282 Hunting the Grisly 



down toward the troops. It was the medi 

 cine chief, Sword-Bearer. He was painted 

 and in his battle-dress, wearing his war-bonnet 

 of floating, trailing eagle feathers, \vhile the 

 plumes of the same bird were braided in the 

 mane and tail of his fiery little horse. On he 

 came at a gallop almost up to the troops and 

 then began to circle around them, calling and 

 singing and throwing his crimson sword into 

 the air, catching it by the hilt as it fell. 

 Twice he rode completely around the soldiers, 

 who stood in uncertainty, not knowing what 

 to make of his performance, and expressly 

 forbidden to shoot at him. Then paying no 

 further heed to them he rode back toward 

 the Crows. It appears that he had told them 

 that he would ride twice around the hostile 

 force, and by his incantations would call down 

 rain from heaven, which would make the 

 hearts of the white men like water, so that 

 they should go back to their homes. Sure 

 enough, while the arrangements for the par 

 ley were still going forward, down came the 

 cloudburst, drenching the command and mak 

 ing the ground on the hills in front nearly 

 impassable; and before it had dried a courier 

 arrived with orders to the troops to go back 

 to camp. 



