Glacier County chief., 1939-10-27

at the campfire and overheard the
old men discussing the matter in
council. That night the two boys stole
out of camp, quietly caught and
mounted their horses and rode away,
taking with them strips of dried buff
falo meat, their knives and bows and
arrows; They reached Clark's fork
junction with the Yellowstone. Early
the second morning they reached
Huntley, and, by the second night they
were among the buttes along the Mus
selshell river. And here, watching and
waiting with the cunning of wolves,
they finally discerned dark mass far
out across the plains, which the boys
quickened, for the buffalo were not
grazing undisturbed. The mass was
milling about uneasily, a sure proof
that hunters were near, out for their
winter meat.
Counting "Coups'' Not Enough
Soberly the Crow boys discussed the
situation, mapping out their plan of
campaign. 1t was dusk, too late for
successful hunting that night. The
Sioux, obviously, were making camp,
ready for the mornings fray. The
Crows might bridge the 10 miles be-
tween, slip into enemy camp, capture
horses and escape. That would mean a
coup" for each of them. But the
honor would not satisfy Plenty Coups.
Sioux blood must be shed as just retri-
button for his brothers death. They
sible and then trust to fate for OPP
portunity. Cautiously, through the
night, they advanced, following inter-
twining coulees. At dawn they dis
mounted and crept to the mouth of
the last coulee and peered out: A
scant half mile distant were the Sioux
hunters, circling the buffalo, shooting
no thought to prowling enemies, while
down in the coulee the Crow boys
crouched, tense, waiting an opportune
moment.
Plenty Coups told me he felt no
| fear. Fear was only for SquawS. But
he knew that either he would return
to his people triumphant with a Sioux
! scalp, or else that night his own scalp
would dangle from Sioux pole.
A wounded bull buffalo broke free of
the melee of pursuing horses and men,
and headed straight for the coulee
where the young braves were concealed.
Behind the animal, leSsening the dis
| lance by seconds, dashed a Sioux
hunter, seeing nothing but his game.
although Plenty Coups and Big Shout
utlS lldu opl ullB W GllGu 1CNl, tillO
were standing rigid, knives ready. in
plain view Of the lone Sioux and Of
all the hunters out on the plains. It
was a vital moment. The Crows, out
numbered 10 to l, must act quickly
and with precision. While Big Shout
ders stood by, ready to act in an
but the enG
Plenty Coups, with the agility of
trained muscles and alert brain, gave
leap that landed him upon the back
of his enemy Too late the Sioux
brandished his knife. Strong young
arms gripped him tight. There was a
brief struggle, drawn-out second Of
death Of Plenty Coups' brother was
washed away by the blood of the
enemy.
In another second the astonished,
enraged Sioux were quirting their
horses across the plains in pursuit.
And the boys were speeding for their
horses. Once mounted. there ensued
race, Grow against Sioux, life against
death, through the dry coulee, up steep
banks, over open pratrteS, on and on,
with the odds favoring the Crows
somewhat, since the Sioux horses were
already spent from the hunt. A day
and night and day, lodging. hid
to breathe their horses and to listen,
ears to the ground. Sometimes the
Sioux were in sight and arrows whizzed
through the air. Sometimes the pur-
suers were hidden in the tangle of
coulees and buttes and cottonwood
clumps. Until, rounding a last butte,
the Crow camp was In view and the
young braves were safe.
Plenty Coups smiled, re-living the
! days Of young adventure. There was
great feast In the village that night,
| he said, with dances and songs of