Tatoka's
war-horse and hunting pony were picketed near
by, and there she saw herself preparing the
simple meal for him! But now he has clouded
her dreams by this untimely departure.
"He is too brave. . . . His life will be a
short one," she said to herself with fore-
boding.
For a few hours all was quiet, and just be-
fore the appearance of day the warriors' de-
parture was made known by their farewell
songs. Antelope was in the line early, but he
was heavy of heart, for he knew that his sweet-
heart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by
his abrupt departure. His only consolation
was the knowledge that he had in his bundle
a pair of moccasins made by her hands. He
had not yet seen them, because it was the cus-
tom not to open any farewell gifts until the
first camp was made, and then they must be
opened before the eyes of all the young men!
It brings luck to the war-party, they said. He
would have preferred to keep his betrothal se-
cret, but there was no escaping the custom.
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