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They circled swiftly about each other, performing many clever feats of horsemanship, while their stout bows twanged so fast that the arrows crisscrossed like darting bees. Some thudded into the thick shields, and the shields bristled with the feathered ends. Some found legs and arms but that mattered little. Now Mahtotohpa's horse reeled and fell, an arrow in his heart.
The warriors of both parties had formed a circle close about, watching. Mahtotohpa staggered up, with the Cheyenne's scalp and knife, and gave the kill whoop and thus victory rested with the Mandans. That was Mahtotohpa's most famous battle. In another battle he got his name, Four Bears.
"I wear scalps at my horse's bit, and the eagle's feathers." "You have said enough," replied Mahtotohpa. "Come. Let us meet." Forward hammered the Cheyenne chief, riding splendidly in circles, until he dashed in and planted his lance, also, at the side of Mahtotohpa's lance. That was his answer. They each drew off a little way, while the Mandan warriors and the Cheyenne warriors gazed expectant.
"It is no matter," Wongatap replied. "If he is hungry, let him eat." That was right. By Indian law a person in need may enter any lodge, and eat, and no questions shall be asked until he has finished. Mahtotohpa's heart almost failed him. Had that not been the killer of his brother, he would only have left a challenge, and gone away.
He also made a copy of the pictures, on another robe, and the knife and the second robe were sent to the Catlin Indian gallery, at Washington, where they doubtless may be seen at this day. Mahtotohpa's end came to him as follows: In the summer of 1837, a great death attacked the Mandan towns. It was the small pox. The Sioux hedged the towns so closely that there was no escape into the prairie.
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