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them for service even after they had succeeded in outstripping the more
heavily-burdened cattle of the Siouxes, Hard-Heart drew up, and came to a dead
halt on the very margin of the water-course.
As the country was too open for any of the usual devices of savage warfare,
and time was so pressing, the chivalrous Pawnee resolved to bring on the
result by one of those acts of personal daring, for which the Indian braves
are so remarkable, and by which they so often purchase their highest and
dearest renown. The spot he had selected was favourable to such a project. The
river, which throughout most of its course was deep and rapid, had expanded
there to more than twice its customary width, and the rippling of its waters
proved that it flowed over a shallow bottom. In the centre of the current
there was an extensive and naked bed of sand, but a little raised above the
level of the stream, and of a colour and consistency which warranted, to a
practised eye, that it afforded a firm and safe foundation for the foot. To
this spot the partisan now turned his wistful gaze, nor was he long in making
his decision. First speaking to his warriors, and apprizing them of his
intentions, he dashed into the current, and partly by swimming, and more by
the use of his horse s feet, he quickly reached the island in safety.
The experience of Hard-Heart had not deceived him. When his snorting steed
issued from the water, he found himself on a tremulous but damp and compact
bed of sand, that was admirably adapted to the exhibition of the finest powers
of the animal. The horse seemed conscious of the advantage, and bore his
warlike rider, with an elasticity of step and a loftiness of air, that would
have done no discredit to the highest trained and most generous charger. The
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blood of the chief himself quickened with the excitement of his striking
situation. He sat the beast as though he was conscious that the eyes of two
tribes were on his movements, and as nothing could be more acceptable and
grateful to his own band than this display of native grace and courage, so
nothing could be more taunting and humiliating to their enemies.
The sudden appearance of the Pawnee on the sands was announced among the
Tetons by a general yell of savage anger. A rush was made to the shore,
followed by a discharge of fifty arrows and a few fusees, and on the part of
several braves there was a plain manifestation of a desire to plunge into the
water, in order to punish the temerity of their insolent foe. But a call and a
mandate from Mahtoree checked the rising, and nearly ungovernable, temper of
his band. So far from allowing a single foot to be wet, or a repetition of the
fruitless efforts of his people to drive away their foe with missiles, the
whole of the party was commanded to retire from the shore, while he himself
communicated his intentions to one or two of his most favoured followers.
When the Pawnees had observed the rush of their enemies, twenty warriors rode
into the stream; but so soon as they perceived that the Tetons had withdrawn,
they fell back to a man, leaving the young chief to the support of his own
often-tried skill and well-established courage. The instructions of
Hard-Heart, on quitting his band, had been worthy of the self-devotion and
daring of his character. So long as single warriors came against him, he was
to be left to the keeping of the Wahcondah and his own arm, but should the
Siouxes attack him in numbers, he was to be sustained, man for man, even to
the extent of his whole force. These generous orders were strictly obeyed; and
though so many hearts in the troop panted to share in the glory and danger of
their partisan, not a warrior was found, among them all, who did not know how
to conceal his impatience under the usual mask of Indian self-restraint. They
watched the issue with quick and jealous eyes, nor did a single exclamation of
surprise escape them, when they saw, as will soon be apparent, that the
experiment of their chief was as likely to conduce to peace as to war.
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