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So with a couple of us mounted and another driving a buckboard we made for Chief Crowfoot's encampment. It was a black night and raining a steady drizzle. We lay on the edge of the camp for a couple of hours in the rain and then at early dawn we rode in. It took the Superintendent about two minutes to locate Crowfoot's tent, and, leaving us outside, he walked straight in.
"You're up against it now, Sparkfair," came from Lawrence Graves, as Bart stood forth to the plate. "I'm scared to death!" laughed Dale. "See me tremble! See me vibrate!" The infielders crept in for a bunt, while Sparkfair pitched a swift, high ball. Hodge attempted to drop the ball just inside the first-base line, but made a foul tip, and the sphere plunked into young Joe Crowfoot's mitt.
My God! but it was comforting to hear those far-away hoofs, and know that Bader must have come up, taken the papers, and mounted Crowfoot's gray, still good for a ten-mile ride! The despatch was gone forward; we had not all fallen in vain; maybe the brigades would be saved! How purely the stars shone! When I stifled my groaning they seemed to tell me of a great peace to come.
At a point farthest from the water and near to a poplar-bluff stood Crowfoot's house. At the first touch of summer, however, Crowfoot's household had moved out from their dwelling, after the manner of the Indians, and had taken up their lodging in a little group of tents set beside the house. Toward this little group of tents Cameron rode at an easy lope.
Now as we galloped away, Bader, Absalom Gray, myself, and Crowfoot's riderless horse, I looked behind for that comrade; but he was not to be seen or heard. We three were left of the eleven. From the loss of so many comrades the importance of our mission seemed huge.
He found Crowfoot alone beside his fire, except for the squaws that were cleaning up after the evening meal and the papooses and older children rolling about on the grass. As Cameron drew near, all vanished, except Crowfoot and a youth about seventeen years of age, whose strongly marked features and high, fearless bearing proclaimed him Crowfoot's son.
If you are not at the Ghost River I shall go right on that is if I see any signs." "Bon! Good!" said Jerry. And without further word he slipped on to his horse and disappeared into the darkness, taking the cross-trail through the coulee by which Cameron had come. Crowfoot's camp showed every sign of the organization and discipline of a master spirit.
Finally he took his pipe from his mouth, pressed the tobacco hard down with his horny middle finger and stuck it in his pocket. "Mebbe so," he said slowly, a slight grin distorting his wizened little face, "mebbe so, but t'ink not me." "Well, Jerry, where could they have gone? They might ride straight to Crowfoot's Reserve, but I think that is extremely unlikely.
We turned our heads and cheered him as we flew, for there was something indescribably inspiriting in the gallant and cheerful lilt of the fallen man. It was as if he flung us, from the grief of utter defeat, a soul unconquerable; and I felt the life in me strengthened by the tone. Old Bader and I for it! He led by a hundred yards, and Crowfoot's gray kept his stride. Was I gaining on them?
"By the way, Sir, it was Crowfoot's son that got into that trouble last night with that Macleod man. The old Chief is in town, too, in fact is outside just now and quite worked up over the arrest." "Well, we will settle this Crowfoot business in a few minutes. Now, about this Raven gang. You cannot go yourself with a couple of men? He is an exceedingly clever rascal."
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