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her most cherished wish was to be granted； told her mother to take
the meat and cook it and invite the old women of the camp to a
feast in honor of the son…in…law who was soon to keep them
furnished with plenty of meat。 Hake and his friend sought out all
of the old warriors and gained all the information they desired。
Every evening Hake visited his intended wife and many happy
evenings they spent together。
The morning of the tenth day the two friends left the village and
turned their faces toward the west where the camps of the enemy are
more numerous than in any other direction。 They were not mounted
and therefore traveled slowly； so it took about ten days of walking
before they saw any signs of the enemy。 The old warriors had told
them of a thickly wooded creek within the enemies' bounds。 The old
men said； 〃That creek looks the ideal place to camp； but don't camp
there by any means； because there is a ghost who haunts that creek；
and any one who camps there is disturbed all through the night； and
besides they never return； because the ghost is Wakan （holy）； and
the enemies conquer the travelers every time。〃
The friends had extra moccasins with them and one extra blanket； as
it was late in the fall and the nights were very cold。
They broke camp early one morning and walked all day。 Along
towards evening； the clouds which had been threatening all day；
hurriedly opened their doors and down came the snowflakes thick and
fast。 Just before it started snowing the friends had noticed a
dark line about two miles in advance of them。 Chaske spoke to his
friend and said： 〃If this storm continues we will be obliged to
stay overnight at Ghost Creek； as I noticed it not far ahead of us；
just before the storm set in。〃 〃I noticed it also；〃 said Hake。
〃We might as well entertain a ghost all night as to lie out on
these open prairies and freeze to death。〃 So they decided to run
the risk and stay in the sheltering woods of Ghost Creek。 When
they got to the creek it seemed as if they had stepped inside a big
tepee； so thick was the brush and timber that the wind could not be
felt at all。 They hunted and found a place where the brush was
very thick and the grass very tall。 They quickly pulled the tops
of the nearest willows together and by intertwining the ends made
them fast； and throwing their tent robe over this； soon had a cosy
tepee in which to sleep。 They started their fire and cooked some
dried buffalo meat and buffalo tallow； and were just about to eat
their supper when a figure of a man came slowly in through the door
and sat down near where he had entered。 Hake； being the one who
was doing the cooking； poured out some tea into his own cup； and
putting a piece of pounded meat and marrow into a small plate；
placed it before the stranger； saying： 〃Eat； my friend； we are on
the warpath and do not carry much of a variety of food with us； but
I give you the best we have。〃
The stranger drew the plate towards him； and commenced eating
ravenously。 He soon finished his meal and handed the dish and cup
back。 He had not uttered a word so far。 Chaske filled the pipe
and handed it to him。 He smoked for a few minutes； took one last
draw from the pipe and handed it back to Chaske； and then he said：
〃Now； my friends； I am not a living man； but the wandering spirit
of a once great warrior； who was killed in these woods by the enemy
whom you two brave young men are now seeking to make war upon。 For
years I have been roaming these woods in hopes that I might find
some one brave enough to stop and listen to me； but all who have
camped here in the past have run away at my approach or fired guns
or shot arrows at me。 For such cowards as these I have always
found a grave。 They never returned to their homes。 Now I have
found two brave men whom I can tell what I want done； and if you
accomplish what I tell you to do； you will return home with many
horses and some scalps dangling from your belts。 Just over this
range of hills north of us； a large village is encamped for the
winter。 In that camp is the man who laid in ambush and shot me；
killing me before I could get a chance to defend myself。 I want
that man's scalp； because he has been the cause of my wanderings
for a great many years。 Had he killed me on the battlefield my
spirit would have at once joined my brothers in the happy hunting
grounds； but being killed by a coward； my spirit is doomed to roam
until I can find some brave man who will kill this coward and bring
me his scalp。 This is why I have tried every party who have camped
here to listen to me； but as I have said before； they were all
cowards。 Now； I ask you two brave young men； will you do this for
me？〃
〃We will；〃 said the friends in one voice。 〃Thank you； my boys。
Now； I know why you came here； and that one of you came to earn his
feathers by killing an enemy； before he would marry； the girl he is
to marry is my granddaughter； as I am the father of the
great Medicine Man。 In the morning there will pass by in plain
sight of here a large party。 They will chase the buffalo over on
that flat。 After they have passed an old man leading a black horse
and riding a white one will come by on the trail left by the
hunting party。 He will be driving about a hundred horses； which he
will leave over in the next ravine。 He will then proceed to the
hunting grounds and get meat from the different hunters。 After the
hunters have all gone home he will come last； singing the praises
of the ones who gave him the meat。 This man you must kill and
scalp； as he is the one I want killed。 Then take the white and
black horse and each mount and go to the hunting grounds。 There
you will see two of the enemy riding about picking up empty shells。
Kill and scalp these two and each take a scalp and come over to the
high knoll and I will show you where the horses are； and as soon as
you hand me the old man's scalp I will disappear and you will see
me no more。 As soon as I disappear； it will start in snowing。
Don't be afraid as the snow will cover your trail； but
nevertheless； don't stop traveling for three days and nights； as
these people will suspect that some of your tribe have done this；
and they will follow you until you cross your own boundary lines。〃
When morning came； the two friends sat in the thick brush and
watched a large party pass by their hiding place。 So near were
they that the friends could hear them laughing and talking。 After
the hunting party had passed； as the spirit had told them； along
came the old man； driving a large band of horses and leading a fine
looking coal black horse。 The horse the old man was riding was as
white as snow。 The friends crawled to a little brush covered hill
and watched the chase after the shooting had ceased。 The friends
knew it would not be long before the return of the party； so they
crawled back to their camp and hurriedly ate some pounded meat and