The War Trail   By: Elmer Russell Gregor (1878-)

JIM MASON, BACKWOODSMAN JIM MASON, SCOUT

Western Indian Series

WHITE OTTER THE WAR TRAIL THREE SIOUX SCOUTS

Eastern Indian Series

SPOTTED DEER RUNNING FOX THE WHITE WOLF

[Illustration: NOW WE MUST WATCH OUT! [Page 186]]

THE WAR TRAIL

BY ELMER RUSSELL GREGOR

AUTHOR OF "THE WHITE WOLF," "RUNNING FOX," "WHITE OTTER," ETC.

[Illustration]

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK :: 1924 :: LONDON

COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A COURIER FROM THE WEST 1

II. OFF ON THE WAR TRAIL 13

III. THE COUNCIL FIRE 30

IV. AWAY INTO THE NORTH 44

V. SIOUX SCOUTS 56

VI. THE LONE RIDER 68

VII. SMOKE SIGNALS 75

VIII. A CLOSE CALL 87

IX. ANXIOUS MOMENTS 101

X. REBELLIOUS PONIES 115

XI. AN UNUSUAL ADVENTURE 128

XII. AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE FLATHEADS 147

XIII. A CLEVER STRATAGEM 158

XIV. THE BLACKFEET CAMP 167

XV. A PERILOUS RECONNAISSANCE 181

XVI. OFF WITH THE PONIES 197

XVII. HOTLY PURSUED 207

XVIII. THE STAMPEDE 224

XIX. TRAILING THE RUNAWAYS 236

XX. SAFE AT LAST 251

THE WAR TRAIL

CHAPTER I

A COURIER FROM THE WEST

The sun was setting behind the western rim of the plain, as White Otter, a famous young war chief of the Ogalala Sioux, drew near the low ridge of foothills which he had been approaching since daylight. He was bound on a hunting expedition for deer, having promised to kill a fat young buck for his grandfather, old Wolf Robe, the aged Sioux chief.

White Otter approached the timber with his usual caution. He knew that the forest often concealed foes as well as game, and he determined to take no risks. He rode slowly toward the cover, therefore, watching for the slightest warning of danger. He was within easy arrow range of the woods when his pony suddenly stopped and snorted nervously. White Otter instantly became alert. Drawing his bow, he slid to the ground, and sheltered himself behind his pony. Then for some time pony and rider watched the forest.

A loud crackling of undergrowth, and a number of soft, bounding footfalls told him the cause of his alarm. He had startled a deer from its feeding ground at the edge of the plain. Convinced that the place was free of foes, he mounted his pony, and rode to the edge of the timber.

This range of heavily timbered foothills was a favorite hunting ground of the Ogalalas, and White Otter had visited the locality many times. He was entirely familiar with the usual haunts of game, and knew the location of every spring and salt lick. Once in the timber, therefore, the young Sioux rode slowly along a well worn game trail which brought him to a small grassy park in the dip of the hills. A little stream trickled through one end of it, and made it an ideal feeding ground for deer and elk. As it was also an attractive and sheltered camp site, and offered an abundance of feed for his pony, White Otter decided to remain there for the night.