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Updated: May 2, 2025
As for her, she evidently felt that her misfortunes had not been of her own making. She gave a hesitating, sidelong look at her mistress. "Nakpa, you should not have acted so. I knew you were stronger than the others, therefore I gave you that load," said Weeko in a conciliatory tone, and patted her on the nose.
The cowskin tent became detached from her saddle, and a moment later Nakpa stood free. Her sides worked like a bellows as she stood there meekly indignant, apparently considering herself to be the victim of an uncalled-for misunderstanding. "I should put an arrow through her at once, only she is not worth a good arrow," said Shunkaska, or White Dog, the husband of Weeko.
Toward sunset, she entered the Sioux camp amid great excitement, for some one had spied her afar off, and the boys and the dogs announced her coming. "Whoo, whoo! Weeko's Nakpa has come back with the twins! Whoo, whoo!" exclaimed the men. "Tokee! tokee!" cried the women. A sister to Weeko who was in the village came forward and released the children, as Nakpa gave a low whinny and stopped.
Quick as a flash, Weeko turned again to her babies, but Nakpa had already disappeared! Then, maddened by fright and the loss of her children, Weeko became forgetful of her sex and tenderness, for she sternly grasped her husband's bow in her left hand to do battle. That charge of the Crows was a disastrous one, but the Sioux were equally brave and desperate.
As Weeko's first-born, they were beautifully dressed; even the saddle and bridle were daintily worked by her own hands. The caravan was now in motion, and Weeko started all her ponies after the leader, while she adjusted the mule's clumsy burden of kettles and other household gear. In a moment: "Go on, let us see how you move with your new load!
Late in the afternoon came Weeko, her face swollen with crying, her beautiful hair cut short in mourning, her garments torn and covered with dust and blood. Her husband had fallen in the fight, and her twin boys she supposed to have been taken captive by the Crows. Singing in a hoarse voice the praises of her departed warrior, she entered the camp.
Instinctively she reached for her husband's second quiver of arrows, which was carried by one of the pack-ponies. Alas! the Crow warriors were already upon them! The ponies became unmanageable, and the wild screams of women and children pierced the awful confusion. Quick as a flash, Weeko turned again to her babies, but Nakpa had already disappeared!
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