No one spoke, but the chief saw them nudge each other and smile a little; and soon they went out and said to one another:  “What a lie!  That is not an enemy’s scalp; there is no flesh on it He has robbed some dead person.”

Some one told the chief what they said, but he only laughed and replied:—­

“I do not care.  They were too much afraid even to go on and rob a dead person.  They should wear women’s dresses.”

Near sunset, Owl Bear called for a horse, and rode all through camp so every one could hear, shouting out:  “Listen! listen!  To-morrow we move camp.  We travel south.  The Piegans and Snakes are going to make peace.  If any one refuses to go, I will kill him.  All must go.”

Then an old medicine man came up to him and said:  “Kyi, Owl Bear! listen to me.  Why talk like this?  You know we are not afraid of the Snakes.  Have we not fought them and driven them out of this country?  Do you think we are afraid to go and meet them?  No.  We will go and make peace with them as you say, and if they want to fight, we will fight.  Now you are angry with those who started to war with you.  Don’t be angry.  Dreams belong to the Sun.  He gave them to us, so that we can see ahead and know what will happen.  The Piegans are not cowards.  Their dreams told them to turn back.  So do not be angry with them any more.”

“There is truth in what you say, old man,” replied Owl Bear; “I will take your words.”

IV

In those days the Piegans were a great tribe.  When they travelled, if you were with the head ones, you could not see the last ones, they were so far back.  They had more horses than they could count, so they used fresh horses every day and travelled very fast.  On the twenty-fourth day they reached the place where Owl Bear had told the Snake they would camp, and put up their lodges along the creek.  Soon some young men came in, and said they had seen some fresh horse trails up toward the mountain.

“It must be the Snakes,” said the chief; “they have already arrived, although there is yet one night.”  So he called one of his wives, and getting on their horses they set out to find the Snake camp.  They took the trail up over the mountain, and soon came in sight of the lodges.  It was a big camp.  Every open place in the valley was covered with lodges, and the hills were dotted with horses; for the Snakes had a great many more horses than the Piegans.

Some of the Snakes saw the Piegans coming, and they ran to the chief, saying:  “Two strangers are in sight, coming this way.  What shall be done?”

“Do not harm them,” replied the chief.  “They are friends of mine.  I have been expecting them.”  Then the Snakes wondered, for the chief had told them nothing about his war trip.

Now when Owl Bear had come to the camp, he asked in signs for the chiefs lodge, and they pointed him to one in the middle.  It was small and old.  The Piegan got off his horse, and the Snake chief came out and hugged him and kissed him, and said:  “I am glad you have come to-day to my lodge.  So are my people.  You are tired.  Enter my lodge and we will eat.”  So they went inside and many of the Snakes came in, and they had a great feast.