chief. Does he dare to fight?"

"Is this a chief who speaks to Mahtotohpa?"

"I wear scalps at my horse's bit, and the eagle's feathers."

"You have said enough," replied Mahtotohpa. "Come. Let us meet."

Forward hammered the Cheyenne chief, riding splendidly in circles,
until he dashed in and planted his lance, also, at the side of
Mahtotohpa's lance. That was his answer.

They each drew off a little way, while the Mandan warriors and the
Cheyenne warriors gazed expectant. Then they charged like knights in a
tournament, and shot at the same moment with their guns. After they
had passed each other, and had wheeled, Mahtotohpa held up his
powder-horn. The Cheyenne's bullet had smashed it, so that the powder
had flowed out.

Having shown, Mahtotohpa flung away his horn, threw his gun to the
ground, and setting his buffalo-hide shield upon his left arm,
deliberately strung his bow and placed an arrow upon the string.

The Cheyenne chief was a mighty warrior. He likewise cast aside his
powder-horn and gun, adjusted his painted shield, prepared bow and
arrow. Again they charged. They circled swiftly about each other,
performing many clever feats of horsemanship, while their stout bows
twanged so fast that the arrows crisscrossed like darting bees.

Some thudded into the thick shields, and the shields bristled with the
feathered ends. Some found legs and arms--but that mattered little.
Now Mahtotohpa's horse reeled and fell, an arrow in his heart.
Mahtotohpa sprang nimbly off. And off from his own horse sprang the
Cheyenne chief, that he might not have the advantage.

They plied their bows, on foot. Soon the brave Cheyenne stripped his
quiver from his left shoulder and flourished it. It was empty. He
tossed it away, and tossed away bow and shield. Then he drew his knife.

"Ai!" responded Mahtotohpa, gladly; and ridding himself of shield and
quiver he rushed forward, feeling for his knife, too.

But his knife was not in his belt. He had lost it, or left it at home!
Hah! He could not stop--they had come together--the Cheyenne was upon
him. So he fought with his bow. He struck aside the Cheyenne's
thrust, and hit him over the head and knocked him down. They grappled.
It was a terrible fight.

Mahtotohpa clutched for the knife, and the sharp blade was wrenched
through his hand, cutting to the bone. The Cheyenne stabbed him many
times, and many times Mahtotohpa clutched the knife blade again, be