Then the Snake chief told his people how he had met the Piegan, and how brave he was, and that now they were going to make a great peace; and he sent some men to tell the people, so that they would be ready to move camp in the morning.  Evening came.  Everywhere people were shouting out for feasts, and the chief took Owl Bear to them.  It was very late when they returned.  Then the Snake had one of his wives make a bed at the back of the lodge; and when it was ready he said:  “Now, my friend, there is your bed.  This is now your lodge; also the woman who made the bed, she is now your wife; also everything in this lodge is yours.  The parfleches, saddles, food, robes, bowls, everything is yours.  I give them to you because you are my friend and a brave man.”

“You give me too much,” replied Owl Bear.  “I am ashamed, but I take your words.  I have nothing with me but one wife.  She is yours.”

Next morning camp was broken early.  The horses were driven in, and the Snake chief gave Owl Bear his whole band,—­two hundred head, all large, powerful horses.

All were now ready, and the chiefs started ahead.  Close behind them were all the warriors, hundreds and hundreds, and last came the women and children, and the young men driving the loose horses.  As they came in sight of the Piegan camp, all the warriors started out to meet them, dressed in their war costumes and singing the great war song.  There was no wind, and the sound came across the valley and up the hill like the noise of thunder.  Then the Snakes began to sing, and thus the two parties advanced.  At last they met.  The Piegans turned and rode beside them, and so they came to the camp.  Then they got off their horses and kissed each other.  Every Piegan asked a Snake into his lodge to eat and rest, and the Snake women put up their lodges beside the Piegan lodges.  So the great peace was made.

In Owl Bear’s lodge there was a great feast, and when they had finished he said to his people:  “Here is the man whose scalp I took.  Did I say I killed him?  No.  I gave him my knife and told him to kill me.  He would not do it; and he gave me his knife, but I would not kill him.  So we talked together what we should do, and now we have made peace.  And now (turning to the Snake) this is your lodge, also all the things in it.  My horses, too, I give you.  All are yours.”

So it was.  The Piegan took the Snake’s wife, lodge, and horses, and the Snake took the Piegan’s, and they camped side by side.  All the people camped together, and feasted each other and made presents.  So the peace was made.

V

For many days they camped side by side.  The young men kept hunting, and the women were always busy drying meat and tanning robes and cowskins.  Buffalo were always close, and after a while the people had all the meat and robes they could carry.  Then, one day, the Snake chief said to Owl Bear:  “Now, my friend, we have camped a long time together, and I am glad we have made peace.  We have dug a hole in the ground, and in it we have put our anger and covered it up, so there is no more war between us.  And now I think it time to go.  To-morrow morning the Snakes break camp and go back south.”