standing up. It shall wave above the bat and make him strong. The little
brown bat will be very brave in the time to come. We took the
clipped and painted war-ponies from under the chiefs nose, Red Arrow."

"Yes, I did that--but my medicine grew weak when it looked at the great
camp of the Absaroke. Your medicine was very strong, White Otter; there
is no old warrior in the Chis-chis-chash whose is stronger. I shall take
the charcoal again, and see if the Good God won't strengthen my medicine."

Time brought the victors in sight of their village, which had moved
meanwhile, and it was late in the evening.

"Stay here with the ponies, Red Arrow, and I will go into my father's
lodge and get red paint for us. We will not enter until to-morrow."

So White Otter stole into his own tepee by night--told his father of his
triumph--got a quantity of vermilion and returned to the hills. When he
and Red Arrow had bedaubed themselves and their ponies most liberally,
they wrapped the scalp to a lance which he had brought out, then moved
slowly forward in the morning light on their jaded ponies to the
village, yelling the long, high notes of the war-whoop. The people ran
out to see them come, many young men riding to meet them. The yelling
procession came to the masses of the people, who shrilled in answer, the
dogs ki-yied, and old trade-guns boomed. White Otter's chin was high,
his eyes burned with a devilish light through the red paint, as he waved
the lance slowly, emitting from time to time above the din his
battle-cry.

It was thus that White Otter became a man.