Antelope stood apparently motionless, but he was trembling under his robe like a leaf.
"Come, friend, there is another large cloud almost over the moon! We must move away under its concealing shadow," urged Eagle- child.
the other stood still as if undecided, but at last he approached the lodge and looked in a second time. There sat his sweetheart in human form once more! The maiden was at- tired in a doeskin gown set with elk's teeth like ivory. Her eyes were cast down demurely over her embroidery, but in every feature she was the living counterpart of Taluta!
At last the two got away unobserved, and hastened toward the place where they had con- cealed their horses. But here Antelope sent his companion on in advance, making the ex- cuse that he wished to study further the best position from which to make the attack.
When he was left alone he stood still for a moment to decide upon a plan. He could think of nothing but that he must meet the Ree maiden before daylight! He realized the extreme hazard of the attempt, but he also recalled what he had been told by the spirit of Taluta, and the supernatural command seemed to jus- tify him even in going thus upon the eve of battle to meet the enemy of his people.
He skirted the heavy timber and retraced his steps to a point from which he could see the village. The drum of the gambling party had ceased with the shouts and laughter of the players. Apparently the village was lost in slumber. The moon had set, and without pausing he advanced to the home of the girl. As he came near some dogs began to bark, but he silenced them after the manner of the Rees, and they obeyed him.
When Antelope softly raised the robe that hung over the entrance to the chief's lodge, he saw the fire smoldering in the center, and the members of the household lying in their respective places, all seemingly in a deep sleep. The girl lay opposite the entrance, where he had seen her seated in the early part of the evening.
The heart of the Sioux beat violently, and he glanced nervously to left and right.There was neither sound nor movement.Then he pulled hisrobe completely over his head, after the fashion of a Ree lover, and softly entered the wigwam.
The Ree maiden, having industriously worked on her embroidery until far into the night, had retired to rest. In her dreams, the twin sister came to her of whom she had had visions ever since she could remember, and es- pecially when something of importance was about to happen.
This time she came with a handsome young man of another tribe, and said: "Sister, I bring you a Sioux, who will be your husband!"The dreamer opened her eyes to behold a youth bending over her and gently pulling her robe, as a suitor is permitted to do to awaken his beloved.
When he saw that she was awake, the Sioux touched his breast, saying in a whisper, "Ta- toka," and made the sign for Antelope. This pleased the Ree girl, for her own brother, who had died the year before, had borne that name. She immediately sat up and stirred the embers into a light blaze. Then she took hold of his blanket and drew it from his face; and there she seemed to see the very features of the man of her vision!
He took her hand in his, and she felt the force of love stream through his long, nervous fingers, and instinctively knew his thoughts. In her turn she touched her breast and made the sign for Shield, pronouncing in her own tongue the word, Stasu. This seemed to him also a name of good omen, and in the sign language which was common to all the people of the plains, he asked her to be his wife.
Vividly her dream came back to her, and she could not refuse the stranger. Her soul already responded to his; and for a few min- utes they sat silently side by side. When he arose and beckoned, "Come with me," she had no question to make, and without a word she followed him from her father's lodge and out into the forest.
In the midst of his ascending fame, at a mo- ment when opportunity seemed to favor his am- bition, the brave Antelope had mysteriously disappeared! His companion scout returned with a favorable report. He said that the men of the three confederated tribes were gambling and feasting, wholly unconscious of danger, and that Antelope would follow him with a further report upon the best point of attack. The red warriorsimpatiently awaited his re- turn, until it became apparent that they could wait no longer without sacrificing their chance of success. When the attack was made it was already rather late. The sun had fairly cleared the eastern hills, and most of the men were out- side their lodges.
It was a great battle! Again and again the Sioux were repulsed, but as often they rallied and repeated the charge until sundown, when they effected their retreat with considerable loss. Had Antelope returned in due season, the charge would have been made before dawn, while the people were yet asleep.
When the battle was over, the Rees, Man- dans, and Gros Ventres gathered their dead and wounded. The night was filled with mourning. Soon the sad news was heralded throughout the camp that the beautiful daughter of the Ree chief was among the missing. It was sup- posed that she must have been captured while driving her ponies to water in the early morn- ing. The grief for her loss was mingled with horror, because of a fear that she might suf- fer humiliation at the hands of the Sioux war- riors, and among the young men there were mut- tered threats that the Sioux would pay dearly for this.
