



Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Matthew Wheaton, Michael
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net







  [Illustration: "The hunt became a mad break-neck scramble across the
  rocky plain."      [PAGE 143]]




  WHITE OTTER

  BY
  ELMER RUSSELL GREGOR

  AUTHOR OF "CAMPING ON WESTERN TRAILS," "THE RED ARROW," ETC.


  FRONTISPIECE BY
  D. C. HUTCHISON


  D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
  NEW YORK       LONDON
  1924




  By ELMER R. GREGOR


  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




  COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY
  D. APPLETON AND COMPANY


  Printed in the United States of America




CONTENTS


  CHAPTER                                   PAGE

      I. RIDERS OF THE NIGHT                   1

     II.  THE WAR PARTY                       14

    III.  TRAILING THE ENEMY                  31

     IV.  A PERILOUS ADVENTURE                50

      V.  A SURPRISE                          66

     VI.  A FIGHT IN THE DARK                 85

    VII.  THE MINNECONJOUX CAMP               97

   VIII.  VISITORS FROM THE NORTH            114

     IX.  THE GREAT BUFFALO DRIVE            137

      X.  AN ADVENTURE AMONG THE PEAKS       156

     XI.  A CALL TO WAR                      177

    XII.  A NIGHT OF UNCERTAINTY             189

   XIII.  RACING TO THE RESCUE               212

    XIV.  THE PLIGHT OF THE OGALALAS         222

     XV.  WHITE OTTER'S BOLD RESOLVE         241

    XVI.  A BAFFLING TRAIL                   253

   XVII.  A PEEP INTO THE PAWNEE CAMP        267

  XVIII.  A DARING ATTEMPT                   278

    XIX.  A SPLENDID VICTORY                 292

     XX.  THE CROWN OF EAGLE PLUMES          305




WHITE OTTER




CHAPTER I

RIDERS OF THE NIGHT


It was the time of the new-grass moon. The long cold winter had finally
passed, and the season of abundance was at hand. The Sioux gave thanks
to the Great Mystery with song and dance. They knew that vast herds of
buffaloes would soon appear from the south, and then every want would be
supplied. The hunters were already making plans for the great buffalo
drive which would provide the camp with meat for many days.

It was at this season that White Otter, the grandson of Wolf Robe, the
famous Ogalala war chief, had planned to visit the Minneconjoux camp to
see his friends, Sun Bird and his brother Little Raven. The three young
warriors had shared many perilous adventures the previous year, when
White Otter won fame by recovering the Red Arrow, a Sioux medicine
trophy which had been stolen by the Pawnees, and Sun Bird rescued his
brother from captivity. At that time the lads pledged themselves to an
undying friendship, and Sun Bird and Little Raven accompanied White
Otter to the Ogalala village. When they departed White Otter gave each
two splendid ponies, and promised to visit them the following spring.
Now the time was at hand and he was eager to go.

When Wolf Robe learned White Otter's intention he said: "It is good; the
Minneconjoux are our brothers. Curly Horse, their chief, is a great man.
You will see many brave warriors in that camp. Sun Bird and Little Raven
are your friends. They will tell their people about you. Go and tell the
Minneconjoux that Wolf Robe is thinking about them."

Two days later White Otter set out upon his journey. As he was anxious
to