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THE BRAVE WHO WENT ON THE WARPATH
ALONE AND WON THE NAME OF
THE LONE WARRIOR
There was once a young man whose parents were not overburdened with
the riches of this world； and consequently could not dress their
only son in as rich a costume as the other young men of the tribe；
and on account of not being so richly clad as they； he was
looked down upon and shunned by them。 He was never invited to take
part in any of their sports； nor was he ever asked to join any of
the war parties。
In the village lived an old man with an only daughter。 Like the
other family； they were poor； but the daughter was the belle of the
tribe。 She was the most sought after by the young men of the
village； and warriors from tribes far distant came to press their
suit at winning her for their bride。 All to no purpose； she had
the same answer for them as she had for the young men of the
village。
The poor young man was also very handsome despite his poor clothes；
but having never killed an enemy nor brought home any enemies'
horses he was not （according to Indian rules） allowed to make love
to any young or old woman。 He tried in vain to join some of the
war parties； that he might get the chance to win his spurs as a
warrior。 To all his pleadings； came the same answer： 〃You are not
fit to join a war party。 You have no horses； and if you should get
killed our tribe would be laughed at and be made fun of as you have
such poor clothes； and we don't want the enemy to know that we have
any one of our tribe who dresses so poorly as you do。〃
Again； and again； he tried different parties； only to be made fun
of and insulted。
One night he sat in the poor tepee of his parents。 He was in deep
study and had nothing to say。 His father； noticing his melancholy
mood； asked him what had happened to cause him to be so quiet； as
he was always of a jolly disposition。 The son answered and said：
〃Father； I am going on the warpath alone。 In vain I have tried to
be a member of one of the war parties。 To all of my pleadings I
have got nothing but insults in return。〃
〃But my son； you have no gun nor ammunition。 Where can you get any
and how can you get it？ We have nothing to buy one for you with；〃
said the father。
〃I don't need any weapons。 I am going to bring back some of the
enemies' horses； and I don't need a gun for that。〃
Early the next morning （regardless of the old couple's pleadings
not to go unarmed） the young man left the village and headed
northwest； the direction always taken by the war parties。
For ten days he traveled without seeing any signs of a camp。 The
evening of the tenth day； he reached a very high butte； thickly
wooded at the summit。 He ascended this butte； and as he sat there
between two large boulders； watching the beautiful rays of the
setting sun； he was suddenly startled to hear the neigh of a horse。
Looking down into the beautiful valley which was threaded by a
beautiful creek fringed with timber； he noticed close to the base
of the butte upon which he sat； a large drove of horses grazing
peacefully and quietly。 Looking closer； he noticed at a little
distance from the main drove； a horse with a saddle on his back。
This was the one that had neighed； as the drove drifted further
away from him。 He was tied by a long lariat to a large sage bush。
Where could the rider be； he said to himself。 As if in answer to
his question； there appeared not more than twenty paces from him a
middle aged man coming up through a deep ravine。 The man was
evidently in search of some kind of game； as he held his gun in
readiness for instant use； and kept his eyes directed at every
crevice and clump of bush。 So intent was he on locating the game
he was trailing； that he never noticed the young man who sat like
a statue not twenty paces away。 Slowly and cautiously the man
approached； and when he had advanced to within a few paces of the
young man he stopped and turning around； stood looking down into
the valley。 This was the only chance that our brave young friend
had。 Being unarmed； he would stand no show if the enemy ever got
a glimpse of him。 Slowly and noiselessly he drew his hunting knife
（which his father had given him on his departure from home） and
holding it securely in his right hand； gathered himself and gave a
leap which landed him upon the unsuspecting enemy's shoulders。 The
force with which he landed on the enemy caused him （the enemy） to
lose his hold on his gun； and it went rattling down into the chasm；
forty feet below。
Down they came together； the young man on top。 No sooner had they
struck the ground than the enemy had out his knife； and then
commenced a hand to hand duel。 The enemy； having more experience；
was getting the best of our young friend。 Already our young friend
had two ugly cuts； one across his chest and the other through his
forearm。
He was becoming weak from the loss of blood； and could not stand
the killing pace much longer。 Summoning all his strength for one
more trial to overcome his antagonist； he rushed him toward the
chasm； and in his hurry to get away from this fierce attack； the
enemy stepped back one step too far； and down they both went into
the chasm。 Interlocked in each other's arms； the young man drove
his knife into the enemy's side and when they struck the bottom the
enemy relaxed his hold and straightened out stiff and dead。
Securing his scalp and gun； the young man proceeded down to where
the horse was tied to the sage bush； and then gathering the drove
of horses proceeded on his return to his own village。 Being
wounded severely he had to ride very slowly。 All the long hours of
the night he drove the horses towards his home village。
In the meantime； those at the enemies' camp wondered at the long
absence of the herder who was watching their drove of horses； and
finally seven young men went to search for the missing herder。 All
night long they searched the hillsides for the horses and herder；
and when it had grown light enough in the morning they saw by the
ground where there had been a fierce struggle。
Following the tracks in the sand and leaves； they came to the chasm
where the combatants had fallen over； and there； lying on his back
staring up at them in death； was their herder。 They hastened to
the camp and told what they had found。 Immediately the warriors
mounted their war ponies （these ponies are never turned loose； but
kept tied close to the tepee of the owner）； and striking the trail
of the herd driven off by our young friend； they urged forth their
ponies and were soon far from their camp on the trail of our young
friend。 All day long they traveled on his trail； and just as the
sun was sinking they caught sight of him driving the drove ahead
over a high hill。 Again they urged forth their tired ponies。 The
young man； looking back along the trail； saw some dark objects
coming along； and； c