



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 make a good appearance before the proud people whom he planned to
visit, he had arrayed himself with elaborate care. He was dressed in all
the finery of a Sioux warrior. He wore soft doeskin leggings extending
to his thighs, a buckskin breech-cloth, moccasins gayly decorated with
dyed deer-hair, a rawhide belt from which hung his knife-sheath, his
weaselskin pouch containing his fire-sticks and a small buckskin bag
filled with dried meat. His bow and arrows were in a wolfskin case which
was slung across his back, and at his side hung his buffalo-hide war
shield. His robe was a beautifully tanned pelt of the grizzly bear. His
hair was arranged in two braids which were bound with otter fur, and
fastened to his scalp-lock was a tail-feather of the golden eagle, which
proclaimed him a warrior. He rode his fastest war pony, a nervous little
roan, and in its mane and tail he had fastened many hawk feathers, and
strips of fur. Thus equipped, the lad of seventeen winters was an
imposing figure. Tall and manly, he carried himself with the commanding
dignity which he had inherited from his father, Standing Buffalo, and
his grandfather, Wolf Robe, the stern old war chief of the Ogalalas.

As White Otter left his grandfather's lodge and rode through the center
of the village the people greeted him with shouts of approval. He had
won an everlasting place in their hearts, and they looked upon him with
pride and affection. Most of the boys, many of the old men and some of
the women followed him from the village, singing his praise and calling
his name. Once he had left the camp, however, White Otter soon urged his
pony into a canter, and rode away from his enthusiastic admirers.

"The Minneconjoux will see that White Otter, the grandson of the great
war chief of the Ogalalas, is a man," said Yellow Horse, the
medicine-man.

"Yes, he is brave like his father, Standing Buffalo, who has gone on the
Long Trail," replied Wolf Robe, as he looked admiringly after his
grandson.

White Otter rode away with a light heart, for he was overjoyed at the
thought of rejoining his friends. He had never been to the Minneconjoux
village, but he knew that it was far to the westward near the great
mountains, and as Wolf Robe had carefully described certain prominent
landmarks along the route he had little fear of missing his destination.
The young Sioux had heard many tales relating to the courage and valor
of his distant tribesmen, and he was eager to meet the famous warriors
of whom he had heard. He was particularly anxious to see Curly Horse,
the renowned Minneconjoux war chief, and Sun Bird's father, Rain Crow, a
famous medicine-man.

At midday White Otter came to a great village of the little Underground
People, the prairie dogs. He rode slowly between the small earth lodges,
and saw hundreds of the eccentric little creatures sitting up to watch
him. One old gray-whiskered sentinel chattered shrilly as the pony
approached, and finally dove frantically into his burrow. Most of the
Underground People followed his example. White Otter laughed at their
fright. He stopped his pony and waited for them to reappear. When the
gray nose of the cautious old patriarch finally came in sight, the young
Sioux called a greeting.

"Ho, you Underground People. Do you see who I am? Ho, you