CHAPTER NINETEEN
"River people," said Stands Strong, tracing the track made upon the ground.
"How do you know this?" asked George.
"It is easy when you know what to look for. Do you see how the moccasin that made these prints is put together with soft leather?"
George shook his head.
"Here," said Stands Strong, "I will leave a print from my own moccasin next to this one."
Getting up to his feet, Stands Strong placed his foot close to the print left behind in the soil, then he lifted his foot. "Do you see the difference?" he asked. "Because the Pikuni moccasins are made with parfleche, which is a stronger rawhide than a simple leather, there is a more distinct print left behind from my moccasins. But also, do you see this print was made yesterday morning?"
"I do not see this at all, my husband," said Czanna.
Stands Strong smiled at her, his look tolerant and loving as he squatted back down to run a finger over the print. Then, he looked up at her and asked, "When was the last time there was moisture in the air?"
"Why, yesterday morning," answered George.
"Yes, you are right. I remember it now," added Czanna.
"Soka'pii,good. Now look closely at this print."
Both she and George did so.
"Do you see the edges of the tracks hold together more solidly than the rest, as though they were made when the ground was wet?"
"Yes."
He nodded. "This tells a man the enemy came by here yesterday morning when it was last wet and misty in the morning. It is all revealed here in the earth. But, how many of the enemy were here? And, where are they going?"
Both Czanna and her brother looked back at Stands Strong, dumbfounded.
When no information was forthcoming, Stands Strong said confidently, "There were four of this enemy. It is all here for anyone to see. Look. Can you tell the differences in the prints of the same people? Some of these tracks show the feet to be larger, some are wider.Áa,there were four of them who came through here, and their tracks lead into the forest at the base of the cut ridge over there to the west."
He pointed to the western outcrop of mountains.
"They are heading home as quickly as they can after stealing some of the Pikuni buffalo meat from our plains. They hurry because they do not wish to be confronted by a Pikuni war party defending what is ours. Were we not on our own scouting expedition, we would follow them and take from them what they stole from us. But, we must push forward instead."
Czanna, listening to Stands Strong, couldn't help observing, "Perhaps their people are hungry. Maybe this is the reason they would dare to invade your country."
"Then, they should come in peace to our chiefs and ask to hunt in our territory," said Stands Strong. "Our chiefs are not without heart and would hear their pleas without interruption. The Gros Ventre made peace with us long ago for this reason, and it lasts even into the present. They are under our protection.
"But, know this, my woman," continued Stands Strong. "Were we to fail to defend our country from these aggressors who comehere only to take what is ours, we would soon be overrun by many tribes, and it is then when we might go hungry instead of our enemies. It is because of the love of our people that we, the men of our tribe, must defend our country from those who would take it from us."
She nodded. "All right," she murmured. "You make a good argument."
Stands Strong smiled at her. "It is not my wish to argue at all; it is my desire to—"
"I think I'll leave you two alone and get myself back to camp now," said George, interrupting.
Stands Strong grinned, while Czanna felt her face flush.
"Póóhsapoot,come, we will join you," he said. "Let us all return to the others and continue our journey northeast and to the Bears Paw Mountains. They are now in sight. Our path there should not be long."
Czanna trailed along behind George, who was leading the way down into the deep coulee where they had made their day camp. Stands Strong followed her, his position one of protection, not subservience.
They had been on their way toward the Bears Paw Mountain range for several days now, traveling only at night and resting during the day. Their party consisted of seven people: Stands Strong and George, along with First Rider, Liliann, Mr. Henrik, Black Beaver—a brother of Tom Johnson's wife—and, of course, herself.
