He had
bartered his most cherished possessions for sev-
eral eagles that were brought in by various
hunters of the camp, and with his own hands
had made a handsome war-bonnet for his son.
"You will now wear a war-bonnet for the
first time, and you are the first of our family
who has earned the right to wear one for many
generations. I am proud of you, my son," he
said as he presented it.
But when the youth replied: "Ho, ho,
father! I ought to be a brave man in recog-
nition of this honor," he again sighed heavily.
"It is that I feared, my son! Many a young
man has lost his life for vanity and love of dis-
play!"
The evening serenades began early, for the
party was to leave at once. In groups upon
their favorite ponies the warriors rode around
the inner circle of the great camp, singing their
war-songs. All the people came out of the tee-
pees, and sitting by twos and threes upon the
ground, bedecked with savage finery, they
watched and listened. The pretty wild maid-
ens had this last opportunity given them to
look upon the faces of their sweethearts, whom
they might never see again.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55