Twice he rode completely around the soldiers, who
stood in uncertainty, not knowing what to make of his performance, and
expressly forbidden to shoot at him. Then paying no further heed to them
he rode back towards the Crows. It appears that he had told them that he
would ride twice around the hostile force, and by his incantations would
call down rain from heaven, which would make the hearts of the white
men like water, so that they should go back to their homes. Sure enough,
while the arrangements for the parley were still going forward, down
came the cloudburst drenching the command and making the ground on the
hills in front nearly impassable; and before it dried a courier arrived
with orders to the troops to go back to camp.
This fulfilment of Sword-Bearer's prophecy of course raised his
reputation to the zenith and the young men of the tribe prepared for
war, while the older chiefs, who more fully realized the power of the
whites, still hung back. When the troops next appeared they came upon
the entire Crow force, the women and children with their tepees being
off to one side beyond a little stream while almost all the warriors
of the tribe were gathered in front.
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