unds of large herds of buffaloes. Tomorrow morning
at sunrise we must be on our way."

[Illustration: Bent Horn's mind was made up.]

The news was quickly carried from one tepee to another and the squaws
set to work with a will to prepare for moving.

When Timid Hare heard the news she thought sadly: "Shall I go farther
than ever from my dear White Mink?" The little girl had been so
frightened at the time of her capture that she was not sure in which
direction she travelled.

There was not a moment now, however, to consider herself, as Sweet
Grass and her mother kept the child helping them prepare for the
moving. The stores of grain and other dry food, the dishes and kettles
and clothing must be packed in readiness for the early start on the
morrow.

THE JOURNEY

"Awake, Timid Hare, for there is a faint light in the eastern sky. The
sun is already rising from his bed."

At these words from Sweet Grass, Timid Hare's eyes burst wide open and
she sprang from her bed. There was much to do at once, for the signal
must be given to the whole village from the home of Bent Horn.

So quickly did his squaw and young daughter work that a half-hour
afterwards the walls of the chief's tepee were flapping in the morning
breeze. Immediately afterwards the same thing happened to every other
home in the village. Next, down came the tent poles of the chief's
tepee, and then those of all the others.

Timid Hare went quickly here and there, obeying the orders of her
mistress. Ropes of skin must be brought to tie the poles into two
bundles. The little girl must help hold these bundles in place, while
Bent Horn's best pack horses were brought up and the bundles fastened
against the sides of their bodies, and at the same time allowed to drag
on the ground behind.

"Quick, Timid Hare," Sweet Grass would say, pointing now to this bundle
of bedding, and now to another of dishes or clothing. The horses were
restless and the bundles must be well-fastened to the poles before they
should be ready to start. Some of Bent Horn's dogs were also loaded in
the same way.

While Sweet Grass and her mother, with Timid Hare's help, were packing
their own stores every other woman in the village was doing the same.
In a wonderfully short time the procession was on its way, the squaws
leading the pack horses. When they started out, however, the braves
and youths, riding their favorite horses and ponies, were already far
ahead.