At the
same instant his horse uttered a scream and fell,
throwing its rider headlong!
There was no one near except Red Owl, who
clapped his heels to his pony and joined in the
retreat, leaving Matoska behind. He arose,
threw down his quiver, and advanced alone to
meet the oncoming rush of the Crows!
The Sioux had seen him fall. In a few mo-
ments he was surrounded by the enemy, and
they saw him no more.
The pursuit was stopped, and they paused
upon a hilltop to collect the remnant of their
force. Red Owl was the last to come up, and
it was observed that he did not look like himself.
"Tell us, what were Matoska's last words?"
they asked him.
But he silently dismounted and sent an arrow
through his faithful steed, to the astonishment
of the warriors. Immediately afterward he
took out his knife and stabbed himself to the
heart.
"Ah!" they exclaimed, "he could not live
to share our humiliation!"
The war-party returned defeated and cast
down by this unexpected ending to their adven-
ture, having lost some of their bravest and best
men.
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