236 HUNTING THE GRISLY. 



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 towards 

 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 parley 

 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 dried a courier ar- 

 rived with orders to the troops to go back to 

 camp. 



This fulfilment of Sword-Bearer's prophecy 

 of course raised his reputation to the zenith 

 and the young men of the tribe prepared for 

 war, while the older chiefs, who more fully 

 realized the power of the whites, still hung 

 back. When the troops next appeared they 

 came upon the entire Crow force, the women 

 and children with their tepees being off to one 

 side beyond a little stream while almost all 

 the warriors of the tribe were gathered in front. 

 Sword-Bearer started to repeat his former ride, 

 to the intense irritation of the soldiers. 

 Luckily, however, this time some of his 

 young men could not be restrained. They 



