It was a glorious
sight! No man has ever looked upon the like
again!"
The eyes of the old man sparkled as he spoke,
and his bent shoulders straightened.
"The white doeskin gown of the War
Maiden," he continued, "was trimmed with
elk's teeth and tails of ermine. Her long black
hair hung loose, bound only with a strip of
otter-skin, and with her eagle-feather war-bonnet
floated far behind. In her hand she held a long
coup-staff decorated with eagle-feathers. Thus
she went forth in advance of them all!
"War cries of men and screams of terrified
women and children were borne upon the clear
morning air as our warriors neared the Crow
camp. The charge was made over a wide plain,
and the Crows came yelling from their lodges,
fully armed, to meet the attacking party. In
spite of the surprise they easily held their own,
and even began to press us hard, as their num-
ber was much greater than that of the Sioux.
"The fight was a long and hard one.
Toward the end of the day the enemy made a
counter-charge.
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