Before leaving the Brule camp, Souk and Chaf-fa-ly-a had vowed a true lover’s vow, that, come what would of the council, they would be faithful to each other, and die rather than break their plighted troth.  Souk had also promised his betrothed he would return in the fall and make her his wife, with or without the consent of the tribes.

As the summer months wore away, and no word was received from the Brule camp, Souk became each day more restless, and finally, calling together a few friends, started once more for the Brule’s home.

He was received most cordially by the old chief, and, as before, given most hospitable entertainment.  Often, however, he thought he detected sadness on the old man’s face, and on questioning Chaf-fa-ly-a as to the cause of her father’s trouble, the poor girl burst into tears and confessed she was about to be sacrificed for her father’s good.  She said that the Cheyenne chief, with whom her father had long been at war, had asked her hand, and promised, on receiving her as one of his wives, to cease from warring with the Sioux.  Her father, actuated by a desire to do his people and friends good, had, after the refusal of Souk’s father to furnish the required presents, given the Cheyenne a promise, and they were to be married the following year, when the grass grew green on the earth.  The old chief preferred greatly to have Souk for a son-in-law, but he wished also to serve his people and old friends.  The treaty was to be binding on the Cheyennes, for the Ogallallas as well as the Brules, and therefore Souk and his father would be greatly benefited by her marriage to the Cheyennes.

This astounding intelligence came near upsetting Souk’s better judgment, and for a while he was nearly demented.  Taking the fond girl in his arms, he swore, rather than see her the wife of the hated Cheyenne, he would spill both his own and her blood, and they would go to the happy hunting-grounds together.  Chaf-fa-ly-a begged him to be calm, and she would make her escape with him and fly to his people.  It was agreed that early in the spring, before the encampment moved to its summer pastures, Souk, with a chosen band, should come over the mountains, and in the confusion, when the tribe was on its march, they would seize a favourable opportunity to escape into the mountains, from which they could make their way to Souk’s father and implore his protection.

Cautioning him, even by a look, not to betray any knowledge of her engagement to the Cheyenne, the lovers parted, and next day Souk set out for his home, apparently utterly indifferent as to the result of the negotiations for his marriage.

Slowly the winter months dragged along, and to the impatient Souk they seemed interminable; but at length the water began to come down from the mountains, and the ice grew soft