intolerable with their shouts and singing
until past midnight, when gradually all disturbance ceased, and both
camps appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber.

Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the sleepers. Many more
reports were heard in quick succession, all coming from the camp of the
bois brules. Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet, weapon in
hand, and many ran towards their ponies. But there was one significant
point about the untimely firing of the guns--they were all directed
heavenward! One of our old men, who understood better than any one else
the manners of the half-breeds, thus proclaimed at the top of his voice:

"Let the people sleep! This that we have heard is the announcement of
a boy's advent into the world! It is their custom to introduce with
gunpowder a new-born boy!"

Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps, and for a time the
night reigned undisturbed. But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep
when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns
and the yelling of warriors. This time it was discovered that almost all
the ponies, including those of our neighbors, had been stealthily driven
off by horse-thieves of another tribe.

These miscreants were adepts in their profession, for they had
accomplished their purpose with much skill, almost under the very eyes
of the foe, and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow
Dog, they would have met with complete success. As it was, they caused
us no little trouble and anxiety, but after a hot pursuit of a whole
day, with the assistance of the halfbreeds our horses were recaptured.

Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit, and
boasting loudly their pretensions as medicine men, without any success,
only bring upon themselves an unnecessary amount of embarrassment and
ridicule. Yet there is one quality always possessed by such persons,
among a savage people as elsewhere--namely, great perseverance and
tenacity in their self-assertion. So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow
Dog always cheerful; and he seemed, if anything, to derive some pleasure
from the endless insinuations and ridicule of the people!

Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed, on the night before this event, that
he had received the warning of a bad dream, in which he had seen all the
ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward.

"But who cares for Slow Dog's dream?" said everybody; "none of the