ground and soon lay sleeping side by side.</p> + +<p>Several hours had passed when Star wakened suddenly at a whisper from +his mother, whose lips touched one of his ears. It was quite dark, but +the stars gleamed overhead. When the little spots of light flickered in +the sky Star knew that it was from the hoofs of ponies in the Happy +Hunting Grounds just as the Comanche ponies made sparks of fire when +rocks were tossed together violently by the ponies' flying hoofs.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" whispered Running Deer. "The men are picking the ponies for +to-night's work!"</p> + +<p>The colt's body quivered with excitement, his lips twitched and his ears +cocked sharply, while his eyes peered into the darkness where he could +hear the soft tread of moccasined feet that were coming nearer and +nearer to him and his mother. He wanted to leap up and call out to the +warriors that he was awake and ready, but a nudge from his mother made +him lie down quietly and wait.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds an indistinct figure stood beside him. A hand touched +his forelock. Star rose quickly to his feet as a rawhide noose slipped +about his neck. He felt his mother's nose against his own, but the nip +she gave him this time was not an angry one. It told him as plainly as +she could speak how proud she was that her son had been picked out for +the work.</p> + +<p>"Do your best," he heard her say. "Remember, you are my colt. Your +honour is my honour. If you fail it is my disgrace as well as yours!"</p> + +<p>Then he was led away, leaving his mother watching him as he disappeared +in the darkness of night. She knew that the quick little bite he had +given her was a promise that he would not forget all she had taught him.</p> + +<p>The man whom Star followed stopped where Quannah and all the warriors +stood with two little Comanche boys, who were looking up at the chief +and listening carefully to every word he was speaking to them. Star was +close enough to hear what was said.</p> + +<p>"Ride swiftly," Quannah commanded. "Make no noise. When you are near +the white men's camp lie closely and hold your hands tightly across your +ponies' noses to keep them from calling out to the white men's ponies +and warning them of danger."</p> + +<p>"We will do as you say," the boys promised sturdily.</p> + +<p>"Good!" the chief answered. "Leave your ponies while you crawl +cautiously to the rope that holds the white men's ponies. Cut the rope +and leap on the nearest pony, then shout loudly and beat the ponies with +the pieces of buffalo hide you carry. That will frighten them so they +will run away. Your own ponies will follow. You must drive the white +men's ponies toward the place where we will be waiting to help you. Thus +we will capture the white men's ponies, so the men cannot follow us to +our women and children."</p> + +<p>"We understand," replied the boys in one voice, while the Indians +watched them and whispered to one another, "These children will be great +warriors when they are full-grown men!"</p> + +<p>Once again Quannah spoke to the boys. "The honour of the Quahada +Comanches is in your hands. Guard it with your lives. If you are +captured, let no man know why you were sent, nor where we are waiting. +Do not whisper it even between your two selves, for the wind might steal +your words and carry them to the white men's ears."</p> + +<p>Then the old Medicine Man stepped before the two children, and his thin +arms and trembling hands were extended over their heads. The boys knelt +down. Around them like shadows in the faint starlight stood all the +Quahada Comanche warriors, and their chief watched the two slender lads, +his eyes full of pride.</p> + +<p>"Great Spirit, hear the cry of your children. Help us save the game and +the grass that we may live in peace and happiness in the land you gave +to our fathers long ago. Send their spirits from the Happy Hunting +Grounds this night that they may travel beside these children and give +them courage and cunning to save the Comanche people. We are weak, we +are few, and the white men are many and strong. We must go out to fight +and we ask the Great Spirit to help us, for with the Great Spirit and +the spirits of our forefathers we shall win over all our foes!"</p> + +<p>In the silence that followed the Medicine Man's blessing, the boys rose +to their feet. Then Star shivered with excitement as one of the boys +grasped the mane that fell thickly on the pony's neck. With a quick, +light bound the lad vaulted to Star's bare back. Beside them the other +boy was astride a pony named Hawk.</p> + +<p>Silently the circle of warriors parted so that there was a space. The +young riders leaned down on the necks of the ponies and darted, side by +side, through the pathway of Comanches, then on through darkness that +wrapped the prairie like a heavy black cloak.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter VIII</h2> + + +<p>Star and Hawk kept a steady pace for more than an hour. Neither of the +boys had spoken a word during that time, then Star's rider whispered +softly—"Sh——" like the hiss of a snake in the grass, or the noise of +wind through the leaves.</p> + +<p>Small, strong hands reached from either side of Star's neck, and fingers +were pressed firmly on his nostrils. The pressure did not interfere with +the pony's breathing, but so long as it continued Star knew that it +would be impossible for him to whinny. His rider did not know that the +pony understood the reason and the importance of being quiet.</p> + +<p>Faintly the sound of stamping, restless hoofs came to Star's ears, and +told him that strange ponies were near. His nose touched Hawk's neck, +and the other pony signalled an answer. Star and Hawk had been friends +and playmates ever since they had been born. Hawk was two days older +than Star, but Star had always been more swift when they had chased +each other about the Comanche camp in play. Hawk belonged to a young +warrior who had not many ponies, so, long before Star had been fully +grown, Hawk had been carrying his owner. The work had made the muscles +of his back and legs very strong for so young a pony.</p> + +<p>The two boys now released their grip on the ponies' noses and slid +cautiously down. Star watched them lying flat and crawling slowly in the +direction from which the noise of ponies could be heard. Hawk and Star, +with noses together, waited patiently.</p> + +<p>For a long time everything was silent, then shrill yells caused the two +ponies to jump nervously. They heard snorting of ponies and trampling of +hoofs, and men's voices were calling loudly in words that were not like +the Comanche tongue. Star reared and plunged against a small rope of +buffalo hide by which he was fastened to a scrubby tree. Hawk, also +tied, was lunging and kicking.</p> + +<p>Then something terrible happened. Frightful noises, like cracking of +thunder, seemed everywhere. Lightning flashed close to the ground. It +did not come from the sky, like other lightning when it stormed. Star +crouched and trembled in fear of the thing he could not understand, but +Hawk with a still greater effort broke loose.</p> + +<p>"Come!" he called to Star, turning to run from the noise that was +deafening. "Come quickly! It is the fire-stick that kills Comanches and +their ponies. Run! Run! Run!"</p> + +<p>He did not wait while Star fought and struggled against the stout +rawhide rope which held him fast. Fire leaped from darkness and noises +grew louder. Then the thud of racing ponies grew more distinct and in +the dim light Star saw a vast herd of pure white ponies rush past him +and vanish like snowflakes blown by a strong wind.</p> + +<p>But the flashes of fire did not cease, and the pony threw his whole +weight against the rope. It broke and he was free. With a shrill squeal +Star followed the fleeing animals. Though they had passed him so quickly +he had seen two small dark forms on white ponies at the end of the herd. +They were ahead of him now, and Star redoubled his efforts until he came +abreast of Hawk. Together they raced, but slowly and surely Star passed +him.</p> + +<p>Like a thin cloud the white ponies kept ahead of Star. His ears cocked +sharply, his nose was thrust far out and level with his shoulders, his +eyes peered into the gloom to gauge the distance and make his own pace, +his body flattened more closely to the ground, and the steady stride of +his slender legs never wavered, while his mane tossed wildly and his +long black tail fluttered in the air that he cut in his wild race.</p> + +<p>He reached the fear-crazed white animals, and edging his way between +them, Star found the boy who had ridden him now seated astride one of +the largest white ponies. Star looked at it as he ran beside it. He had +never seen such a big pony in all his life. But the Comanche pony saw +that the white pony was breathing very hard, while its legs moved +uncertainly and heavily as it ran.</p> + +<p>"It is a big pony," Star said to himself, "but I can out-run it without +trouble. Buffaloes are big and heavy. They can run fast, too. But an +antelope or deer is more swift. I can out-race an antelope. So can my +mother!"</p> + +<p>He tossed his saucy head and slyly poked the big white pony in the ribs, +to make it go faster. But the poor beast was doing its very best, and it +rolled its eyes toward Star.</p> + +<p>"Please don't bite me," it spoke. "I am too old and too fat to run so +fast and so far!"</p> + +<p>"I won't hurt you," replied the Comanche pony, crowding more closely.</p> + +<p>The Indian boy on the white pony's back saw Star, and twisting sidewise, +the lad gathered himself, leaped from the horse he was riding and landed +firmly on the back of the Comanche pony.</p> + +<p>The boy's shout of triumph mingled with Star's squeal of delight as out +of the darkness rode Quannah on Running Deer, while back of the chief +dashed the rest of the warriors.</p> + +<p>Circling about the white horses the Comanches urged them rapidly over +the low rolling hills until they were completely hidden in thick +undergrowth, where they halted.</p> + +<p>The white horses showed plainly how hard the pace had been, for they +stood with heads hanging low, their sides drawn and nostrils dilating +rapidly. Many of them lost no time in lying down where they stood, +without even seeking a comfortable soft spot.</p> + +<p>"They tire easily," Star said to his mother who was near him. "Hawk and +I could have left them far behind and it would not have made us puff +like these white ponies. They must belong to squaws and children. They +are too fat and too slow for fighting men."</p> + +<p>"No herd can run as fast as the ponies of the Quahadas," replied his +mother. "Come, lie down and rest while there is time. When we are out +with the warriors it is our duty to rest and feed whenever we have time, +for when we travel we cannot tell when we will stop. Only Quannah knows +that."</p> + +<p>Star glanced at the warriors who sat on the ground and talked together, +while still others, on their ponies, guarded the captured white animals. +Two days and a night of fast travelling made Star feel that he had +earned a good rest, so he slipped to the ground and soon was fast +asleep.</p> + +<p>But in his dream he was racing again. This time he was trying to reach +Songbird who was calling to him that the white men were taking her away, +as they had taken Quannah's mother and sister, so that she could never +come back again to her people. He was running faster than any Comanche +pony had ever run before—twice as fast as Running Deer could run, for +he thought she was trying now to keep pace with him and was falling +behind. Only the storm wind could travel that fast. Star found that no +matter how swiftly he raced Songbird was always beyond him. He could not +see her, but her voice came back to him.</p> + +<p>"I am coming," he whinnied shrilly.</p> + +<p>Her voice grew more faint and at last it ceased altogether while he +whinnied despairingly, hoping to hear her answer.</p> + +<p>Then he felt his mother touch him, and opened his eyes to see her lying +beside him.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she asked. "You are kicking so that you wakened +me."</p> + +<p>He told her the dream and she listened gravely, though she answered +carelessly, "You are over-tired. After all, you are but a colt and your +muscles are soft. You have been tested as few colts are tested at your +age. Go to sleep again, so that you will be ready to travel with us, for +last night I heard Quannah say that as soon as the big white ponies have +rested, we would start for the camp of the women and children. Now that +we have captured the white men's ponies they cannot catch us. That is +why we are to rest for to-day."</p> + +<p>When it was time to get up, Star felt as well as though he had never +raced, but the big white ponies were still weary. Some of them did not +rise. Many others moved stiffly as they mingled with the Comanche herd +while they cropped the grass together like old friends.</p> + +<p>Most of the warriors had gone across a small ridge into a gully or +ravine, where they made a camp. This was done so that the smoke from +their camp fire might not be seen from afar, and thus tell the white men +where to hunt their lost ponies. Only dry wood was used for the camp +fire. Wood fresh or green would have made too much smoke. A few warriors +were left to guard the herd, for the Comanche ponies were trained to +keep together, while the white ponies were too tired to run away, even +if given a chance to escape.</p> + +<p>Star wandered near the white horse that had begged him not to bite it +because it was too old and too fat to run so fast. With raised head and +a bunch of grass hanging from its lips, it looked curiously at the +Comanche pony. Slowly its eyes travelled from Star's velvety nose, along +his straight back, his slender legs and strongly muscled flanks to the +sweeping black tail that almost touched the ground. The white horse +swallowed the clump of grass before it spoke.</p> + +<p>"You are a beautiful horse!"</p> + +<p>"I am not a horse," Star answered indignantly, "I am a Comanche pony. +What is a horse, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"A horse is a big pony," replied the other. "I am a horse. We cannot run +as swiftly as you ponies, but we are stronger to haul burdens when we +are hitched to wagons by our masters."</p> + +<p>Star was so surprised that he stopped grazing to talk with the +good-natured white beast, and it told him there were thousands of men +with white faces, who carried guns and lived in houses made of rocks +instead of tepees of hides. He told how these men fed corn and hay to +their horses, as well as grass. Then he explained how some horses were +taught to be gentle, so that saddles were placed on their backs and bits +in their mouths; other horses learned to drag carriages in which women +and children rode safely, and still other horses hauled heavier wagons +loaded with blankets and food.</p> + +<p>"They even build houses for us," he continued, "and when it storms we +are warm and dry and have nothing to do but chew our grain. If we have +to go out in a rain, when we come back we are rubbed dry and a warm +blanket covers us to our heels so that we may not be chilled. But +sometimes white men are cruel to us," he added.</p> + +<p>"I hate men with white faces," snorted Star, stamping his forefoot +angrily. "My mother says that they will take our game and our grass and +kill all the Comanche ponies and people. The white men took Quannah's +mother and sister away and they never came back to us. That is why I +hate men with white faces!"</p> + +<p>"Not all of them are that way," the big horse said earnestly. "Many +white people do not wish to fight. Sometimes Indians have killed white +women and children and have burned their homes, or taken them prisoners. +Then the Great Father of the whole world, who is over the white people +and the Indians, too, has to send soldiers to find the white prisoners +and make the Indians keep away from the homes of the white men."</p> + +<p>Star thought over these words before he asked, "Who told you all this?"</p> + +<p>"I learned it myself, through many years of hard work," was the reply. +"Ever since I was five years old I have belonged to the White Horse +Troop which was captured by the Indians last night. Only white horses +are in that troop, but in other troops there are blacks and bays and +sorrels. Each of the troops has three officers and the captain is in +command while the others are under him. So for many years I have gone +with the troop over miles of rough country, sometimes swimming great +rivers, and often we encountered big bands of Indians who fought us. +Maybe the Indians are wrong, maybe it is the white man, but men are our +masters and so, right or wrong, we obey them and love them. Yet we +horses do not understand, nor do we fight the Indian ponies. I am old +and I do not wish to fight any one. But we must obey our masters. When I +was young I did not ask questions, but now that I am stiff from years, I +wonder why people fight one another."</p> + +<p>"Do all your horses fight?" was Star's puzzled comment.</p> + +<p>"Not the band horses," replied the white horse. "They do not go out of +the garrison where we all live together. Their riders have shining horns +and big drums that make such beautiful music that when we troop horses +come out on parade, we cannot keep our feet from dancing or our necks +from curving with pride. The Band horses are very proud and keep to +themselves when we are all out grazing, and of course, no one could +blame them for that."</p> + +<p>Star listened in amazement. He was anxious to learn all that he could, +so as to repeat this wonderful story to his mother.</p> + +<p>"You use so many strange words," he said at last. "What is a parade?"</p> + +<p>"Why, just a big green piece of ground, but all around it are buildings +where officers and soldiers live. In the centre of each parade is a very +high white pole. On top of it floats a beautiful flag."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" interrupted Star, bewildered.</p> + +<p>"It is like a big blanket made of fine cloth. There are stripes of white +and red and in one corner is a patch of blue with white stars on it."</p> + +<p>"I know what a star is," said the Comanche pony. "My name is Star +because I have the white mark on my forehead. Songbird, the little +daughter of Chief Quannah, gave me that name when I was too small and +too weak to stand up on my legs. I belong to Songbird, and my mother, +Running Deer, is the favourite pony of the chief," he ended proudly.</p> + +<p>"I saw her talking to you," was the answer, "and I thought how beautiful +she was!"</p> + +<p>Star edged more closely to his new acquaintance. "Even though our +masters fight, I like you and we will be friends," he said, rubbing his +nose against the white horse's neck, then letting his neck rest across +the troop horse's back, Star bit gently, while the big horses did the +same to him. Only horses who are fond of one another give this pledge of +friendship.</p> + +<p>"I wish our masters would be friends, too," said the old troop horse at +last. "If every one would be friends there would be no more fighting."</p> + +<p>"There is enough grass and room for all the tepees, so maybe they will +stop fighting soon," Star spoke hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Some horses kick and bite and steal grain from the others," the white +horse answered, "and when one horse in a team kicks, balks, or will not +pull its share of the load, the other horses must do it all. White men, +Indians, and horses are all the same. Some are good, some are bad, but +the burdens of those who are bad must be carried by those who try to do +right. I am the oldest of those in the White Horse Troop and I speak of +things I have seen in many long years. I am sorry for the horse that +kicks and bites and steals, but I do not hate him. The whip is made to +punish him, and some day he will suffer."</p> + +<p>The day passed quickly for the troop horse and the Comanche pony. When +the shadows of the trees disappeared because the sun was straight above +the camp, the troop horse stretched out for a noonday sleep, and Star's +black head rested on the white horse's neck.</p> + +<p>Running Deer, searching for her colt, found them together and she lay +down beside them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter IX</h2> + + +<p>Two hours before sunset Star awakened from his sound sleep, but the +white horse only lifted its head long enough to blink at the Comanche +pony as it rolled over. Then Star scrambled to his feet and gave a hard +shake of his body, which is the way a pony stretches after a good nap.</p> + +<p>Running Deer was not far off, so the colt joined her, and after an +exchange of gentle bites, they moved slowly away from the herd, grazing +as they went. Star told his mother all that the troop horse had been +talking about, and Running Deer was as much surprised as her colt had +been, for she had no idea of how white men lived.</p> + +<p>The two Comanche ponies were so interested in their conversation that +neither of them noticed they had wandered quite a distance from the +herd. The Indians on guard over the other ponies had not tried to stop +Star or Running Deer, because all the Comanches knew that neither of +these ponies would stray far away. But the rolling hills stretched +temptingly, and at times Star and his mother raced after each other, +kicking up their heels or even lying down to roll and kick, then jumping +up to dash away side by side. When the sun dropped out of the sky +Running Deer was startled, and reminded her colt that they must go back +at once.</p> + +<p>They were standing on a little knoll overlooking a shallow depression +between a group of small hills. The sun had disappeared, but like a +warrior's banner beautiful crimson rays were flung across the deep blue +sky. The cool evening breeze twisted its fingers in the ponies' manes, +lifting the heavy black hair and tumbling it across their eyes, so that +it tickled their ears until Star tossed his head. The only sound was the +song of a mockingbird guarding the nest on which its mate sat patiently +with her wings spread over the little ones that the night air might not +chill them. The grassy slopes were studded with wild flowers, many of +which, sleepy from their long day's play with the breeze, nodded on +their stems with their petals folded as though their hands were clasped +in prayer.</p> + +<p>Here and there jack-rabbits, their long ears perked nervously, twisted +to see if any danger threatened, then dropping on all four feet they +hopped, and chased one another in play, or nibbled at the grass roots. +An antelope with her fawn at her side appeared for an instant on one of +the hilltops, her head lifted alertly, her nostrils twitching as she +sniffed the air. She started, whirled on her slender legs, then with her +fawn dashed out of sight.</p> + +<p>Running Deer watched her go, but Star spoke and she looked at him.</p> + +<p>"Now that we have the ponies of the white men, they cannot follow us any +more," he was saying. "But I like the old white horse, and I am glad +that he is going to stay with us. He is a very wise animal, I think, and +I am going to ask him to tell me all he knows, then I shall be wise, +too!"</p> + +<p>Before his mother could reply, the sharp "Yip, yip, yip" from a distant +point warned the two ponies that the coyotes were gathering for the +night. Both Star and Running Deer snorted and glanced quickly about, to +see if any had crept too near.</p> + +<p>They knew the ways of the small gray wolves. Each night at sunset the +pack followed its leader to a point where he could command a view for +some distance. Then he squatted silently, watching everything with his +keen, green eyes while his pointed nose sniffed the wind for hidden foes +or some animal that would furnish the pack with food.</p> + +<p>So long as the wind came toward him from any living thing, he could +escape, but when the wind blew away from him toward another animal or a +man, the coyote knew that he was not safe from surprise or attack.</p> + +<p>Trained from puppyhood by their mothers how to meet their enemies and +preserve their own lives, the coyotes always picked the strongest, +swiftest, and most daring of a pack for the leader. At nightfall these +leaders raced ahead of their packs across the prairie land, and when one +leader reached high ground he squatted down on his lean haunches and +sent out the call of his tribe.</p> + +<p>Before the echo had died away into silence, another leader gave answer. +After that other coyotes took up the cry, and then from all sides the +packs swept down the slopes and came together in a big gray mass.</p> + +<p>Their long tongues lolled from their mouths as they ran, their green +eyes glanced ravenously from side to side. Rabbits and other small +game, hearing the cry of the pack, scurried into hiding. Antelopes and +deer huddled more closely, keeping the young, weak fawns in the centre. +Often the hungry coyotes formed yelping circles about the antelopes, and +at times made dashes at them, hoping to frighten some fawn so that it +would run alone. For if it left the shelter of the herd only half a +minute, the coyotes would leap upon it and tear it to pieces.</p> + +<p>The does and the stags of the herd knew the danger. So while the +mothers' bodies sheltered their little ones, the stags, with long, +many-pronged horns, dashed at the coyotes and, if close enough, tossed +or gored their foes, often rearing straight up on their hind legs to +stamp on the coyotes with sharply pointed little hoofs that cut like +keen knives.</p> + +<p>With all other animals of the plains, the Comanche ponies knew that if +any colt ever strayed alone from the herd, he might fall a victim to the +coyote packs. Even buffalo calves had been dragged down by a bunch of +the prowling animals. Star's mother had many times shown him torn bits +of buffalo hide and scattered bones which told that the pack had found a +buffalo calf unprotected. Hundreds of coyotes gather in each band, and +swift as the wind, they cover many miles in search of a victim.</p> + +<p>Now, as the first call of the gathering coyotes died away, Running Deer +spoke hurriedly to Star, who needed no urging. Turning sharply on their +hind hoofs, they started on a swift run toward the place where all the +other ponies were being herded.</p> + +<p>It was much farther than Running Deer or Star had thought. The coyotes +were not far behind. The sound of the pack grew louder, and the gray +brutes came over the hill yelping with glee as they saw the two ponies. +Running Deer kept talking quietly to her colt as they ran.</p> + +<p>"Don't jump high, run low and save yourself all you can," she said, her +nose near Star's, but her eyes straight ahead of her. "They run fast +to-night because they have not eaten nor found water. So we must be +careful."</p> + +<p>It was the first time that Star had been chased by coyotes. He knew that +his mother had been followed many times, so he listened to every word +and obeyed her. Both ponies were puffing slightly, but their pace did +not change though their way often led up steep slopes then down +opposite banks while their forefeet ploughed deeply into the earth.</p> + +<p>"Don't slip," warned Running Deer as they raced neck and neck. "The +coyotes cannot catch either of us unless we stumble. If I should fall, +you must not stop, but go right on to camp."</p> + +<p>Star did not answer. He knew that if his mother fell, he would stay with +her and fight the coyotes with his teeth and his heels so the hungry +beasts could not tear her to pieces before she could get up again and +run with him.</p> + +<p>Twice he slipped on loose stones that rolled down the slopes in front of +him, and once he fell and skinned his knees, but he leaped to his feet +and kept at his mother's side.</p> + +<p>At times the pack behind them ran silently, then Running Deer's eyes +rolled backward to see how near they were. Star wondered how it would +feel to have a coyote leap on him. He shivered, but all his fears +vanished at his mother's next words.</p> + +<p>"They are falling back now! We are gaining at every step!"</p> + +<p>He glanced around. She was right. The coyotes were farther away, and +evidently realized that the ponies had outdistanced them, for they were +all running much more slowly. A few had halted and showed plainly that +they intended to look elsewhere for their dinner that night. One by one +the pack thinned, and finally a mournful howl told that the last pursuer +had given up the chase, leaving Star and his mother alone and safe.</p> + +<p>"When you fell to your knees"—Running Deer was walking now, and her +nose reached across to Star's—"I thought we two had run our last race. +They were very close just then."</p> + +<p>"But you could have escaped," replied Star, whose bleeding knees made +him wish he could stand in cool water for a little while, and he thought +happily of the creek near camp.</p> + +<p>"I would have stayed with you," his mother said quietly. Star was not +surprised at her words, for he knew that he would have done the same +thing for her, but he was glad it had not been necessary for either of +them to make such a fight against their foes. With several hundred +hungry coyotes against them, how could two ponies have kept up the fight +till dawn? That was what he asked himself, and Running Deer had the same +thought, though neither spoke of it.</p> + +<p>In a few more minutes they both recognized the top of an elevation that +overlooked the grazing place and safety for the night. Star, because of +his raw knees, lagged slightly behind his mother, and as she stopped +suddenly he hastened to her side, where both of them stared in +amazement.</p> + +<p>"I thought we had reached the herd." Star was the first to speak as they +looked down on a place where no pony was in sight.</p> + +<p>"It is where we left the herd," she answered. "They have moved it to +Quannah's camp. Come! We must hurry. They must have missed us by this +time. Quannah will be angry with the herders and punish them for letting +us get away."</p> + +<p>Without going down into the former herding camp, Running Deer led her +colt along the top of the ridge, knowing that it would take them just +above Quannah's camp, about a mile farther on. Star understood her +worry, or at least he thought he did; but he wondered at her nervous +starts and snorts, for there was nothing that threatened either of them +now. Coyotes sometimes ventured close to the camps, but they only +squatted at the outer edge and Star knew that they would keep away from +any camp fire, lurking in the shadows to avoid being seen or shot at by +the Comanches guarding the herd.</p> + +<p>Though it was now more than an hour after sunset, it was still quite +light when Star caught the scent of the pony herd and knew they were +close by. But he jumped back snorting as he saw his mother, who had +reached a higher point of ground, rear suddenly and turn.</p> + +<p>"Run! Run! Run as fast as you can! The white men have all our ponies! +They have captured the herders, too! Quannah is over the hill. We must +go to him! He may need us now!"</p> + +<p>Before they could cover the ground between the captured ponies and +Quannah's camp, almost a mile away, they heard the terrible noise of +fire-sticks. It came from the direction of Quannah's camp. The white men +were there, too!</p> + +<p>Star and his mother stopped instantly and looked at each other. Both +trembled with fear of the fire-sticks. They knew what those things +meant.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" the colt asked in fright.</p> + +<p>"I belong to Quannah," his mother spoke. "I shall follow him wherever he +goes. You belong to Songbird. You must go to her and help her escape +the white men, so that they may not take her away as they took Quannah's +mother and sister. Go back to the camp and find Songbird!"</p> + +<p>The colt hesitated. He had never been anywhere by himself. Always the +pony herd and his mother had been with him, except for the few hours +when Songbird had ridden him near the big camp. He thought of the packs +of coyotes and the long, lonesome miles that he must travel to reach the +camp where the women and children waited the return of Quannah and his +warriors who were now fighting the white men and the fire-sticks. Star +knew they were fighting, for the noise hurt his ears as he stood facing +his mother.</p> + +<p>She heard it too. Her ears went flat back against her beautiful head, +her nostrils were drawn in so that her nose looked thin, and little red +sparks of anger glittered in her dark eyes. Then she said in a voice +that made Star shrink back ashamed of himself.</p> + +<p>"Is the big colt of Running Deer a coward? Go! I tell you go at once! +You belong to Songbird! She needs you now!"</p> + +<p>Running Deer's strong teeth caught Star's back and sank deeply into the +soft flesh. With a squeal of pain and surprise, the colt leaped away. +Forgetting the coyotes and the loneliness of the trail and with no +further thought of his cut knees, he raced furiously into the gathering +darkness of night to find his little mistress, who had no one but +himself to help her, now that Quannah was unable to reach her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter X</h2> + + +<p>Star had no trouble following the dim trail of the Comanche ponies back +toward their camp. Though he had travelled it only once he did not +forget it, and what was still more strange, he, like other ponies raised +on the prairies and in the mountains, was able to go over dangerous +places in the dark.</p> + +<p>The only thing that really bothered him was that the coyotes were near +him at night when he could not see them. But he slept in the daytime, +taking short naps, or just rested with his eyes wide open; then when +darkness fell, he rose and went steadily on.</p> + +<p>Of course, he worried about his mother, wondering where she was and what +had happened to Quannah and the warriors and all the Comanche ponies. If +Star had not seen his mother's fright and had not heard the fire-sticks +talking so angrily, he would have thought it a great lark to be alone, +with no one to control him.</p> + +<p>More than once he was tempted to go back to his mother, but when he +hesitated he remembered that she probably was no longer in the place he +had left her; besides, he dared not risk her anger by disobeying her. +Her teeth were sharp and her jaws strong, and his back still hurt where +she had bitten him. She had often pinched him, but never before had +Running Deer hurt her colt. It was not actually the bite that hurt most, +but what she had said when she thought he was a coward. So Star decided +he had better go on, and he trotted or loped toward the camp where +Songbird had remained with the women and children.</p> + +<p>The coyotes, though following, kept a respectful distance from his teeth +and heels. Several times they tumbled over each other in their haste to +dodge him when, with a squeal of fury, he raced after them. He knew that +they could not catch him as long as he was awake and could see them, and +his hearing was so keen that even the crackling of a dry twig awoke him +and brought him with a bound to his feet ready to meet his foes.</p> + +<p>There were many little streams of clear water and plenty of good feed, +and Star would have been quite happy had he not been anxious about his +mother, Quannah, and the Comanche pony herd. Songbird, he believed quite +safe in the camp with the women, papooses, and old men who had been too +aged or feeble to join the warriors in the fight.</p> + +<p>It took a week for Star to reach the top of a gentle slope from which he +looked down upon the camp. Smoke was rising lazily from fires in the +tepees, children were playing in front of their homes, and the squaws +were moving about attending to their everyday work. But as the pony +looked, it seemed strange not to see even one animal of the immense +Comanche pony herd.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I should never see them again!" he thought for the first time. +"Maybe the white men will take my mother away, too!"</p> + +<p>Unable to resist his feeling of loneliness and fear, Star lifted his +head and called loudly, though he knew perfectly well that all the +ponies were with Quannah, and that it had taken a journey of one week to +get to this camp. Of course he did not expect an answer, but he gave +call after call. Even the sound of his own voice made it seem less +lonesome just now.</p> + +<p>A squaw, carrying a bundle of dry faggots on her bent back, was the +first to hear him, and after the first glance her cry of surprise +brought other women from the tepees. Someone called to Songbird, and as +the child ran out of her father's big tepee, Star gave a shrill nicker +and raced pell-mell down the slope until he gained her side. Songbird's +arms wound around his neck, and his head bent low, while he listened to +the loving words of his little mistress and felt her soft hands caress +him.</p> + +<p>The other children gathered, while the squaws talked among themselves, +each one trying to understand how Star had come alone to the camp. Many +of them were certain that Quannah and his warriors were returning, and +that Star had just galloped ahead to find Songbird.</p> + +<p>They hastened to assure the child that this was the only solution to the +puzzle, and so they left Songbird and Star and hastened to make +preparations for the returning warriors, who would be very hungry and +tired after so long a journey.</p> + +<p>Star followed Songbird when she climbed the hill, where they watched +together while below them the other children and all the women rushed +about preparing a great feast. But the hours passed, and when it was +too dark to see anything except the flickering fires and the shadowy +figures near the light, Songbird and Star moved slowly down the +hillside. The pony's head drooped, for he was very tired, and Songbird's +cheeks were streaked where she had wiped away tears that she must not +allow any one except Star to see, for she was the daughter of the chief. +Moko gave a sharp glance at Songbird, then spoke in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Quannah will come, and I shall paint a robe for him, and it will show +how he conquered the white men, and I shall paint Songbird, the daughter +of Quannah, and Star, the colt of Running Deer, waiting for the return +of Quannah and his warriors."</p> + +<p>Songbird looked soberly at Moko. "What will you paint if my father does +not come back again, Moko?"</p> + +<p>"I will paint a chief's daughter who did not cry," the old woman +answered. "Men fight with spears and arrows or knives, and they win +honour and praise, but women fight alone and no one knows when they +fight. Brave women do not weep. You are the daughter of the chief. His +mother rode beside his father when the fire-sticks screamed at them, +and she was not afraid. You will not cry even though Quannah does not +return to us."</p> + +<p>"No"—the voice that answered Moko was very low and trembling—"I will +not cry, Moko."</p> + +<p>The old Picture-Maker, clutching a lock of Star's mane in her wrinkled +hand, looked after the little figure that walked proudly away and +disappeared into the chief's tent. Moko shook her white head sadly as +she gave some dried corn to Star, then tethered him with a long rope +made from plaited strips of buffalo hide. In the big tepee Songbird lay +across the bed of furs, choking back sobs that must not be heard.</p> + +<p>During the following week the squaws and children watched, while +Songbird and Star went daily to the highest point overlooking the camp, +hoping for some sign of the returning warriors. As the two were about to +start up the hill on the morning of the eighth day, a Comanche warrior, +mounted on a black pony, appeared on the point above the camp. Star was +the first to see him. Star knew that black pony had sharp teeth and very +strong jaws. Running Deer answered her colt's welcoming call, then Star +tore madly toward his mother, who, with Quannah on her back, scrambled +hastily to meet her colt.</p> + +<p>As the ponies met, Songbird held out her arms, and her father lifted her +from Star's back. Holding her before him, the chief rode down into the +camp, while Songbird's eyes glowed with pride and joy. Star, keeping +closely beside his mother, kicked his heels, shook his head, and nipped +his mother's neck.</p> + +<p>Over the crest of the hill behind Quannah, rode the cavalcade of +Comanche warriors. Their war-bonnets trailed over their shoulders and +fell almost to the ground, their shields were held aloft, and the silver +trinkets on each pony jingled loudly. One by one the Comanches dashed +furiously into the camp, formed in single files and raced in and out +between the tepees, uttering shrill cries of triumph, while the women +and even tiny children joined in the song of victory.</p> + +<p>Songbird had been dropped lightly to the ground, and now, among the +other children, she watched her father as he sat on Running Deer +towering above all the other warriors. Her little heart seemed ready to +burst with pride. Never had there been such a Comanche Chief, she +thought.</p> + +<p>The war-bonnet of eagle feathers which encircled his forehead swept down +his back, and over Running Deer's glossy black flank to the mare's +fetlocks. Large hoops of brass were in the chief's ears, and a necklace +of bear's claws hung about his neck. Quannah had killed those bears, and +each one had been big and very fierce. Only a brave warrior could have +killed them alone. Tight trousers of buckskin, fringed at the outer +seams, and moccasins trimmed with bits of red cloth, finished the best +clothes of a Comanche chief. Songbird thought it a beautiful way of +dressing.</p> + +<p>His hair, braided with otter fur and tied with strips of red material, +formed a long scalp-lock. It was a disgrace for a warrior to have no +scalp-lock. In battle his enemies always tried to capture it as a trophy +of victory and proof of bravery.</p> + +<p>Many of the ponies were striped with different colours. The stripes were +used on buckskin, white, gray, or sorrel ponies to prevent detection by +foes, but the darker ponies, such as blacks or bays, did not need such +precautions. Running Deer, being coal-black like Star, had not been +painted. The mare's bridle was heavy with silver ornaments which had +been hammered firmly on reins and headstall, while her long tail and +thick mane were braided with the same kind of red cloth that tied +Quannah's scalp-lock.</p> + +<p>An hour after the return of the men, the ponies had been unsaddled and +turned loose to rest and graze, while their owners scattered in the +village to prepare for the feast that awaited them, and to relate to the +eager squaws and papooses how their chief had outwitted and evaded the +white men who had hoped to capture the Comanches. For Quannah had lured +them over misleading trails, up and down steep cañons, out on the border +of the sandy desert called the Staked Plains, where white men, unable to +find water or food, lay down to die, but where the Comanche Indians +travelled without disaster.</p> + +<p>The boys who had sneaked into the picket-lines of the soldiers and had +then stampeded the white horses were praised and feasted by the squaws, +envied by all the other boys, and smiled at by the girls who watched the +little heroes admiringly.</p> + +<p>The next day the camp was bustling with activity before the sun peered +curiously over the hill tops. That night the warriors were to celebrate +the Pipe Dance, and when the full moon rose over the distant mountains +all of the Quahadas gathered for the ceremony.</p> + +<p>Songbird was dressed in her new buckskin robe, her hair was smoothly +braided and fell in two long plaits. She walked proudly, for no other +child was to have the honour of standing with the squaws in the Dance. +Already a ring was forming. In the very centre were the women, whom +Songbird joined, and with the women stood a few of the very old men. +Beyond them was a still larger circle composed of the warriors, +including Gray Beard, Big Wolf, and Spotted Leopard.</p> + +<p>Karolo, the Medicine Man, stood beside Quannah, who held a lighted pipe +made of red sandstone. At a signal the warriors began dancing slowly +about their chief, all moving in the same direction, like a revolving +wheel. As each man came opposite Quannah, the chief held out the smoking +pipe and the warrior who received it took a whiff or two; then, handing +it back to Quannah, the man kept on dancing, all the while the others +went on with their weird chant.</p> + +<p>Star and Running Deer stood together on the outer edge watching the +dancers, who finished with great whoops of excitement. Then men, women, +and children squatted near the big camp fire where a feast had been set. +The light of the moon made each face as distinct as though it were being +seen in early morning. Beyond the edge of the camp, coyotes gathered, +sniffing the air and yelping because they dared not come nearer the food +that smelled so good.</p> + +<p>It was a night to be long remembered by the Quahada Comanches, but at +last the men, women, and sleepy children rose and went to their homes, +where, with a few parting words to one another, they lifted the flaps of +their tepees and slipped through the entrances. In a short time even +their murmuring voices were silent.</p> + +<p>The moon continued slowly on its journey through the sky, and the pony +herd huddled together for the rest of the night. Among the sleeping +animals was the old white troop horse, and Star, with Running Deer, +stretched closely beside him. They had all been very glad to meet again.</p> + +<p>Star had noticed another strange horse not far away. He was a big, gray +animal. Just now he was moving nervously and lifting his head, looked +about him. Star's eyes met those of the stranger.</p> + +<p>For a second the two horses stared curiously at each other. Then the +gray horse let his head fall slowly to the ground. Star, too sleepy to +think of anything but rest, closed his eyes and pillowed his head +comfortably on his mother's neck. She blinked at him, but the bite she +gave his neck did not hurt this time. Then they all slept.</p> + +<p>None of them ever stirred when the Comanche on guard over the pony herd, +seeing a coyote sneaking too near, seized a burning brand from the +smouldering camp fire and tossed it at the shadowy, skulking form. +Countless little sparks scattered as the burning stick hit the ground, +and the cry of the coyote pack grew fainter and fainter, until it died +in the distance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XI</h2> + + +<p>The next morning when Star, with his mother and the Old White Horse, had +found a nice place to graze near the other ponies, the Big Gray Horse +that Star had noticed the previous night joined them, and the Old White +Horse hastened to rub noses with him.</p> + +<p>Star watched curiously, then edged cautiously toward them. His nose +twitched, for Star was not quite sure whether he had better bite the Big +Gray Horse or not. The stranger was so big and was certainly very +handsome. He had a beautiful long silver tail and a heavy silver mane. +His ears were very small and tapered to delicate points, his forehead +was broad, and his eyes unusually large and bright. His neck arched +proudly and when he moved every muscle beneath his glistening dappled +skin told how powerful he was. Star reached him, and as they faced each +other, the Big Gray Horse lifted a front hoof and pawed the ground +lightly.</p> + +<p>The Old White Horse watched him respectfully, and Running Deer joined +the group, so that the four of them stood with their noses almost +touching.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Running Deer, when the Big Gray Horse showed +plainly that he wanted to be friends.</p> + +<p>"I am the horse of a general," was the proud answer.</p> + +<p>"What is a general?" Star hastened to inquire, and the Big Gray Horse +looked at him in surprise.</p> + +<p>"A general is a great soldier who commands many men," he said. "General +Mackenzie owns me, but I was confused by the noise and the darkness and +thought that I was running with our troop horses. When I learned that I +was among the Indian ponies it was too late for me to escape, for the +Comanches chased me back into their own herd each time I tried to get +away."</p> + +<p>"I was confused, but not afraid," the Old White Horse explained. "I have +been so many years a troop horse that I am not a coward in a fight. You +believe that, don't you?" He looked anxiously at the Big Gray Horse.</p> + +<p>"Yes," it answered. "Neither a man nor a horse that has grown old in +the service turns coward when he grows old. Sometimes we horses run just +because other horses are running; sometimes we misunderstand our orders +and run wild. That was how many horses broke loose when the Indian boys +hit us over the heads and backs with those bits of buffalo hide. When +some picket-ropes broke, the rest of us thought we would be left behind, +so we all struggled until we were free. Then I ran, guided by the sound +of other hoofs in the darkness, and not waiting to know whether those +around me were troop horses or Comanche ponies. I thought I was doing +what was right and best."</p> + +<p>"And then what happened?" Star questioned eagerly.</p> + +<p>"The soldiers fired their guns, and many tried to catch the running +horses which were dragging long ropes. The Comanches were all around in +the darkness. Then all I really knew after that was that a lot of us +were among the Comanche ponies and the warriors were urging us on. It +was dawn when we halted, and the soldiers were nowhere to be seen."</p> + +<p>"Nearly all of the White Troop horses are with us," the Old White Horse +spoke.</p> + +<p>Star lifted his head and glanced over the peacefully grazing herd, where +a large number of white animals were mixed among the Comanche ponies. +They were easily picked out, not only because of their colour, but also +because they were much larger than the Indian ponies.</p> + +<p>"Your fighting men cannot follow us," bragged Star, "for they have no +ponies now."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong," replied the Big Gray Horse. "There are hundreds more +horses, hundreds more soldiers who will follow the Comanches. The white +men are like the blades of grass, the stars in the sky, or the leaves of +the trees in a great forest. No one can count them. Others will join our +masters and keep on the trail until the Indians are all conquered. I +know what I say, for I have listened to my General and all his officers +talking while they rode together."</p> + +<p>"Why do they wish to conquer us?" demanded Star angrily. "The land, the +grass, the rivers belong to us! Why do the white men come out of far +places to take these things away from us?"</p> + +<p>"I am only a horse," the other replied. "How can I tell? I only know +that my General holds the rein that guides me, and I love and obey him. +Sometimes while he rides slowly, he and the other officers talk +together. Then we, their horses, listen. So we learn much, but there are +many things none of us understand."</p> + +<p>"Have you, too, heard them talk?" Running Deer questioned the Old White +Horse which had kept silent all this time.</p> + +<p>"I do not belong to an officer," he said. "I am only a troop horse. A +soldier rides me and we must follow the officers. My rider is an old +soldier. I am a very old troop horse. Our duty is to obey, not ask +questions, nor reason. Whether we are on parade or fighting, all I have +to remember is to mind the reins quickly, to listen sharply for the +bugle calls, and to keep my eyes fixed on the little pointed flag of our +troop. For that is the troop guidon. Where it leads, we follow."</p> + +<p>"We horses do not want to fight you ponies," the Big Gray Horse went on +as the Old White Horse stopped speaking. "We have no quarrel between +us."</p> + +<p>"Maybe if the Indians and the white men could understand one another's +talk it would stop the fighting," Running Deer joined the conversation +again. "We horses understand one another and we do not want to fight. +Preloch understood the Comanche tongue, and she did not fight them. She +made peace between those who wished to fight in the tribe. When people +do not understand one another that must be the reason for all the +trouble!"</p> + +<p>"Then white men never fight with one another!" Star exclaimed suddenly.</p> + +<p>The Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse hung their heads and were +silent, while the two Comanche ponies looked at them.</p> + +<p>"<i>Do the white men fight one another?</i>" demanded Running Deer at last.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sometimes," the Big Gray Horse replied. "There are white men who +steal, kill, betray, and oppress the weak and helpless. Those who know +the law and break it are punished by the law."</p> + +<p>"But the Indians do not know the white man's law, neither do they speak +the same tongue," snorted Running Deer, while her eyes showed little red +sparks of anger. "It was the white men who fought the Quahadas and took +away Preloch and Prairie Flower."</p> + +<p>"The Comanches had killed and stolen white women and children," replied +the Big Gray Horse. "So that was why the white men fought the Indians +and took Quannah's mother and sister captive."</p> + +<p>"Then how are the white men any better than the Comanches?" Running Deer +snapped angrily. "You tell us that the white men are wise and good, and +that the Comanches should learn the white men's ways and their laws, and +yet you also say that the white men fight, steal, oppress, and kill one +another, and if the Comanches take a white man's squaw or children, it +is right for the white men to kill us, steal our women and children, and +destroy our homes! If that is the right law for them, it is the right +law for us. How can they teach us to be better than they are, +themselves?"</p> + +<p>"Just as you speak, I once heard an officer speak," responded the Big +Gray Horse. "But when an order comes to an officer, he must obey. If we +horses feel the reins, hear the bugle calling, see the troop guidon +fluttering ahead of us, we ask no questions. Like our masters who ride +us, we obey, for wherever the flag leads, we must follow and uphold it. +There is much I do not understand, but I do know we horses have no +quarrel with the Comanche ponies."</p> + +<p>"Let us leave those things to men," the Old White Horse said. "We horses +are good friends and will not bite or kick one another. Why should we +fight when there is grass enough for us all? The world is big!"</p> + +<p>"You are right," was Running Deer's comment. "And now if you will come +with me I will show you where the grass is sweeter and more tender than +any other spot for miles around. Only a few ponies besides myself and +Star know the place. We will share it with you."</p> + +<p>Side by side the troop horse and the horse of the general followed the +Comanche mare and her colt.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XII</h2> + + +<p>Life in the Quahada village went very happily for Star and Songbird +after the return of Quannah and his warriors. The white men had +evidently withdrawn from their chase of the Comanches, and Quannah did +not intend to cause further trouble unless the buffalo hunters or other +white people encroached upon the land which the Quahadas considered +their own.</p> + +<p>The Old White Horse and the Big Gray Horse seemed to be very well +satisfied among the Indian ponies, but Star was a special favourite. +More than once his mother chided him for liking the white men's horses +better than older friends among the Comanche ponies. Sometimes she even +drove him away from the cavalry horses and forced him to stay with the +others. At such times Star did his best to escape her watchful eyes and +return to his friends, but it was not an easy thing to accomplish. When +his efforts failed, he would call loudly to the two horses, and their +answers told him that they understood he had not deserted them.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want to stay beside them all the time?" Hawk asked him one +day when Running Deer had shouldered and nipped Star until he was in the +very midst of the herd.</p> + +<p>"Because they teach me so many things our ponies do not know," he +answered quickly.</p> + +<p>"What can a white man's horse tell a Comanche pony?" Hawk said +scornfully.</p> + +<p>"A great many things," was Star's reply. "I listen to them talking to +each other about big camps of white men, of strange houses that move as +swiftly as lightning, and of the wonderful flag that floats every day +from a tall white lodge-pole in the place where they live with many +horses and soldiers."</p> + +<p>"We have lodge-poles, too," Hawk spoke impatiently. "Can their flag +bring rain like the Thunder Bird that lives in the forks of the pole of +the Sacred Sun Lodge?"</p> + +<p>"No," Star shook his head, "I asked the Big Gray Horse about that, and +told him how the Sun caught the Thunder Bird and kept it prisoner in the +forks of the tall pole of the Sacred Sun Lodge, and that no rain could +fall until our Medicine Men and warriors vanquished the Sun and set the +Thunder Bird free; and how the Thunder Bird spread its great black wings +and rain fell from its pinions upon the thirsty earth, so that the grass +and flowers awoke from their sleep."</p> + +<p>"Can their flag do that?" demanded Hawk.</p> + +<p>"No; but he said that the flag on the lodge-pole meant that all those +who came to it for help are treated kindly, and all who live under it +are protected. I asked him if he thought that it could make the buffalo +hunters and other men with fire-sticks leave the Quahadas in peace. He +and the Old White Horse both said they were sure of it, if Quannah would +lead us all there to talk."</p> + +<p>"That was what the messengers from the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and Kiowa +camps said to Quannah," retorted Hawk. "The white men wanted them to +make a treaty of peace in a big Medicine Lodge, and then the Indians +would go and live where the white men put them. Quannah did not do it. +He was wise. He would not trust the white people, nor let them rule the +Quahadas, as though we were all captives. Who can tell what they would +do afterward? Why do you trust the two strange horses and their +stories?"</p> + +<p>"They are my friends!" Star's eyes were angry, his ears flattened +backward, his lips twitched so that his teeth showed. As he thrust his +head forward, Hawk jumped aside to avoid Star's strong teeth, and +Running Deer stood in front of her colt.</p> + +<p>"Why do you fight Hawk?" she snorted as Star moved out of her reach. +"You and he have played together all your lives. His mother and I grew +up together, and our mothers slept side by side before I was born. These +strangers are not of our people. They will leave us when they have a +chance to return to their own people, but we shall remain together until +we die. That is right. The white men and their horses have their own +ranges; the Indians and their ponies have other places. Whenever they +meet there is trouble and sorrow. When they dwell apart there is peace. +So why should you quarrel with Hawk about these strange horses of the +white men?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," spoke Hawk, edging more closely toward Star.</p> + +<p>The other pony moved quickly and rubbed his nose against Hawk's +shoulder, saying, "I'm sorry, too. I was to blame, but I do like to +listen to them talking."</p> + +<p>"Let me go with you now and hear them," suggested Hawk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, go!" said Running Deer, and she watched the two ponies trotting +together toward the Old White Horse and the Big Gray Horse, who showed +their pleasure at having the youngsters join them.</p> + +<p>A couple of hours later as the ponies rested beside the big horses under +the shade of a tree, Star scrambled hastily to his feet, saying, +"Songbird is calling me. Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>It did not take long for him to reach her side. She was standing before +the opening of the big tepee and a short tether was in her hand. Star +bent his head so that she could slip the crude bridle back of his ears +and around his nose, but there was no bit to be thrust into his mouth.</p> + +<p>Then without saddle or blanket she prepared to mount. Grasping his +shaggy mane in her strong little hands, she sprawled against his side +and balanced her body across his back, after which she wriggled until +she sat erect, with the single strand of rawhide in her left hand.</p> + +<p>Star knew that the pressure of her knee meant for him to turn one way or +the other. When she leaned forward and her bare brown legs clamped +closely against his body, the pony understood, without whip or spur, +that he must go faster. The lightest pull on the rawhide loop around his +nose caused him to stop at once. Besides all this, the tones of +Songbird's voice guided him, and he always did his best to obey and +please her, because he loved her.</p> + +<p>Often Songbird's pet fawn accompanied them. The fawn thought it great +sport to out-run the pony, but at times Star reached slyly to nip the +little creature, which took delight in teasing the pony and getting in +front of it.</p> + +<p>Some days the other Comanche children rode with Songbird, and when they +raced their ponies Star could easily outdistance the rest. Most of the +children rode the old ponies that were too stiff to be of value in +trades. The Comanches traded ponies instead of using money like white +people. The children bragged one to the other, about the number of +ponies his, or her, father owned, and how fast those ponies could run. +Songbird did not talk like the rest. Everyone knew that her father, +Quannah, had the most ponies of any warrior in any Indian tribe, and +that his ponies were faster and more beautiful than all others.</p> + +<p>She thought proudly of the pony races during festivals. When only the +ponies of the Quahadas ran, Quannah's ponies were not among them, for he +would not humiliate his own warriors by showing how slowly their ponies +ran. But when the Cheyennes, Kiowas, or Arapahoes brought their best +ponies to race against those of the Quahadas, Running Deer was led into +the line of strange ponies.</p> + +<p>As she stood among them, her bright eyes would note each lithe body, +each nervous nostril, and the outlines of steeled muscles. Measuring her +rivals she would toss her dainty head, and when the signal was given, +would shoot away like an arrow from the other ponies and reach the goal +ahead of them. Then amid wild shouts the Quahadas would gather about +Running Deer who had upheld the honour of the tribe.</p> + +<p>Later the defeated warriors would go back to their own camps, but the +best ponies would be left behind with the herd of the Quahadas. Songbird +knew that some day Star would race for the honour of the tribe. So while +the other children raced and bragged, Songbird watched and was silent.</p> + +<p>The games that Songbird played with the children were not so very +different from many games played by white children in other parts of the +world. Both boys and white girls shot arrows at targets, or, mounted on +high stilts, chased one another between the tepees. There were wooden +tops carved from tough limbs of trees, and the boys made whistles of +reeds on which they blew music that the Indians loved.</p> + +<p>Tiring of this they would turn to playing "Wolf" or "Chaser," which is +much like "Tag," or it might be a game of "Hide Things" which was the +name for "Hide and Seek." "Cat's Cradle" was played with strings of +tough buckskin, and a great favourite among the boys was a +breath-holding contest in which the boy who could hold his breath the +longest was the winner, and the one who was first to fail was ridiculed +by boys and girls.</p> + +<p>Songbird and the other little girls had dolls which the squaws made for +them. These were of buckskin painted gaily, and hair from the tails of +ponies was sewed to the heads. The women used threads of fine sinews, +and sharply pointed bits of stout wood pushed the queer thread through +the material. That was the way the Comanche women sewed, even in making +their tents, their clothes, and their moccasins.</p> + +<p>Keeping house and having feasts like dinner parties made many merry +hours. The boys, who scorned to play with the dolls, were very glad to +join the games when they saw cactus-fruit, pine nuts, dried wild +berries, dried acorns, and maybe deer meat that had been cut into long +narrow strips and hung in the sun until cured so that it could be eaten +without being cooked. There might even be little cakes made of dried +buffalo meat that had been pounded between two stones and mixed with +dried berries.</p> + +<p>Instead of candy they chewed dried mesquite beans, which were juicy +inside, and though sweet were tart. Possibly a special treat had been +prepared for the little housekeepers, and their mothers had given them +cactus-fruit. Eagerly the children watched the gorgeous yellow blossoms +form on the prickly-pear bushes, and when the petals fell, leaving the +delicious fruit, they knew enough not to touch it, for it was thickly +encrusted with tiny stickers. These were so fine as to be almost +invisible and were very painful as they worked into the flesh.</p> + +<p>A tough stick was used to knock the fruit from the edge of the thick, +flat, fleshy leaves that formed great clumps of the prickly-pear cactus. +The thorns and skin were then removed with sharp sticks, or by placing +for a few moments in hot ashes. The feast usually wound up with chewing +gum obtained from the sweet sap of certain trees. It oozed through the +bark, formed into dry lumps, and was all ready for any little Comanche +who happened near.</p> + +<p>So the men hunted deer and buffalo and made plans to protect their +families and homes, and the women searched for roots, nuts, and berries +for food and medicine, made clothes and cooked, while the children +played their games, like other children all over the world, and listened +to stories told in the tepees and by the camp fires, until the Spirit of +Darkness rode his big black horse across the sky.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Then the children of the Quahada Comanches went into their tepee-homes, +curled up on their beds of furry robes and slept.</p> + +<p>But Songbird knew that Quannah and the wisest and bravest men of the +tribe sat in the big tepee talking very gravely, night after night, when +they thought that she was sound asleep. She heard enough to understand +that they did not think the white men had given up the fight, but would +come again some day, and come in greater numbers to conquer the +Quahadas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XIII</h2> + + +<p>Songbird awakened early one morning and lost no time getting into her +moccasins and buckskin dress. Then she braided her hair and fastened it +with bits of red string.</p> + +<p>Aided by one of the older squaws, she set the tepee in order for the +day. The home of the Quahada Chief, though larger than other dwellings +in the big village, was built like the rest.</p> + +<p>A circular framework of poles had been erected to form a peak where they +joined near the top. There were twenty poles made of hewn cedar trees. +The poles were lashed together by hide ropes, then firmly sewed buffalo +skins, stretched tautly over them, were pegged solidly to the hard +ground. But an opening at the top of the tepee permitted the ends of the +poles to protrude.</p> + +<p>In the centre of Songbird's home was a fire, arranged so that the smoke +would pass through the opening at the top of the tepee. On either side +of this pit hung skins on crude frames. By moving these screens the +smoke from the fire pit could be controlled when the wind shifted, thus +making an inside chimney which carried off the smoke but allowed the +warmth to spread in the tepee. Near the fire crotched sticks supported a +pole on which clothes, robes, or moccasins could be hung when wet.</p> + +<p>The doors or openings of all the tepees in the village faced the east, +and were closed by flaps of buffalo hides on frames which enabled them +to be lifted easily, yet which stayed in place during bad weather.</p> + +<p>Two beds, or seats, were arranged inside the dwelling. One at a side, +the other at the back. These beds were merely slightly raised platforms +on which many soft robes had been thrown. But there were pillows of +buckskin stuffed with the feathers of wild turkeys, geese, or ducks, +mixed with long, soft hair cut from buffalo hides.</p> + +<p>Decorated skins hung slanting from the centre of the room across and +over the two beds, so that any water would be drained from the smoke +hole in rainy weather, and thus the fire was protected, as well as the +beds. The entire inside of the tepees had been painted by Moko in +designs of queer characters, or pictures of Comanches hunting or +fighting.</p> + +<p>Mats of woven bark and plaited rushes lay on the smooth, hard dirt +floor. A border of interwoven twigs around the two beds kept cold drafts +away in winter. During the summer the edges of the tepee were lifted and +tied, thus allowing the breeze full sway.</p> + +<p>Songbird was very proud of her home as she bustled around, sweeping the +earth floor with her broom made of coarse grass and twigs. Then with the +wing of a wild turkey, she carefully brushed the scattered ashes to the +centre of the fire-pit. Her father's best saddle hung on a post, and on +another was his big shield made of toughened buffalo hide.</p> + +<p>She stood looking at the shield, for it was beautifully painted, and a +fringe of buckskin bordered it all around. The buffalo hide had been +shrunken over fire to make it twice as tough and thick as originally. +Moko had told her about the important ceremony which took place when a +new shield was made, and how the Medicine Man blessed it, so that it +would protect the warrior who carried it.</p> + +<p>She had also told how the Quahadas in battle formed long lines, and the +other Indians who were enemies made a line opposite. After that, one +warrior rode out alone. Holding his shield high in the air, and +balancing his long lance, he challenged his foes to send a warrior to +meet him in single battle between the two lines of Indians.</p> + +<p>Then the other Indians sent their best fighter, and the two tribes +waited as the horsemen dashed toward each other, their ponies' manes and +long tails flying while the silver mountings on their bridles clinked. +The warriors leaning forward, with war bonnets of tall feathers that +trailed almost to the ground, met in a crash, and then if the spear were +not of tough wood, or the shield were not strong and tightly stretched, +the tribe of the wounded warrior was humiliated as their champion fell +from his pony.</p> + +<p>No lance had ever pierced Quannah's shield, though he had met the foes +of his tribes many times. But Songbird, small as she was, knew that the +white men did not fight with lances and shields. Moko had said that the +fire-sticks would tear the best shield the Quahadas could make, and that +the men with the fire-sticks could stand far away yet kill the Quahada +warriors before the Indians could reach their white foes.</p> + +<p>"They will come back to-day." The old squaw, who was puttering among the +cooking utensils at the back of the tent, spoke. "May the Great Spirit +grant they bring much meat, for our dried meat must be cured before the +days grow wet and cold."</p> + +<p>"I have two prayer-sticks," answered Songbird, proudly pointing at +little sticks fastened by cactus thorns to the wall of the tepee. "They +will bring my father and his warriors back to us safely with all the +meat and robes that are needed."</p> + +<p>The little sticks, about as long as the hand of a grown man, were +decorated with feathers, and other objects were attached by strings of +buckskin. The feathers, from the breast of an eagle, were called "breath +feather," for when the prayers were offered to the Great Spirit for any +warrior, the "breath feather" carried it to the Great Spirit and the +warrior was protected. Songbird knew that Karolo, the Medicine Man, had +moistened the prayer-sticks with wonderful medicine, and that he had +sprinkled them with sacred pollen. Karolo had given the prayer-sticks to +Songbird to comfort her when she was alone.</p> + +<p>"Yes," muttered the old woman, inspecting the bit of dried meat that +swung over the fire on a crotched stick, the other end of which was +thrust into the ground, "this time we need not fear, for the white men +have fled far away."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, she sliced off some hot meat and placed it in a dish made +from the bark of a tree. Songbird seated herself on the ground. On mats +of woven grass were ladles of wild gourds, spoons fashioned from buffalo +horns, shallow baskets woven of fine grass, and bowls made of red clay.</p> + +<p>There were sharp utensils made of flint rocks or of crude metal to cut +the food, if necessary, but mostly the breakfast consisted of pounded +berries and nuts, and the freshly roasted meat, with a mushy substance +prepared from maize.</p> + +<p>This was a kind of corn grown by the Indians, and when dry it was soaked +in lye made from wood ashes, to remove the tough outer skin. Then the +squaws placed it in a hollowed stone, and with a round flat stone that +fitted closely into the cavity they worked and pounded until there was a +fine powder. The food was ready to be eaten at once, either dry or +moistened with water, and was very nourishing.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, Songbird was free to roam where she pleased until such +time as her father and his men should return from the big buffalo hunt +on which they had started ten days before.</p> + +<p>She had not told any one of her plan to slip away and ride out to meet +her father. So without loss of time she reached Star where he was +grazing among other ponies that had not been taken on the hunt.</p> + +<p>When Star saw the rawhide rope in her hand, he lowered his head quickly, +so that she could slip the noose across his nose and back of his ears. +He was glad of a chance to run that morning, for the sun was so bright, +the air so bracing, the grass so soft and green and the sky so blue, as +he galloped across the rolling prairie with his little mistress on his +back.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XIV</h2> + + +<p>Several miles from the village, Songbird saw the hunting party coming +toward her, and she dug her heels sharply into Star's side to urge him +faster on the way. Star did not need pushing, for he knew that Quannah +was riding Running Deer. The greeting between the colt and his mother +was as affectionate as that between the father and daughter.</p> + +<p>Side by side Star and his mother loped happily, while Songbird chattered +to her father, who looked at her with loving pride as she sat gracefully +on her pony's back, her cheeks pink from the touch of the breeze and her +excitement showing in her dark, glowing eyes.</p> + +<p>Back of Quannah and his little daughter rode the warriors, leading +ponies laden with antelope and buffalo meat, while still other ponies +carried rolled buffalo hides.</p> + +<p>The meat that had been obtained on the hunt would be cut into thin +strips and dried in the sun. This would preserve it for use without any +danger of its spoiling, and the robes would be tanned and used for many +purposes. No lack of food or warm robes need be feared now, and where +the tepees needed mending it could be done without trouble. The extra +robes would be exchanged by the Quahadas for articles which they might +desire from some other tribe, or even traded for more ponies.</p> + +<p>So there was much rejoicing when the hunting party reached the village +an hour later, and preparations were rushed for a great celebration. In +addition to the successful hunt it was time for the Festival of the +Green Corn. This was the Quahada Thanksgiving Day, when they thanked the +Great Spirit for an abundance of maize and other necessities of their +daily lives.</p> + +<p>Songbird, turning Star loose, wandered about the camp and watched the +squaws at work. Children ran from their tepees to the place where the +camp fires had been built. Each family had a separate fire for the +celebration, and when everything was ready big bunches of corn were +carried by each to the special family fire, where the squaws roasted the +ears of maize.</p> + +<p>While they were doing this the men formed in a large circle about the +fires. The Medicine Man, Karolo, and Quannah, with Gray Beard, Spotted +Leopard, and Big Wolf, were in the centre. The other men who formed the +circle danced around the chiefs, and as they danced they shouted the +Song of the Green Corn. This was accompanied by monotonous music made by +the pounding with dry buffalo bones on skins tightly drawn over hoops of +bent wood.</p> + +<p>When the dancing was over, the men all sat down close together, while +Karolo spoke to them and made a prayer of thanksgiving to the Great +Spirit. Each of the chiefs spoke after him. Then Karolo walked around +the circle of little fires and lifting his hands above each heap of +roasted corn, he blessed it.</p> + +<p>After he had blessed all the corn, the Quahadas, men, women, and +children, began to eat it, talking and laughing or calling across to one +another as they enjoyed the feast that the Great Spirit had provided and +blessed through Karolo.</p> + +<p>The children listened to the talk of their elders as they sat beside the +fires after the feast. There were stories of brave deeds, tales of +mighty hunters, and then all were silent as Moko related the story of +how the buffaloes were sent to the Comanches. Moko was not only the +Picture Maker of the Quahadas, but also the Story Teller. It was +through the Story Teller of the tribe that the younger people knew of +those who had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds long before the +grandparents of old Moko had been born. And Moko was the oldest living +person among the Quahadas. So all of them, young and old, men and women, +listened respectfully as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"So many moons ago it happened, that the Indians cannot count them now," +she said, poking the ashes with a long stick. "The Sun Spirit, angered +because the Thunder Bird had flown across the sky day after day, made a +trap and caught him. So the Sun held the Thunder Bird captive that it +might not fly across the sky and make shadows with its great black +wings. Because of this there was no rain and the earth grew thirsty. +Then the grass died and the young corn shrivelled away.</p> + +<p>"The ponies grew thin and weak, the streams shrank to small threads of +water and many of them became dry sand. The antelopes moved away or died +because there was no grass, and though the Medicine Man planted his +prayer-sticks and begged the Great Spirit to help his children, the +Great Spirit did not listen to his voice.</p> + +<p>"Then a young man of the Quahadas, and his wife, knowing that their +people would starve, wandered away together, hand in hand, to seek the +Great Spirit and offer him their own lives for the sake of their people +with whom the Great Spirit was angry.</p> + +<p>"For three days before they started neither of them had eaten even a +mouthful of maize, nor had they taken any water, so that there might be +more left for the others who were not so strong as they were.</p> + +<p>"Across the desert of hot sand that burned like fire against their bare +feet, they two wandered alone. For many days they found nothing but +heat, thirst, and hunger, and often they lay down on the scorching sand, +too weak to go farther. But when they had rested a few minutes, they +remembered their people, and so they rose wearily and continued their +search for the Great Spirit.</p> + +<p>"And one day the Great Spirit, who had been watching them all the time, +appeared before them and said that because he had seen their great love +and pity and knew that their own sufferings had not made them weaken in +their search for him, their prayers would be answered, and the sacrifice +of their lives was not desired by him. He touched the dry sand, and a +stream of clear water ran past their feet, so they fell upon the sand +and thanked the Great Spirit. Then they laid their lips in the cool +ripples, and drank their fill.</p> + +<p>"As they arose they saw food before them and many strange beautiful +fruits, which the Great Spirit bade them eat. Then he told them of the +Sun Dance and how the big Sun Lodge must be built, and how the chiefs +and the Medicine Men could vanquish the Spirit of the Sun when it held +the Thunder Bird captive.</p> + +<p>"After they had eaten and had thanked the Great Spirit, they promised to +do as he bade them. Then the man and the woman returned rejoicing of +their people and gave the message to them.</p> + +<p>"And the Quahadas obeyed the Great Spirit, and made a prisoner of the +Sun, so the Thunder Bird was free. Then it stretched its broad wings and +flew swiftly over the land. The rain fell from the black feather tips +until the land was flooded and the grass leaped up, the flowers +bloomed, the antelopes returned, the ponies of the Quahadas grew fat and +strong and the whole tribe rejoiced because the Great Spirit smiled upon +them and their children.</p> + +<p>"One day they saw a great black mass like a thunder cloud sweeping +across the prairie close to the ground. As it drew nearer they saw that +it was not a cloud, but a vast herd of strange, big, black animals, such +as none of them had ever seen before, and of which no one had ever told +them or their forefathers. Then the Quahadas hid their faces, for they +heard the voice of the Great Spirit speaking from the sky.</p> + +<p>"Because you have obeyed me, my anger has passed away and I give you +this new food. Kill these buffaloes when you need meat, when you need +clothes, when you need tepees. These are all mine and I give them to +you, my children. You must take only what you need. If you slay them +when you have enough food, clothes, robes, or tepees, I will take all +the buffaloes away, and I will also take from you again the grass and +water."</p> + +<p>"So the buffaloes were given to the Indians; and we must never forget +the words of the Great Spirit as he spoke to our forefathers that day, +many, many moons ago. So many moons that none of us can count them now!"</p> + +<p>Shaking her white head and muttering to herself, old Moko went to her +tepee, and Songbird, with the other children, sat watching the games +played by the men and women.</p> + +<p>Some of the men held arrows, which they tossed while other men threw +their own arrows to try to stop the flight of the first arrow as it went +swiftly past. It required great skill and a keen eye to measure the +flight of the arrow and break it.</p> + +<p>Other men, holding netted bats, like tennis rackets, played with a ball +and kept it moving between them for a long time. The players had to keep +the ball from falling to the ground and the rule was that if any man +touched the ball with his hand, he must leave the game and pay a fine.</p> + +<p>The younger men wrestled in pairs, each one striving to throw the other +to the ground and hold him down until Big Wolf, Spotted Leopard, or Gray +Beard had decided which one was the winner.</p> + +<p>Little Songbird, sitting among the other children, cracked nuts between +stones, and with a sharp, stout cactus thorn picked out the meats and +ate them, until at last, too tired to keep her eyes open any longer, she +curled herself on a buffalo robe and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>So soundly she slept that she did not awaken, even when her father found +her and carried her to their tepee home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XV</h2> + + +<p>The women of the Quahada village were very busy for weeks after the +return of the buffalo hunters and the Festival of the Green Corn. Not +only did they have their usual duties to perform, but in addition they +had to preserve the meat and tan the hides of the buffaloes and +antelopes that had been brought back by the men.</p> + +<p>The children helped cut the meat into long, thin pieces so that it could +be hung in the hot sun until the outer part was dry and hard. It was +then tied together with bits of buckskin or dried sinews and stored away +for future use. Thus prepared it could be eaten without further cooking, +or carried by the Comanches from place to place. Often, as they rode +along, they ate the meat without stopping for other food. With this and +a little pounded maize, or a bit of dry vegetable root, they were able +to travel many days.</p> + +<p>The big skins had to be cured at once, lest they spoil. So while the +children were cutting the meat, the women staked all the hides on the +ground, fur side down. Then two women took charge of each hide.</p> + +<p>Songbird did not help the other children cut the meat, but she watched +the squaws who bent over a very large hide which Quannah had brought +home. The women were busy scraping off all the tiny bits of flesh that +still clung to the inner surface, using flat, sharp-edged bones, while a +thong of buckskin around their wrists gave extra strength to their +efforts. She was greatly interested in that robe, for when it had been +thoroughly cured Moko was going to paint on it the picture of the big +fight.</p> + +<p>"Let me help," she begged the women.</p> + +<p>But they shook their heads and answered, "It is Quannah's robe. We must +be very careful of it."</p> + +<p>Then Songbird ran to where her father was standing not far away from his +tepee and looked wistfully into his face.</p> + +<p>"Let me help the women cure the big robe you brought," she pleaded. "I +will be very careful not to hurt it. I cannot fight, nor hunt, nor paint +stories, but I want to help with the robe because you brought it back, +and Moko is going to paint the picture of your big fight with the white +men."</p> + +<p>She caught the slight nod and waited no longer, but raced back in almost +breathless delight to tell the squaws. They made room for her between +them, slipping thongs over her small wrists so that her stroke might be +strong and steady.</p> + +<p>Very gravely she imitated their motions and listened to their +instructions. Then, the first part of their work completed, they gave +her a tool made like a hoe with a long handle attached, the bottom part +formed of a sharp stone. Several women joined them in the work, and all +of them warned Songbird to be most cautious not to tear or roughen the +hide with the sharply edged tool.</p> + +<p>So as the days went by she did her part in curing the robe. When it was +staked out, hair side up, she too, rubbed the long fur with a cooked +mixture made of meat, roots and herbs. Then she watched the women +arrange masses of dried grass in the centre, gather up the ends and +sides, and twist the robe into a tight ball which they put to soak over +night.</p> + +<p>She felt very proud and important the next morning as she hurried to +the women, who already held the ends, and were standing far apart +twisting the hide into a long, hard rope, from which liquid was +dripping. When they began to stretch three sides of the robe on a large, +slanting frame, Songbird helped industriously, and she also did her part +in staking the lower end of the skin to the ground.</p> + +<p>After that she sat quietly watching work that she was not tall enough +nor strong enough to do. One of the two women who had first worked on +the hide now took a broad blade of thin stone, almost six feet long. A +piece of bone made a handle in the centre of the thin stone slab. The +blade was pressed strongly against the upper end of the hide, and then +drawn quickly and firmly toward the bottom, so that all moisture oozed +down.</p> + +<p>The second woman, with the same kind of tool, at once did the same +thing, so that no water could be again soaked up by the hide. This work +went on until no moisture rose to the surface, then the skin was left to +dry and bleach on the frame.</p> + +<p>A number of days passed before the robe was dry enough for the next +work, which had to be done while the skin was still on the frame. Each +of the women had a round buffalo joint, like a large knuckle, and with +this they rubbed the entire surface of the hide, to make it the same +thickness all over.</p> + +<p>When that had been properly finished, every tear was mended carefully +with threads of strong sinews thrust through tiny holes made by awls +which were fashioned of sharply pointed tough wood, or of thin flint +stones.</p> + +<p>Then nothing remained to do except for the squaws to hold the +cross-corners of the robe around a large rough tree and draw it back and +forth, fur-side out. This removed the last bit of stiffness, and the +women of the village gathered about the robe, examining and praising its +softness.</p> + +<p>Songbird ran to her father. "It is done!" she cried in delight. "Come +see it! All the women say that it is the largest and finest robe the +Quahadas have ever seen!"</p> + +<p>Her hand was tugging, while her eager feet danced ahead of Quannah's +more sedate pace. But at last they came to the place where the women +formed an admiring group about the largest buffalo robe that had ever +been brought into their camps. They made way for the chief, who passed +between them in quiet dignity, and Songbird, beside him, held her little +head high with pride—not pride for herself, but pride of her father, +the chief, who was so brave, so great, and so good.</p> + +<p>"It is good," he spoke at last, after he had studied the robe closely. +"Moko shall paint on it the story of the Big Fight when our little boys +frightened the white horses. So, the children of our children shall +learn the story."</p> + +<p>Songbird trotted beside the chief, followed by the two women, until they +all reached Moko's tepee. Then the squaws went their way, and Songbird +listened to her father telling Moko about the fight and how the little +boys had captured the white horses while the fire-sticks had shrieked +and spit, but did not hurt them.</p> + +<p>"They were little boys," said Quannah with a smile of pride on his lips. +"Just children! but some day they will make great warriors."</p> + +<p>"I shall paint the story as you have told it," Moko answered, while her +fingers stroked the long hair on the robe. "The children of our children +shall be proud of their forefathers, and the story shall be told in +tepees and by the camp fires long after the Great Eagle shall bring the +message of the Great Spirit to call Quannah, Chief of the Quahada +Comanches, to the Happy Hunting Grounds, where Peta Nocona is waiting +for his son!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XVI</h2> + + +<p>As Moko painted the battle on the big robe, Songbird sat beside her, day +after day, watching the picture grow. There were white men with +fire-sticks, Comanches with war-bonnets, and horses running in every +direction, while two little boys waved pieces of buffalo robes to +frighten the horses of the white men and keep the animals running toward +the Comanches.</p> + +<p>The old Picture Maker talked while she worked, and Songbird kept +perfectly quiet as she heard the stories of the great warriors or wise +men of the tribe.</p> + +<p>"They are gone," said Moko. "All of whom I had told you, heard the cry +of the Great Eagle and answered it with the Death Song of the Quahadas. +They did not fear that call, for they knew that the Great Eagle is the +messenger from the Great Spirit, and when the shadow of the Great Eagle +fell upon them, the big, strong wings lifted and carried them to the +Happy Hunting Grounds to meet the Great Spirit and the spirits of their +friends. But the cry of the Great Eagle is a terrible thing to hear if a +man has not lived with honour. Then he cowers and cries out in fear, +because he knows that he must stand alone and face the anger of the +Great Spirit, who will drive him away from his friends and make him +travel alone forever in darkness."</p> + +<p>"Only three tribes now are left of the five big tribes of the Comanches +who came out of the land of snows so many winters ago that no living man +knows when it was," continued Moko.</p> + +<p>"Each tribe was under its own chief, yet all lived together and were +brothers. They did not fight one against the other. There were the +Cost-che-teght-kas, or Buffalo Eaters; the Pen-e-teght-kas, or Honey +Eaters; the No-ko-ness, or Wanderers; the Yam-per-i-cos, or Root +Diggers, and the Quahadas, who were called Chatz-ken-ners, or Antelope +Eaters." The old woman had been speaking very slowly, checking off each +tribe on the gnarled fingers of her left hand.</p> + +<p>Songbird's eyes were full of questions, but she knew that when Moko told +a story, it made her angry to be interrupted by questions, and then the +story was left unfinished.</p> + +<p>"Together their forefathers came from the far north where snow covers +the ground all the time," Moko went on. "They came on sleds made from +hides of strange snow animals, and the sleds were drawn by wild dogs +that were more like lobo wolves than our Indian dogs.</p> + +<p>"For a long distance they travelled; but the snow melted and the dogs +sickened and died, so the Comanches could go no farther. Then the head +chiefs and all the Medicine Men of the five tribes prayed that the Great +Spirit would help them, and while they prayed a big herd of wild horses +approached the camp.</p> + +<p>"The Comanches worked patiently until they caught a pony using a long +rope and noose made of hides from their broken sleds. After they had +caught the first pony, an Indian got on it and rode among the others, +and soon they had a pony for each Comanche. That was how the Comanches +became "pony Indians" instead of foot Indians who followed the dog teams +in the land of long snows.</p> + +<p>"Then they started south once more, and the wild ponies followed those +which the Comanches rode, until they found a place where the snows fell +only a short time. There they found grass for the ponies. Antelopes, +roots, and berries furnished food for the Indians, and fish swimming in +the rivers were caught by hooks made from curved thorns on the bushes +near the water. So the Comanches stayed there and thrived and were happy +until strange people found the place.</p> + +<p>"The Comanches met them as friends, for they had no quarrel with any man +in those days, and they believed that the new people were sent by the +Great Spirit and were his children. The faces of the strangers were +white, and they were so tall that even the tallest Comanche's head did +not reach these men's shoulders.</p> + +<p>"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the strange men built strong +forts and big towns on high places. They were brave, war-like and proud, +and the Comanches were their friends and brothers, until the white men +forgot justice and mercy and honour and fought the Indians, driving them +from their homes and taking their lands. Our people moved back, but the +others followed, until the Indians, in despair, begged the Great Spirit +to save their families and their homes.</p> + +<p>"Then the anger of the Great Spirit fell upon the white men, and he +swept them with fires that destroyed their great cities and forts. +Floods carried away their horses, and disease wiped their people from +the face of the earth, until only great earth mounds and a few crumbling +ruins were left of the cities and fortresses, and not one of their +people remained in the land.</p> + +<p>"But the Comanches were blessed by the Great Spirit, so that they +thrived and were happy. And now, other white men have come, and they, +too, fight us and wish to take our lands and ponies and game and destroy +our homes. But in the same way, sorrow will come to these other white +men who are driving the Indians from their homes. They forget that the +Great Spirit watches all. He sent Preloch, the mother of Quannah, to us +and through her son the Quahadas shall find the way to honour and peace +and their children shall prosper."</p> + +<p>"Moko"—Songbird leaned nearer the Picture Maker, who looked down into +her face—"my father wants to bring Preloch and Prairie Flower back here +again. Do you think the white men will let them come if my father does +not fight?"</p> + +<p>"They will come back," answered Moko, looking through the opening of the +tepee and across the prairie, as though she saw the mother and the baby +coming toward the camp. "The white men took them away, but the Great +Spirit will bring her back to her own people. The white men are strong +and many, but the Great Spirit is stronger. The white men will do as the +Great Spirit bids, and Preloch and Prairie Flower will come back again +with honour, and her husband, Peta Nocona, will be honoured, and the +white men will honour their son, Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas."</p> + +<p>"When will they come, Moko?" whispered Songbird, her eyes shining with +joy. "My father speaks many times of his wish to bring them back so that +some day he may sleep beside them among our people."</p> + +<p>"Only the Great Spirit knows," the Picture Maker said, and her white +head bent over the wrinkled hands that lay idly in her lap. "I am old +and weary with sorrow. Before many moons I shall hear the cry of the +Great Eagle, but you, the daughter of Quannah, shall see and know that I +have spoken the truth this day. Preloch and Prairie Flower will come +back to the Quahadas. The trees, the wind, the stars have given me this +promise because I am old and weary and cannot stay with my people much +longer, but I know it is the truth, for the Great Spirit watches over us +all, and he is just."</p> + +<p>So months passed in the Comanche village, and there was great rejoicing +when the big buffalo robe had been finished and hung in the tent of +Quannah.</p> + +<p>Songbird often sat before it when she was alone, and as she looked at +it, she remembered Moko's promise that some day Preloch and Prairie +Flower would come back to the Quahadas with honour. She knew that it +would make her father very happy, but she asked the Great Spirit to +bring them back very soon, so that Moko might see them once more before +the call of the Great Eagle came to the old Picture Maker who had loved +Preloch so dearly.</p> + +<p>While Songbird had been helping with the robe and listening to Moko's +tales, Star had been learning many things about the white people from +the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse. Running Deer tolerated the +two cavalry horses, but she never became their friend. Hawk, after +grazing with them and Star for a few days, deserted them. When Star +asked the reason, Hawk whirled and faced him.</p> + +<p>"I like the Indian ponies better," was his reply. "The strange horses +talk of things I never heard about."</p> + +<p>"That is just why I listen to them," said Star.</p> + +<p>Hawk yawned sleepily. "What good does it do you to know about those +things? All I want to know is where to find the best grass and clearest +pools of water, and what tree casts the heaviest shadow when the sun is +hot."</p> + +<p>"You do not belong to the chief," retorted Star. "A chief must know more +than his people, so that he can lead them, and the ponies of a chief +should know other things besides eating and drinking and sleeping. That +is why I like to hear the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse talk."</p> + +<p>"How can their talk help you, or the Quahadas?" snorted Hawk +contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"I do not know." Star spoke slowly. "Someday, they say, the white men +will come back to fight the Quahadas and conquer them, as the Big Gray +Horse says they have conquered other Indians. Maybe if I listen +carefully and ask questions I shall be able to help Quannah and Songbird +when the white men come to fight."</p> + +<p>"You must have been eating crazy weed," grunted Hawk, "for you do not +know how to think right any more. If the white men come, Quannah will +send little boys to whip them and frighten them and their horses, as he +did that other time. Go back to the strange horses, if you wish, but I +shall keep away from them and their foolish talk."</p> + +<p>Hawk tossed his head, kicked his heels high in the air, and galloped +away, while Star went slowly back to the two cavalry horses. Both of +them nickered softly as he drew near, then their noses touched him, and +their soft eyes were so friendly that Star forgot how much Hawk's +unkindly manner had hurt him a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>In his heart Star knew that Hawk was wrong to believe that nothing was +worth while except eating and drinking and sleeping, but he and Hawk had +been companions ever since they had been old enough to stand on their +feet, and it was not easy to give up his old friend.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XVII</h2> + + +<p>It was September, as the white men count the months, and three years had +passed since the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse had come to live +among the Quahada ponies. The summer had been very hot and no rain had +fallen, so there was only a scant supply of dry feed for the ponies and +buffaloes and antelopes.</p> + +<p>What grass had grown in spite of the drought had been eaten by a swarm +of locusts, so that only the bare stalks remained, and these held no +nourishment. Where small streams had rippled, there were beds of dry +sand. Larger rivers, big enough to have floated a good-sized boat when +there was no drought, dwindled down to shallow threads or formed in +pools of stagnant water coated with green slime. It was a hard time for +the Quahada ponies, and still harder for the Indians.</p> + +<p>Songbird watched her father's face anxiously. She knew that he would not +allow any one to see whether he were worrying, rejoicing or grieving at +any time. It would be unworthy of a warrior to show his feelings, and +most unworthy of a chief. She had heard the squaws talking when no men +were near.</p> + +<p>They had said that when the last winter had gone and it had been time +for the green grass to show above the ground, all the Indians from long +distances had gathered at Medicine Lodge to hold a great council of war.</p> + +<p>Reports had been brought that Indian runners, or messengers, had found a +big camp where a large number of buffalo hunters lived, and from it each +day the white men went to kill buffaloes. They did not use the meat, but +left it to spoil in the hot sun, after the hunters had skinned the dead +animals and taken the hides away. As far as the Indians could travel, +dead buffaloes that had been skinned lay in herds just as they had +fallen when the hunters had shot them with fire-sticks.</p> + +<p>On their fingers the Indians counted how many buffaloes had been found +in one day of travel. Some of them had seen as many as two hundred, and +other Indians who had come from different directions told the same tale. +Soon there would be no buffaloes left. The grass was gone, the water +was growing less each day, the ponies would become thinner and weaker, +and when the hunters had killed the buffaloes, the Indians would die, +and the white men would cover the land.</p> + +<p>So the Indians from all the tribes of the Southwest gathered at Medicine +Lodge and formed a war party to drive out the white hunters and save the +buffaloes.</p> + +<p>That had been six moons ago, when the grass was just starting above the +ground. In a little while they had thought that the rains and warm sun +would make plenty of feed for the ponies, antelopes, and buffaloes, and +there would be pools of water in low places between hills, or in hollows +of large rocks. Then it would be the time to begin fighting.</p> + +<p>But the rains did not come, and Songbird, listening to the talk of the +squaws, longed to speak to her father and ask him about it all, but she +knew that such things were not for children's talk. Nor did she ask the +squaws, for they would be angry that she had listened to them.</p> + +<p>"If only Moko were here I could ask her," she said to herself sadly.</p> + +<p>But Moko had heard the call of the Great Eagle six moons ago, and now it +was nearing winter. Songbird greatly missed her old friend, the Picture +Maker. Moko had always answered questions and explained things without +being cross. The other women were too busy asking one another what they +would do in the winter, when the dry summer had killed the berries and +nuts and maize and the buffalo hunters had killed all the game.</p> + +<p>So Songbird kept her thoughts to herself and watched her father's grave +face as he talked with Karolo or the head chief.</p> + +<p>Then one day a Kiowa runner dashed into the Quahada village and the +warriors gathered quickly about him. His pony wandered over and joined +the Quahada ponies and the two cavalry horses, where they were nosing at +dry stubble and hoping to find a bit of green feed at the roots.</p> + +<p>"The white men are fighting the Indians again," the Kiowa pony said.</p> + +<p>"The Indians cannot hide from them always," spoke the Big Gray Horse, +who looked alertly at the Kiowa pony.</p> + +<p>"I told you that the white men would keep coming until all the Indians +have been conquered"—the Old White Horse turned to Star. "It makes no +difference how bravely the Indians fight, nor whether they are right or +wrong, the end is the same. They are conquered and must obey the white +men. But maybe that is best for all."</p> + +<p>"It would be best for all if each let the other alone!" answered Star. +"If men had as much sense as horses have, there would be less trouble +for all of us. We do not fight, though some of us belong to the +Quahadas, others to the Kiowas, and you," he turned to the cavalry +horses, "belong to a general and to a soldier who obeys the general. If +there were ponies here from the Arapahoes and the Cheyennes, or any +other tribes, we would all graze together and not bite nor kick one +another. Why, then, do men fight one another?"</p> + +<p>"Men are different," the Big Gray Horse spoke.</p> + +<p>"It is a pity they do not know how silly we think they are!" snorted +Hawk, joining the group.</p> + +<p>"They are our masters," the Old White Horse rebuked him quickly. "Young +horses kick and buck and bite, or run away when they first are brought +to a troop. But they learn soon what it means to be hurt by heavy bits +in their mouths, or sharp spurs digging into their sides. If a horse +throws a man, another man gets on the horse's back at once, and then +another and another, until the horse is too weary to fight. I have heard +young horses talk about men, but it does no good. They all talk the +same, then they understand, and so they stop fighting against the bit, +the spur, the saddle, and the rider, and they obey. After that they, +too, listen when young horses talk as they themselves once did. For when +all is said and done, men are our masters! We will obey them whether +they are white men or Indians, because we belong to them and must serve +them. I, too, bit and fought and bucked men from my back, long ago."</p> + +<p>As they talked, Quannah and his head chiefs, accompanied by the Kiowa +warrior, approached the ponies. When the Quahadas stopped, the Kiowa +slipped his bridle of rawhide over the nose of his pony, which submitted +quietly. Its owner's hand rested lightly on the pony's neck and the +animal's eyes watched its master's face. He was speaking to the Quahadas +now.</p> + +<p>"This is the message. The Big Father at Washington has sent his +soldiers. They come in numbers like the leaves on the trees, or the +blades of grass on the prairie. Our runners have brought word that the +soldiers are coming to surround and kill all of the Indians. Big chiefs +lead the white men from four sides. A friendly Indian sent us word that +a big chief named Miles leads them all, and that Mackenzie, who fought +us three winters ago, is with the others. He has not forgotten the rout +of the White Horses yet."</p> + +<p>The Old White Horse cocked his ears, and the Big Gray Horse lifted his +head high. Star saw them look at each other, and he remembered they had +often talked of these big white chiefs.</p> + +<p>"I am Mackenzie's horse," the Big Gray Horse said proudly. "Officers and +soldiers do not lie to Indians, nor kill their game, nor take their land +from them for themselves. When the Indians give a pledge of peace the +officers do not harm them, nor their women or children. They make the +buffalo hunters keep away from the Indian's land and protect the Indian +who does not go on the warpath."</p> + +<p>"I know that is true"—the Old White Horse spoke earnestly—"for I +lived many years in the White Horse Troop and have seen all these things +myself. If Quannah would be friends with the big white chiefs, it would +be better for him and for the Quahadas. Listen! He is speaking now."</p> + +<p>The horses turned their eyes on the Quahada chief, who, with the best +warriors of the tribe, faced the Kiowa runner. The Comanches, like the +ponies, watched Quannah's face and waited to hear his words. Karolo, the +Medicine Man, stood beside him.</p> + +<p>Karolo had offered many prayer-sticks to the Great Spirit, asking that +the Thunder Bird might be sent over the land with rain and that the +buffaloes might be spared. But the Great Spirit was angry and would not +listen. Then Karolo knew that it was because the white men had come on +the Indians' land and were killing the buffaloes that belonged to the +Great Spirit, who had said the buffaloes must not be killed except for +food and clothing. Only by driving the white men away and saving the +buffaloes, would the Great Spirit's anger be appeased.</p> + +<p>Yet Karolo was sad. He knew that the white men were many times the +number of the Comanches, and that their fire-sticks could reach much +farther than the Quahada arrows. In his heart the old Medicine Man felt +that the Indians could not win, but would be conquered and made +prisoners by the white men, if they were not all killed in the fight. +Quannah had talked this over with Karolo many, many times.</p> + +<p>The chief looked past the Indians, past the tepees of the village, and +fixed his eyes on the crest of a hill beyond the camp. For a little +while he did not speak, then he glanced at the faces of his chiefs +before he answered the Kiowa runner.</p> + +<p>"Tell your chiefs that the Quahadas will join them against the white +men."</p> + +<p>He held out both his hands and the Kiowa grasped them, saying, "It is +good!"</p> + +<p>Turning quickly the messenger leaped to his pony's bare back. Sitting +erect, he gave the loud, fierce battle cry of the Kiowas. Instantly the +Quahadas answered it with their own call. Then the women, running from +their tepees, and the children who stood beside them, took up the cry.</p> + +<p>The Kiowa, leaning low on his pony's neck, darted out of sight, carrying +word that Quannah would lead his warriors to join the fight against the +white men.</p> + +<p>When the last echoes of the war cries had died away, the Quahada +warriors heard their chief say slowly, "We will fight! It is the last +stand of the Quahada Comanches, but we will fight so that our fathers +will not be ashamed when they hear the Great Eagle calling us."</p> + +<p>Then they left him standing there, and went to their own tepees, where +their wives and children awaited them.</p> + +<p>For the next week the village was bustling with preparations, and day by +day the Kiowa warriors arrived from distant points. At last the entire +body of Kiowas and Quahadas, riding their best ponies and driving the +immense herd of extra ponies and those that were laden with food, robes, +bows and arrows, formed a great cavalcade. All the warriors were decked +in gorgeous war bonnets and armed with lances and shields, while quivers +that were full of arrows hung across their backs beside strong bows. +Only the women and small children were left behind. Even the oldest men +and youths who were ten years old rode behind the Quahada chief.</p> + +<p>Songbird watched her father lead them up the slope of the hill. He +turned Running Deer about, and his figure stood plainly against the blue +sky where the incline ended sharply.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes he looked down on the homes of his people, then his +eyes wandered to those who rode up the hill toward him. His arm was +raised high above his head, and Running Deer leaped at the touch of his +heels. Swirling at the pressure of the rein, the mare disappeared over +the crest of the hill.</p> + +<p>The last of the riders vanished. Their cries came more faintly, until a +strange silence fell upon those who stood watching the hilltop where no +living thing was now visible. Long after the women and other children +had dispersed to take up the everyday routine of their lives, Songbird +stood alone watching the top of the hill.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XVIII</h2> + + +<p>Songbird was not the only one who was lonesome. Star, too, had been left +in camp, where only a few ponies, whose knees were too stiff, or whose +backs were weak from age, kept him company. Although he was no longer a +colt, he hated to be away from his mother and friends. Even the Big Gray +Horse and the Old White Horse had been taken with Quannah.</p> + +<p>Star had heard Quannah say to Songbird, "He is your pony. I have enough +without him, for I will take the Big Gray Horse to ride if Running Deer +grows tired. So I will leave Star with you."</p> + +<p>Three weeks after the warriors had left the village, Star wandered up to +the big tepee and poked at the entrance with his nose. Songbird lifted +the flap and stroked his nose, for she had heard him coming. Then she +dropped the flap again, as she did not want any one to see what she was +doing.</p> + +<p>First she took pieces of dry buffalo meat and tied them together in a +bunch, then she laid them carefully in a large square of buckskin. With +them she placed some of the little cakes made of pounded meat and nuts, +and as she glanced around she saw a prayer-stick, which she laid on the +other things. The four corners of the buckskin were then drawn together +and bound securely by a twisted thong.</p> + +<p>After these preparations she took her doll and tucked it into the belt +that held her robe at the waist. It was now almost dark.</p> + +<p>She went out of the tepee and mingled with the other children, until +they scattered for the night. Then Songbird returned to the tepee and +sat alone, her arms about her knees, and her eyes staring steadily +beyond the raised flap at the dim outline of the hill over which her +father had ridden.</p> + +<p>Satisfied, at last, that no one would notice her, she slipped cautiously +from the tepee and made her way to where Star was stretched out among +the old ponies. A hobble was on his front ankles, so that he would not +stray during the night.</p> + +<p>Songbird unfastened the hobble and thrust it into the bundle she was +carrying, and Star rose to his feet. His head bent for the bridle in her +hand. She did not mount the pony, but led him away from camp without +arousing any one. Then clutching the bundle which she had prepared in +the tepee, she climbed to Star's back and turned his head in the +direction in which her father had led the warriors.</p> + +<p>She had no fear that she would not be able to find them, for she knew +their ponies would make a plain trail, and though she could not see it +herself, Star would know and follow it. The Great Spirit taught ponies +how to do that.</p> + +<p>It was the memory of Preloch, who had ridden beside Peta Nocona when he +had gone to fight the white men, that made Songbird determine that she +would find her father and ride with him. She could shoot arrows as well +as any large boy, and she could ride much better than most of them.</p> + +<p>If her father told her that she could not stay and fight, she would +remind him that the little boys who had frightened the white horses had +not been any older than she was now. So she had brought her bow and all +the arrows that she had been saving for a long time, and when she found +her father she would show him that she was not a baby. She had her bow, +her arrows, food to eat, and Star, who could out-run any other Quahada +pony except Running Deer.</p> + +<p>So she rode while it was dark, trusting Star to keep the trail. When the +sun rose, the hoof prints of unshod ponies could be seen distinctly, +though in some places the wind had stirred dry sand over them.</p> + +<p>As a slight rise in the ground gave her a chance to look back, Songbird +saw nothing moving, and felt quite sure that no one in the village had +yet discovered her absence. Knowing that only slow old horses remained +in the camp with the squaws, she hastened on her way, determined to lose +no time in putting as many miles as possible between herself and any who +might try to follow her.</p> + +<p>It was only when the sun was low in the sky that Star and his little +rider halted beside a shallow pool that had once been a deep water-hole +in a swiftly running stream.</p> + +<p>While Songbird lay on her face and drank her fill, Star, a short +distance away, thrust his hot nose into the water and gulped greedily. +Then he turned his attention to some green grass that had grown about +the edge of the pool, in spite of the drought, while Songbird, sitting +beside the water-hole, munched a piece of dry buffalo meat and one of +the little cakes made of pounded corn and nuts that she had packed for +her journey.</p> + +<p>As the sun sank beyond the edge of the land, Songbird, weary but not +afraid, lay down on the ground to sleep. Star, hobbled carefully to +prevent his straying far, stretched near her. He did not sleep.</p> + +<p>At the least sound he lifted his head and pricked up his ears, while he +peered with bright eyes into the night. He knew that coyotes might be +prowling close, and he was ready to leap to his feet and fight them with +his strong teeth and nimble heels if they came where his little mistress +slept so soundly. Once in the night she woke. He heard her move, then +suddenly she called in a half-frightened voice:</p> + +<p>"Star!"</p> + +<p>His soft nicker answered that he had not left her, and he rose to go +close to her. When he settled down again, Songbird's hand rested on his +shoulder and her head was pillowed on his neck. Her other hand held her +doll.</p> + +<p>Thus the sun saw them when it peeped over the opposite edge of the +world the next morning. Then it shot golden arrows silently, and +Songbird's eyes opened. For a few minutes she wondered where she was, +but as Star twitched a little she raised her head quickly and sat up, +rubbing her eyes sleepily.</p> + +<p>Star lost no time in getting on his feet. He had kept very still so that +he might not disturb her, and it felt good to move about. Songbird +reached down and unfastened the hobbles that held his front feet so that +he could take only short steps of about eight inches, or hop with both +front feet at the same time. As soon as he was free he lay down and +rolled over three times without stopping, kicking his heels in the air. +It was easy to roll over now that he was so strong and fully grown.</p> + +<p>It did not take long for the two wanderers to finish breakfast. A drink +of water from the pool, and food such as they had eaten for dinner the +previous night, satisfied them both. After that, Songbird slipped the +rawhide bridle on Star, picked up her doll and carefully brushed the +dust from it, then tucked it safely into her belt. Mounting her pony, +she started again on her way to find her father.</p> + +<p>But the trail became more faint, and a hot, dry wind blew dust into her +eyes. As the sun rose higher the wind became stronger, and at last +nothing but a haze of yellow dust could be seen. Star plodded on, but at +intervals he whinnied shrilly, hoping to hear an answer through the dust +storm. Only the sound of the wind and the hiss of blowing sand came back +to him.</p> + +<p>All day they travelled in the sandstorm, and Songbird dropped the rein +on her pony's neck, not knowing which way to guide him. The wind died +down at sunset, but when the haze of dust lifted, Songbird faced a +stretch of desert, where only tiny clumps of dry weeds showed here and +there, half-buried by the heaped up sand that formed small mounds about +each weed.</p> + +<p>She knew then that she was lost on the Great Desert of the Staked +Plains, where no white man could venture and come out safely, and where +even the best trailers of the Quahadas travelled only when the warriors +had no other way of outwitting their pursuers.</p> + +<p>As she sat on Star, looking at the endless sand, all the stories she had +heard the older people tell about the suffering from thirst on the +Staked Plains came back to her. They had spoken of lost trails where +the sand had shifted and buried all traces even in one hour. There had +been a Quahada runner, who, lost for five days without water, had found +his way back to camp but had died before he could swallow the water that +the Indians held to his lips.</p> + +<p>Songbird knew that there was no water on this desert except when the +rain fell heavily, and then it gathered only for a short time in a +hollow, for the hot sun and the dry sand soon made it disappear. This +summer there had been no rain.</p> + +<p>Since leaving the pool that morning, Songbird and Star had found no +other water, but she had hoped that the trail of her father would lead +to some. He knew all the country and just where to find water each night +for his warriors and ponies. But the terrible dust storm had blinded her +and the wind had blown the loose sand over the Quahada trail.</p> + +<p>Her eyes grew big with fear, and her shoulders, which had been held so +bravely when the sand storm beat upon her, now drooped as though a heavy +weight were placed on her neck.</p> + +<p>Miles and miles of silence and loneliness threatened her on every side.</p> + +<p>Her head sank forward until it rested on Star's shaggy mane, and her +arms clung tightly about his neck. There was no one to remind her that +she was the daughter of a chief. Only Star and the Great Spirit heard +the sobs of a frightened, lonely little child.</p> + +<p>But at last she raised her head, and sat thinking intently. Then she +turned Star's head in the opposite direction. That morning when she had +wakened, she remembered now, the sun had shone in her eyes, and she had +travelled toward it until it was straight above her head.</p> + +<p>Songbird knew that the village must lie in the same direction as the +sunset. If Star could take her to the water pool once more, she could +find her way to the Quahada camp. She understood now the risk of trying +to follow her father, and that made her decide that she would try to +return to the camp and stay there until he should come back.</p> + +<p>The tracks made earlier in the day by Star's feet were already +indistinct, as the loose sand did not hold an impression very long, and +the faintest wind hid it completely. Beyond the desert a trail remained +distinct for a long time.</p> + +<p>It was growing dark. Songbird was so tired that she wanted to cry again, +but she blinked her eyes fiercely, reminding herself that her father +was a chief. As they travelled toward the place where the sun set, she +took a piece of the dry meat from her bundle and started to chew it. But +she was so thirsty that it choked her. So she put it back uneaten.</p> + +<p>Hopefully she looked about for a sign of a mesquite bush, knowing that +she could quench her thirst by chewing the beans that grew in pods from +the branches. But lack of rain had kept any beans from forming, and she +remembered that the mesquite bushes near the camp had yielded no crop. +Only a bit of shrivelled desert brush, half buried in the sand, met her +eyes as she rode.</p> + +<p>A terrible fear conquered her, and she struck Star's sides sharply with +her moccasined heels. At once he swung into an easy, swift lope, his +ears cocked and his eyes fixed straight ahead of him. Songbird did not +try to guide him now, but allowed the rein to lie loosely on his neck, +while she balanced herself to his movements.</p> + +<p>At times the pony slowed down to a walk, but he did not stop, and +Songbird did not have to urge him to resume his quicker gait. Where she +had guided him earlier in the day, he now went of his own free will. +Some instinct beyond that of any human being told Star which way to go.</p> + +<p>More than once Songbird, too sleepy to sit erect, laid her head on +Star's neck, where the thick mane made a soft pillow. Then the pony +walked very slowly and very carefully while Songbird slept. Once she +slipped from his back to the soft sand. Though it wakened her at once, +the fall did not hurt her, and as she lay on her back, staring up, she +saw Star standing beside her. Patiently he was waiting for her to climb +on his back. Then Songbird knew that her pony would not desert her, even +though it were dark and he wore no hobbles.</p> + +<p>So through the long night Star carried her safely. With the first gray +light of dawn, the pony gave a soft nicker of pleasure, and broke into +his swiftest run. Songbird leaned down and patted his black neck. Ahead +of them loomed a group of trees, and she knew, as well as Star, that the +trees grew beside the water-hole.</p> + +<p>When they reached it, both pony and child drank as though they would +never stop. Songbird bathed her face and held her arms in the water, +while Star walked out to the deepest part of the pool and stood there +heaving great sighs of content.</p> + +<p>Afterward, still standing knee deep in the pool, he stretched his neck +so that he could nibble the grass growing on its edges while Songbird +ate the dry meat that no longer choked her.</p> + +<p>Then, side by side, Star and Songbird lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>Only the buckskin Indian doll guarded them, but its painted eyes glared +so fiercely that it would have taken a very brave person to have +ventured near!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XIX</h2> + + +<p>When Songbird awoke the next morning, Star had already eaten his +breakfast, so she lost no time in satisfying her own hunger with a bit +of the dried meat and pounded maize, finishing off her meal with a drink +of water from the pool.</p> + +<p>Then carefully tying up her bundle and tucking her doll into her belt, +Songbird mounted her pony and started back to the village. She had no +trouble following the trail now, for the ground was not so sandy or +soft. Besides, Star knew his way without any guidance.</p> + +<p>When they had left the Quahada village it had been dark, so they had +travelled more slowly. It was late in the afternoon when at last they +neared the hill which overlooked the camp. Songbird knew that all the +women and children would be preparing the evening meal.</p> + +<p>She felt very happy knowing that she would be with them safely in a few +minutes, and she knew they would all be glad that Star had brought her +out of the terrible desert. But she was now rather ashamed of herself at +having run away without telling any one of her plans. Then she hoped +that her father had not returned and found her missing, for his anger at +the women would have been terrible, yet they were not to blame at all.</p> + +<p>Star loped lightly up the hill and stopped on the very top. Where +Quannah had halted Running Deer and looked down on the village, Songbird +now looked down. Then she gave a startled cry.</p> + +<p>All signs of the village had vanished. Where she had left many tepees, +she now saw empty space. Where children had shouted at play, silence +greeted her. Where camp fires had blazed, cold ashes stirred in the +light breeze.</p> + +<p>Scarcely believing her own eyes, she urged Star on a run down the hill, +as though hoping the village might be there when she reached the very +spot where the camp had once been. But it was more lonely than even the +desert had been. For out there she had believed that she had a home and +now she had nothing.</p> + +<p>Almost frantic, she jumped from her pony and ran to the spot where her +father's tepee had been, calling his name over and over again, and +begging him to come back to her. Nothing familiar met her eyes except +the fire pit and the poles on which she had many times hung her father's +moccasins to dry.</p> + +<p>In a frenzy of grief and fear, she flung herself beside the fire pit, +and Star, knowing that something was very wrong, called as loudly as he +could. But no pony answered, and no Quahada woman or child came to +comfort his little mistress who lay sobbing on the ground. So Star could +do nothing but wait patiently.</p> + +<p>Songbird's sobs finally stopped, and she raised herself slowly until she +was sitting with her knees drawn up, her elbows propped upon them and +her chin resting in her palms. For some time she sat staring at the top +of the hill, while Star, only a few paces away, nibbling dry roots, +paused frequently to look at her.</p> + +<p>"My father came back while I was gone," she said to Star, at last. "He +is angry with me and has moved the camp so that I cannot find him. But I +will look for him until I find him and tell him I am sorry I did not +obey him. I know he will not send me away from him, even though he is +very angry. If he will not let me come into his tepee, I will wait at +the entrance, and maybe some day he will forgive me."</p> + +<p>Comforted by this thought, she ate rather sparingly of her food supply. +Then she curled beside the fire pit where her father's tepee had once +stood, and slept until morning, for she was very, very tired.</p> + +<p>So soundly she slept that she did not know the coyotes, sneaking about +the deserted camp site, had more than once tumbled over one another to +avoid a sudden dash of an angry pony. Then, when they had sought safety +from his teeth and heels, Star returned to his vigil over his little +mistress.</p> + +<p>The sun had not yet peeped over the rim of the world when Songbird and +Star started on their search for the vanished Quahadas. Both of them +watched for signs along the trail, and had no difficulty in finding +where the lodge poles of the tepees had dragged on the ground.</p> + +<p>Star also noticed something that puzzled him. No unshod hoof prints +mingled with the Quahada trail, but there were many distinct marks of +shod horses. He remembered that the Big Gray Horse and the Old White +Horse, when they had first come to live among the Quahada ponies, wore +strange metal things on the bottom of their hoofs, and they had told +Star and the other ponies that all the white men's horses wore these +things, which they called shoes.</p> + +<p>The Quahada ponies had thought it very strange that the white men's +horses could not travel on sharp rocks with bare feet, as the Indian +ponies always did.</p> + +<p>Star had not forgotten this, nor how the two cavalry horses had limped +at first, after the metal shoes had worn thin and finally fallen off in +pieces. However, in a little time the Big Gray Horse and the Old White +Horse had been able to scramble over rough places just as well as the +Quahada ponies could do.</p> + +<p>Songbird did not notice all these things as Star did. While they +travelled she kept her eyes on the marks made by the trailing lodge +poles. That was all she cared to know. For wherever the lodge poles led, +she knew that she would find the Quahadas, and that her father would be +with them.</p> + +<p>For three days Songbird and Star followed, not resting until the light +was too dim to see the trail. Then they lay down together on the ground +till morning. Wherever water could be found, the pony and the child +drank, but as they had no way to carry water with them, both suffered +from thirst many times. Only dry mud had been left in many water holes, +because of the long drought.</p> + +<p>Star's sides shrank until his ribs showed and his hips stood out in +sharp points. Sparse clumps of dry grass constituted his only feed, and +even that had been cropped to its roots by the big band of horses on the +trail that Songbird was following.</p> + +<p>Her own supply of food was almost gone. The third night when she opened +her bundle and saw only enough for the next morning, her lips quivered +as she wondered where she could find anything more to eat. Yet the next +morning, after dividing what was left of her food, so as to make two +meals of it, she rose courageously and resumed her journey, always +keeping her eyes on the marks of the trailing lodge poles.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon of the third day when Star, looking ahead +from a high bit of ground, saw an object that made his ears cock sharply +and his nostrils distend, as he sniffed the air. Far away something +fluttered at the tip of a white lodge pole. Then he remembered what the +Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse had said about the flag which +protected Indians who were not fighting the white men. Songbird had been +so intent upon the track of the lodge poles that she did not see what +Star had noticed, and when the pony gave a loud squeal and broke into a +wild run, she did not know what to make of his actions.</p> + +<p>Down the slight slope he rushed. Then Songbird saw a tall white lodge +pole with something striped in red and white fluttering at its tip. She +did not know what it meant, but she clung tightly to Star's mane as he +ran directly toward a hollow square surrounded with strange buildings, +which were different from anything she had ever seen in her life.</p> + +<p>Fast as Star ran, Songbird was able to catch a glimpse of men near these +buildings, and the men had white faces. But Star did not stop until he +stood directly at the foot of the big lodge pole. There, with Songbird +on his back, the pony lifted his head very high and called again and +again, as loudly as he could.</p> + +<p>Songbird, bewildered, saw men running toward her from all sides, +shouting to one another. And knowing these were the terrible white men +who had carried Preloch away, and Prairie Flower, too, she bowed her +head, believing that they were coming to kill her.</p> + +<p>But as they reached her side, she saw kindly faces, and heard voices +that were not harsh or threatening. One man spoke to the others, who +listened respectfully. Then another man led Star between a row of +buildings, which Songbird stared at, half frightened, half curious.</p> + +<p>Back of these long buildings, which were made with places where men +looked out at her, she saw a great line of the familiar Quahada tepees, +and in front of the very largest one stood her father, who started +toward her, calling her name.</p> + +<p>Like a flash, Songbird jumped from Star's back, past the men who watched +her, and then she was in her father's arms. She knew that he was not +angry with her, and nothing else mattered now. She had heard his voice +and had seen his joy, which this time he had not tried to hide, even +though he was the chief of the Quahada Comanches.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XX</h2> + + +<p>The days that followed were the happiest of Songbird's life. Not only +was she with her father and the rest of her people once more, but she +knew that there would be no more fighting between the Quahadas and the +white men. Quannah had given his pledge of peace, and now the white +people were his friends.</p> + +<p>Little white children, dressed in clothes that seemed strange to +Songbird, came to the Quahada camp and brought things that were very +nice to eat. It did not take long for the Quahada children to rush +eagerly and greet these visitors, though of course not one Quahada child +could understand what the white children were saying. But that made no +difference.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the white mothers came, too. They brought clothing like the +things the white children wore, and the Quahada squaws were much pleased +when they saw their own youngsters dressed in the new finery, with shoes +and stockings on their feet.</p> + +<p>While the young Comanches walked awkwardly in their new things, or +talked among themselves about the toys that had been given them, +Songbird sat apart, silent but happy. A wonderful doll with real yellow +hair, and blue eyes that closed in sleep sat primly beside her, but a +dirty buckskin Indian doll was more often hugged to Songbird's breast.</p> + +<p>Then one great day Songbird was taken to play with two children in the +home of an officer. They brought toys and games, and she watched each +thing they did, trying to act in the same way. Her father had told her +to watch and learn to be like the white children, now.</p> + +<p>After a little while she stopped playing and listened to the most +beautiful sounds she had ever heard. Then she rose to her feet and moved +softly toward the room from which the music came.</p> + +<p>Standing by the door she stared at one of the ladies who was seated +before a big box that had a great many teeth, and as her fingers touched +these white, shining teeth, the Spirit in the Box sang sweetly. +Wide-eyed with wonder, Songbird listened without moving. She heard in +the music the wind blowing through trees, the noise of the stream, the +song of wild birds and the cry of the Thunder Bird.</p> + +<p>The music stopped, and the lady, turning suddenly, saw the child in the +doorway. Smiling, she beckoned Songbird, who came forward shyly. The +little brown hand was lifted by the white, ringed hand of the lady. +Songbird's fingers were pressed on the teeth of the box that sang, and +as it spoke to her, Songbird's big, black eyes sparkled with joy, while +her solemn little face lighted with a smile.</p> + +<p>Then the lady motioned her to a chair, and for a long time Songbird sat +listening to the singing of the Spirit in the Box. All this she told her +father when she went back to his tepee. Each day after that when she +went to play with the children, the mother of the children first took +Songbird to the room where the Spirit in the Box sang for her.</p> + +<p>And each day her father talked to her, telling her that she should learn +everything that the white people knew, even how to make the Spirit in +the Box sing when her fingers touched it.</p> + +<p>There were many councils between Quannah and his head chiefs with the +big white chiefs. But there was no more talk of war among the Quahadas. +And one day Quannah told Songbird that they were free to go and build +their camp again. Songbird did not tell him that she did not want to +part from her new friends, but he understood her wistful face.</p> + +<p>"I will come back many times to see them," he said, "and you shall come +with me. Our new camp will not be far away from here."</p> + +<p>So she was happy again. And the next day the Quahadas set busily to work +taking down all the tepees and preparing to move to their own camping +grounds. Songbird and Quannah did not spend these last hours with the +Indians, for they were in the home of an officer.</p> + +<p>After they had all eaten lunch together, the officer led the way to the +front porch. There, before the house, stood a soldier holding the Big +Gray Horse by its bridle, and on its back was a cavalry saddle.</p> + +<p>"The horse and bridle and saddle are gifts to you from General +Mackenzie," the officer said to Quannah, and an interpreter, who knew +how to speak both the white men's language and that of the Comanches, +repeated it to the chief.</p> + +<p>The officer spoke again. This time he looked at Songbird and smiled, +while the interpreter said, "The officers give Quannah's daughter the +black pony which carried her into Fort Sill."</p> + +<p>Then Quannah and Songbird noticed a soldier leading Star to the gate. +Star's little mistress ran down the porch steps and did not stop until +her arms were about the pony's neck.</p> + +<p>When she was on Star's back, and Quannah had mounted the Big Gray Horse, +Songbird saw her father hold out his hand to the officers who had +gathered about them. Very gravely she did the same thing. None of the +officers smiled as they took her small, brown hand, for she was a +daughter of a great chief who had won their respect as a soldier and as +a man.</p> + +<p>Side by side Quannah and Songbird went slowly along the gravel road in +front of the officers' homes; but when they had reached a point directly +opposite the tall white lodge pole where the flag fluttered gracefully, +Quannah reined the Big Gray Horse, so that it faced the lodge pole. +Songbird did the same.</p> + +<p>Her father lifted his hand, as she had seen the men and officers do many +times. Without understanding, and without hesitation, Songbird, too, +raised her hand and saluted the flag.</p> + +<p>Her father smiled approval, then he said: "That is the flag of the +Great Father, and we are his children now. It is as my mother, Preloch, +would wish; and it is best for me, for you, and for all the Quahadas. +The white men are our brothers. Together we shall dwell in peace."</p> + +<p>So they rode to the place where their new camp was to be built, not far +away from the garrison. Quannah explained, as they rode, that the +buffalo hunters could not come there to fight the Quahadas, and that +there would be food enough for the Indians, and that now the white +soldiers would be their friends. He told her how he planned to make his +people understand the white men's ways, their children to learn the +things that white children were taught, and then, some day, maybe, he +could bring back Preloch and Prairie Flower. For the officers had told +him, through the interpreter, that his mother and sister were both dead.</p> + +<p>Little Prairie Flower had lived only a short time after reaching the +home of the white people, and Preloch, grieving constantly for her son, +had died a year later, so the mother and the baby had been buried among +the white people.</p> + +<p>The officers who had told him this had shown their sympathy in their +faces, and when Quannah asked if they thought that some day he might +bring his mother and sister back to sleep among their own people, the +officers had all been sure that the Great Father would think it was just +and right.</p> + +<p>Then Quannah and Songbird reached a little knoll where they had a view +of a wide sweep of prairie land, broken by the outline of trees along +the banks of a stream. Sitting silently on their horses, father and +child gazed at the place where a new era was to dawn for their people.</p> + +<p>Star's nose rubbed the neck of the Big Gray Horse, but his friend paid +no attention to him. He was too busy watching a distant object which +Star had not seen. Then, he, too, saw a slowly moving black pony. Its +head hung dejectedly and it stumbled wearily as it approached them. +Star's loud, shrill call caused the black pony to stop suddenly and +fling its head high, while it gave answer. Neither Quannah nor Songbird +tried to check the swift pace of the Big Gray Horse and Star, as, side +by side, they raced joyously to meet Running Deer.</p> + +<p>When they met, Star pawed the ground in his delight, and his mother kept +nipping his shoulder with her teeth to tell how glad she was to find +him. Later, as she trotted beside him, when Quannah and Songbird again +rode forward, Running Deer told her colt how she, returning to camp with +Quannah, had found that Star and Songbird both were missing.</p> + +<p>After the white soldiers had captured and taken Quannah and all the +braves and women and children to the garrison, Running Deer, assured now +that her master would not need her for some time, stole quietly from the +garrison one night to search for Star and Songbird; for Star was very +dear to her, and she had noticed, too, how Quannah, when alone, grieved +for his beloved daughter who was lost. She had come back to the Quahada +camp and waited there several days, feeling sure that Star and Songbird +would return. When they did not, she continued on her way to find them, +and finally came to the Great Desert of the Staked Plains. With +sorrowing heart she had reluctantly turned her steps back to the +garrison, for now she knew not where to search for them on the vast, +trackless sand plains; and she herself was weak and lean from thirst and +hunger. Imagine, then, her joy upon finding Star and his little mistress +safe and happy. But neither Star nor Running Deer knew that they alone +were left of the once great Quahada pony herd. All the others were dead.</p> + +<p>As the sun went down that evening, Quannah and Songbird, with the Big +Gray Horse, Running Deer, and Star, reached the place where the new +village was to be built. Back of them, on the road, the Quahadas toiled, +but the eyes that watched the setting sun were hopeful. They knew that +it would rise again to-morrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Chapter XXI</h2> + + +<p>Quannah kept his pledge. Never again did the Quahada Comanches war with +the white people, for when their chief had given his word of honour, it +became their honour to uphold him and keep his promise.</p> + +<p>Near the garrison of Fort Sill he taught his tribe the best ways of the +white men, and he did his utmost to preserve a sense of fairness and +justice in all his transactions with his own people as well as with the +white men. The children of the Quahadas were educated, and so Quannah's +little daughter was taught the things that white children learn.</p> + +<p>Songbird saw her father honoured by the most prominent men of the United +States; saw him living in a large house that was built and furnished and +given to him as a token of regard from white people who had learned to +understand and admire the "White Comanche Chief." She saw him a guest in +homes of the most noted men in the great city of Washington, and she +watched him ride in the big parade in Washington when Theodore Roosevelt +was elected for the second term as President of the United States.</p> + +<p>All that Moko had predicted the day Songbird had sat watching the old +Picture Maker work on the big buffalo robe had come true. Even Quannah's +desire to have his mother, Preloch, and his baby sister, Prairie Flower, +come back to sleep among the Quahada people had been fulfilled.</p> + +<p>The Congress of the United States, twenty-four years after Quannah had +given his pledge of peace passed a law which gave an appropriation of a +thousand dollars for a monument to be erected to the memory of Cynthia +Ann Parker, whom the Quahadas called Preloch. It not only honoured the +mother of Quannah, but was also an acknowledgment of the valued services +of her son, in coöperating with the United States to keep peace between +the Indians and the white people.</p> + +<p>And so Preloch and Prairie Flower came back at last to the Quahadas, and +when Quannah died, he slept beside them, while the Indians mourned the +passing of the greatest chief they had ever known. Untutored and +unlettered, he had taught his people the lesson of forgiveness and of +honour, and in so doing he had won the respect of all men.</p> + +<p>Moko's words were again proved true when a town, Nocona, was named after +Quannah's father, Peta Nocona; and to-day, still another town bears the +name of the son, Quannah.</p> + +<p>Star and Running Deer, after living happily many years, at last went to +join the other Quahada ponies in the Happy Hunting Grounds.</p> + +<p>Sometimes when the Thunder Bird wings its way across the sky, and white +people think they hear distant thunder, Songbird stands with uplifted +face. It is not thunder, but the sound of galloping hoofs that she +hears.</p> + +<p>Beyond the dark shadows of the Thunder Bird's wings, she knows that +Quannah is riding on Running Deer. Near him is Peta Nocona, and with +them rides Preloch, holding little Prairie Flower closely against her +breast.</p> + +<p>On the other side of Running Deer gallops a black pony without a rider, +his thick mane and long black tail streaming like the edges of a dark +cloud. Songbird knows that the pony is Star, and that some day she will +ride him again beside her father.</p> + +<p>As the thunder dies away, she smiles and turns back to the work that +Quannah left for her to do, until she, too, shall answer the cry of the +Great Eagle.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p> </p> + +<h3><i>Books by Forrestine C. Hooker</i></h3> + +<p class="center">PRINCE JAN</p> + +<p class="center">STAR: The Story of an Indian Pony</p> + +<p class="center">THE LONG DIM TRAIL</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> + +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAR***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 39899-h.txt or 39899-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/8/9/39899">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/8/9/39899</a></p> +<p> +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p> +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Hooker, Illustrated by +Charles Livingston Bull + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Star + The Story of an Indian Pony + + +Author: Forrestine C. Hooker + + + +Release Date: June 2, 2012 [eBook #39899] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAR*** + + +E-text prepared by sp1nd, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 39899-h.htm or 39899-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39899/39899-h/39899-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39899/39899-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/starstoryofindia00hook + + + + + +STAR + +The Story of an Indian Pony + +by + +FORRESTINE C. HOOKER + +With an Introduction by Lieut.-General Nelson A. Miles, U.S.A. + +Jacket Painting by Charles Livingston Bull + + + + + + + +The Sun Dial Press, Inc. +Garden City, New York + +Copyright, 1922, by Doubleday, Page & Company. +All Rights Reserved. +Printed in The United States at the +Country Life Press, Garden City, N. Y. + + + + TO + YOU, THE ONE + + Like a ray of light in a stormy sky your love has encouraged and + guided me through years when the dim, rough trail was hard to + follow. + + + + +[Illustration: _Son of Running Deer, daughter of the swiftest racer of +all the Comanche ponies_] + + + + +FOREWORD + + +The recording of historic facts and events in the romance of a story +must be interesting and instructive to the readers; especially when the +scenes occurred in a vast country, formerly occupied by an ancient and +departed race and later by one now rapidly disappearing. + +In vain might we search history for the record of a people who contended +as valiantly against a superior race, overwhelming numbers, and who +defended their country until finally driven toward the setting sun, a +practically subjugated nation and race. The art of war among the white +people is called strategy, or tactics; when practised by the Indians it +is called treachery. + +Their wealth consisted of their herds of horses--which the Western +Indians obtained from the Mexicans after the Spanish had invaded +Mexico--their lodges and the few appliances for camp-life. They +worshipped the God of nature, and the Great Spirit was their omnipotent +Jehovah. They believed that death was a long journey to the Happy +Hunting Grounds. They were grateful for the abundance of the earth--the +sunshine, air, water, and all the blessings of nature--and believed that +all should share them alike. For one to wish to monopolize any part of +the earth was to them the manifestation of a grasping disposition. Often +the men of the most influence and greatest popularity in the tribe were +the poorest, or those who gave most to others. + +They believed that the Great Spirit had given them this beautiful +country with its natural resources, advantages, and blessings for their +home. + +One great cause of disaffection among the Indians was the destruction of +their vast herds of buffalo, which seemed like ruthless sacrifice. +Within a few years millions of buffalo were killed for their hides, and +thousands of white men, the best rifle-shots in the world, were engaged +in the business. + +Among their own tribe and people they had a code of honour which all +respected. An Indian could leave his horse, blanket, saddle, or rifle at +any place by day or night and it would not be disturbed, though the +whole tribe might pass near. This could not be done in any community of +white people. + +These conditions existed in 1874, when the Southwest Indians assembled +at Medicine Lodge and decided to drive out the buffalo hunters. + +In August, 1874, I was directed to organize a command at Fort Dodge, on +the Arkansas River in southwestern Kansas, and move south against the +hostile Indians. Other commands were ordered to move: one east from New +Mexico, under Major Price; one north from Texas, under General +Mackenzie; one west from Indian Territory, under Colonel Davidson, Tenth +Cavalry. + +My command consisted of two battalions of eight troops of cavalry, +commanded by Majors Compton and Biddle; one battalion of four companies +of infantry, commanded by Major Bristol; a company of friendly Indians, +a detachment of artillery, and a company of civilian scouts and guides. +These latter were mostly hunters and expert riflemen, familiar with the +country. + +In one of the many engagements with the hostile Indians Captain Frank D. +Baldwin (now Major General) a very gallant officer, recaptured two +little captive white girls, Julia and Adelaide Germaine, seven and nine +years old, whose father, mother, brother, and older sister had been +massacred. From the children we learned of their two sisters, still in +the hands of the savages, and we made it a condition that they should be +brought in safely and surrendered with the whole tribe, which was done +immediately on receipt of my demand. The other two girls had been +brought by order of Chief Stone Calf to a tent next his own, where they +were treated with marked care and consideration until formally +surrendered to us. + +That campaign, lasting for many months, closed after most difficult and +laborious efforts on the part of the troops, with the satisfactory +result that the vast southwestern country has been free from the +terrifying and devastating presence of hostile Indians, and the citizens +of the States of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico have +enjoyed an era of peace. Scarcely a hostile shot has been heard in that +country since that year. + +In a report to Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, Commanding General of +the U. S. Army, November 23, 1874, which was published in report of +Secretary of War, Vol. I, 1875, I said: + +"It would have been better for the Indians had they been considered a +part of the population of the United States and dealt with generously; +and when forced on reservations--which is always the case--let +reservations be reasonable in size, subject to special rule and +government until the Indians are fitted to obey the ordinary laws of the +country which have been made to control educated and intelligent white +people. + +"If the Indians had always been humanely and honestly dealt with, there +would have been but few of the troubles which have occurred in the many +years gone by." + +[Illustration: Signature: Nelson A. Miles, Lieut.-General US Army] + + July 21, 1922 + Washington, D. C. + + + + +STAR: + +_The Story of an Indian Pony_ + + + + +Chapter I + + +The first streak of dawn was turning the sky from gray to pale pink as +Star lifted his head and looked sleepily at the twelve hundred Comanche +ponies stretched on the ground around him. + +Farther away were many tepees made from buffalo skins, but only the +wolf-dogs, curled in holes they had dug near the tepees, showed that the +camp was not deserted. Star knew that the Comanche braves, squaws, and +papooses would soon awaken and come out wrapped in blankets which had +been woven by the squaws and dyed in bright colours made from roots and +berries. + +One tepee, larger than the others, belonged to Quannah, Chief of the +Quahada Comanches, and Star looked at it as he recalled the story his +mother, Running Deer, had told him many times while they grazed side by +side or rested on the banks of the creek near the camp. Star loved +Quannah, but more than all else he loved Quannah's little daughter, +Songbird, for she was Star's mistress. He remembered the day when he had +been too tiny and weak to stand up, and Quannah, with Songbird, had +stooped to pat Running Deer's colt. + +"We will name him Star," the chief had spoken. "He belongs to you, as +his mother belongs to me, and as his mother's mother belonged to my +father. Swift, sure, and strong, they have been worthy to carry the +Chiefs of the Quahadas." + +So the colt understood the honour given his mother and the honour that +was to be his when he was big enough to be ridden. And the tale his +mother told many times never wearied him. + +"My mother told me the tale," she would always begin, "and now that she +is dead I tell it to you. When I am dead, you shall tell it to other +ponies, so that it may be remembered as long as Comanche herds wander +over the plains. + +"The squaws tell their papooses the great deeds of their forefathers, +that none will forget, that the young boys may become great warriors, +while the girls grow to be worthy squaws and train their own sons to +live with honour. So I, too, tell the story of our part in the life of +our great Chief and his Pale-face Mother, as my mother told it to me, +long ago, before you were born. + +"When she was a very young mare, the swiftest racer of all the Comanche +ponies, our tribe wandered long distances over plains covered with grass +knee-high. Vast herds of buffaloes and thousands of beautiful antelopes +shared the prairie lands with us. When the tepees were set up there were +so many that they reached out like stars covering the sky at night. Our +pony herd was so large that each brave owned many ponies, and he who +owned the most ponies was the richest man of all. + +"The Comanches could not live without us. It needs a swift, sure-footed +pony to follow the antelope near enough to send an arrow to its heart as +it runs. You know, as well as I, that antelope meat must be brought to +the camp to feed the women and children. Because the Comanches are such +great hunters, other tribes call them the 'Antelope Eaters.' And from +the hundreds of buffaloes ranging on the plains, our warriors obtain +hides for clothing, for warm robes and to make tepees that will defy the +cold winds and snows that rush upon them from the place where the Great +White Spirit of Winter dwells. + +"Without good ponies the Comanches would be cold and hungry, as you must +see. And so we are honoured by the warriors and loved by the women and +children for whom we provide food and shelter. When the enemies of the +tribe come against us in battle, the ponies share the dangers with their +owners. None of us has ever been vanquished. Ponies have died beside +their masters, but have never deserted them. When a warrior dies, his +favourite pony dies with him, that the warrior may ride it in the Happy +Hunting Grounds to which he and it have journeyed through the Land of +Shadows. There they are happy together. That is a great honour, but the +greatest honour of all is to be the favourite pony of the Chief." + +"Like you!" interrupted Star with a proud toss of his head as he glanced +at other colts whose mothers belonged to men who were not chiefs. + +"Like me and like my mother," Running Deer never failed to answer. "Lie +down beside me while I tell you the tale again, so that you will make no +mistake in telling it to other ponies when you are old and others have +forgotten it all." + +Star settled himself comfortably at her side, and as she talked, he +nipped daintily at bits of tender grass which made a soft bed beneath +over-hanging branches of a tall tree. + + + + +Chapter II + + +"Long before I was born," began Running Deer, "the warriors of our tribe +wove bits of red cloth into the manes and tails of their ponies. Each +warrior, decked in brightest blankets and with war-bonnets of eagle +feathers that bound their heads, fell over their shoulders, then trailed +almost to the ground, rode rapidly across the prairie with their quivers +full of sharply pointed arrows. + +"White-faced men had come on the land of the Comanches and were taking +possession of our hunting grounds. So word was brought to camp for our +fighting men to go out and protect the game that belonged to the +Indians. The Great Spirit put the game on the prairies that the +Comanches and other Indians might use it for food. + +"Like leaves swept by fierce winds the warriors rushed onward. Peta +Nocona, the old chief's young son, rode my mother at the head of the +Quahadas. He was almost a child in years, but a man in daring, and +often the chief gave him the honour of leading the warriors. All at once +in the distance a few specks caught his keen eyes, and he drew my +mother's reins, while all the Comanches halted to talk. Then each +warrior leaned down against the shoulder of his pony, and they raced +until they had formed a large circle around the moving spots. Gradually +closing about them, Peta Nocona led his men. + +"My mother said that those in the centre greeted them. It was +Pa-ha-u-ka's band, and with them were a boy and a girl with white skins, +who looked at the Comanches in fear. The girl's hair was long and gold +like the arrows of the sun, her eyes were like the summer sky, her skin +like untrodden snow. + +"The son of our chief rode to her side, and when she shrank back in +fear, he smiled and told her that no harm should come to her. She did +not understand his words, for she spoke in a strange tongue, but she did +understand his kindly eyes and voice and smile. So she made no struggle +when he lifted her from the arms of the warrior who was holding her. +Placing her before him on my mother's back, he held her carefully until +they reached our camp." + +"Did the white boy come, too?" asked Star as Running Deer paused to take +a bite of grass. + +"My mother said that the boy did not come into our camp and she did not +know where he went. Part of the Comanches, who belonged to Pa-ha-u-ka's +band, followed another trail and were gone a long time. But the little +white girl was not unhappy, for she had our chief's son as her +companion. We called her Preloch. All the care that would have been +given to the daughter of our chief was given to her until she reached +womanhood. Then she and the chief's son, Peta Nocona, were married with +great feasting and dancing that lasted many days, and everyone was very +happy for they all loved her and the chief's young son. + +"When the old chief, worn with the weight of many winters, slept with +his forefathers, the young chief ruled in his place. There was much +rejoicing when a son was born to Peta Nocona and his golden-haired +squaw, Preloch. They called him Quannah, which, as you know, means +'Fragrant.' Later a little daughter came to them, and her name was +Prairie Flower, for she was so pale and delicate that it seemed as +though a rough hand could crush her, or a strong wind carry her away on +its breast. The warriors honoured and obeyed Peta Nocona, who became a +great War Chief, and the women, children, and ponies loved his white +squaw, Preloch, for her gentle ways. Wherever he went, she rode at his +side, her baby daughter clasped in her arms, while little Quannah +followed closely behind on his pony, often shooting arrows as he rode. + +"The young chief had given my mother, Blackbird, to Preloch, and I was a +colt, past two years old, when white men found our camp. I do not know +just what happened, for in the darkness of night Gray Beard, Big Wolf, +and Spotted Leopard led me into a strange place among great trees, and +there we found Quannah waiting us. They spoke earnestly to him, then he +leaped to my back and we dashed away. + +"For many days we were alone, except when a warrior came and sat talking +gravely. I heard Karolo, the Medicine Man, tell Quannah one day, that +the white men had taken Preloch and Prairie Flower away with them. Then +he told that his mother had sent a message, bidding her son remain with +his father's people and rule them wisely and justly. She did not want to +leave her son and the Comanche people whom she loved so much, but she +had been made a prisoner by the white men and they were taking her and +her baby away to their own homes." + +"Why?" asked Star, wonderingly. + +"I do not know," answered Running Deer. "I am telling the story as it +all happened. How could an Indian pony understand the white man's ways, +when the wise men of the tribe did not understand? My mother told me the +story of the little white girl, and I heard what the old warriors said +to Quannah while we hid in the mountains; but I do know that neither +Preloch nor Prairie Flower ever came back to us again, and Quannah never +saw them again. + +"That is all I know. Quannah rode me back to camp and when you were born +he gave you to Songbird. You must serve her as faithfully as I have +served him, and as my mother, before me, served his father, Peta Nocona. +The big chiefs also told Quannah that his father, Peta Nocona, had been +killed by the white men as he stood, wounded, against a tree, singing +the Death Song of the Quahada Comanches. So Quannah, his son, became our +chief." + +Star thought about the story as he lay beside his mother, and he felt +very sure that he would not make any error in telling it when he had +grown old. The sun peeped over the edge of the world and shot a golden +arrow of light into the pony's eyes, to warn him and the other ponies +that it was time to roll and get up. + +It was not an easy thing to roll over. Star had tried it many times, for +his mother had told him that when a pony could roll completely over the +first thing in the morning, it was the sign he was very strong. So now +he stiffened his muscles and tried it, but only got partly over. Again +he tried and failed. But the third time he turned completely over, and +full of pride, leaped to his feet. Then he leaned down and nipped his +mother, who blinked up at him. + +"I did it!" he bragged, tossing his head so that the thick black mane +waved like a flag. "Mother, I rolled all the way over, this morning." + +"I knew you would do it," she answered proudly as she scrambled up +hastily. "Now you can carry a man." + +The two ponies saw the flap of Quannah's tepee lifted, and their ears +cocked sharply. A little girl, about six years old, with large dark +eyes, long glossy braids hanging to her waist, and clothed in a garment +of buckskin, with moccasins of buckskin on her feet, stood in the +opening of the tepee. + +"Star!" she called softly yet clearly. + +The pony answered with a low nicker of delight, tossed his shaggy mane, +kicked his hind heels and galloped to her side, where he bent his head +that she might pet his nose and pull his ears gently, while his eyes +told her how much he loved her. + + + + +Chapter III + + +Ever since Star had been strong enough to bear Songbird's weight on his +back, they had wandered together near the camp. Sometimes they climbed +the steep mountains so that they could look down on the tepees which +seemed only tiny white spots; or they raced after a coyote across the +prairie, and again they moved more slowly beside the streams where they +could see silvery fish darting from one deep pool to another. + +Always Star watched carefully that he might not step on a loose rock, or +into a prairie-dog hole. That would make him stumble and throw his +little mistress, and Star's mother had warned him of the danger. Many +times they paused beside the stream so that Star could thrust his +velvety nose into the cool ripples, while Songbird, higher up the creek, +would lie flat, face downward, and touch the water with her lips. + +At times she would sit in the shade of a tree near the stream and Star +would lie down beside her. Then she would pluck wild flowers and weave +them into his mane and make a wreath of them for her head, while she +told the pony that the big, white clouds drifting slowly over them were +the tepees of great warriors who had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds, +where they rode their favourite ponies all day long. But when the Spirit +of the Sun rode over the edge of the world at night, the warriors +followed him that the Spirit of Darkness might not overtake them, and +the clouds followed after them. + +One morning Songbird came to him and said, "There is a long journey for +you to-day." + +As she patted his neck, he noticed unusual excitement in the camp. The +warriors were gathering the pony herd instead of letting it wander to +graze until night. Men were rushing about, and the squaws were taking +down many tepees. Some of the men were helping them roll things in +buffalo robes which they tied with long thongs cut from cured hides. +Then these bundles were placed on the backs of pack-ponies and fastened +so that they could not slip off. Even the children were helping instead +of playing about. + +Quannah was directing everything while he stood near his tepee, a short +distance from Songbird and Star. At last the packing ended and the +warriors, mounted on their best ponies, moved slowly away from camp, +while behind them came extra ponies and then, still farther behind, +trotted the pack-ponies. + +As Star watched, wondering what it all meant, an Indian led Running Deer +to Quannah. The chief spoke hastily yet tenderly to Songbird, who +listened seriously to his words. Then Quannah sprang to Running Deer's +back. + +Songbird slipped her arms about Star's neck and he felt her soft lips +touch the white spot in the middle of his forehead. He was a jet-black +pony except for this white mark which formed a perfect star, and which +was almost hidden by the heavy forelock of hair that dangled to his +eyes. + +Quannah sat on the back of Running Deer, and watched Songbird, who +turned suddenly and spoke. + +"I have no brother! Let me go with you?" + +"You must stay here with the women and children," Star heard the chief +reply. "We go to meet men. It is safe here for the women and children. +You must stay with them until I return." + +The pony saw that all the Comanche herd was moving away from the camp, +and he turned quickly to his mother. + +"Must I stay, too?" he asked anxiously. + +"No," she replied, "you go with me, so that Quannah may ride you to rest +my back on the journey. It will be hard riding for many long days. We go +to fight the white men and if we find them, many warriors and ponies may +never come back. You are old enough and strong enough now to do your +part in the work of the Comanche ponies. Come, keep beside me and I will +tell you what to do." + +Star felt very proud and important as he trotted at his mother's side, +but he could not help twisting his neck to look back now and then at his +little mistress who stood alone in front of the big tepee of the chief. +He saw her stretch out her arms toward her father, but Quannah did not +see her do it. Suddenly she drew a corner of her blanket over her head, +so that her face was hidden that none might see her grief; then she +turned into the tepee and the flap closed. + +While Star had been watching all this, the other ponies had moved past +him, and he heard his mother calling angrily, urging him to hurry to +her side. She was in the lead. Far ahead of Star the ponies were moving +swiftly. Some carried packs, others bore warriors, and the unmounted +ponies of the herd were kept from straying by warriors who rode on +either side. Not one Comanche pony had been left in the camp where the +women and children now remained. It was all very strange. Star galloped +to his mother knowing she could explain everything, for she was a very +wise pony and the favourite of the chief. She was very angry, and +snapped at his shoulder when he reached her side. + +"You are disgracing me when you lag at the back of the herd. You belong +at the front of it, with me. The chief's pony travels ahead of all the +others." + +"Where are we going?" he asked after a short silence. + +"I do not know," she answered, still angry. "That does not concern +either of us. When the chief speaks no one questions and all obey. He +gives orders to the warriors and they do his bidding. He moves his hand +and I obey the rein. That is all I know. Ponies do not need to know +anything else. Your duty now is to follow me and keep at my side, so +that you may be near if I fall or am hurt or weary. Then Quannah will +ride you." + +As they travelled many miles, Star kept closely beside his mother, but +he could not forget Songbird and how she had held out her arms, then +with covered face had gone alone into the big tepee of her father, the +Chief of the Quahada Comanches. + + + + +Chapter IV + + +As Star travelled contentedly beside his mother in the days that +followed, other Indian tribes crossed the trail of the Comanches, some +of whom came from the far north. They had seen the white men, whom they +called soldiers. Sometimes there had been fighting. + +Kiowa riders often rode strange ponies into Quannah's camp and rested +for a few days. While the Indians talked with Quannah and his braves, +the ponies of the strangers told the Comanche ponies about the big bands +of white men, all dressed alike, riding very large horses, many of which +were almost twice as big as a small pony. + +"These men do not carry bows and arrows like the Indians, but have +shining sticks that roar like angry buffaloes and which spit fire that +kills any Indian or pony it touches," explained a pony from the Kiowa +Indians' camp. + +Running Deer shivered and looked at Star, as she said, "My mother saw +such men. She called them soldiers, and she, too, spoke of the sticks of +fire that slew our braves and our ponies, though they were so far away +that arrows could not reach them." + +The ponies stopped talking as they saw Quannah and a Kiowa messenger +reach the herd. Star cocked his ears so that he might hear all that was +said. Running Deer touched her big colt with her nose, to remind him +that he must keep perfectly quiet, for Quannah's hand rested on Star's +mane and the chief looked at him with serious eyes while the Kiowa +Indian talked in a low voice. At first Star could not understand what +they said, but in a short time he heard more distinctly. + +The Kiowa brave was speaking. "Our Medicine Man, who is so wise and good +that the Great Spirit talks to him, has told our Big Chief that we must +drive these white people from our land, so that none of them shall ever +come back. Then the antelope and buffalo will belong to us, our ponies +will roam where the grass grows most thickly, and our people will be +happy and thrive." + +"I wish to live peacefully with the white people. My mother was of their +race," answered Quannah slowly. + +"The white men will not dwell peacefully with the Indians. Many times +our fathers' fathers moved to avoid conflict, but the white men have +always followed and whenever they found us they have warred with us," +the Kiowa interrupted angrily. "Even now they are gathering in great +bands, and making ready to sweep upon us from all four sides of the +earth at once, hoping to scatter us like dry leaves before a windstorm. +Soon we shall be driven to the edge of the earth. Then only the cold +ashes of our camp fires will be left to tell the places where our +children once dwelt." + +"Yes, that is true," the Chief of the Quahadas spoke, and his head sank +so that his chin rested on his breast, while his eyes were fixed on the +ground. "My mother, Preloch, bade me rule the Quahadas wisely. If I war +on the white men, they will come in still greater numbers, and my tribe +will suffer. But the white men killed my father and took my mother and +sister away. My mother did not want to leave us, and she sent word to me +by old Moko, the Picture-maker, that she would try to escape from the +white men and come back to me. Maybe she is dead now. When the sun +shines on the winter snow, no one can bring it back. But the moisture +sinks into the heart of the earth where the flowers are born. So though +my mother has never come back to me, the memory of her words lives in my +heart. I wish to rule my people wisely and help them. Maybe it would be +best not to fight. I will ask my warriors. What they say, that will I +do!" + +When the Quahadas had gathered about their chief and the Kiowa +messenger, the Kiowa spoke quickly. + +"My chief sent me to ask whether Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas, will +join us and lead your tribe to help us save our people from the white +men who will kill the Comanches and Kiowas, take our children and squaws +captives, and laugh at our humiliation. Shall I go back and say to my +chief that Quannah, Chief of the Quahada Comanches, is a squaw because +his white blood is afraid to fight his mother's people who stole her?" + +Quannah's eyes flashed angrily, and he flung out his hand while he +replied, "Tell your chief that I and my warriors will fight against the +white men because we must save the game and grass and protect our women +and children. That is all. Go!" + +Star and Running Deer watched the Kiowa messenger leap on the strange +pony's back. Then, with a shrill call, the rider was lost in a cloud of +dust that arose from the swiftly running pony, while Quannah, surrounded +by his warriors, looked after the vanishing Indian. + +"Why should the white men drive us from our camps?" asked Star as he +turned to his mother. "We do not drive the Kiowas from their camps, and +the Comanche ponies graze beside the ponies of other tribes, for there +is grass enough for us all." + +"White men are different from ponies," answered Running Deer. "That is +all I know. Maybe the white men war among themselves and destroy each +other's camps, and carry away the women and children as prisoners." + +During that evening, when the shadows grew longer and darker, and the +huge campfire sent shafts of light like golden arrows between the trees, +the warriors gathered in consultation. + +Their faces were very stern as they seated themselves on the ground in a +half circle, while Quannah and the Medicine Man faced them. The Medicine +Man was very old. The face he lifted toward the stars was wrinkled, his +raised hands trembled, and the words he spoke to the Great Spirit asked +that help might be given the warriors so that the grass and game might +be saved for the tribe. + +While he was speaking, coyotes yelped from the darkness beyond the light +of the camp fire, and Star, standing very closely against his mother, +twitched nervously and kept looking backward to see how near the coyotes +might be. All the ponies understood that a band of coyotes would chase +any pony if it were alone, and if they overtook it, they would tear it +to pieces. So when a bunch of coyotes came near the pony herd, the mares +surrounded the colts in the very centre of the group, keeping their +noses closely against the colts, and the mothers would lash out their +heels and protect them. But fear of a band of coyotes never died as the +colts grew older. + +"The warriors are holding a War Council now," Running Deer told Star. +"Our wise old Medicine Man will tell them what the Great Spirit tells +him. Then he will bless them that the strength of the Great Spirit may +enter their hearts and help them conquer their enemies and save the game +and the grass." + +Through the night the fire burned brightly, while the Comanches sat in a +large circle talking together. Star, waking many times, lifted his head +that he might watch the warriors who faced the Medicine Man and Quannah. +Once the pony half rose to his feet, but Running Deer kicked at him as +she lay beside him. + +"Lie down and be quiet," she whispered angrily. "It is not dawn yet. You +will waken the other ponies and they are weary. What is the matter with +you to-night?" + +"I want to go back to Songbird, Mother," he answered. "If the white men +find the camp they may take her away as they took Quannah's mother and +sister, and she may never come back again!" + +"Quannah would follow them and get her back. He loves her more than +anything else," Running Deer said. + +"But all the Comanche ponies are here with us," Star went on anxiously. +"If I go back to her, she could ride swiftly from the white men, if +they try to capture her." + +"Stop talking so foolishly," snorted Running Deer. "Quannah is wiser +than you are. He will guard her from harm. Go to sleep at once, for we +have many miles to travel yet." + + + + +Chapter V + + +While Star was travelling with the other Comanche ponies, he thought +many times of Songbird and wondered what she was doing without him to +share her days. If he had known the loneliness of his little playmate, +he would have raced back to her, even though his mother had told him +that his duty was now beside her so that Quannah might ride him. + +Meantime, Songbird wandered sadly among the tepees where the other +children played happily while their fathers rode with Quannah to fight +the white men. The squaws tried to interest her in the work they were +doing, and took the best bits of venison and thrust green willow twigs +through the meat, so that she might hold it in the campfire and cook it. + +Songbird smiled gravely when they did this and shook her head. She was +not hungry, but the other children crowded up noisily and ate the crisp +tender meat, laughing when one child held his stick too long, so that +it burnt and let the meat fall into the hot wood ashes from which he at +once fished it with his twig. + +New clothes, fashioned from soft buckskin, new moccasins made from +buckskin with soles of tough buffalo hide, were laid in her father's +tepee for Songbird. Though she put them on, she did not run to show them +to the other children. Always she had hurried to her father first, that +he might praise her new things. As she remembered it, she slipped away +alone to the edge of the creek near camp. Sitting beneath the tree where +she had woven the wild flowers in Star's mane, she wondered when her +father would come back. + +"If he had left Star with me," she said at last, as though the fishes in +the creek could hear her and understand, "I could follow him when it +grew dark, and if I found him he would not send me back." + +But the fishes did not pause to listen, and at last she rose and went +back to the camp. The buffalo calf, tied by a plaited rope made of +strips of cured hides, rubbed its thickly haired head against her +shoulder, and pretended to fight her, but she did not laugh at it as she +had always done while her father stood beside her. She changed the calf +to another place, and fastened the rope carefully; then, having brought +fresh water to it in a bucket made of dry hide, she went into the big +tepee. + +Her pet horn-toads were kept in one of the deep pottery bowls made from +dirt and clay, then set in the sun to dry and harden. She carried the +little creatures outside and let them run about on the ground and eat +small insects. The bright orange, black, and red colouring of their +backs made a beautiful design and looked as though an artist had painted +them. Each head had a circlet of small sharp horns, while two larger +ones stood up very fiercely, and all over their backs were other tiny +horns, reaching to the tapering tail. Songbird knew the horn-toads could +not hurt her with their many horns, nor could they bite, for they had no +teeth. + +After eating, the toads became sleepy, so she placed them back in the +bowl and carried them to their accustomed place in the tepee. + +"Caw! Caw!" a crow croaked outside, and Songbird hastened to the black, +shining bird that walked jerkily at the entrance of her home. Its beady +eyes blinked up at her, and its head twisted sidewise in a very knowing +manner; then it straightened up and gave its hoarse call, as though it +had a sore throat. + +"Caw! Caw!" + +She did not clap her hands to-day and imitate its cry, but moved quietly +into the tepee and soon came back, holding a deep earthen bowl which she +placed on the ground. The crow sidled up, cocking its head to see if +anything were coming upon it from the sky or from the back. Satisfied +that no robbers were near, it began eating. + +Songbird watched it as she sat on the ground with her knees drawn up and +her hands propping her chin. Very gravely she decided that the crow was +getting fatter. + +For several months she had cared for it. Some accident had happened to +its upper bill and half of it was gone, so the crow had not been able to +pick up food from the ground or eat anything solid as the others could +do when they pecked very hard. It had been almost dead from starvation +when Songbird noticed it lying in the camp. She had driven away the +other children who were teasing it with sticks. + +Her father had shown her how to fix soft food in a deep bowl so that +the poor crow could thrust its entire beak down deeply to eat the moist +mixture. So day after day it came to the tepee, knowing it would find +food. The meal finished, it always bobbed and stalked around, repeating +its cry, "Caw! Caw!" until at last it flapped its glossy wings and +darted high above Songbird's head. But even when almost out of sight she +could hear it calling to thank her and say that it would come again the +next day. + +When she picked up the bowl to return it to its proper place, as Quannah +had taught her to do, a beautiful fawn, with skin like brown velvet +dotted with small white spots, leaped from the side of the tepee as +though it were trying to frighten her. Its nose sniffed the empty bowl +as it stood poised on slender legs and stretched its graceful neck. +Songbird tipped the bowl. The fawn licked it perfectly clean. Then its +pink tongue touched the little brown hand that held the bowl, and +Songbird, looking into the beautiful dark eyes, stroked the soft nose. + +The fawn waited at the entrance of the tepee until she came out. It kept +pace with her to the place where Moko, the Picture-maker, lived. She was +a very wonderful old squaw with pure white hair. It was her work to +paint pictures on the backs of dried buffalo robes. + +One side of these robes was always covered with brown, thick hair, while +the under side, dried and stretched very smoothly, had to be painted +carefully with colours made from roots, berries and earths, mixed in a +way that the old Picture-maker alone understood. Moko did not like any +one to watch her at work, but Songbird was always welcomed. The child +would sit for hours wondering at the magic way in which Moko made +figures of Indians on ponies, sometimes chasing buffaloes, hunting +antelope, or possibly a camp with warriors walking about the many +tepees. + +"Who showed you how to make pictures, Moko?" asked Songbird. + +"The Great Spirit," replied the Picture-maker, and Songbird pondered +over the answer. The painting Moko was now doing was the most wonderful +of all that Songbird had ever seen. The robe was the largest buffalo +hide that any Comanche had ever owned. Quannah had killed the enormous +beast with just one arrow, and the meat had provided food for many days. +Now the hide, cured and dried, was being painted for him, and Songbird +knew that some day it would be given to her to keep. + +The picture showed a lot of Indians fighting white men. The Indians +could be easily told by their war-bonnets. All around the edges, the +robe was bordered with the fighters, but in the very centre was an +Indian boy riding a swiftly running pony. In his arms was a little girl. +Songbird knew that the boy was Peta Nocona, and the girl in his arms was +Preloch, the white child who had afterward been the mother of Quannah +and of Prairie Flower. + +"Why do the brothers of my father's mother war with us?" she asked at +last, for the question had been puzzling her a long time. + +The old squaw kept on with her work, as she replied, "Because they want +our lands, our ponies, our grass for their own pony herds, and they want +to kill all the buffalo and antelope, so there will be none left for us. +Then we could not make new tepees, nor warm robes, nor clothes, nor +moccasins. Our ponies would all die if the white men had the prairie +lands, and the white hunters killed the game which they did not need for +food. Other Indians have told us how the white men cut the hides from +buffaloes that lie as thick as fallen leaves, and then leave the meat +to spoil or for coyotes to eat. Indians hunt that they may have enough +meat and robes to provide for their tribes. So it will be with the +grass. The white men's herds will eat it all, leaving our ponies to +starve." + +"But the world is so big," Songbird spoke, "why cannot all men dwell in +peace and share the game and grass?" + +"Because the white people want to rule us," the Picture-maker answered +quickly. "We lived here long before the white men came. We are the +children of the Great Spirit. He gave us the land, He gave us the wild +horses that we might tame and use them, He gave us the buffalo and deer, +the antelope on the flats, the fish in the streams, that we might live +happily. And because these things all belong to the Great Spirit, we did +not kill more than we needed. + +"The tribes did not quarrel with each other, for each had its own land +and no one sought to drive them from it. Men were taught not to lie or +steal, and a man who pledged his word was dishonoured if he broke it. +But long years ago tales came to us through other tribes, of men with +white faces who lied, stole, and cheated Indians who had believed in +them. These white-faced men killed the game, killed the Indians, burned +their tepees, then came in still greater numbers and drove the Indians +from place to place, saying, 'This is our land. This game belongs to us. +You must not touch it!'" + +Moko paused and Songbird kept silent, fearing the old woman might not +speak further, but at last she went on. + +"When game grew scarce in the places where we had been driven, our +warriors went in search of foods and robes for the old people, the +squaws, and the children. White men, who saw them coming, did not ask +why our men had wandered from the camps, but began to fight. After that +day our warriors fought every white man they met. Each chief knew that +unless he fought, his own tribe would be driven until it had no place to +go, no game to eat, no robes for tepees or to sleep under when cold +nights brought wind and snow, and soon all the Indians would die." + +"My father's mother did not want to go away from us," said Songbird. +"Many times he has told me she loved the Comanche people." + +"I saw her grief"--the old Picture-maker spoke slowly, and now her +wrinkled hand lay idly in her lap--"I heard her beg the white men to +leave her with us, but they would not listen to her. So Preloch, the +white squaw of Peta Nocona, and her baby daughter, Prairie Flower, went +away and none of us ever saw them again. That is how the white men would +treat all of the Indians if we did not fight them." + +"My father tells me that his mother was three winters older than I am +now, at the time his father carried her to our camp." Songbird leaned +forward. Her body rested on the ground, but her elbow propped her cheek, +so that she might still watch the work of the old Picture-maker. "Tell +me about her, please." + +Moko nodded, but her hand moved less swiftly as she began talking, while +her eyes looked through the tepee opening across the rolling prairie, as +though she saw once more the young son of the chief coming into camp +with the white child in his arms. + +"I can see her now as he rode past me. Her hair was like sunshine, and +when the Great Spirit made openings in the sky so that we could see the +stars at night, two little pieces must have been kept to make her blue +eyes. As she grew up among us she was different, for she was as gentle +as a young doe. Many times she made peace between hot-blooded young +warriors who wished to fight one another. The children followed her just +to see her smile at them." + +A deep sigh interrupted Moko's story, and for a few seconds the old +woman forgot the little girl who waited patiently. + +"I remember the day the white men took her away. Dark clouds gathered +overhead. Peta Nocona, our chief, was dead, but he had told us to flee +to our camp in the hills where the white men could not follow nor find +us. As we fled, the rain fell upon us, and Karolo, the Medicine Man, +called upon the Great Spirit to send the spirits of Peta Nocona and all +the other Comanche warriors from the Happy Hunting Grounds, that they +might follow Preloch and her daughter, Prairie Flower, into the land of +the white men and bring them back again to their own people. + +"The Great Spirit will send them both back some day," Karolo said as the +rain beat on his face. "He is weeping now because his children are +captives among the white people." + +"Then we who heard him drew our robes over our faces that none but the +Great Spirit might see our grief. And for many moons the Comanches of +the Quahadas kept their hair cut short because we were mourning the +death of our great War Chief, Peta Nocona, and the loss of his white +squaw, Preloch, with her baby daughter, Prairie Flower. Many winters +have passed, but they have never come back to us." + +"The snows of many winters have fallen on my head," the old +Picture-maker spoke after a short silence. "I am weary and my heart is +sad for my people. But I have asked the Great Spirit to let me stay +until I have painted one more robe, so that you may hang it in your +tepee with this one. Your children's children shall read the pictures +and learn how your father, Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas, conquered the +white men who robbed him of his mother and sister. After I have finished +that robe, the Great Spirit will let me rest, for I am old and weary, +and my children wait me in the Happy Hunting Grounds." + +"I wish I could go with my father, as Preloch went with Peta Nocona," +said Songbird. "I can shoot arrows as well as the boys, and Star can go +as fast as Running Deer!" + +"Some tribes take their squaws to help in the fight, but Quannah will +not allow it," asserted Moko. "Women and children must obey his orders +and stay in camp while the men go out to fight. Our chief says that the +work of women is to teach children to be fearless and truthful. That +work is as great as fighting. Sometimes I think it may be greater work. +Preloch said that it was better to make men love each other rather than +teach them to hate and kill one another. Maybe she was right, but the +white men hate us and we have to save our own lives and our homes." + +Muttering to herself the old woman rose from the place where she had +been sitting, and as Songbird saw the thin lips tighten, she knew that +the Picture-maker would not talk any more, so she slipped away from the +tent and sat watching the sun drop over the edge of the world. Two white +clouds closed together, and Songbird knew that the Spirit of the Sun had +dropped the flap of its tent so that it could sleep. Soon the Spirit of +Night would ride his big black pony across the sky and the shadow would +hide everything from sight. + +Somewhere in the world of darkness Songbird's father would be sleeping. +Her eyes filled with tears and her lips trembled. She was so little, so +afraid and so lonely. + +In the big tepee of the Quahada Chief, Songbird crept to bed, and as she +lay staring into the darkness toward her father's couch of skins, she +heard the shrill yelps of coyotes gathering around the camp. Suddenly +she drew the buffalo robe over her head and sobbed herself to sleep. + + + + +Chapter VI + + +Far away from the camp where Songbird waited her father's return, Star, +with his mother and the other Comanche ponies, travelled rapidly, while +Quannah watched the country with eyes as sharp and bright as those of an +eagle. + +Strange warriors from the Kiowas rode into camp on ponies which were +covered with dry lather that told how far and how fast the men had +ridden. At the same time Comanche messengers were being sent off on +ponies, and there was a constant stir in the camp. + +Star wondered about it, until he could restrain his curiosity no longer. + +"Where do they go?" he questioned Running Deer, at last. His mother had +been very nervous and cross, and she answered sharply: + +"They go to see where the white men travel, so that Quannah may know +where to find them. Be quiet, now. Watch and you will learn everything +for yourself. Do not talk too much, but watch and listen, then you will +grow wise." + +Quannah was lifting his hand, and Star's bright eyes saw one of the +youngest warriors ride up to the chief. + +"Let me go this time," begged the young man. + +"Your pony is not swift enough," replied the chief, and the young man +bowed his head in shame. + +"He has but one pony," Running Deer spoke scornfully to Star. "He is +poor and his mare is old. When his father went to the Happy Hunting +Grounds he left but two ponies for his son, and one of them has died. +His heart is brave, but his pony's legs are weak, so he will not be +sent." + +As Quannah began speaking, Star lifted his head quickly. + +"You shall go. Running Deer is the swiftest pony of the Comanche herd, +and Star, her colt, though young and untried, should be fleet-footed and +sure. You shall ride him to-day." + +In a few minutes the young warrior was seated on Star's bare back. +Running Deer watched anxiously. But the colt's back did not weaken, nor +did he flinch beneath the man's weight. It seemed no more of a burden +than when Songbird had ridden him. + +"Watch out for prairie-dog holes and loose, smooth stones," cautioned +Running Deer. "When you go most swiftly, hold your nose level with your +shoulders, and look straight before you without turning your head from +side to side. Do not leap high, but let your body drop low to the earth +when you run, and in that way you can outstrip other ponies and not +weary for many long miles. If your rider falls from you, do not leave +him, but stay near by until he climbs again to your back, or someone +comes for you. And always remember that you belong to the Chief of the +Comanches." + +While Running Deer was speaking, Quannah was talking in a low voice to +the young man who sat on Star's back. As the chief's words ceased, the +pony felt the rider lean forward, and his knees press closely against +his sides; then, like an arrow shot from a strong bow, Star, son of +Running Deer, darted on his way. + +The fresh breeze swept into the pony's nostrils, it tossed his thick, +black mane, and his long tail streamed like a tattered black flag, while +the Comanche lying low against Star's shoulder seemed to be a part of +the animal he was riding. + +Across the wide prairie the pony raced, guided by a noose of plaited +rawhide. He did not need the pressure of this rope on his neck, for the +mere movement of the Indian's body was enough to tell him which way to +go. No whip or blow from the rider's heels was necessary. Star +understood that the chief had sent him, and the son of Running Deer must +prove himself worthy of her training and his heritage. + +All day they travelled. At intervals the Indian made him walk a short +distance, then once more Star broke into the smooth, swift run. They +passed near a band of startled antelopes which whirled and dashed away; +farther off, a bunch of galloping buffaloes thudded with their heads +held low down, the humps on their shoulders rising and falling like +small waves of dark water, but the Indian on Star's back paid no heed to +them. The quiver full of sharply pointed arrows remained slung across +his back. + +Just before dusk the Comanche halted among huge rocks. Slipping from the +pony's back, he held his fingers tightly about Star's nose, to prevent +the animal from calling out. Some distance below them, the pony saw a +great multitude of white-faced men and big ponies. The men were dressed +in strange clothes instead of the robes that Indians wore. Some of them +lifted things from their heads, and Star stared in surprise at the short +hair. Quannah and all the Indians the pony had ever seen had worn long +braids of hair called scalp-locks. It was a disgrace for a warrior to +lose his scalp lock, and a great trophy of victory for any foe who cut +it off. So the pony wondered why Quannah should be so grave about +fighting men who had lost their scalp-locks. + +As the men rode nearer, Star saw belts filled with things that gleamed, +and there were long, bright sticks in their hands. The pony understood +at once that these were what his mother had spoken about. Things that +could roar like angry buffaloes and spit fire that killed Comanche +warriors and ponies. He shivered and shrank back, but as he felt the +Indian's fingers tighten, the pony remembered that Quannah had sent them +here, and he must stay with his rider. + +Star forgot his fears in watching the men fix many white tepees in long +rows, and there were strange things that looked like long, round-topped +hills of snow which moved slowly forward, each dragged by six +queer-looking animals. Star had never seen such strange ponies. They +were all dark brown like the bark on trees, their ears were very long, +their heads large, they had no flowing manes, and the only hair on their +tails was in a thick bunch at the very end. While Star watched them, one +of the creatures lifted up its nose and uttered a terrific noise. +Instantly the others joined, and the din was so frightful that Star +would have turned and raced away had not the Comanche held tightly to +the pony's nose. It was the first time in his life that Star had seen +white men, and he had never heard any pony speak of mules or wagons. + +The young warrior crouched low. Before the noise ceased, he had led Star +very cautiously until they gained a spot out of sight and hearing of the +white men. Then leaping to the pony's back, the Indian raced furiously +toward Quannah's camp in the sheltering hills. It was past dawn when the +Comanche halted at Quannah's side. The whole camp was astir. + +Other couriers had arrived from different points, on ponies streaked +with dust. While the animals rubbed noses together, the messengers told +Quannah what each had seen. + +The man who had ridden Star was the first to speak. + +"Great bands of white men are coming from all four sides of the world. +The band I saw is larger than all the Kiowas and Comanches together. +They are one day's ride from here and they are travelling this way." + +"And in another place I saw a band of fighting men coming this way," +spoke a second courier. + +"Still another big band comes from the opposite side," the third man +spoke. + +"And back on our own trail, I saw them travelling toward us." The last +speaker was one of the head chiefs under Quannah. "I left my pony a long +way off that he might not make any noise and warn the white men. Then I +crawled like a snake until I reached a hill near the white tepees. I +heard men's voices but I could not understand what they said. They speak +a different tongue from ours. But there were so many men and so many +ponies that they were as the leaves on the trees or the blades of grass. +How shall we fight them and hope to conquer?" + +"They will surround us from all sides, as the hunters gather around a +herd of antelopes," one of the men said. "If they were not in back of +us, we could go to the camp where the women and children wait." + +Quannah looked at the trail which led toward his little daughter, as he +said in a voice that all could hear plainly, "We will do it. I have a +plan. We must protect our women and children!" + +Then the Medicine Man, who had remained silent, stood beside the +Comanche Chief. With hands uplifted toward the sky the old man called +upon the Great Spirit to hear his children and aid them in the fight to +save the game and the grass and the homes of the Comanche people from +the white men who wished to destroy them. + +After that Star watched the warriors hold up their long bows and quivers +filled with slender arrows, that the Medicine Man's blessing might make +the arrows strong and sure, give strength to their fingers and clear +vision to their eyes in the battle for their homes and those whom they +loved. + + + + +Chapter VII + + +Among those who journeyed with Quannah were the youths of the Quahada +Comanches who had reached the age of twelve. These boys knew how to use +bows and arrows as well as the older men. Children of the tribe were +given tiny bows and arrows for toys as soon as they were big enough to +hold them, and each day they practised shooting at targets, while their +parents watched them proudly. + +They were also taught to ride a pony bare-back, lying close against its +neck and leaning forward, so that from the opposite side nothing could +be seen of the little rider except one brown leg and a hand that clung +to the pony's thick mane. + +Another lesson they had to learn was to creep silently through the +grass, taking great care not to make it move so that other boys could +not see where they were hiding. Because of this training and their small +size, some of these boys had been allowed to travel with the warriors +under Quannah, that they might be used as spies when the Indians drew +near the camps of the white men. + +So when the different couriers returned to Quannah and reported that the +white men were coming from every side to surround the Comanches, and +that part of these men were between Quannah's band and the camp where +the Comanche women and children had been left, Quannah called his +followers about him while the old Medicine Man stood beside the chief. + +Star, who had been resting for a short time after his long trip, lifted +his head curiously as he noticed the warriors gathering. Then as he saw +Running Deer close to the edge of the group about Quannah, he leaped +lightly to his feet and hastened to his mother's side. She rubbed her +nose against his to show how pleased she was at the way he had done his +part of Quannah's work. Then Quannah began speaking. + +"We must go back to take care of the women and children," the chief said +very plainly. + +Star saw all the warriors nodding to show that they agreed with the +chief, but no one spoke a word. It was so quiet that the chirp of a +grasshopper close to Star's feet could be heard distinctly, and the song +of a mockingbird sounded clearly from a nearby tree. Even the big herd +of twelve hundred ponies seemed to be listening for Quannah's words. +There was no moving of restless hoofs, or soft sounds of grass roots +being torn by grazing ponies. + +Star felt a thrill of joy at what the chief said, for he knew that he +would be near Songbird again. Then if the white men came, he could help +her run away, as his mother had helped Quannah escape and hide. He +turned to speak about this to his mother, but Running Deer shook her +head quickly and he was silent. Quannah was talking. + +"The white men are between us and the camp where we left our women and +children," he said slowly. "To the front of us are more white men. They +are coming from the east and the west, also. We must make a path through +them to reach our camp. The white men outnumber us many times. If we +face them in open battle they will kill or take us all prisoners, then +our women and children will be helpless." + +"Our chief speaks the truth," the Medicine Man spoke, and the others +grunted and nodded at one another to show that he was right. + +"To-day," Quannah went on, "we must ride hard until we are near the +white men, then we will halt and hide. It is the dark of the moon now, +and when the sun has gone, I shall send the smallest boys on our +swiftest ponies to stampede the ponies of the white men. While all is +confusion in their camp, we can dash past them in the dark, taking their +ponies with us as we go on our way. Without ponies how can they catch +us?" + +All the warriors showed their satisfaction in the words and looks that +Star and Running Deer understood plainly. In a short time the Indians +were riding the trail that led directly back toward the camp of the +squaws and children and old, weak men who could not fight. + +During the day messengers were sent ahead, and Star kept close beside +his mother on whom Quannah was riding. When the couriers returned late +in the afternoon, Star and Running Deer listened intently to their +words. + +"The white men are moving toward us," spoke one man who had ridden away +that morning. His tired pony stood with low-hanging head while its drawn +sides and quick breathing told how hard the pace had been. "When the sun +goes to sleep for the night, they will be not more than two hours from +here." + +"They have big white ponies," another messenger said. "Last night I lay +so close to their camp that I could hear voices in the strange white +tepees. A few men who do not sleep walk around and keep watch. All of +the men have fire-sticks. The ponies are unsaddled and each one is tied +to a long rope, so they make a line, side by side!" + +"That is good!" Quannah's eyes brightened. + +Turning to the Medicine Man he spoke in a low voice, so that neither +Star nor Running Deer was able to hear what he said. The other Comanches +began making preparations for food, so Running Deer, with Star at her +side, moved slowly away, cropping the thick, tender grass as they talked +together. + +"Mother, do you think we will be sent to-night?" Star asked suddenly. + +"Maybe," she answered. "I am the swiftest pony of the herd, and you have +proved your speed and strength to-day. It would be a great honour if +both of us were sent. But now stop talking. Eat, that you may rest, for +no one can tell when we may be needed, nor how long and hard the trail +before we can graze and rest again." + +Star obeyed. After he had eaten his fill of juicy grass he wandered with +his mother to a stream where they thrust their noses into the clear, +cool water and drank all they wished. Then the two of them found a spot +which they pawed to make more soft, and doubling their front knees they +sank slowly to the ground and soon lay sleeping side by side. + +Several hours had passed when Star wakened suddenly at a whisper from +his mother, whose lips touched one of his ears. It was quite dark, but +the stars gleamed overhead. When the little spots of light flickered in +the sky Star knew that it was from the hoofs of ponies in the Happy +Hunting Grounds just as the Comanche ponies made sparks of fire when +rocks were tossed together violently by the ponies' flying hoofs. + +"Listen!" whispered Running Deer. "The men are picking the ponies for +to-night's work!" + +The colt's body quivered with excitement, his lips twitched and his ears +cocked sharply, while his eyes peered into the darkness where he could +hear the soft tread of moccasined feet that were coming nearer and +nearer to him and his mother. He wanted to leap up and call out to the +warriors that he was awake and ready, but a nudge from his mother made +him lie down quietly and wait. + +In a few seconds an indistinct figure stood beside him. A hand touched +his forelock. Star rose quickly to his feet as a rawhide noose slipped +about his neck. He felt his mother's nose against his own, but the nip +she gave him this time was not an angry one. It told him as plainly as +she could speak how proud she was that her son had been picked out for +the work. + +"Do your best," he heard her say. "Remember, you are my colt. Your +honour is my honour. If you fail it is my disgrace as well as yours!" + +Then he was led away, leaving his mother watching him as he disappeared +in the darkness of night. She knew that the quick little bite he had +given her was a promise that he would not forget all she had taught him. + +The man whom Star followed stopped where Quannah and all the warriors +stood with two little Comanche boys, who were looking up at the chief +and listening carefully to every word he was speaking to them. Star was +close enough to hear what was said. + +"Ride swiftly," Quannah commanded. "Make no noise. When you are near +the white men's camp lie closely and hold your hands tightly across your +ponies' noses to keep them from calling out to the white men's ponies +and warning them of danger." + +"We will do as you say," the boys promised sturdily. + +"Good!" the chief answered. "Leave your ponies while you crawl +cautiously to the rope that holds the white men's ponies. Cut the rope +and leap on the nearest pony, then shout loudly and beat the ponies with +the pieces of buffalo hide you carry. That will frighten them so they +will run away. Your own ponies will follow. You must drive the white +men's ponies toward the place where we will be waiting to help you. Thus +we will capture the white men's ponies, so the men cannot follow us to +our women and children." + +"We understand," replied the boys in one voice, while the Indians +watched them and whispered to one another, "These children will be great +warriors when they are full-grown men!" + +Once again Quannah spoke to the boys. "The honour of the Quahada +Comanches is in your hands. Guard it with your lives. If you are +captured, let no man know why you were sent, nor where we are waiting. +Do not whisper it even between your two selves, for the wind might steal +your words and carry them to the white men's ears." + +Then the old Medicine Man stepped before the two children, and his thin +arms and trembling hands were extended over their heads. The boys knelt +down. Around them like shadows in the faint starlight stood all the +Quahada Comanche warriors, and their chief watched the two slender lads, +his eyes full of pride. + +"Great Spirit, hear the cry of your children. Help us save the game and +the grass that we may live in peace and happiness in the land you gave +to our fathers long ago. Send their spirits from the Happy Hunting +Grounds this night that they may travel beside these children and give +them courage and cunning to save the Comanche people. We are weak, we +are few, and the white men are many and strong. We must go out to fight +and we ask the Great Spirit to help us, for with the Great Spirit and +the spirits of our forefathers we shall win over all our foes!" + +In the silence that followed the Medicine Man's blessing, the boys rose +to their feet. Then Star shivered with excitement as one of the boys +grasped the mane that fell thickly on the pony's neck. With a quick, +light bound the lad vaulted to Star's bare back. Beside them the other +boy was astride a pony named Hawk. + +Silently the circle of warriors parted so that there was a space. The +young riders leaned down on the necks of the ponies and darted, side by +side, through the pathway of Comanches, then on through darkness that +wrapped the prairie like a heavy black cloak. + + + + +Chapter VIII + + +Star and Hawk kept a steady pace for more than an hour. Neither of the +boys had spoken a word during that time, then Star's rider whispered +softly--"Sh----" like the hiss of a snake in the grass, or the noise of +wind through the leaves. + +Small, strong hands reached from either side of Star's neck, and fingers +were pressed firmly on his nostrils. The pressure did not interfere with +the pony's breathing, but so long as it continued Star knew that it +would be impossible for him to whinny. His rider did not know that the +pony understood the reason and the importance of being quiet. + +Faintly the sound of stamping, restless hoofs came to Star's ears, and +told him that strange ponies were near. His nose touched Hawk's neck, +and the other pony signalled an answer. Star and Hawk had been friends +and playmates ever since they had been born. Hawk was two days older +than Star, but Star had always been more swift when they had chased +each other about the Comanche camp in play. Hawk belonged to a young +warrior who had not many ponies, so, long before Star had been fully +grown, Hawk had been carrying his owner. The work had made the muscles +of his back and legs very strong for so young a pony. + +The two boys now released their grip on the ponies' noses and slid +cautiously down. Star watched them lying flat and crawling slowly in the +direction from which the noise of ponies could be heard. Hawk and Star, +with noses together, waited patiently. + +For a long time everything was silent, then shrill yells caused the two +ponies to jump nervously. They heard snorting of ponies and trampling of +hoofs, and men's voices were calling loudly in words that were not like +the Comanche tongue. Star reared and plunged against a small rope of +buffalo hide by which he was fastened to a scrubby tree. Hawk, also +tied, was lunging and kicking. + +Then something terrible happened. Frightful noises, like cracking of +thunder, seemed everywhere. Lightning flashed close to the ground. It +did not come from the sky, like other lightning when it stormed. Star +crouched and trembled in fear of the thing he could not understand, but +Hawk with a still greater effort broke loose. + +"Come!" he called to Star, turning to run from the noise that was +deafening. "Come quickly! It is the fire-stick that kills Comanches and +their ponies. Run! Run! Run!" + +He did not wait while Star fought and struggled against the stout +rawhide rope which held him fast. Fire leaped from darkness and noises +grew louder. Then the thud of racing ponies grew more distinct and in +the dim light Star saw a vast herd of pure white ponies rush past him +and vanish like snowflakes blown by a strong wind. + +But the flashes of fire did not cease, and the pony threw his whole +weight against the rope. It broke and he was free. With a shrill squeal +Star followed the fleeing animals. Though they had passed him so quickly +he had seen two small dark forms on white ponies at the end of the herd. +They were ahead of him now, and Star redoubled his efforts until he came +abreast of Hawk. Together they raced, but slowly and surely Star passed +him. + +Like a thin cloud the white ponies kept ahead of Star. His ears cocked +sharply, his nose was thrust far out and level with his shoulders, his +eyes peered into the gloom to gauge the distance and make his own pace, +his body flattened more closely to the ground, and the steady stride of +his slender legs never wavered, while his mane tossed wildly and his +long black tail fluttered in the air that he cut in his wild race. + +He reached the fear-crazed white animals, and edging his way between +them, Star found the boy who had ridden him now seated astride one of +the largest white ponies. Star looked at it as he ran beside it. He had +never seen such a big pony in all his life. But the Comanche pony saw +that the white pony was breathing very hard, while its legs moved +uncertainly and heavily as it ran. + +"It is a big pony," Star said to himself, "but I can out-run it without +trouble. Buffaloes are big and heavy. They can run fast, too. But an +antelope or deer is more swift. I can out-race an antelope. So can my +mother!" + +He tossed his saucy head and slyly poked the big white pony in the ribs, +to make it go faster. But the poor beast was doing its very best, and it +rolled its eyes toward Star. + +"Please don't bite me," it spoke. "I am too old and too fat to run so +fast and so far!" + +"I won't hurt you," replied the Comanche pony, crowding more closely. + +The Indian boy on the white pony's back saw Star, and twisting sidewise, +the lad gathered himself, leaped from the horse he was riding and landed +firmly on the back of the Comanche pony. + +The boy's shout of triumph mingled with Star's squeal of delight as out +of the darkness rode Quannah on Running Deer, while back of the chief +dashed the rest of the warriors. + +Circling about the white horses the Comanches urged them rapidly over +the low rolling hills until they were completely hidden in thick +undergrowth, where they halted. + +The white horses showed plainly how hard the pace had been, for they +stood with heads hanging low, their sides drawn and nostrils dilating +rapidly. Many of them lost no time in lying down where they stood, +without even seeking a comfortable soft spot. + +"They tire easily," Star said to his mother who was near him. "Hawk and +I could have left them far behind and it would not have made us puff +like these white ponies. They must belong to squaws and children. They +are too fat and too slow for fighting men." + +"No herd can run as fast as the ponies of the Quahadas," replied his +mother. "Come, lie down and rest while there is time. When we are out +with the warriors it is our duty to rest and feed whenever we have time, +for when we travel we cannot tell when we will stop. Only Quannah knows +that." + +Star glanced at the warriors who sat on the ground and talked together, +while still others, on their ponies, guarded the captured white animals. +Two days and a night of fast travelling made Star feel that he had +earned a good rest, so he slipped to the ground and soon was fast +asleep. + +But in his dream he was racing again. This time he was trying to reach +Songbird who was calling to him that the white men were taking her away, +as they had taken Quannah's mother and sister, so that she could never +come back again to her people. He was running faster than any Comanche +pony had ever run before--twice as fast as Running Deer could run, for +he thought she was trying now to keep pace with him and was falling +behind. Only the storm wind could travel that fast. Star found that no +matter how swiftly he raced Songbird was always beyond him. He could not +see her, but her voice came back to him. + +"I am coming," he whinnied shrilly. + +Her voice grew more faint and at last it ceased altogether while he +whinnied despairingly, hoping to hear her answer. + +Then he felt his mother touch him, and opened his eyes to see her lying +beside him. + +"What is the matter?" she asked. "You are kicking so that you wakened +me." + +He told her the dream and she listened gravely, though she answered +carelessly, "You are over-tired. After all, you are but a colt and your +muscles are soft. You have been tested as few colts are tested at your +age. Go to sleep again, so that you will be ready to travel with us, for +last night I heard Quannah say that as soon as the big white ponies have +rested, we would start for the camp of the women and children. Now that +we have captured the white men's ponies they cannot catch us. That is +why we are to rest for to-day." + +When it was time to get up, Star felt as well as though he had never +raced, but the big white ponies were still weary. Some of them did not +rise. Many others moved stiffly as they mingled with the Comanche herd +while they cropped the grass together like old friends. + +Most of the warriors had gone across a small ridge into a gully or +ravine, where they made a camp. This was done so that the smoke from +their camp fire might not be seen from afar, and thus tell the white men +where to hunt their lost ponies. Only dry wood was used for the camp +fire. Wood fresh or green would have made too much smoke. A few warriors +were left to guard the herd, for the Comanche ponies were trained to +keep together, while the white ponies were too tired to run away, even +if given a chance to escape. + +Star wandered near the white horse that had begged him not to bite it +because it was too old and too fat to run so fast. With raised head and +a bunch of grass hanging from its lips, it looked curiously at the +Comanche pony. Slowly its eyes travelled from Star's velvety nose, along +his straight back, his slender legs and strongly muscled flanks to the +sweeping black tail that almost touched the ground. The white horse +swallowed the clump of grass before it spoke. + +"You are a beautiful horse!" + +"I am not a horse," Star answered indignantly, "I am a Comanche pony. +What is a horse, anyway?" + +"A horse is a big pony," replied the other. "I am a horse. We cannot run +as swiftly as you ponies, but we are stronger to haul burdens when we +are hitched to wagons by our masters." + +Star was so surprised that he stopped grazing to talk with the +good-natured white beast, and it told him there were thousands of men +with white faces, who carried guns and lived in houses made of rocks +instead of tepees of hides. He told how these men fed corn and hay to +their horses, as well as grass. Then he explained how some horses were +taught to be gentle, so that saddles were placed on their backs and bits +in their mouths; other horses learned to drag carriages in which women +and children rode safely, and still other horses hauled heavier wagons +loaded with blankets and food. + +"They even build houses for us," he continued, "and when it storms we +are warm and dry and have nothing to do but chew our grain. If we have +to go out in a rain, when we come back we are rubbed dry and a warm +blanket covers us to our heels so that we may not be chilled. But +sometimes white men are cruel to us," he added. + +"I hate men with white faces," snorted Star, stamping his forefoot +angrily. "My mother says that they will take our game and our grass and +kill all the Comanche ponies and people. The white men took Quannah's +mother and sister away and they never came back to us. That is why I +hate men with white faces!" + +"Not all of them are that way," the big horse said earnestly. "Many +white people do not wish to fight. Sometimes Indians have killed white +women and children and have burned their homes, or taken them prisoners. +Then the Great Father of the whole world, who is over the white people +and the Indians, too, has to send soldiers to find the white prisoners +and make the Indians keep away from the homes of the white men." + +Star thought over these words before he asked, "Who told you all this?" + +"I learned it myself, through many years of hard work," was the reply. +"Ever since I was five years old I have belonged to the White Horse +Troop which was captured by the Indians last night. Only white horses +are in that troop, but in other troops there are blacks and bays and +sorrels. Each of the troops has three officers and the captain is in +command while the others are under him. So for many years I have gone +with the troop over miles of rough country, sometimes swimming great +rivers, and often we encountered big bands of Indians who fought us. +Maybe the Indians are wrong, maybe it is the white man, but men are our +masters and so, right or wrong, we obey them and love them. Yet we +horses do not understand, nor do we fight the Indian ponies. I am old +and I do not wish to fight any one. But we must obey our masters. When I +was young I did not ask questions, but now that I am stiff from years, I +wonder why people fight one another." + +"Do all your horses fight?" was Star's puzzled comment. + +"Not the band horses," replied the white horse. "They do not go out of +the garrison where we all live together. Their riders have shining horns +and big drums that make such beautiful music that when we troop horses +come out on parade, we cannot keep our feet from dancing or our necks +from curving with pride. The Band horses are very proud and keep to +themselves when we are all out grazing, and of course, no one could +blame them for that." + +Star listened in amazement. He was anxious to learn all that he could, +so as to repeat this wonderful story to his mother. + +"You use so many strange words," he said at last. "What is a parade?" + +"Why, just a big green piece of ground, but all around it are buildings +where officers and soldiers live. In the centre of each parade is a very +high white pole. On top of it floats a beautiful flag." + +"What is that?" interrupted Star, bewildered. + +"It is like a big blanket made of fine cloth. There are stripes of white +and red and in one corner is a patch of blue with white stars on it." + +"I know what a star is," said the Comanche pony. "My name is Star +because I have the white mark on my forehead. Songbird, the little +daughter of Chief Quannah, gave me that name when I was too small and +too weak to stand up on my legs. I belong to Songbird, and my mother, +Running Deer, is the favourite pony of the chief," he ended proudly. + +"I saw her talking to you," was the answer, "and I thought how beautiful +she was!" + +Star edged more closely to his new acquaintance. "Even though our +masters fight, I like you and we will be friends," he said, rubbing his +nose against the white horse's neck, then letting his neck rest across +the troop horse's back, Star bit gently, while the big horses did the +same to him. Only horses who are fond of one another give this pledge of +friendship. + +"I wish our masters would be friends, too," said the old troop horse at +last. "If every one would be friends there would be no more fighting." + +"There is enough grass and room for all the tepees, so maybe they will +stop fighting soon," Star spoke hopefully. + +"Some horses kick and bite and steal grain from the others," the white +horse answered, "and when one horse in a team kicks, balks, or will not +pull its share of the load, the other horses must do it all. White men, +Indians, and horses are all the same. Some are good, some are bad, but +the burdens of those who are bad must be carried by those who try to do +right. I am the oldest of those in the White Horse Troop and I speak of +things I have seen in many long years. I am sorry for the horse that +kicks and bites and steals, but I do not hate him. The whip is made to +punish him, and some day he will suffer." + +The day passed quickly for the troop horse and the Comanche pony. When +the shadows of the trees disappeared because the sun was straight above +the camp, the troop horse stretched out for a noonday sleep, and Star's +black head rested on the white horse's neck. + +Running Deer, searching for her colt, found them together and she lay +down beside them. + + + + +Chapter IX + + +Two hours before sunset Star awakened from his sound sleep, but the +white horse only lifted its head long enough to blink at the Comanche +pony as it rolled over. Then Star scrambled to his feet and gave a hard +shake of his body, which is the way a pony stretches after a good nap. + +Running Deer was not far off, so the colt joined her, and after an +exchange of gentle bites, they moved slowly away from the herd, grazing +as they went. Star told his mother all that the troop horse had been +talking about, and Running Deer was as much surprised as her colt had +been, for she had no idea of how white men lived. + +The two Comanche ponies were so interested in their conversation that +neither of them noticed they had wandered quite a distance from the +herd. The Indians on guard over the other ponies had not tried to stop +Star or Running Deer, because all the Comanches knew that neither of +these ponies would stray far away. But the rolling hills stretched +temptingly, and at times Star and his mother raced after each other, +kicking up their heels or even lying down to roll and kick, then jumping +up to dash away side by side. When the sun dropped out of the sky +Running Deer was startled, and reminded her colt that they must go back +at once. + +They were standing on a little knoll overlooking a shallow depression +between a group of small hills. The sun had disappeared, but like a +warrior's banner beautiful crimson rays were flung across the deep blue +sky. The cool evening breeze twisted its fingers in the ponies' manes, +lifting the heavy black hair and tumbling it across their eyes, so that +it tickled their ears until Star tossed his head. The only sound was the +song of a mockingbird guarding the nest on which its mate sat patiently +with her wings spread over the little ones that the night air might not +chill them. The grassy slopes were studded with wild flowers, many of +which, sleepy from their long day's play with the breeze, nodded on +their stems with their petals folded as though their hands were clasped +in prayer. + +Here and there jack-rabbits, their long ears perked nervously, twisted +to see if any danger threatened, then dropping on all four feet they +hopped, and chased one another in play, or nibbled at the grass roots. +An antelope with her fawn at her side appeared for an instant on one of +the hilltops, her head lifted alertly, her nostrils twitching as she +sniffed the air. She started, whirled on her slender legs, then with her +fawn dashed out of sight. + +Running Deer watched her go, but Star spoke and she looked at him. + +"Now that we have the ponies of the white men, they cannot follow us any +more," he was saying. "But I like the old white horse, and I am glad +that he is going to stay with us. He is a very wise animal, I think, and +I am going to ask him to tell me all he knows, then I shall be wise, +too!" + +Before his mother could reply, the sharp "Yip, yip, yip" from a distant +point warned the two ponies that the coyotes were gathering for the +night. Both Star and Running Deer snorted and glanced quickly about, to +see if any had crept too near. + +They knew the ways of the small gray wolves. Each night at sunset the +pack followed its leader to a point where he could command a view for +some distance. Then he squatted silently, watching everything with his +keen, green eyes while his pointed nose sniffed the wind for hidden foes +or some animal that would furnish the pack with food. + +So long as the wind came toward him from any living thing, he could +escape, but when the wind blew away from him toward another animal or a +man, the coyote knew that he was not safe from surprise or attack. + +Trained from puppyhood by their mothers how to meet their enemies and +preserve their own lives, the coyotes always picked the strongest, +swiftest, and most daring of a pack for the leader. At nightfall these +leaders raced ahead of their packs across the prairie land, and when one +leader reached high ground he squatted down on his lean haunches and +sent out the call of his tribe. + +Before the echo had died away into silence, another leader gave answer. +After that other coyotes took up the cry, and then from all sides the +packs swept down the slopes and came together in a big gray mass. + +Their long tongues lolled from their mouths as they ran, their green +eyes glanced ravenously from side to side. Rabbits and other small +game, hearing the cry of the pack, scurried into hiding. Antelopes and +deer huddled more closely, keeping the young, weak fawns in the centre. +Often the hungry coyotes formed yelping circles about the antelopes, and +at times made dashes at them, hoping to frighten some fawn so that it +would run alone. For if it left the shelter of the herd only half a +minute, the coyotes would leap upon it and tear it to pieces. + +The does and the stags of the herd knew the danger. So while the +mothers' bodies sheltered their little ones, the stags, with long, +many-pronged horns, dashed at the coyotes and, if close enough, tossed +or gored their foes, often rearing straight up on their hind legs to +stamp on the coyotes with sharply pointed little hoofs that cut like +keen knives. + +With all other animals of the plains, the Comanche ponies knew that if +any colt ever strayed alone from the herd, he might fall a victim to the +coyote packs. Even buffalo calves had been dragged down by a bunch of +the prowling animals. Star's mother had many times shown him torn bits +of buffalo hide and scattered bones which told that the pack had found a +buffalo calf unprotected. Hundreds of coyotes gather in each band, and +swift as the wind, they cover many miles in search of a victim. + +Now, as the first call of the gathering coyotes died away, Running Deer +spoke hurriedly to Star, who needed no urging. Turning sharply on their +hind hoofs, they started on a swift run toward the place where all the +other ponies were being herded. + +It was much farther than Running Deer or Star had thought. The coyotes +were not far behind. The sound of the pack grew louder, and the gray +brutes came over the hill yelping with glee as they saw the two ponies. +Running Deer kept talking quietly to her colt as they ran. + +"Don't jump high, run low and save yourself all you can," she said, her +nose near Star's, but her eyes straight ahead of her. "They run fast +to-night because they have not eaten nor found water. So we must be +careful." + +It was the first time that Star had been chased by coyotes. He knew that +his mother had been followed many times, so he listened to every word +and obeyed her. Both ponies were puffing slightly, but their pace did +not change though their way often led up steep slopes then down +opposite banks while their forefeet ploughed deeply into the earth. + +"Don't slip," warned Running Deer as they raced neck and neck. "The +coyotes cannot catch either of us unless we stumble. If I should fall, +you must not stop, but go right on to camp." + +Star did not answer. He knew that if his mother fell, he would stay with +her and fight the coyotes with his teeth and his heels so the hungry +beasts could not tear her to pieces before she could get up again and +run with him. + +Twice he slipped on loose stones that rolled down the slopes in front of +him, and once he fell and skinned his knees, but he leaped to his feet +and kept at his mother's side. + +At times the pack behind them ran silently, then Running Deer's eyes +rolled backward to see how near they were. Star wondered how it would +feel to have a coyote leap on him. He shivered, but all his fears +vanished at his mother's next words. + +"They are falling back now! We are gaining at every step!" + +He glanced around. She was right. The coyotes were farther away, and +evidently realized that the ponies had outdistanced them, for they were +all running much more slowly. A few had halted and showed plainly that +they intended to look elsewhere for their dinner that night. One by one +the pack thinned, and finally a mournful howl told that the last pursuer +had given up the chase, leaving Star and his mother alone and safe. + +"When you fell to your knees"--Running Deer was walking now, and her +nose reached across to Star's--"I thought we two had run our last race. +They were very close just then." + +"But you could have escaped," replied Star, whose bleeding knees made +him wish he could stand in cool water for a little while, and he thought +happily of the creek near camp. + +"I would have stayed with you," his mother said quietly. Star was not +surprised at her words, for he knew that he would have done the same +thing for her, but he was glad it had not been necessary for either of +them to make such a fight against their foes. With several hundred +hungry coyotes against them, how could two ponies have kept up the fight +till dawn? That was what he asked himself, and Running Deer had the same +thought, though neither spoke of it. + +In a few more minutes they both recognized the top of an elevation that +overlooked the grazing place and safety for the night. Star, because of +his raw knees, lagged slightly behind his mother, and as she stopped +suddenly he hastened to her side, where both of them stared in +amazement. + +"I thought we had reached the herd." Star was the first to speak as they +looked down on a place where no pony was in sight. + +"It is where we left the herd," she answered. "They have moved it to +Quannah's camp. Come! We must hurry. They must have missed us by this +time. Quannah will be angry with the herders and punish them for letting +us get away." + +Without going down into the former herding camp, Running Deer led her +colt along the top of the ridge, knowing that it would take them just +above Quannah's camp, about a mile farther on. Star understood her +worry, or at least he thought he did; but he wondered at her nervous +starts and snorts, for there was nothing that threatened either of them +now. Coyotes sometimes ventured close to the camps, but they only +squatted at the outer edge and Star knew that they would keep away from +any camp fire, lurking in the shadows to avoid being seen or shot at by +the Comanches guarding the herd. + +Though it was now more than an hour after sunset, it was still quite +light when Star caught the scent of the pony herd and knew they were +close by. But he jumped back snorting as he saw his mother, who had +reached a higher point of ground, rear suddenly and turn. + +"Run! Run! Run as fast as you can! The white men have all our ponies! +They have captured the herders, too! Quannah is over the hill. We must +go to him! He may need us now!" + +Before they could cover the ground between the captured ponies and +Quannah's camp, almost a mile away, they heard the terrible noise of +fire-sticks. It came from the direction of Quannah's camp. The white men +were there, too! + +Star and his mother stopped instantly and looked at each other. Both +trembled with fear of the fire-sticks. They knew what those things +meant. + +"What shall we do?" the colt asked in fright. + +"I belong to Quannah," his mother spoke. "I shall follow him wherever he +goes. You belong to Songbird. You must go to her and help her escape +the white men, so that they may not take her away as they took Quannah's +mother and sister. Go back to the camp and find Songbird!" + +The colt hesitated. He had never been anywhere by himself. Always the +pony herd and his mother had been with him, except for the few hours +when Songbird had ridden him near the big camp. He thought of the packs +of coyotes and the long, lonesome miles that he must travel to reach the +camp where the women and children waited the return of Quannah and his +warriors who were now fighting the white men and the fire-sticks. Star +knew they were fighting, for the noise hurt his ears as he stood facing +his mother. + +She heard it too. Her ears went flat back against her beautiful head, +her nostrils were drawn in so that her nose looked thin, and little red +sparks of anger glittered in her dark eyes. Then she said in a voice +that made Star shrink back ashamed of himself. + +"Is the big colt of Running Deer a coward? Go! I tell you go at once! +You belong to Songbird! She needs you now!" + +Running Deer's strong teeth caught Star's back and sank deeply into the +soft flesh. With a squeal of pain and surprise, the colt leaped away. +Forgetting the coyotes and the loneliness of the trail and with no +further thought of his cut knees, he raced furiously into the gathering +darkness of night to find his little mistress, who had no one but +himself to help her, now that Quannah was unable to reach her. + + + + +Chapter X + + +Star had no trouble following the dim trail of the Comanche ponies back +toward their camp. Though he had travelled it only once he did not +forget it, and what was still more strange, he, like other ponies raised +on the prairies and in the mountains, was able to go over dangerous +places in the dark. + +The only thing that really bothered him was that the coyotes were near +him at night when he could not see them. But he slept in the daytime, +taking short naps, or just rested with his eyes wide open; then when +darkness fell, he rose and went steadily on. + +Of course, he worried about his mother, wondering where she was and what +had happened to Quannah and the warriors and all the Comanche ponies. If +Star had not seen his mother's fright and had not heard the fire-sticks +talking so angrily, he would have thought it a great lark to be alone, +with no one to control him. + +More than once he was tempted to go back to his mother, but when he +hesitated he remembered that she probably was no longer in the place he +had left her; besides, he dared not risk her anger by disobeying her. +Her teeth were sharp and her jaws strong, and his back still hurt where +she had bitten him. She had often pinched him, but never before had +Running Deer hurt her colt. It was not actually the bite that hurt most, +but what she had said when she thought he was a coward. So Star decided +he had better go on, and he trotted or loped toward the camp where +Songbird had remained with the women and children. + +The coyotes, though following, kept a respectful distance from his teeth +and heels. Several times they tumbled over each other in their haste to +dodge him when, with a squeal of fury, he raced after them. He knew that +they could not catch him as long as he was awake and could see them, and +his hearing was so keen that even the crackling of a dry twig awoke him +and brought him with a bound to his feet ready to meet his foes. + +There were many little streams of clear water and plenty of good feed, +and Star would have been quite happy had he not been anxious about his +mother, Quannah, and the Comanche pony herd. Songbird, he believed quite +safe in the camp with the women, papooses, and old men who had been too +aged or feeble to join the warriors in the fight. + +It took a week for Star to reach the top of a gentle slope from which he +looked down upon the camp. Smoke was rising lazily from fires in the +tepees, children were playing in front of their homes, and the squaws +were moving about attending to their everyday work. But as the pony +looked, it seemed strange not to see even one animal of the immense +Comanche pony herd. + +"Suppose I should never see them again!" he thought for the first time. +"Maybe the white men will take my mother away, too!" + +Unable to resist his feeling of loneliness and fear, Star lifted his +head and called loudly, though he knew perfectly well that all the +ponies were with Quannah, and that it had taken a journey of one week to +get to this camp. Of course he did not expect an answer, but he gave +call after call. Even the sound of his own voice made it seem less +lonesome just now. + +A squaw, carrying a bundle of dry faggots on her bent back, was the +first to hear him, and after the first glance her cry of surprise +brought other women from the tepees. Someone called to Songbird, and as +the child ran out of her father's big tepee, Star gave a shrill nicker +and raced pell-mell down the slope until he gained her side. Songbird's +arms wound around his neck, and his head bent low, while he listened to +the loving words of his little mistress and felt her soft hands caress +him. + +The other children gathered, while the squaws talked among themselves, +each one trying to understand how Star had come alone to the camp. Many +of them were certain that Quannah and his warriors were returning, and +that Star had just galloped ahead to find Songbird. + +They hastened to assure the child that this was the only solution to the +puzzle, and so they left Songbird and Star and hastened to make +preparations for the returning warriors, who would be very hungry and +tired after so long a journey. + +Star followed Songbird when she climbed the hill, where they watched +together while below them the other children and all the women rushed +about preparing a great feast. But the hours passed, and when it was +too dark to see anything except the flickering fires and the shadowy +figures near the light, Songbird and Star moved slowly down the +hillside. The pony's head drooped, for he was very tired, and Songbird's +cheeks were streaked where she had wiped away tears that she must not +allow any one except Star to see, for she was the daughter of the chief. +Moko gave a sharp glance at Songbird, then spoke in a low voice. + +"Quannah will come, and I shall paint a robe for him, and it will show +how he conquered the white men, and I shall paint Songbird, the daughter +of Quannah, and Star, the colt of Running Deer, waiting for the return +of Quannah and his warriors." + +Songbird looked soberly at Moko. "What will you paint if my father does +not come back again, Moko?" + +"I will paint a chief's daughter who did not cry," the old woman +answered. "Men fight with spears and arrows or knives, and they win +honour and praise, but women fight alone and no one knows when they +fight. Brave women do not weep. You are the daughter of the chief. His +mother rode beside his father when the fire-sticks screamed at them, +and she was not afraid. You will not cry even though Quannah does not +return to us." + +"No"--the voice that answered Moko was very low and trembling--"I will +not cry, Moko." + +The old Picture-Maker, clutching a lock of Star's mane in her wrinkled +hand, looked after the little figure that walked proudly away and +disappeared into the chief's tent. Moko shook her white head sadly as +she gave some dried corn to Star, then tethered him with a long rope +made from plaited strips of buffalo hide. In the big tepee Songbird lay +across the bed of furs, choking back sobs that must not be heard. + +During the following week the squaws and children watched, while +Songbird and Star went daily to the highest point overlooking the camp, +hoping for some sign of the returning warriors. As the two were about to +start up the hill on the morning of the eighth day, a Comanche warrior, +mounted on a black pony, appeared on the point above the camp. Star was +the first to see him. Star knew that black pony had sharp teeth and very +strong jaws. Running Deer answered her colt's welcoming call, then Star +tore madly toward his mother, who, with Quannah on her back, scrambled +hastily to meet her colt. + +As the ponies met, Songbird held out her arms, and her father lifted her +from Star's back. Holding her before him, the chief rode down into the +camp, while Songbird's eyes glowed with pride and joy. Star, keeping +closely beside his mother, kicked his heels, shook his head, and nipped +his mother's neck. + +Over the crest of the hill behind Quannah, rode the cavalcade of +Comanche warriors. Their war-bonnets trailed over their shoulders and +fell almost to the ground, their shields were held aloft, and the silver +trinkets on each pony jingled loudly. One by one the Comanches dashed +furiously into the camp, formed in single files and raced in and out +between the tepees, uttering shrill cries of triumph, while the women +and even tiny children joined in the song of victory. + +Songbird had been dropped lightly to the ground, and now, among the +other children, she watched her father as he sat on Running Deer +towering above all the other warriors. Her little heart seemed ready to +burst with pride. Never had there been such a Comanche Chief, she +thought. + +The war-bonnet of eagle feathers which encircled his forehead swept down +his back, and over Running Deer's glossy black flank to the mare's +fetlocks. Large hoops of brass were in the chief's ears, and a necklace +of bear's claws hung about his neck. Quannah had killed those bears, and +each one had been big and very fierce. Only a brave warrior could have +killed them alone. Tight trousers of buckskin, fringed at the outer +seams, and moccasins trimmed with bits of red cloth, finished the best +clothes of a Comanche chief. Songbird thought it a beautiful way of +dressing. + +His hair, braided with otter fur and tied with strips of red material, +formed a long scalp-lock. It was a disgrace for a warrior to have no +scalp-lock. In battle his enemies always tried to capture it as a trophy +of victory and proof of bravery. + +Many of the ponies were striped with different colours. The stripes were +used on buckskin, white, gray, or sorrel ponies to prevent detection by +foes, but the darker ponies, such as blacks or bays, did not need such +precautions. Running Deer, being coal-black like Star, had not been +painted. The mare's bridle was heavy with silver ornaments which had +been hammered firmly on reins and headstall, while her long tail and +thick mane were braided with the same kind of red cloth that tied +Quannah's scalp-lock. + +An hour after the return of the men, the ponies had been unsaddled and +turned loose to rest and graze, while their owners scattered in the +village to prepare for the feast that awaited them, and to relate to the +eager squaws and papooses how their chief had outwitted and evaded the +white men who had hoped to capture the Comanches. For Quannah had lured +them over misleading trails, up and down steep canyons, out on the border +of the sandy desert called the Staked Plains, where white men, unable to +find water or food, lay down to die, but where the Comanche Indians +travelled without disaster. + +The boys who had sneaked into the picket-lines of the soldiers and had +then stampeded the white horses were praised and feasted by the squaws, +envied by all the other boys, and smiled at by the girls who watched the +little heroes admiringly. + +The next day the camp was bustling with activity before the sun peered +curiously over the hill tops. That night the warriors were to celebrate +the Pipe Dance, and when the full moon rose over the distant mountains +all of the Quahadas gathered for the ceremony. + +Songbird was dressed in her new buckskin robe, her hair was smoothly +braided and fell in two long plaits. She walked proudly, for no other +child was to have the honour of standing with the squaws in the Dance. +Already a ring was forming. In the very centre were the women, whom +Songbird joined, and with the women stood a few of the very old men. +Beyond them was a still larger circle composed of the warriors, +including Gray Beard, Big Wolf, and Spotted Leopard. + +Karolo, the Medicine Man, stood beside Quannah, who held a lighted pipe +made of red sandstone. At a signal the warriors began dancing slowly +about their chief, all moving in the same direction, like a revolving +wheel. As each man came opposite Quannah, the chief held out the smoking +pipe and the warrior who received it took a whiff or two; then, handing +it back to Quannah, the man kept on dancing, all the while the others +went on with their weird chant. + +Star and Running Deer stood together on the outer edge watching the +dancers, who finished with great whoops of excitement. Then men, women, +and children squatted near the big camp fire where a feast had been set. +The light of the moon made each face as distinct as though it were being +seen in early morning. Beyond the edge of the camp, coyotes gathered, +sniffing the air and yelping because they dared not come nearer the food +that smelled so good. + +It was a night to be long remembered by the Quahada Comanches, but at +last the men, women, and sleepy children rose and went to their homes, +where, with a few parting words to one another, they lifted the flaps of +their tepees and slipped through the entrances. In a short time even +their murmuring voices were silent. + +The moon continued slowly on its journey through the sky, and the pony +herd huddled together for the rest of the night. Among the sleeping +animals was the old white troop horse, and Star, with Running Deer, +stretched closely beside him. They had all been very glad to meet again. + +Star had noticed another strange horse not far away. He was a big, gray +animal. Just now he was moving nervously and lifting his head, looked +about him. Star's eyes met those of the stranger. + +For a second the two horses stared curiously at each other. Then the +gray horse let his head fall slowly to the ground. Star, too sleepy to +think of anything but rest, closed his eyes and pillowed his head +comfortably on his mother's neck. She blinked at him, but the bite she +gave his neck did not hurt this time. Then they all slept. + +None of them ever stirred when the Comanche on guard over the pony herd, +seeing a coyote sneaking too near, seized a burning brand from the +smouldering camp fire and tossed it at the shadowy, skulking form. +Countless little sparks scattered as the burning stick hit the ground, +and the cry of the coyote pack grew fainter and fainter, until it died +in the distance. + + + + +Chapter XI + + +The next morning when Star, with his mother and the Old White Horse, had +found a nice place to graze near the other ponies, the Big Gray Horse +that Star had noticed the previous night joined them, and the Old White +Horse hastened to rub noses with him. + +Star watched curiously, then edged cautiously toward them. His nose +twitched, for Star was not quite sure whether he had better bite the Big +Gray Horse or not. The stranger was so big and was certainly very +handsome. He had a beautiful long silver tail and a heavy silver mane. +His ears were very small and tapered to delicate points, his forehead +was broad, and his eyes unusually large and bright. His neck arched +proudly and when he moved every muscle beneath his glistening dappled +skin told how powerful he was. Star reached him, and as they faced each +other, the Big Gray Horse lifted a front hoof and pawed the ground +lightly. + +The Old White Horse watched him respectfully, and Running Deer joined +the group, so that the four of them stood with their noses almost +touching. + +"Who are you?" asked Running Deer, when the Big Gray Horse showed +plainly that he wanted to be friends. + +"I am the horse of a general," was the proud answer. + +"What is a general?" Star hastened to inquire, and the Big Gray Horse +looked at him in surprise. + +"A general is a great soldier who commands many men," he said. "General +Mackenzie owns me, but I was confused by the noise and the darkness and +thought that I was running with our troop horses. When I learned that I +was among the Indian ponies it was too late for me to escape, for the +Comanches chased me back into their own herd each time I tried to get +away." + +"I was confused, but not afraid," the Old White Horse explained. "I have +been so many years a troop horse that I am not a coward in a fight. You +believe that, don't you?" He looked anxiously at the Big Gray Horse. + +"Yes," it answered. "Neither a man nor a horse that has grown old in +the service turns coward when he grows old. Sometimes we horses run just +because other horses are running; sometimes we misunderstand our orders +and run wild. That was how many horses broke loose when the Indian boys +hit us over the heads and backs with those bits of buffalo hide. When +some picket-ropes broke, the rest of us thought we would be left behind, +so we all struggled until we were free. Then I ran, guided by the sound +of other hoofs in the darkness, and not waiting to know whether those +around me were troop horses or Comanche ponies. I thought I was doing +what was right and best." + +"And then what happened?" Star questioned eagerly. + +"The soldiers fired their guns, and many tried to catch the running +horses which were dragging long ropes. The Comanches were all around in +the darkness. Then all I really knew after that was that a lot of us +were among the Comanche ponies and the warriors were urging us on. It +was dawn when we halted, and the soldiers were nowhere to be seen." + +"Nearly all of the White Troop horses are with us," the Old White Horse +spoke. + +Star lifted his head and glanced over the peacefully grazing herd, where +a large number of white animals were mixed among the Comanche ponies. +They were easily picked out, not only because of their colour, but also +because they were much larger than the Indian ponies. + +"Your fighting men cannot follow us," bragged Star, "for they have no +ponies now." + +"You are wrong," replied the Big Gray Horse. "There are hundreds more +horses, hundreds more soldiers who will follow the Comanches. The white +men are like the blades of grass, the stars in the sky, or the leaves of +the trees in a great forest. No one can count them. Others will join our +masters and keep on the trail until the Indians are all conquered. I +know what I say, for I have listened to my General and all his officers +talking while they rode together." + +"Why do they wish to conquer us?" demanded Star angrily. "The land, the +grass, the rivers belong to us! Why do the white men come out of far +places to take these things away from us?" + +"I am only a horse," the other replied. "How can I tell? I only know +that my General holds the rein that guides me, and I love and obey him. +Sometimes while he rides slowly, he and the other officers talk +together. Then we, their horses, listen. So we learn much, but there are +many things none of us understand." + +"Have you, too, heard them talk?" Running Deer questioned the Old White +Horse which had kept silent all this time. + +"I do not belong to an officer," he said. "I am only a troop horse. A +soldier rides me and we must follow the officers. My rider is an old +soldier. I am a very old troop horse. Our duty is to obey, not ask +questions, nor reason. Whether we are on parade or fighting, all I have +to remember is to mind the reins quickly, to listen sharply for the +bugle calls, and to keep my eyes fixed on the little pointed flag of our +troop. For that is the troop guidon. Where it leads, we follow." + +"We horses do not want to fight you ponies," the Big Gray Horse went on +as the Old White Horse stopped speaking. "We have no quarrel between +us." + +"Maybe if the Indians and the white men could understand one another's +talk it would stop the fighting," Running Deer joined the conversation +again. "We horses understand one another and we do not want to fight. +Preloch understood the Comanche tongue, and she did not fight them. She +made peace between those who wished to fight in the tribe. When people +do not understand one another that must be the reason for all the +trouble!" + +"Then white men never fight with one another!" Star exclaimed suddenly. + +The Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse hung their heads and were +silent, while the two Comanche ponies looked at them. + +"_Do the white men fight one another?_" demanded Running Deer at last. + +"Yes, sometimes," the Big Gray Horse replied. "There are white men who +steal, kill, betray, and oppress the weak and helpless. Those who know +the law and break it are punished by the law." + +"But the Indians do not know the white man's law, neither do they speak +the same tongue," snorted Running Deer, while her eyes showed little red +sparks of anger. "It was the white men who fought the Quahadas and took +away Preloch and Prairie Flower." + +"The Comanches had killed and stolen white women and children," replied +the Big Gray Horse. "So that was why the white men fought the Indians +and took Quannah's mother and sister captive." + +"Then how are the white men any better than the Comanches?" Running Deer +snapped angrily. "You tell us that the white men are wise and good, and +that the Comanches should learn the white men's ways and their laws, and +yet you also say that the white men fight, steal, oppress, and kill one +another, and if the Comanches take a white man's squaw or children, it +is right for the white men to kill us, steal our women and children, and +destroy our homes! If that is the right law for them, it is the right +law for us. How can they teach us to be better than they are, +themselves?" + +"Just as you speak, I once heard an officer speak," responded the Big +Gray Horse. "But when an order comes to an officer, he must obey. If we +horses feel the reins, hear the bugle calling, see the troop guidon +fluttering ahead of us, we ask no questions. Like our masters who ride +us, we obey, for wherever the flag leads, we must follow and uphold it. +There is much I do not understand, but I do know we horses have no +quarrel with the Comanche ponies." + +"Let us leave those things to men," the Old White Horse said. "We horses +are good friends and will not bite or kick one another. Why should we +fight when there is grass enough for us all? The world is big!" + +"You are right," was Running Deer's comment. "And now if you will come +with me I will show you where the grass is sweeter and more tender than +any other spot for miles around. Only a few ponies besides myself and +Star know the place. We will share it with you." + +Side by side the troop horse and the horse of the general followed the +Comanche mare and her colt. + + + + +Chapter XII + + +Life in the Quahada village went very happily for Star and Songbird +after the return of Quannah and his warriors. The white men had +evidently withdrawn from their chase of the Comanches, and Quannah did +not intend to cause further trouble unless the buffalo hunters or other +white people encroached upon the land which the Quahadas considered +their own. + +The Old White Horse and the Big Gray Horse seemed to be very well +satisfied among the Indian ponies, but Star was a special favourite. +More than once his mother chided him for liking the white men's horses +better than older friends among the Comanche ponies. Sometimes she even +drove him away from the cavalry horses and forced him to stay with the +others. At such times Star did his best to escape her watchful eyes and +return to his friends, but it was not an easy thing to accomplish. When +his efforts failed, he would call loudly to the two horses, and their +answers told him that they understood he had not deserted them. + +"Why do you want to stay beside them all the time?" Hawk asked him one +day when Running Deer had shouldered and nipped Star until he was in the +very midst of the herd. + +"Because they teach me so many things our ponies do not know," he +answered quickly. + +"What can a white man's horse tell a Comanche pony?" Hawk said +scornfully. + +"A great many things," was Star's reply. "I listen to them talking to +each other about big camps of white men, of strange houses that move as +swiftly as lightning, and of the wonderful flag that floats every day +from a tall white lodge-pole in the place where they live with many +horses and soldiers." + +"We have lodge-poles, too," Hawk spoke impatiently. "Can their flag +bring rain like the Thunder Bird that lives in the forks of the pole of +the Sacred Sun Lodge?" + +"No," Star shook his head, "I asked the Big Gray Horse about that, and +told him how the Sun caught the Thunder Bird and kept it prisoner in the +forks of the tall pole of the Sacred Sun Lodge, and that no rain could +fall until our Medicine Men and warriors vanquished the Sun and set the +Thunder Bird free; and how the Thunder Bird spread its great black wings +and rain fell from its pinions upon the thirsty earth, so that the grass +and flowers awoke from their sleep." + +"Can their flag do that?" demanded Hawk. + +"No; but he said that the flag on the lodge-pole meant that all those +who came to it for help are treated kindly, and all who live under it +are protected. I asked him if he thought that it could make the buffalo +hunters and other men with fire-sticks leave the Quahadas in peace. He +and the Old White Horse both said they were sure of it, if Quannah would +lead us all there to talk." + +"That was what the messengers from the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and Kiowa +camps said to Quannah," retorted Hawk. "The white men wanted them to +make a treaty of peace in a big Medicine Lodge, and then the Indians +would go and live where the white men put them. Quannah did not do it. +He was wise. He would not trust the white people, nor let them rule the +Quahadas, as though we were all captives. Who can tell what they would +do afterward? Why do you trust the two strange horses and their +stories?" + +"They are my friends!" Star's eyes were angry, his ears flattened +backward, his lips twitched so that his teeth showed. As he thrust his +head forward, Hawk jumped aside to avoid Star's strong teeth, and +Running Deer stood in front of her colt. + +"Why do you fight Hawk?" she snorted as Star moved out of her reach. +"You and he have played together all your lives. His mother and I grew +up together, and our mothers slept side by side before I was born. These +strangers are not of our people. They will leave us when they have a +chance to return to their own people, but we shall remain together until +we die. That is right. The white men and their horses have their own +ranges; the Indians and their ponies have other places. Whenever they +meet there is trouble and sorrow. When they dwell apart there is peace. +So why should you quarrel with Hawk about these strange horses of the +white men?" + +"I am sorry," spoke Hawk, edging more closely toward Star. + +The other pony moved quickly and rubbed his nose against Hawk's +shoulder, saying, "I'm sorry, too. I was to blame, but I do like to +listen to them talking." + +"Let me go with you now and hear them," suggested Hawk. + +"Yes, go!" said Running Deer, and she watched the two ponies trotting +together toward the Old White Horse and the Big Gray Horse, who showed +their pleasure at having the youngsters join them. + +A couple of hours later as the ponies rested beside the big horses under +the shade of a tree, Star scrambled hastily to his feet, saying, +"Songbird is calling me. Good-bye!" + +It did not take long for him to reach her side. She was standing before +the opening of the big tepee and a short tether was in her hand. Star +bent his head so that she could slip the crude bridle back of his ears +and around his nose, but there was no bit to be thrust into his mouth. + +Then without saddle or blanket she prepared to mount. Grasping his +shaggy mane in her strong little hands, she sprawled against his side +and balanced her body across his back, after which she wriggled until +she sat erect, with the single strand of rawhide in her left hand. + +Star knew that the pressure of her knee meant for him to turn one way or +the other. When she leaned forward and her bare brown legs clamped +closely against his body, the pony understood, without whip or spur, +that he must go faster. The lightest pull on the rawhide loop around his +nose caused him to stop at once. Besides all this, the tones of +Songbird's voice guided him, and he always did his best to obey and +please her, because he loved her. + +Often Songbird's pet fawn accompanied them. The fawn thought it great +sport to out-run the pony, but at times Star reached slyly to nip the +little creature, which took delight in teasing the pony and getting in +front of it. + +Some days the other Comanche children rode with Songbird, and when they +raced their ponies Star could easily outdistance the rest. Most of the +children rode the old ponies that were too stiff to be of value in +trades. The Comanches traded ponies instead of using money like white +people. The children bragged one to the other, about the number of +ponies his, or her, father owned, and how fast those ponies could run. +Songbird did not talk like the rest. Everyone knew that her father, +Quannah, had the most ponies of any warrior in any Indian tribe, and +that his ponies were faster and more beautiful than all others. + +She thought proudly of the pony races during festivals. When only the +ponies of the Quahadas ran, Quannah's ponies were not among them, for he +would not humiliate his own warriors by showing how slowly their ponies +ran. But when the Cheyennes, Kiowas, or Arapahoes brought their best +ponies to race against those of the Quahadas, Running Deer was led into +the line of strange ponies. + +As she stood among them, her bright eyes would note each lithe body, +each nervous nostril, and the outlines of steeled muscles. Measuring her +rivals she would toss her dainty head, and when the signal was given, +would shoot away like an arrow from the other ponies and reach the goal +ahead of them. Then amid wild shouts the Quahadas would gather about +Running Deer who had upheld the honour of the tribe. + +Later the defeated warriors would go back to their own camps, but the +best ponies would be left behind with the herd of the Quahadas. Songbird +knew that some day Star would race for the honour of the tribe. So while +the other children raced and bragged, Songbird watched and was silent. + +The games that Songbird played with the children were not so very +different from many games played by white children in other parts of the +world. Both boys and white girls shot arrows at targets, or, mounted on +high stilts, chased one another between the tepees. There were wooden +tops carved from tough limbs of trees, and the boys made whistles of +reeds on which they blew music that the Indians loved. + +Tiring of this they would turn to playing "Wolf" or "Chaser," which is +much like "Tag," or it might be a game of "Hide Things" which was the +name for "Hide and Seek." "Cat's Cradle" was played with strings +of tough buckskin, and a great favourite among the boys was a +breath-holding contest in which the boy who could hold his breath the +longest was the winner, and the one who was first to fail was ridiculed +by boys and girls. + +Songbird and the other little girls had dolls which the squaws made for +them. These were of buckskin painted gaily, and hair from the tails of +ponies was sewed to the heads. The women used threads of fine sinews, +and sharply pointed bits of stout wood pushed the queer thread through +the material. That was the way the Comanche women sewed, even in making +their tents, their clothes, and their moccasins. + +Keeping house and having feasts like dinner parties made many merry +hours. The boys, who scorned to play with the dolls, were very glad to +join the games when they saw cactus-fruit, pine nuts, dried wild +berries, dried acorns, and maybe deer meat that had been cut into long +narrow strips and hung in the sun until cured so that it could be eaten +without being cooked. There might even be little cakes made of dried +buffalo meat that had been pounded between two stones and mixed with +dried berries. + +Instead of candy they chewed dried mesquite beans, which were juicy +inside, and though sweet were tart. Possibly a special treat had been +prepared for the little housekeepers, and their mothers had given them +cactus-fruit. Eagerly the children watched the gorgeous yellow blossoms +form on the prickly-pear bushes, and when the petals fell, leaving the +delicious fruit, they knew enough not to touch it, for it was thickly +encrusted with tiny stickers. These were so fine as to be almost +invisible and were very painful as they worked into the flesh. + +A tough stick was used to knock the fruit from the edge of the thick, +flat, fleshy leaves that formed great clumps of the prickly-pear cactus. +The thorns and skin were then removed with sharp sticks, or by placing +for a few moments in hot ashes. The feast usually wound up with chewing +gum obtained from the sweet sap of certain trees. It oozed through the +bark, formed into dry lumps, and was all ready for any little Comanche +who happened near. + +So the men hunted deer and buffalo and made plans to protect their +families and homes, and the women searched for roots, nuts, and berries +for food and medicine, made clothes and cooked, while the children +played their games, like other children all over the world, and listened +to stories told in the tepees and by the camp fires, until the Spirit of +Darkness rode his big black horse across the sky. + + * * * * * + +Then the children of the Quahada Comanches went into their tepee-homes, +curled up on their beds of furry robes and slept. + +But Songbird knew that Quannah and the wisest and bravest men of the +tribe sat in the big tepee talking very gravely, night after night, when +they thought that she was sound asleep. She heard enough to understand +that they did not think the white men had given up the fight, but would +come again some day, and come in greater numbers to conquer the +Quahadas. + + + + +Chapter XIII + + +Songbird awakened early one morning and lost no time getting into her +moccasins and buckskin dress. Then she braided her hair and fastened it +with bits of red string. + +Aided by one of the older squaws, she set the tepee in order for the +day. The home of the Quahada Chief, though larger than other dwellings +in the big village, was built like the rest. + +A circular framework of poles had been erected to form a peak where they +joined near the top. There were twenty poles made of hewn cedar trees. +The poles were lashed together by hide ropes, then firmly sewed buffalo +skins, stretched tautly over them, were pegged solidly to the hard +ground. But an opening at the top of the tepee permitted the ends of the +poles to protrude. + +In the centre of Songbird's home was a fire, arranged so that the smoke +would pass through the opening at the top of the tepee. On either side +of this pit hung skins on crude frames. By moving these screens the +smoke from the fire pit could be controlled when the wind shifted, thus +making an inside chimney which carried off the smoke but allowed the +warmth to spread in the tepee. Near the fire crotched sticks supported a +pole on which clothes, robes, or moccasins could be hung when wet. + +The doors or openings of all the tepees in the village faced the east, +and were closed by flaps of buffalo hides on frames which enabled them +to be lifted easily, yet which stayed in place during bad weather. + +Two beds, or seats, were arranged inside the dwelling. One at a side, +the other at the back. These beds were merely slightly raised platforms +on which many soft robes had been thrown. But there were pillows of +buckskin stuffed with the feathers of wild turkeys, geese, or ducks, +mixed with long, soft hair cut from buffalo hides. + +Decorated skins hung slanting from the centre of the room across and +over the two beds, so that any water would be drained from the smoke +hole in rainy weather, and thus the fire was protected, as well as the +beds. The entire inside of the tepees had been painted by Moko in +designs of queer characters, or pictures of Comanches hunting or +fighting. + +Mats of woven bark and plaited rushes lay on the smooth, hard dirt +floor. A border of interwoven twigs around the two beds kept cold drafts +away in winter. During the summer the edges of the tepee were lifted and +tied, thus allowing the breeze full sway. + +Songbird was very proud of her home as she bustled around, sweeping the +earth floor with her broom made of coarse grass and twigs. Then with the +wing of a wild turkey, she carefully brushed the scattered ashes to the +centre of the fire-pit. Her father's best saddle hung on a post, and on +another was his big shield made of toughened buffalo hide. + +She stood looking at the shield, for it was beautifully painted, and a +fringe of buckskin bordered it all around. The buffalo hide had been +shrunken over fire to make it twice as tough and thick as originally. +Moko had told her about the important ceremony which took place when a +new shield was made, and how the Medicine Man blessed it, so that it +would protect the warrior who carried it. + +She had also told how the Quahadas in battle formed long lines, and the +other Indians who were enemies made a line opposite. After that, one +warrior rode out alone. Holding his shield high in the air, and +balancing his long lance, he challenged his foes to send a warrior to +meet him in single battle between the two lines of Indians. + +Then the other Indians sent their best fighter, and the two tribes +waited as the horsemen dashed toward each other, their ponies' manes and +long tails flying while the silver mountings on their bridles clinked. +The warriors leaning forward, with war bonnets of tall feathers that +trailed almost to the ground, met in a crash, and then if the spear were +not of tough wood, or the shield were not strong and tightly stretched, +the tribe of the wounded warrior was humiliated as their champion fell +from his pony. + +No lance had ever pierced Quannah's shield, though he had met the foes +of his tribes many times. But Songbird, small as she was, knew that the +white men did not fight with lances and shields. Moko had said that the +fire-sticks would tear the best shield the Quahadas could make, and that +the men with the fire-sticks could stand far away yet kill the Quahada +warriors before the Indians could reach their white foes. + +"They will come back to-day." The old squaw, who was puttering among the +cooking utensils at the back of the tent, spoke. "May the Great Spirit +grant they bring much meat, for our dried meat must be cured before the +days grow wet and cold." + +"I have two prayer-sticks," answered Songbird, proudly pointing at +little sticks fastened by cactus thorns to the wall of the tepee. "They +will bring my father and his warriors back to us safely with all the +meat and robes that are needed." + +The little sticks, about as long as the hand of a grown man, were +decorated with feathers, and other objects were attached by strings of +buckskin. The feathers, from the breast of an eagle, were called "breath +feather," for when the prayers were offered to the Great Spirit for any +warrior, the "breath feather" carried it to the Great Spirit and the +warrior was protected. Songbird knew that Karolo, the Medicine Man, had +moistened the prayer-sticks with wonderful medicine, and that he had +sprinkled them with sacred pollen. Karolo had given the prayer-sticks to +Songbird to comfort her when she was alone. + +"Yes," muttered the old woman, inspecting the bit of dried meat that +swung over the fire on a crotched stick, the other end of which was +thrust into the ground, "this time we need not fear, for the white men +have fled far away." + +As she spoke, she sliced off some hot meat and placed it in a dish made +from the bark of a tree. Songbird seated herself on the ground. On mats +of woven grass were ladles of wild gourds, spoons fashioned from buffalo +horns, shallow baskets woven of fine grass, and bowls made of red clay. + +There were sharp utensils made of flint rocks or of crude metal to cut +the food, if necessary, but mostly the breakfast consisted of pounded +berries and nuts, and the freshly roasted meat, with a mushy substance +prepared from maize. + +This was a kind of corn grown by the Indians, and when dry it was soaked +in lye made from wood ashes, to remove the tough outer skin. Then the +squaws placed it in a hollowed stone, and with a round flat stone that +fitted closely into the cavity they worked and pounded until there was a +fine powder. The food was ready to be eaten at once, either dry or +moistened with water, and was very nourishing. + +After breakfast, Songbird was free to roam where she pleased until such +time as her father and his men should return from the big buffalo hunt +on which they had started ten days before. + +She had not told any one of her plan to slip away and ride out to meet +her father. So without loss of time she reached Star where he was +grazing among other ponies that had not been taken on the hunt. + +When Star saw the rawhide rope in her hand, he lowered his head quickly, +so that she could slip the noose across his nose and back of his ears. +He was glad of a chance to run that morning, for the sun was so bright, +the air so bracing, the grass so soft and green and the sky so blue, as +he galloped across the rolling prairie with his little mistress on his +back. + + + + +Chapter XIV + + +Several miles from the village, Songbird saw the hunting party coming +toward her, and she dug her heels sharply into Star's side to urge him +faster on the way. Star did not need pushing, for he knew that Quannah +was riding Running Deer. The greeting between the colt and his mother +was as affectionate as that between the father and daughter. + +Side by side Star and his mother loped happily, while Songbird chattered +to her father, who looked at her with loving pride as she sat gracefully +on her pony's back, her cheeks pink from the touch of the breeze and her +excitement showing in her dark, glowing eyes. + +Back of Quannah and his little daughter rode the warriors, leading +ponies laden with antelope and buffalo meat, while still other ponies +carried rolled buffalo hides. + +The meat that had been obtained on the hunt would be cut into thin +strips and dried in the sun. This would preserve it for use without any +danger of its spoiling, and the robes would be tanned and used for many +purposes. No lack of food or warm robes need be feared now, and where +the tepees needed mending it could be done without trouble. The extra +robes would be exchanged by the Quahadas for articles which they might +desire from some other tribe, or even traded for more ponies. + +So there was much rejoicing when the hunting party reached the village +an hour later, and preparations were rushed for a great celebration. In +addition to the successful hunt it was time for the Festival of the +Green Corn. This was the Quahada Thanksgiving Day, when they thanked the +Great Spirit for an abundance of maize and other necessities of their +daily lives. + +Songbird, turning Star loose, wandered about the camp and watched the +squaws at work. Children ran from their tepees to the place where the +camp fires had been built. Each family had a separate fire for the +celebration, and when everything was ready big bunches of corn were +carried by each to the special family fire, where the squaws roasted the +ears of maize. + +While they were doing this the men formed in a large circle about the +fires. The Medicine Man, Karolo, and Quannah, with Gray Beard, Spotted +Leopard, and Big Wolf, were in the centre. The other men who formed the +circle danced around the chiefs, and as they danced they shouted the +Song of the Green Corn. This was accompanied by monotonous music made by +the pounding with dry buffalo bones on skins tightly drawn over hoops of +bent wood. + +When the dancing was over, the men all sat down close together, while +Karolo spoke to them and made a prayer of thanksgiving to the Great +Spirit. Each of the chiefs spoke after him. Then Karolo walked around +the circle of little fires and lifting his hands above each heap of +roasted corn, he blessed it. + +After he had blessed all the corn, the Quahadas, men, women, and +children, began to eat it, talking and laughing or calling across to one +another as they enjoyed the feast that the Great Spirit had provided and +blessed through Karolo. + +The children listened to the talk of their elders as they sat beside the +fires after the feast. There were stories of brave deeds, tales of +mighty hunters, and then all were silent as Moko related the story of +how the buffaloes were sent to the Comanches. Moko was not only the +Picture Maker of the Quahadas, but also the Story Teller. It was +through the Story Teller of the tribe that the younger people knew of +those who had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds long before the +grandparents of old Moko had been born. And Moko was the oldest living +person among the Quahadas. So all of them, young and old, men and women, +listened respectfully as she spoke. + +"So many moons ago it happened, that the Indians cannot count them now," +she said, poking the ashes with a long stick. "The Sun Spirit, angered +because the Thunder Bird had flown across the sky day after day, made a +trap and caught him. So the Sun held the Thunder Bird captive that it +might not fly across the sky and make shadows with its great black +wings. Because of this there was no rain and the earth grew thirsty. +Then the grass died and the young corn shrivelled away. + +"The ponies grew thin and weak, the streams shrank to small threads of +water and many of them became dry sand. The antelopes moved away or died +because there was no grass, and though the Medicine Man planted his +prayer-sticks and begged the Great Spirit to help his children, the +Great Spirit did not listen to his voice. + +"Then a young man of the Quahadas, and his wife, knowing that their +people would starve, wandered away together, hand in hand, to seek the +Great Spirit and offer him their own lives for the sake of their people +with whom the Great Spirit was angry. + +"For three days before they started neither of them had eaten even a +mouthful of maize, nor had they taken any water, so that there might be +more left for the others who were not so strong as they were. + +"Across the desert of hot sand that burned like fire against their bare +feet, they two wandered alone. For many days they found nothing but +heat, thirst, and hunger, and often they lay down on the scorching sand, +too weak to go farther. But when they had rested a few minutes, they +remembered their people, and so they rose wearily and continued their +search for the Great Spirit. + +"And one day the Great Spirit, who had been watching them all the time, +appeared before them and said that because he had seen their great love +and pity and knew that their own sufferings had not made them weaken in +their search for him, their prayers would be answered, and the sacrifice +of their lives was not desired by him. He touched the dry sand, and a +stream of clear water ran past their feet, so they fell upon the sand +and thanked the Great Spirit. Then they laid their lips in the cool +ripples, and drank their fill. + +"As they arose they saw food before them and many strange beautiful +fruits, which the Great Spirit bade them eat. Then he told them of the +Sun Dance and how the big Sun Lodge must be built, and how the chiefs +and the Medicine Men could vanquish the Spirit of the Sun when it held +the Thunder Bird captive. + +"After they had eaten and had thanked the Great Spirit, they promised to +do as he bade them. Then the man and the woman returned rejoicing of +their people and gave the message to them. + +"And the Quahadas obeyed the Great Spirit, and made a prisoner of the +Sun, so the Thunder Bird was free. Then it stretched its broad wings and +flew swiftly over the land. The rain fell from the black feather tips +until the land was flooded and the grass leaped up, the flowers +bloomed, the antelopes returned, the ponies of the Quahadas grew fat and +strong and the whole tribe rejoiced because the Great Spirit smiled upon +them and their children. + +"One day they saw a great black mass like a thunder cloud sweeping +across the prairie close to the ground. As it drew nearer they saw that +it was not a cloud, but a vast herd of strange, big, black animals, such +as none of them had ever seen before, and of which no one had ever told +them or their forefathers. Then the Quahadas hid their faces, for they +heard the voice of the Great Spirit speaking from the sky. + +"Because you have obeyed me, my anger has passed away and I give you +this new food. Kill these buffaloes when you need meat, when you need +clothes, when you need tepees. These are all mine and I give them to +you, my children. You must take only what you need. If you slay them +when you have enough food, clothes, robes, or tepees, I will take all +the buffaloes away, and I will also take from you again the grass and +water." + +"So the buffaloes were given to the Indians; and we must never forget +the words of the Great Spirit as he spoke to our forefathers that day, +many, many moons ago. So many moons that none of us can count them now!" + +Shaking her white head and muttering to herself, old Moko went to her +tepee, and Songbird, with the other children, sat watching the games +played by the men and women. + +Some of the men held arrows, which they tossed while other men threw +their own arrows to try to stop the flight of the first arrow as it went +swiftly past. It required great skill and a keen eye to measure the +flight of the arrow and break it. + +Other men, holding netted bats, like tennis rackets, played with a ball +and kept it moving between them for a long time. The players had to keep +the ball from falling to the ground and the rule was that if any man +touched the ball with his hand, he must leave the game and pay a fine. + +The younger men wrestled in pairs, each one striving to throw the other +to the ground and hold him down until Big Wolf, Spotted Leopard, or Gray +Beard had decided which one was the winner. + +Little Songbird, sitting among the other children, cracked nuts between +stones, and with a sharp, stout cactus thorn picked out the meats and +ate them, until at last, too tired to keep her eyes open any longer, she +curled herself on a buffalo robe and went to sleep. + +So soundly she slept that she did not awaken, even when her father found +her and carried her to their tepee home. + + + + +Chapter XV + + +The women of the Quahada village were very busy for weeks after the +return of the buffalo hunters and the Festival of the Green Corn. Not +only did they have their usual duties to perform, but in addition they +had to preserve the meat and tan the hides of the buffaloes and +antelopes that had been brought back by the men. + +The children helped cut the meat into long, thin pieces so that it could +be hung in the hot sun until the outer part was dry and hard. It was +then tied together with bits of buckskin or dried sinews and stored away +for future use. Thus prepared it could be eaten without further cooking, +or carried by the Comanches from place to place. Often, as they rode +along, they ate the meat without stopping for other food. With this and +a little pounded maize, or a bit of dry vegetable root, they were able +to travel many days. + +The big skins had to be cured at once, lest they spoil. So while the +children were cutting the meat, the women staked all the hides on the +ground, fur side down. Then two women took charge of each hide. + +Songbird did not help the other children cut the meat, but she watched +the squaws who bent over a very large hide which Quannah had brought +home. The women were busy scraping off all the tiny bits of flesh that +still clung to the inner surface, using flat, sharp-edged bones, while a +thong of buckskin around their wrists gave extra strength to their +efforts. She was greatly interested in that robe, for when it had been +thoroughly cured Moko was going to paint on it the picture of the big +fight. + +"Let me help," she begged the women. + +But they shook their heads and answered, "It is Quannah's robe. We must +be very careful of it." + +Then Songbird ran to where her father was standing not far away from his +tepee and looked wistfully into his face. + +"Let me help the women cure the big robe you brought," she pleaded. "I +will be very careful not to hurt it. I cannot fight, nor hunt, nor paint +stories, but I want to help with the robe because you brought it back, +and Moko is going to paint the picture of your big fight with the white +men." + +She caught the slight nod and waited no longer, but raced back in almost +breathless delight to tell the squaws. They made room for her between +them, slipping thongs over her small wrists so that her stroke might be +strong and steady. + +Very gravely she imitated their motions and listened to their +instructions. Then, the first part of their work completed, they gave +her a tool made like a hoe with a long handle attached, the bottom part +formed of a sharp stone. Several women joined them in the work, and all +of them warned Songbird to be most cautious not to tear or roughen the +hide with the sharply edged tool. + +So as the days went by she did her part in curing the robe. When it was +staked out, hair side up, she too, rubbed the long fur with a cooked +mixture made of meat, roots and herbs. Then she watched the women +arrange masses of dried grass in the centre, gather up the ends and +sides, and twist the robe into a tight ball which they put to soak over +night. + +She felt very proud and important the next morning as she hurried to +the women, who already held the ends, and were standing far apart +twisting the hide into a long, hard rope, from which liquid was +dripping. When they began to stretch three sides of the robe on a large, +slanting frame, Songbird helped industriously, and she also did her part +in staking the lower end of the skin to the ground. + +After that she sat quietly watching work that she was not tall enough +nor strong enough to do. One of the two women who had first worked on +the hide now took a broad blade of thin stone, almost six feet long. A +piece of bone made a handle in the centre of the thin stone slab. The +blade was pressed strongly against the upper end of the hide, and then +drawn quickly and firmly toward the bottom, so that all moisture oozed +down. + +The second woman, with the same kind of tool, at once did the same +thing, so that no water could be again soaked up by the hide. This work +went on until no moisture rose to the surface, then the skin was left to +dry and bleach on the frame. + +A number of days passed before the robe was dry enough for the next +work, which had to be done while the skin was still on the frame. Each +of the women had a round buffalo joint, like a large knuckle, and with +this they rubbed the entire surface of the hide, to make it the same +thickness all over. + +When that had been properly finished, every tear was mended carefully +with threads of strong sinews thrust through tiny holes made by awls +which were fashioned of sharply pointed tough wood, or of thin flint +stones. + +Then nothing remained to do except for the squaws to hold the +cross-corners of the robe around a large rough tree and draw it back and +forth, fur-side out. This removed the last bit of stiffness, and the +women of the village gathered about the robe, examining and praising its +softness. + +Songbird ran to her father. "It is done!" she cried in delight. "Come +see it! All the women say that it is the largest and finest robe the +Quahadas have ever seen!" + +Her hand was tugging, while her eager feet danced ahead of Quannah's +more sedate pace. But at last they came to the place where the women +formed an admiring group about the largest buffalo robe that had ever +been brought into their camps. They made way for the chief, who passed +between them in quiet dignity, and Songbird, beside him, held her little +head high with pride--not pride for herself, but pride of her father, +the chief, who was so brave, so great, and so good. + +"It is good," he spoke at last, after he had studied the robe closely. +"Moko shall paint on it the story of the Big Fight when our little boys +frightened the white horses. So, the children of our children shall +learn the story." + +Songbird trotted beside the chief, followed by the two women, until they +all reached Moko's tepee. Then the squaws went their way, and Songbird +listened to her father telling Moko about the fight and how the little +boys had captured the white horses while the fire-sticks had shrieked +and spit, but did not hurt them. + +"They were little boys," said Quannah with a smile of pride on his lips. +"Just children! but some day they will make great warriors." + +"I shall paint the story as you have told it," Moko answered, while her +fingers stroked the long hair on the robe. "The children of our children +shall be proud of their forefathers, and the story shall be told in +tepees and by the camp fires long after the Great Eagle shall bring the +message of the Great Spirit to call Quannah, Chief of the Quahada +Comanches, to the Happy Hunting Grounds, where Peta Nocona is waiting +for his son!" + + + + +Chapter XVI + + +As Moko painted the battle on the big robe, Songbird sat beside her, day +after day, watching the picture grow. There were white men with +fire-sticks, Comanches with war-bonnets, and horses running in every +direction, while two little boys waved pieces of buffalo robes to +frighten the horses of the white men and keep the animals running toward +the Comanches. + +The old Picture Maker talked while she worked, and Songbird kept +perfectly quiet as she heard the stories of the great warriors or wise +men of the tribe. + +"They are gone," said Moko. "All of whom I had told you, heard the cry +of the Great Eagle and answered it with the Death Song of the Quahadas. +They did not fear that call, for they knew that the Great Eagle is the +messenger from the Great Spirit, and when the shadow of the Great Eagle +fell upon them, the big, strong wings lifted and carried them to the +Happy Hunting Grounds to meet the Great Spirit and the spirits of their +friends. But the cry of the Great Eagle is a terrible thing to hear if a +man has not lived with honour. Then he cowers and cries out in fear, +because he knows that he must stand alone and face the anger of the +Great Spirit, who will drive him away from his friends and make him +travel alone forever in darkness." + +"Only three tribes now are left of the five big tribes of the Comanches +who came out of the land of snows so many winters ago that no living man +knows when it was," continued Moko. + +"Each tribe was under its own chief, yet all lived together and were +brothers. They did not fight one against the other. There were the +Cost-che-teght-kas, or Buffalo Eaters; the Pen-e-teght-kas, or Honey +Eaters; the No-ko-ness, or Wanderers; the Yam-per-i-cos, or Root +Diggers, and the Quahadas, who were called Chatz-ken-ners, or Antelope +Eaters." The old woman had been speaking very slowly, checking off each +tribe on the gnarled fingers of her left hand. + +Songbird's eyes were full of questions, but she knew that when Moko told +a story, it made her angry to be interrupted by questions, and then the +story was left unfinished. + +"Together their forefathers came from the far north where snow covers +the ground all the time," Moko went on. "They came on sleds made from +hides of strange snow animals, and the sleds were drawn by wild dogs +that were more like lobo wolves than our Indian dogs. + +"For a long distance they travelled; but the snow melted and the dogs +sickened and died, so the Comanches could go no farther. Then the head +chiefs and all the Medicine Men of the five tribes prayed that the Great +Spirit would help them, and while they prayed a big herd of wild horses +approached the camp. + +"The Comanches worked patiently until they caught a pony using a long +rope and noose made of hides from their broken sleds. After they had +caught the first pony, an Indian got on it and rode among the others, +and soon they had a pony for each Comanche. That was how the Comanches +became "pony Indians" instead of foot Indians who followed the dog teams +in the land of long snows. + +"Then they started south once more, and the wild ponies followed those +which the Comanches rode, until they found a place where the snows fell +only a short time. There they found grass for the ponies. Antelopes, +roots, and berries furnished food for the Indians, and fish swimming in +the rivers were caught by hooks made from curved thorns on the bushes +near the water. So the Comanches stayed there and thrived and were happy +until strange people found the place. + +"The Comanches met them as friends, for they had no quarrel with any man +in those days, and they believed that the new people were sent by the +Great Spirit and were his children. The faces of the strangers were +white, and they were so tall that even the tallest Comanche's head did +not reach these men's shoulders. + +"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the strange men built strong +forts and big towns on high places. They were brave, war-like and proud, +and the Comanches were their friends and brothers, until the white men +forgot justice and mercy and honour and fought the Indians, driving them +from their homes and taking their lands. Our people moved back, but the +others followed, until the Indians, in despair, begged the Great Spirit +to save their families and their homes. + +"Then the anger of the Great Spirit fell upon the white men, and he +swept them with fires that destroyed their great cities and forts. +Floods carried away their horses, and disease wiped their people from +the face of the earth, until only great earth mounds and a few crumbling +ruins were left of the cities and fortresses, and not one of their +people remained in the land. + +"But the Comanches were blessed by the Great Spirit, so that they +thrived and were happy. And now, other white men have come, and they, +too, fight us and wish to take our lands and ponies and game and destroy +our homes. But in the same way, sorrow will come to these other white +men who are driving the Indians from their homes. They forget that the +Great Spirit watches all. He sent Preloch, the mother of Quannah, to us +and through her son the Quahadas shall find the way to honour and peace +and their children shall prosper." + +"Moko"--Songbird leaned nearer the Picture Maker, who looked down into +her face--"my father wants to bring Preloch and Prairie Flower back here +again. Do you think the white men will let them come if my father does +not fight?" + +"They will come back," answered Moko, looking through the opening of the +tepee and across the prairie, as though she saw the mother and the baby +coming toward the camp. "The white men took them away, but the Great +Spirit will bring her back to her own people. The white men are strong +and many, but the Great Spirit is stronger. The white men will do as the +Great Spirit bids, and Preloch and Prairie Flower will come back again +with honour, and her husband, Peta Nocona, will be honoured, and the +white men will honour their son, Quannah, Chief of the Quahadas." + +"When will they come, Moko?" whispered Songbird, her eyes shining with +joy. "My father speaks many times of his wish to bring them back so that +some day he may sleep beside them among our people." + +"Only the Great Spirit knows," the Picture Maker said, and her white +head bent over the wrinkled hands that lay idly in her lap. "I am old +and weary with sorrow. Before many moons I shall hear the cry of the +Great Eagle, but you, the daughter of Quannah, shall see and know that I +have spoken the truth this day. Preloch and Prairie Flower will come +back to the Quahadas. The trees, the wind, the stars have given me this +promise because I am old and weary and cannot stay with my people much +longer, but I know it is the truth, for the Great Spirit watches over us +all, and he is just." + +So months passed in the Comanche village, and there was great rejoicing +when the big buffalo robe had been finished and hung in the tent of +Quannah. + +Songbird often sat before it when she was alone, and as she looked at +it, she remembered Moko's promise that some day Preloch and Prairie +Flower would come back to the Quahadas with honour. She knew that it +would make her father very happy, but she asked the Great Spirit to +bring them back very soon, so that Moko might see them once more before +the call of the Great Eagle came to the old Picture Maker who had loved +Preloch so dearly. + +While Songbird had been helping with the robe and listening to Moko's +tales, Star had been learning many things about the white people from +the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse. Running Deer tolerated the +two cavalry horses, but she never became their friend. Hawk, after +grazing with them and Star for a few days, deserted them. When Star +asked the reason, Hawk whirled and faced him. + +"I like the Indian ponies better," was his reply. "The strange horses +talk of things I never heard about." + +"That is just why I listen to them," said Star. + +Hawk yawned sleepily. "What good does it do you to know about those +things? All I want to know is where to find the best grass and clearest +pools of water, and what tree casts the heaviest shadow when the sun is +hot." + +"You do not belong to the chief," retorted Star. "A chief must know more +than his people, so that he can lead them, and the ponies of a chief +should know other things besides eating and drinking and sleeping. That +is why I like to hear the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse talk." + +"How can their talk help you, or the Quahadas?" snorted Hawk +contemptuously. + +"I do not know." Star spoke slowly. "Someday, they say, the white men +will come back to fight the Quahadas and conquer them, as the Big Gray +Horse says they have conquered other Indians. Maybe if I listen +carefully and ask questions I shall be able to help Quannah and Songbird +when the white men come to fight." + +"You must have been eating crazy weed," grunted Hawk, "for you do not +know how to think right any more. If the white men come, Quannah will +send little boys to whip them and frighten them and their horses, as he +did that other time. Go back to the strange horses, if you wish, but I +shall keep away from them and their foolish talk." + +Hawk tossed his head, kicked his heels high in the air, and galloped +away, while Star went slowly back to the two cavalry horses. Both of +them nickered softly as he drew near, then their noses touched him, and +their soft eyes were so friendly that Star forgot how much Hawk's +unkindly manner had hurt him a few minutes before. + +In his heart Star knew that Hawk was wrong to believe that nothing was +worth while except eating and drinking and sleeping, but he and Hawk had +been companions ever since they had been old enough to stand on their +feet, and it was not easy to give up his old friend. + + + + +Chapter XVII + + +It was September, as the white men count the months, and three years had +passed since the Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse had come to live +among the Quahada ponies. The summer had been very hot and no rain had +fallen, so there was only a scant supply of dry feed for the ponies and +buffaloes and antelopes. + +What grass had grown in spite of the drought had been eaten by a swarm +of locusts, so that only the bare stalks remained, and these held no +nourishment. Where small streams had rippled, there were beds of dry +sand. Larger rivers, big enough to have floated a good-sized boat when +there was no drought, dwindled down to shallow threads or formed in +pools of stagnant water coated with green slime. It was a hard time for +the Quahada ponies, and still harder for the Indians. + +Songbird watched her father's face anxiously. She knew that he would not +allow any one to see whether he were worrying, rejoicing or grieving at +any time. It would be unworthy of a warrior to show his feelings, and +most unworthy of a chief. She had heard the squaws talking when no men +were near. + +They had said that when the last winter had gone and it had been time +for the green grass to show above the ground, all the Indians from long +distances had gathered at Medicine Lodge to hold a great council of war. + +Reports had been brought that Indian runners, or messengers, had found a +big camp where a large number of buffalo hunters lived, and from it each +day the white men went to kill buffaloes. They did not use the meat, but +left it to spoil in the hot sun, after the hunters had skinned the dead +animals and taken the hides away. As far as the Indians could travel, +dead buffaloes that had been skinned lay in herds just as they had +fallen when the hunters had shot them with fire-sticks. + +On their fingers the Indians counted how many buffaloes had been found +in one day of travel. Some of them had seen as many as two hundred, and +other Indians who had come from different directions told the same tale. +Soon there would be no buffaloes left. The grass was gone, the water +was growing less each day, the ponies would become thinner and weaker, +and when the hunters had killed the buffaloes, the Indians would die, +and the white men would cover the land. + +So the Indians from all the tribes of the Southwest gathered at Medicine +Lodge and formed a war party to drive out the white hunters and save the +buffaloes. + +That had been six moons ago, when the grass was just starting above the +ground. In a little while they had thought that the rains and warm sun +would make plenty of feed for the ponies, antelopes, and buffaloes, and +there would be pools of water in low places between hills, or in hollows +of large rocks. Then it would be the time to begin fighting. + +But the rains did not come, and Songbird, listening to the talk of the +squaws, longed to speak to her father and ask him about it all, but she +knew that such things were not for children's talk. Nor did she ask the +squaws, for they would be angry that she had listened to them. + +"If only Moko were here I could ask her," she said to herself sadly. + +But Moko had heard the call of the Great Eagle six moons ago, and now it +was nearing winter. Songbird greatly missed her old friend, the Picture +Maker. Moko had always answered questions and explained things without +being cross. The other women were too busy asking one another what they +would do in the winter, when the dry summer had killed the berries and +nuts and maize and the buffalo hunters had killed all the game. + +So Songbird kept her thoughts to herself and watched her father's grave +face as he talked with Karolo or the head chief. + +Then one day a Kiowa runner dashed into the Quahada village and the +warriors gathered quickly about him. His pony wandered over and joined +the Quahada ponies and the two cavalry horses, where they were nosing at +dry stubble and hoping to find a bit of green feed at the roots. + +"The white men are fighting the Indians again," the Kiowa pony said. + +"The Indians cannot hide from them always," spoke the Big Gray Horse, +who looked alertly at the Kiowa pony. + +"I told you that the white men would keep coming until all the Indians +have been conquered"--the Old White Horse turned to Star. "It makes no +difference how bravely the Indians fight, nor whether they are right or +wrong, the end is the same. They are conquered and must obey the white +men. But maybe that is best for all." + +"It would be best for all if each let the other alone!" answered Star. +"If men had as much sense as horses have, there would be less trouble +for all of us. We do not fight, though some of us belong to the +Quahadas, others to the Kiowas, and you," he turned to the cavalry +horses, "belong to a general and to a soldier who obeys the general. If +there were ponies here from the Arapahoes and the Cheyennes, or any +other tribes, we would all graze together and not bite nor kick one +another. Why, then, do men fight one another?" + +"Men are different," the Big Gray Horse spoke. + +"It is a pity they do not know how silly we think they are!" snorted +Hawk, joining the group. + +"They are our masters," the Old White Horse rebuked him quickly. "Young +horses kick and buck and bite, or run away when they first are brought +to a troop. But they learn soon what it means to be hurt by heavy bits +in their mouths, or sharp spurs digging into their sides. If a horse +throws a man, another man gets on the horse's back at once, and then +another and another, until the horse is too weary to fight. I have heard +young horses talk about men, but it does no good. They all talk the +same, then they understand, and so they stop fighting against the bit, +the spur, the saddle, and the rider, and they obey. After that they, +too, listen when young horses talk as they themselves once did. For when +all is said and done, men are our masters! We will obey them whether +they are white men or Indians, because we belong to them and must serve +them. I, too, bit and fought and bucked men from my back, long ago." + +As they talked, Quannah and his head chiefs, accompanied by the Kiowa +warrior, approached the ponies. When the Quahadas stopped, the Kiowa +slipped his bridle of rawhide over the nose of his pony, which submitted +quietly. Its owner's hand rested lightly on the pony's neck and the +animal's eyes watched its master's face. He was speaking to the Quahadas +now. + +"This is the message. The Big Father at Washington has sent his +soldiers. They come in numbers like the leaves on the trees, or the +blades of grass on the prairie. Our runners have brought word that the +soldiers are coming to surround and kill all of the Indians. Big chiefs +lead the white men from four sides. A friendly Indian sent us word that +a big chief named Miles leads them all, and that Mackenzie, who fought +us three winters ago, is with the others. He has not forgotten the rout +of the White Horses yet." + +The Old White Horse cocked his ears, and the Big Gray Horse lifted his +head high. Star saw them look at each other, and he remembered they had +often talked of these big white chiefs. + +"I am Mackenzie's horse," the Big Gray Horse said proudly. "Officers and +soldiers do not lie to Indians, nor kill their game, nor take their land +from them for themselves. When the Indians give a pledge of peace the +officers do not harm them, nor their women or children. They make the +buffalo hunters keep away from the Indian's land and protect the Indian +who does not go on the warpath." + +"I know that is true"--the Old White Horse spoke earnestly--"for I +lived many years in the White Horse Troop and have seen all these things +myself. If Quannah would be friends with the big white chiefs, it would +be better for him and for the Quahadas. Listen! He is speaking now." + +The horses turned their eyes on the Quahada chief, who, with the best +warriors of the tribe, faced the Kiowa runner. The Comanches, like the +ponies, watched Quannah's face and waited to hear his words. Karolo, the +Medicine Man, stood beside him. + +Karolo had offered many prayer-sticks to the Great Spirit, asking that +the Thunder Bird might be sent over the land with rain and that the +buffaloes might be spared. But the Great Spirit was angry and would not +listen. Then Karolo knew that it was because the white men had come on +the Indians' land and were killing the buffaloes that belonged to the +Great Spirit, who had said the buffaloes must not be killed except for +food and clothing. Only by driving the white men away and saving the +buffaloes, would the Great Spirit's anger be appeased. + +Yet Karolo was sad. He knew that the white men were many times the +number of the Comanches, and that their fire-sticks could reach much +farther than the Quahada arrows. In his heart the old Medicine Man felt +that the Indians could not win, but would be conquered and made +prisoners by the white men, if they were not all killed in the fight. +Quannah had talked this over with Karolo many, many times. + +The chief looked past the Indians, past the tepees of the village, and +fixed his eyes on the crest of a hill beyond the camp. For a little +while he did not speak, then he glanced at the faces of his chiefs +before he answered the Kiowa runner. + +"Tell your chiefs that the Quahadas will join them against the white +men." + +He held out both his hands and the Kiowa grasped them, saying, "It is +good!" + +Turning quickly the messenger leaped to his pony's bare back. Sitting +erect, he gave the loud, fierce battle cry of the Kiowas. Instantly the +Quahadas answered it with their own call. Then the women, running from +their tepees, and the children who stood beside them, took up the cry. + +The Kiowa, leaning low on his pony's neck, darted out of sight, carrying +word that Quannah would lead his warriors to join the fight against the +white men. + +When the last echoes of the war cries had died away, the Quahada +warriors heard their chief say slowly, "We will fight! It is the last +stand of the Quahada Comanches, but we will fight so that our fathers +will not be ashamed when they hear the Great Eagle calling us." + +Then they left him standing there, and went to their own tepees, where +their wives and children awaited them. + +For the next week the village was bustling with preparations, and day by +day the Kiowa warriors arrived from distant points. At last the entire +body of Kiowas and Quahadas, riding their best ponies and driving the +immense herd of extra ponies and those that were laden with food, robes, +bows and arrows, formed a great cavalcade. All the warriors were decked +in gorgeous war bonnets and armed with lances and shields, while quivers +that were full of arrows hung across their backs beside strong bows. +Only the women and small children were left behind. Even the oldest men +and youths who were ten years old rode behind the Quahada chief. + +Songbird watched her father lead them up the slope of the hill. He +turned Running Deer about, and his figure stood plainly against the blue +sky where the incline ended sharply. + +For a few minutes he looked down on the homes of his people, then his +eyes wandered to those who rode up the hill toward him. His arm was +raised high above his head, and Running Deer leaped at the touch of his +heels. Swirling at the pressure of the rein, the mare disappeared over +the crest of the hill. + +The last of the riders vanished. Their cries came more faintly, until a +strange silence fell upon those who stood watching the hilltop where no +living thing was now visible. Long after the women and other children +had dispersed to take up the everyday routine of their lives, Songbird +stood alone watching the top of the hill. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + + +Songbird was not the only one who was lonesome. Star, too, had been left +in camp, where only a few ponies, whose knees were too stiff, or whose +backs were weak from age, kept him company. Although he was no longer a +colt, he hated to be away from his mother and friends. Even the Big Gray +Horse and the Old White Horse had been taken with Quannah. + +Star had heard Quannah say to Songbird, "He is your pony. I have enough +without him, for I will take the Big Gray Horse to ride if Running Deer +grows tired. So I will leave Star with you." + +Three weeks after the warriors had left the village, Star wandered up to +the big tepee and poked at the entrance with his nose. Songbird lifted +the flap and stroked his nose, for she had heard him coming. Then she +dropped the flap again, as she did not want any one to see what she was +doing. + +First she took pieces of dry buffalo meat and tied them together in a +bunch, then she laid them carefully in a large square of buckskin. With +them she placed some of the little cakes made of pounded meat and nuts, +and as she glanced around she saw a prayer-stick, which she laid on the +other things. The four corners of the buckskin were then drawn together +and bound securely by a twisted thong. + +After these preparations she took her doll and tucked it into the belt +that held her robe at the waist. It was now almost dark. + +She went out of the tepee and mingled with the other children, until +they scattered for the night. Then Songbird returned to the tepee and +sat alone, her arms about her knees, and her eyes staring steadily +beyond the raised flap at the dim outline of the hill over which her +father had ridden. + +Satisfied, at last, that no one would notice her, she slipped cautiously +from the tepee and made her way to where Star was stretched out among +the old ponies. A hobble was on his front ankles, so that he would not +stray during the night. + +Songbird unfastened the hobble and thrust it into the bundle she was +carrying, and Star rose to his feet. His head bent for the bridle in her +hand. She did not mount the pony, but led him away from camp without +arousing any one. Then clutching the bundle which she had prepared in +the tepee, she climbed to Star's back and turned his head in the +direction in which her father had led the warriors. + +She had no fear that she would not be able to find them, for she knew +their ponies would make a plain trail, and though she could not see it +herself, Star would know and follow it. The Great Spirit taught ponies +how to do that. + +It was the memory of Preloch, who had ridden beside Peta Nocona when he +had gone to fight the white men, that made Songbird determine that she +would find her father and ride with him. She could shoot arrows as well +as any large boy, and she could ride much better than most of them. + +If her father told her that she could not stay and fight, she would +remind him that the little boys who had frightened the white horses had +not been any older than she was now. So she had brought her bow and all +the arrows that she had been saving for a long time, and when she found +her father she would show him that she was not a baby. She had her bow, +her arrows, food to eat, and Star, who could out-run any other Quahada +pony except Running Deer. + +So she rode while it was dark, trusting Star to keep the trail. When the +sun rose, the hoof prints of unshod ponies could be seen distinctly, +though in some places the wind had stirred dry sand over them. + +As a slight rise in the ground gave her a chance to look back, Songbird +saw nothing moving, and felt quite sure that no one in the village had +yet discovered her absence. Knowing that only slow old horses remained +in the camp with the squaws, she hastened on her way, determined to lose +no time in putting as many miles as possible between herself and any who +might try to follow her. + +It was only when the sun was low in the sky that Star and his little +rider halted beside a shallow pool that had once been a deep water-hole +in a swiftly running stream. + +While Songbird lay on her face and drank her fill, Star, a short +distance away, thrust his hot nose into the water and gulped greedily. +Then he turned his attention to some green grass that had grown about +the edge of the pool, in spite of the drought, while Songbird, sitting +beside the water-hole, munched a piece of dry buffalo meat and one of +the little cakes made of pounded corn and nuts that she had packed for +her journey. + +As the sun sank beyond the edge of the land, Songbird, weary but not +afraid, lay down on the ground to sleep. Star, hobbled carefully to +prevent his straying far, stretched near her. He did not sleep. + +At the least sound he lifted his head and pricked up his ears, while he +peered with bright eyes into the night. He knew that coyotes might be +prowling close, and he was ready to leap to his feet and fight them with +his strong teeth and nimble heels if they came where his little mistress +slept so soundly. Once in the night she woke. He heard her move, then +suddenly she called in a half-frightened voice: + +"Star!" + +His soft nicker answered that he had not left her, and he rose to go +close to her. When he settled down again, Songbird's hand rested on his +shoulder and her head was pillowed on his neck. Her other hand held her +doll. + +Thus the sun saw them when it peeped over the opposite edge of the +world the next morning. Then it shot golden arrows silently, and +Songbird's eyes opened. For a few minutes she wondered where she was, +but as Star twitched a little she raised her head quickly and sat up, +rubbing her eyes sleepily. + +Star lost no time in getting on his feet. He had kept very still so that +he might not disturb her, and it felt good to move about. Songbird +reached down and unfastened the hobbles that held his front feet so that +he could take only short steps of about eight inches, or hop with both +front feet at the same time. As soon as he was free he lay down and +rolled over three times without stopping, kicking his heels in the air. +It was easy to roll over now that he was so strong and fully grown. + +It did not take long for the two wanderers to finish breakfast. A drink +of water from the pool, and food such as they had eaten for dinner the +previous night, satisfied them both. After that, Songbird slipped the +rawhide bridle on Star, picked up her doll and carefully brushed the +dust from it, then tucked it safely into her belt. Mounting her pony, +she started again on her way to find her father. + +But the trail became more faint, and a hot, dry wind blew dust into her +eyes. As the sun rose higher the wind became stronger, and at last +nothing but a haze of yellow dust could be seen. Star plodded on, but at +intervals he whinnied shrilly, hoping to hear an answer through the dust +storm. Only the sound of the wind and the hiss of blowing sand came back +to him. + +All day they travelled in the sandstorm, and Songbird dropped the rein +on her pony's neck, not knowing which way to guide him. The wind died +down at sunset, but when the haze of dust lifted, Songbird faced a +stretch of desert, where only tiny clumps of dry weeds showed here and +there, half-buried by the heaped up sand that formed small mounds about +each weed. + +She knew then that she was lost on the Great Desert of the Staked +Plains, where no white man could venture and come out safely, and where +even the best trailers of the Quahadas travelled only when the warriors +had no other way of outwitting their pursuers. + +As she sat on Star, looking at the endless sand, all the stories she had +heard the older people tell about the suffering from thirst on the +Staked Plains came back to her. They had spoken of lost trails where +the sand had shifted and buried all traces even in one hour. There had +been a Quahada runner, who, lost for five days without water, had found +his way back to camp but had died before he could swallow the water that +the Indians held to his lips. + +Songbird knew that there was no water on this desert except when the +rain fell heavily, and then it gathered only for a short time in a +hollow, for the hot sun and the dry sand soon made it disappear. This +summer there had been no rain. + +Since leaving the pool that morning, Songbird and Star had found no +other water, but she had hoped that the trail of her father would lead +to some. He knew all the country and just where to find water each night +for his warriors and ponies. But the terrible dust storm had blinded her +and the wind had blown the loose sand over the Quahada trail. + +Her eyes grew big with fear, and her shoulders, which had been held so +bravely when the sand storm beat upon her, now drooped as though a heavy +weight were placed on her neck. + +Miles and miles of silence and loneliness threatened her on every side. + +Her head sank forward until it rested on Star's shaggy mane, and her +arms clung tightly about his neck. There was no one to remind her that +she was the daughter of a chief. Only Star and the Great Spirit heard +the sobs of a frightened, lonely little child. + +But at last she raised her head, and sat thinking intently. Then she +turned Star's head in the opposite direction. That morning when she had +wakened, she remembered now, the sun had shone in her eyes, and she had +travelled toward it until it was straight above her head. + +Songbird knew that the village must lie in the same direction as the +sunset. If Star could take her to the water pool once more, she could +find her way to the Quahada camp. She understood now the risk of trying +to follow her father, and that made her decide that she would try to +return to the camp and stay there until he should come back. + +The tracks made earlier in the day by Star's feet were already +indistinct, as the loose sand did not hold an impression very long, and +the faintest wind hid it completely. Beyond the desert a trail remained +distinct for a long time. + +It was growing dark. Songbird was so tired that she wanted to cry again, +but she blinked her eyes fiercely, reminding herself that her father +was a chief. As they travelled toward the place where the sun set, she +took a piece of the dry meat from her bundle and started to chew it. But +she was so thirsty that it choked her. So she put it back uneaten. + +Hopefully she looked about for a sign of a mesquite bush, knowing that +she could quench her thirst by chewing the beans that grew in pods from +the branches. But lack of rain had kept any beans from forming, and she +remembered that the mesquite bushes near the camp had yielded no crop. +Only a bit of shrivelled desert brush, half buried in the sand, met her +eyes as she rode. + +A terrible fear conquered her, and she struck Star's sides sharply with +her moccasined heels. At once he swung into an easy, swift lope, his +ears cocked and his eyes fixed straight ahead of him. Songbird did not +try to guide him now, but allowed the rein to lie loosely on his neck, +while she balanced herself to his movements. + +At times the pony slowed down to a walk, but he did not stop, and +Songbird did not have to urge him to resume his quicker gait. Where she +had guided him earlier in the day, he now went of his own free will. +Some instinct beyond that of any human being told Star which way to go. + +More than once Songbird, too sleepy to sit erect, laid her head on +Star's neck, where the thick mane made a soft pillow. Then the pony +walked very slowly and very carefully while Songbird slept. Once she +slipped from his back to the soft sand. Though it wakened her at once, +the fall did not hurt her, and as she lay on her back, staring up, she +saw Star standing beside her. Patiently he was waiting for her to climb +on his back. Then Songbird knew that her pony would not desert her, even +though it were dark and he wore no hobbles. + +So through the long night Star carried her safely. With the first gray +light of dawn, the pony gave a soft nicker of pleasure, and broke into +his swiftest run. Songbird leaned down and patted his black neck. Ahead +of them loomed a group of trees, and she knew, as well as Star, that the +trees grew beside the water-hole. + +When they reached it, both pony and child drank as though they would +never stop. Songbird bathed her face and held her arms in the water, +while Star walked out to the deepest part of the pool and stood there +heaving great sighs of content. + +Afterward, still standing knee deep in the pool, he stretched his neck +so that he could nibble the grass growing on its edges while Songbird +ate the dry meat that no longer choked her. + +Then, side by side, Star and Songbird lay down to sleep. + +Only the buckskin Indian doll guarded them, but its painted eyes glared +so fiercely that it would have taken a very brave person to have +ventured near! + + + + +Chapter XIX + + +When Songbird awoke the next morning, Star had already eaten his +breakfast, so she lost no time in satisfying her own hunger with a bit +of the dried meat and pounded maize, finishing off her meal with a drink +of water from the pool. + +Then carefully tying up her bundle and tucking her doll into her belt, +Songbird mounted her pony and started back to the village. She had no +trouble following the trail now, for the ground was not so sandy or +soft. Besides, Star knew his way without any guidance. + +When they had left the Quahada village it had been dark, so they had +travelled more slowly. It was late in the afternoon when at last they +neared the hill which overlooked the camp. Songbird knew that all the +women and children would be preparing the evening meal. + +She felt very happy knowing that she would be with them safely in a few +minutes, and she knew they would all be glad that Star had brought her +out of the terrible desert. But she was now rather ashamed of herself at +having run away without telling any one of her plans. Then she hoped +that her father had not returned and found her missing, for his anger at +the women would have been terrible, yet they were not to blame at all. + +Star loped lightly up the hill and stopped on the very top. Where +Quannah had halted Running Deer and looked down on the village, Songbird +now looked down. Then she gave a startled cry. + +All signs of the village had vanished. Where she had left many tepees, +she now saw empty space. Where children had shouted at play, silence +greeted her. Where camp fires had blazed, cold ashes stirred in the +light breeze. + +Scarcely believing her own eyes, she urged Star on a run down the hill, +as though hoping the village might be there when she reached the very +spot where the camp had once been. But it was more lonely than even the +desert had been. For out there she had believed that she had a home and +now she had nothing. + +Almost frantic, she jumped from her pony and ran to the spot where her +father's tepee had been, calling his name over and over again, and +begging him to come back to her. Nothing familiar met her eyes except +the fire pit and the poles on which she had many times hung her father's +moccasins to dry. + +In a frenzy of grief and fear, she flung herself beside the fire pit, +and Star, knowing that something was very wrong, called as loudly as he +could. But no pony answered, and no Quahada woman or child came to +comfort his little mistress who lay sobbing on the ground. So Star could +do nothing but wait patiently. + +Songbird's sobs finally stopped, and she raised herself slowly until she +was sitting with her knees drawn up, her elbows propped upon them and +her chin resting in her palms. For some time she sat staring at the top +of the hill, while Star, only a few paces away, nibbling dry roots, +paused frequently to look at her. + +"My father came back while I was gone," she said to Star, at last. "He +is angry with me and has moved the camp so that I cannot find him. But I +will look for him until I find him and tell him I am sorry I did not +obey him. I know he will not send me away from him, even though he is +very angry. If he will not let me come into his tepee, I will wait at +the entrance, and maybe some day he will forgive me." + +Comforted by this thought, she ate rather sparingly of her food supply. +Then she curled beside the fire pit where her father's tepee had once +stood, and slept until morning, for she was very, very tired. + +So soundly she slept that she did not know the coyotes, sneaking about +the deserted camp site, had more than once tumbled over one another to +avoid a sudden dash of an angry pony. Then, when they had sought safety +from his teeth and heels, Star returned to his vigil over his little +mistress. + +The sun had not yet peeped over the rim of the world when Songbird and +Star started on their search for the vanished Quahadas. Both of them +watched for signs along the trail, and had no difficulty in finding +where the lodge poles of the tepees had dragged on the ground. + +Star also noticed something that puzzled him. No unshod hoof prints +mingled with the Quahada trail, but there were many distinct marks of +shod horses. He remembered that the Big Gray Horse and the Old White +Horse, when they had first come to live among the Quahada ponies, wore +strange metal things on the bottom of their hoofs, and they had told +Star and the other ponies that all the white men's horses wore these +things, which they called shoes. + +The Quahada ponies had thought it very strange that the white men's +horses could not travel on sharp rocks with bare feet, as the Indian +ponies always did. + +Star had not forgotten this, nor how the two cavalry horses had limped +at first, after the metal shoes had worn thin and finally fallen off in +pieces. However, in a little time the Big Gray Horse and the Old White +Horse had been able to scramble over rough places just as well as the +Quahada ponies could do. + +Songbird did not notice all these things as Star did. While they +travelled she kept her eyes on the marks made by the trailing lodge +poles. That was all she cared to know. For wherever the lodge poles led, +she knew that she would find the Quahadas, and that her father would be +with them. + +For three days Songbird and Star followed, not resting until the light +was too dim to see the trail. Then they lay down together on the ground +till morning. Wherever water could be found, the pony and the child +drank, but as they had no way to carry water with them, both suffered +from thirst many times. Only dry mud had been left in many water holes, +because of the long drought. + +Star's sides shrank until his ribs showed and his hips stood out in +sharp points. Sparse clumps of dry grass constituted his only feed, and +even that had been cropped to its roots by the big band of horses on the +trail that Songbird was following. + +Her own supply of food was almost gone. The third night when she opened +her bundle and saw only enough for the next morning, her lips quivered +as she wondered where she could find anything more to eat. Yet the next +morning, after dividing what was left of her food, so as to make two +meals of it, she rose courageously and resumed her journey, always +keeping her eyes on the marks of the trailing lodge poles. + +It was late in the afternoon of the third day when Star, looking ahead +from a high bit of ground, saw an object that made his ears cock sharply +and his nostrils distend, as he sniffed the air. Far away something +fluttered at the tip of a white lodge pole. Then he remembered what the +Big Gray Horse and the Old White Horse had said about the flag which +protected Indians who were not fighting the white men. Songbird had been +so intent upon the track of the lodge poles that she did not see what +Star had noticed, and when the pony gave a loud squeal and broke into a +wild run, she did not know what to make of his actions. + +Down the slight slope he rushed. Then Songbird saw a tall white lodge +pole with something striped in red and white fluttering at its tip. She +did not know what it meant, but she clung tightly to Star's mane as he +ran directly toward a hollow square surrounded with strange buildings, +which were different from anything she had ever seen in her life. + +Fast as Star ran, Songbird was able to catch a glimpse of men near these +buildings, and the men had white faces. But Star did not stop until he +stood directly at the foot of the big lodge pole. There, with Songbird +on his back, the pony lifted his head very high and called again and +again, as loudly as he could. + +Songbird, bewildered, saw men running toward her from all sides, +shouting to one another. And knowing these were the terrible white men +who had carried Preloch away, and Prairie Flower, too, she bowed her +head, believing that they were coming to kill her. + +But as they reached her side, she saw kindly faces, and heard voices +that were not harsh or threatening. One man spoke to the others, who +listened respectfully. Then another man led Star between a row of +buildings, which Songbird stared at, half frightened, half curious. + +Back of these long buildings, which were made with places where men +looked out at her, she saw a great line of the familiar Quahada tepees, +and in front of the very largest one stood her father, who started +toward her, calling her name. + +Like a flash, Songbird jumped from Star's back, past the men who watched +her, and then she was in her father's arms. She knew that he was not +angry with her, and nothing else mattered now. She had heard his voice +and had seen his joy, which this time he had not tried to hide, even +though he was the chief of the Quahada Comanches. + + + + +Chapter XX + + +The days that followed were the happiest of Songbird's life. Not only +was she with her father and the rest of her people once more, but she +knew that there would be no more fighting between the Quahadas and the +white men. Quannah had given his pledge of peace, and now the white +people were his friends. + +Little white children, dressed in clothes that seemed strange to +Songbird, came to the Quahada camp and brought things that were very +nice to eat. It did not take long for the Quahada children to rush +eagerly and greet these visitors, though of course not one Quahada child +could understand what the white children were saying. But that made no +difference. + +Sometimes the white mothers came, too. They brought clothing like the +things the white children wore, and the Quahada squaws were much pleased +when they saw their own youngsters dressed in the new finery, with shoes +and stockings on their feet. + +While the young Comanches walked awkwardly in their new things, or +talked among themselves about the toys that had been given them, +Songbird sat apart, silent but happy. A wonderful doll with real yellow +hair, and blue eyes that closed in sleep sat primly beside her, but a +dirty buckskin Indian doll was more often hugged to Songbird's breast. + +Then one great day Songbird was taken to play with two children in the +home of an officer. They brought toys and games, and she watched each +thing they did, trying to act in the same way. Her father had told her +to watch and learn to be like the white children, now. + +After a little while she stopped playing and listened to the most +beautiful sounds she had ever heard. Then she rose to her feet and moved +softly toward the room from which the music came. + +Standing by the door she stared at one of the ladies who was seated +before a big box that had a great many teeth, and as her fingers touched +these white, shining teeth, the Spirit in the Box sang sweetly. +Wide-eyed with wonder, Songbird listened without moving. She heard in +the music the wind blowing through trees, the noise of the stream, the +song of wild birds and the cry of the Thunder Bird. + +The music stopped, and the lady, turning suddenly, saw the child in the +doorway. Smiling, she beckoned Songbird, who came forward shyly. The +little brown hand was lifted by the white, ringed hand of the lady. +Songbird's fingers were pressed on the teeth of the box that sang, and +as it spoke to her, Songbird's big, black eyes sparkled with joy, while +her solemn little face lighted with a smile. + +Then the lady motioned her to a chair, and for a long time Songbird sat +listening to the singing of the Spirit in the Box. All this she told her +father when she went back to his tepee. Each day after that when she +went to play with the children, the mother of the children first took +Songbird to the room where the Spirit in the Box sang for her. + +And each day her father talked to her, telling her that she should learn +everything that the white people knew, even how to make the Spirit in +the Box sing when her fingers touched it. + +There were many councils between Quannah and his head chiefs with the +big white chiefs. But there was no more talk of war among the Quahadas. +And one day Quannah told Songbird that they were free to go and build +their camp again. Songbird did not tell him that she did not want to +part from her new friends, but he understood her wistful face. + +"I will come back many times to see them," he said, "and you shall come +with me. Our new camp will not be far away from here." + +So she was happy again. And the next day the Quahadas set busily to work +taking down all the tepees and preparing to move to their own camping +grounds. Songbird and Quannah did not spend these last hours with the +Indians, for they were in the home of an officer. + +After they had all eaten lunch together, the officer led the way to the +front porch. There, before the house, stood a soldier holding the Big +Gray Horse by its bridle, and on its back was a cavalry saddle. + +"The horse and bridle and saddle are gifts to you from General +Mackenzie," the officer said to Quannah, and an interpreter, who knew +how to speak both the white men's language and that of the Comanches, +repeated it to the chief. + +The officer spoke again. This time he looked at Songbird and smiled, +while the interpreter said, "The officers give Quannah's daughter the +black pony which carried her into Fort Sill." + +Then Quannah and Songbird noticed a soldier leading Star to the gate. +Star's little mistress ran down the porch steps and did not stop until +her arms were about the pony's neck. + +When she was on Star's back, and Quannah had mounted the Big Gray Horse, +Songbird saw her father hold out his hand to the officers who had +gathered about them. Very gravely she did the same thing. None of the +officers smiled as they took her small, brown hand, for she was a +daughter of a great chief who had won their respect as a soldier and as +a man. + +Side by side Quannah and Songbird went slowly along the gravel road in +front of the officers' homes; but when they had reached a point directly +opposite the tall white lodge pole where the flag fluttered gracefully, +Quannah reined the Big Gray Horse, so that it faced the lodge pole. +Songbird did the same. + +Her father lifted his hand, as she had seen the men and officers do many +times. Without understanding, and without hesitation, Songbird, too, +raised her hand and saluted the flag. + +Her father smiled approval, then he said: "That is the flag of the +Great Father, and we are his children now. It is as my mother, Preloch, +would wish; and it is best for me, for you, and for all the Quahadas. +The white men are our brothers. Together we shall dwell in peace." + +So they rode to the place where their new camp was to be built, not far +away from the garrison. Quannah explained, as they rode, that the +buffalo hunters could not come there to fight the Quahadas, and that +there would be food enough for the Indians, and that now the white +soldiers would be their friends. He told her how he planned to make his +people understand the white men's ways, their children to learn the +things that white children were taught, and then, some day, maybe, he +could bring back Preloch and Prairie Flower. For the officers had told +him, through the interpreter, that his mother and sister were both dead. + +Little Prairie Flower had lived only a short time after reaching the +home of the white people, and Preloch, grieving constantly for her son, +had died a year later, so the mother and the baby had been buried among +the white people. + +The officers who had told him this had shown their sympathy in their +faces, and when Quannah asked if they thought that some day he might +bring his mother and sister back to sleep among their own people, the +officers had all been sure that the Great Father would think it was just +and right. + +Then Quannah and Songbird reached a little knoll where they had a view +of a wide sweep of prairie land, broken by the outline of trees along +the banks of a stream. Sitting silently on their horses, father and +child gazed at the place where a new era was to dawn for their people. + +Star's nose rubbed the neck of the Big Gray Horse, but his friend paid +no attention to him. He was too busy watching a distant object which +Star had not seen. Then, he, too, saw a slowly moving black pony. Its +head hung dejectedly and it stumbled wearily as it approached them. +Star's loud, shrill call caused the black pony to stop suddenly and +fling its head high, while it gave answer. Neither Quannah nor Songbird +tried to check the swift pace of the Big Gray Horse and Star, as, side +by side, they raced joyously to meet Running Deer. + +When they met, Star pawed the ground in his delight, and his mother kept +nipping his shoulder with her teeth to tell how glad she was to find +him. Later, as she trotted beside him, when Quannah and Songbird again +rode forward, Running Deer told her colt how she, returning to camp with +Quannah, had found that Star and Songbird both were missing. + +After the white soldiers had captured and taken Quannah and all the +braves and women and children to the garrison, Running Deer, assured now +that her master would not need her for some time, stole quietly from the +garrison one night to search for Star and Songbird; for Star was very +dear to her, and she had noticed, too, how Quannah, when alone, grieved +for his beloved daughter who was lost. She had come back to the Quahada +camp and waited there several days, feeling sure that Star and Songbird +would return. When they did not, she continued on her way to find them, +and finally came to the Great Desert of the Staked Plains. With +sorrowing heart she had reluctantly turned her steps back to the +garrison, for now she knew not where to search for them on the vast, +trackless sand plains; and she herself was weak and lean from thirst and +hunger. Imagine, then, her joy upon finding Star and his little mistress +safe and happy. But neither Star nor Running Deer knew that they alone +were left of the once great Quahada pony herd. All the others were dead. + +As the sun went down that evening, Quannah and Songbird, with the Big +Gray Horse, Running Deer, and Star, reached the place where the new +village was to be built. Back of them, on the road, the Quahadas toiled, +but the eyes that watched the setting sun were hopeful. They knew that +it would rise again to-morrow. + + + + +Chapter XXI + + +Quannah kept his pledge. Never again did the Quahada Comanches war with +the white people, for when their chief had given his word of honour, it +became their honour to uphold him and keep his promise. + +Near the garrison of Fort Sill he taught his tribe the best ways of the +white men, and he did his utmost to preserve a sense of fairness and +justice in all his transactions with his own people as well as with the +white men. The children of the Quahadas were educated, and so Quannah's +little daughter was taught the things that white children learn. + +Songbird saw her father honoured by the most prominent men of the United +States; saw him living in a large house that was built and furnished and +given to him as a token of regard from white people who had learned to +understand and admire the "White Comanche Chief." She saw him a guest in +homes of the most noted men in the great city of Washington, and she +watched him ride in the big parade in Washington when Theodore Roosevelt +was elected for the second term as President of the United States. + +All that Moko had predicted the day Songbird had sat watching the old +Picture Maker work on the big buffalo robe had come true. Even Quannah's +desire to have his mother, Preloch, and his baby sister, Prairie Flower, +come back to sleep among the Quahada people had been fulfilled. + +The Congress of the United States, twenty-four years after Quannah had +given his pledge of peace passed a law which gave an appropriation of a +thousand dollars for a monument to be erected to the memory of Cynthia +Ann Parker, whom the Quahadas called Preloch. It not only honoured the +mother of Quannah, but was also an acknowledgment of the valued services +of her son, in cooperating with the United States to keep peace between +the Indians and the white people. + +And so Preloch and Prairie Flower came back at last to the Quahadas, and +when Quannah died, he slept beside them, while the Indians mourned the +passing of the greatest chief they had ever known. Untutored and +unlettered, he had taught his people the lesson of forgiveness and of +honour, and in so doing he had won the respect of all men. + +Moko's words were again proved true when a town, Nocona, was named after +Quannah's father, Peta Nocona; and to-day, still another town bears the +name of the son, Quannah. + +Star and Running Deer, after living happily many years, at last went to +join the other Quahada ponies in the Happy Hunting Grounds. + +Sometimes when the Thunder Bird wings its way across the sky, and white +people think they hear distant thunder, Songbird stands with uplifted +face. It is not thunder, but the sound of galloping hoofs that she +hears. + +Beyond the dark shadows of the Thunder Bird's wings, she knows that +Quannah is riding on Running Deer. Near him is Peta Nocona, and with +them rides Preloch, holding little Prairie Flower closely against her +breast. + +On the other side of Running Deer gallops a black pony without a rider, +his thick mane and long black tail streaming like the edges of a dark +cloud. Songbird knows that the pony is Star, and that some day she will +ride him again beside her father. + +As the thunder dies away, she smiles and turns back to the work that +Quannah left for her to do, until she, too, shall answer the cry of the +Great Eagle. + + + + * * * * * + + +_Books by Forrestine C. Hooker_ + +PRINCE JAN + +STAR: The Story of an Indian Pony + +THE LONG DIM TRAIL + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAR*** + + +******* This file should be named 39899.txt or 39899.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/8/9/39899 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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