Scourge of the South by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spencer Ltd
Published: 1956-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Stone Face stepped from his tepee and stared up at the morning sun. He stretched, feeling the last lassitude of sleep from him as he breathed the clear spring air. Around him the village was stirring into life, women were stooped over the cooking fire and children ran with shrill cries as they dodged between the skin tents. Men, old men and young, sat and blinked and rubbed grease into their arms to strengthen their muscles. Warriors tested their bows or worked at their winter tasks of chipping heads for their arrows. The old squaws sat and chewed hides to render them soft and smooth and as supple as silk.

Three times had Ghost Face held the land in his iron grip since the night when Grey Horse had taken Sam to be his red brother. The two boys had grown into men and both bore the pale scars of many wounds. Their fighting had been confined to tribal conflicts with the Dakotas and the Cheyenne, though since Sam had almost been shot by a white scout he had surprised, and Grey Horse had lain near death after being beaten by some prospectors. But these were isolated incidents, and on the whole the past three years had been uneventful.

Sam breathed deeply again then smiled as Grey Horse came towards him. The warrior looked despondent and Sam guessed that his courtship was not proceeding as the young man would wish. He called to his friend as he stepped forward.

"Grey Horse, have the spirits taken your smile?"

"I am sad, Stone Face."

"The Father of Many Smiles does not look upon Grey Horse with approval?"

"Heavy Grass is a greedy old man," said Grey Horse disrespectfully. "He knows that Many Smiles desires to be my squaw and he knows that I am a good warrior and would provide much food for her. Yet he refuses to give me her in marriage."

"Heavy Grass perhaps desires many rich gifts," said Sam shrewdly. "Broken Arrow also desires the maid and, so I have heard, has offered many horses for her."

"Broken Arrow is an old man," snapped Grey Horse. "Yet you are right. Today will Heavy Grass choose. Broken Arrow and myself must appear with our gifts before his tepee when the sun is high. Then he will give Many Smiles to the man he chooses." Grey Horse kicked at the ground. "Waugh! It is enough to make a man doubt the spirits."

"Come and watch the contests," said Sam cheerfully. "The young boys are at their games and the sight may remind you of the days when you were young and knew not worry. Come, let us watch the new warriors of the Sioux."

Sullenly Grey Horse allowed Sam to lead him from the village and towards the place where the contests were held.

The contests were held in a small valley outside the village, and when Sam and Grey Horse arrived ten boys were standing in line. Walking Dog, the shaman, was talking to them in his deep voice. In his hand he held a small water skin.

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