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Show - they had already picked. not By the third day, their skin pouches were early filled. The fact the the chokecherries dry and withered did not. concern them for they would only finish drying them when they reached camp. They were packed and starting for home when Evening Star spied a chokecherry tree with a good supply of the puckery fruit were still hanging on it. She finished filling her and was hurrying to catch up with the others pouch when a strong brown arm reached through the bushes and grabbed her. A hand clapped over her mouth to stifle her screams. Though she fought with fists and feet, teeth and nails, she was soon bound tightly and lay helpless on the ground. She looked defiantly at her captor, trying on their way; and Evening Star with a heavy heart. She was th1nk1ng at:hed of Swift Arrow and her friends and' relatives who were in the hunting party about to be ambushed. The White Elk squaws had not realized Star was missing until they reached their village. Then a group of Evening boys was sent back to search for her. They found her spilled berry pouch and saw the signs of her struggle w1th Was Eagle. They followed their tracks until they came to Steep Canyon. There . they heard the voices of their bringing of the the meat boys went own braves and skins down. Some to meet the braves to tell them of fear she felt. He was not old, about the age of Swift Arrow, but his face was At the thought of Swift cruel. Arrow, she wondered hopelessly if she would ever again see Evening Star's plight, and other boys climbed the hill to look up the valley toward which her tracks led. There they saw the Gray Cliff warriors with their war clubs riding ,Her captor wiped away the blood that her long nails had brought and grinned, "So I have Get to your feet, Little caught a wild cat! Wild Cat and we will show the Cliff Tribe rapidly toward the head of the canyon. Immediately they raced toward their own braves with the alarming news. They left their meat and skins, and with their own bows and arrows in readiness, hurried not show the to him. what War Gray Eagle has captured." Evening Star's despair deepened--a captive of the She was frightened, Gray Cliff tribe! for she knew of their'quarrelsome habits and cruel ways with captives. Their village was in a beautiful setting of trees beneath the flat-topped gray sandstone cliff. Always there was a sentry on the cliff, for the Gray cliff Tribe stole and plundered whenever they had the opportunity and had to be on the lookout for It They constantly avenging tribes. dusk was they neared the village. steadily all day without a rest, as had walked and Evening Star was too weary to wonder of her fate. The barking dogs that came to meet them snarled and nipped at her. Evening Star was pushed into the center of the council ring, and the entire community came to stare Exhausted and proud pulled a the at as captive War Eagle had brought. she was, she managed to stand erect even her new when the squaws poked at her and At last she was taken to clothing. teepee where she sank, of skins The and next village with exhausted, onto a pile slept. morning, the news a scout that hurried into the the hunters of the White Elk tribe were bringing fresh meat and many skins out of Snow Basin through Steep He said that if the Canyon. Gray Cliff warriors made haste they could ambush the party as they reached the mouth of Steep Canyon (which is now just below Pine View Dam). The warriors were soon the down to prepare their own ambush. The Gray Cliff warriors rode unsuspectingly first surprise into it, and after the battle, turned and fled, of fought unless never was for they the tide of battle in their favor. in that short But skirmish, Swift recognized on War Eagle the elk tooth necklace he had given Evening Star. Arrow After the were sent war clubs. boys to told their story, runners the village to bring back If the runners could get back by evening, the braves would be in the Gray Cliff village before day break. Swift Arrow left immediately, however, to try to learn which teepee Evening Star was in so she would not be harmed Though in the he fighting. kept among the willows so he would not be seen, he travelled rapidly and before dusk he was lying in a clump of bushes where he had an of the excellent view village. But though he watched intently he saw nothing of Evening Star. He saw the sentry on the cliff, and he noted that at regular intervals he gave the call of the haWk to show all was He knew the well. sentry would have to be silenced before his people arrived so as the darkness deepened, he stealthily made his way to the cliff. Slowly. cautiously, he edged toward th sentry, 10 |
