"Here, then, the Shoshone reared his white lodge, and scoured the prairies in pursuit of game; while, as yet, the whole country abounded with lakes and ponds of water, and only the highlands and mountains were left for the buffalo and deer.
"But years passed on, —the mountains and highlands continued to prey upon the waters, and the creeks and rivers gradually reduced the limits of their possessions.
21 The north
"Years again fled. The Shoshones, attracted by some better region, far away, or driven from their homes by the hostile encroachments of other tribes, gave place to the Scarred-arms.22
"In the course of generations, the Lacotas and the Scarred-arms war red with each other; they fought with varied success for many years.
"Once a party of the Lacotas penetrated into the heart of the enemy's country; on their return, they fell into an ambuscade, and only six of them were left to tell the fate of their companions.
"Hotly pursued by the Scarred-arms, they sought refuge in a mountain. There an obscure passage led to a recess in the mountain's side, which they entered, and were pleased to find within it a gravelly floor, and a pure fountain of sweet water.
"Tempted by the conveniences and security of the place, they thought to remain for a few days that they might recover their strength. A small fire was built accordingly, and the six braves seated themselves around it recounting to each other their perils and dangerous exploits, and planning some mode of extrication from their present difficulties.
"Thus busied, a rustling noise from a dark corner of the apartment startled them, —but still more were they aroused by the half-disclosed form of a person moving in the distance. Words gave place to silence, as the warriors, seizing their arms, awaited the feared assault. But the figure, on advancing nearer, proved that of a feeble old woman, who addressed the wondering group in their own language.
" 'Children,' said she,' you have been against the Scarred-arms, —you have fought them, —and of a strong party, you alone survive. I know it all.
" 'You seek in my lodge a refuge from your pursuers, —and the sound of your voices with the heat of your council-fire has disturbed my rest and awoke me from a long, long trance.
" 'Your looks enquire my story.
" 'Many ages have gone, (for days, moons, seasons, and ages are painted before me as they pass,) since the Shoshones, who lived where now live the Scarred-arms, visited the lodges of the Lacotas, and bade the prairie drink the blood of slaughtered braves. I was their captive, and with the scalps of the slain I was taken from the graves of my people, many days travel.
" 'The Shoshone brought me to this country, when yet the buffalo grazed upon the hills and mountains, only; for the valleys and plains were the home of waters.
22 Chyennes. The name owes its origin to the practice of scarring the left arm crosswise yet adhered to by the males of that nation.
" 'Living with the Shoshone, I was not happy. I thought of my people,
