the joy of being set free,
followed Young Antelope silently till the two neared the council house
where Bent Horn was busy planning for the coming celebration. There,
in the autumn sunlight, they waited till the chief should appear and
the son whom he loved dearly should have a chance to ask for a certain
boon.

That night Black Bull went to sleep as happy as a king, even though his
mother had just given him a beating. Smoke was safe! Another, Young
Antelope, who had more treasures than he, was willing to make the
sacrifice in his place.

THE FESTIVAL

The celebration was over and Timid Hare was tired out from excitement.
Never before had she seen so many wonders. Why, the chief of chiefs,
the chief of all the Dahcotas, had been one of the visitors and had
slept in Bent Horn's tepee. Timid Hare herself had helped to serve
him. And when he had gone forth to the council and to the feasts he
was the grandest looking person she had ever beheld in her life. He
wore a head-dress of war-eagle feathers. Thick and heavy was this
head-dress, and beautiful were the feathers beyond compare. The great
chief's face shone with grease, and was made fearful to look upon with
much paint. On his robe were pictured the many battles in which he had
taken part; it was trimmed with a heavy fringe of scalp-locks. His
leggings and moccasins were richly embroidered with porcupine quills.
He walked forth like a king. The children of the village trembled as
they gazed upon him.

Bent Horn looked grand also in his own robes of state. Many a day had
his wife spent embroidering this robe with porcupine quills and
trimming it with fringes of his enemies scalp-locks. Heavy chains hung
around his neck. His long hair, which he had greased well, had been
divided into two parts and crossed on the top of his head, where it was
then gathered into a knot.

"Bent Horn's head-dress is almost as handsome as that of the Great
Chief," Timid Hare said to herself, as she watched the two men walking
together towards the council house.

The sun shone brightly throughout the whole celebration and the feasts
were spread outdoors. The chiefs and braves sat in a half-circle at
these feasts and the food was passed to them from steaming kettles.
There was bear meat in plenty, fat and rich; baked turtles; juicy
buffalo steaks and stews; but at the principal feast of all, only dog
flesh was served.

Then it was that the people of the village ga