Free Sidewinder by J. T. Edson

among the Waw’ai that he felt he could dispense with formalities. Nor did time permit an extended period of preparation, with racks of lances supporting shields gathering medicine strength from the sun before the organizer’s tipi and women going about to induce recruitment by persuading men to join the party. The latter did not prove necessary as no man in that village dare refuse the Death Bringer’s wishes.
    The traditional parade of warriors could not be overlooked. About sundown Sidewinder led his party in single file and paraded four times through the village. Each man wore his medicine paint and war clothes, carrying his arms to show his readiness to make war, Among the party, three men each carried a naivi , maiden, dressed in male’s clothing on their horses, seated behind them. This signified that the man in question had performed the honoured feat of carrying a wounded or unhorsed companion out of a fight, or collected a dead brave to prevent the body falling into enemy hands and bring bad luck down on the war party.
    When night came, the entire population of the village gathered about the large fire in the centre of the tipi circle. Forming a rough circle, they left an opening in their ranks facing the distant Wide Valley as required by tradition. Not all the braves would be going, it being necessary to leave a small force to guard the village. Only those actually riding with Sidewinder could dance and each had a woman to partner him.
    Accompanied by drums and the singing of those who did not dance, warriors and their partners performed the long-established steps of the ceremony. At intervals, various members of the party halted the dancing to recount their best coup, telling it to rouse the spirits of the younger members and show what kind of company could be expected in the dangerous times ahead. Now and then a warrior and naivi slipped off into the darkness; no maiden would think of refusing to accompany a man who could bring back much loot, and would be grateful for services rendered, or might die in battle and so deserved comfort.
    Through the night, warriors danced, or sat singing. They sang war chants, but also raised their voices in love songs. Then an expectant silence fell over the crowd and Sidewinder rose from his place of honour. The time had come for the party’s war leader to address them.
    Standing in the circle’s centre, his face made even more evil by the flickering glow of the fire’s flames, Sidewinder warned of the coming of the white soldiers. He told how his party must go out to battle and destroy the hated intruders and then promised that, on achieving victory, they would make a raid to bring in much loot and provide unlimited opportunities to count coup. With skilled oratory, he called upon his companions to display their usual courage, explaining that a resounding victory would make them the supreme Nemenuh tribe. It would also bring flocking to them all the warriors of the other bands who wanted no such foolishness as peace with the white invaders of Comancheria. At the head of an ever-growing army, the Waw’ai under Sidewinder would sweep the hated white man to wherever they came from and bring back the good old days once more.
    ‘We must defeat the lance-carriers first though,’ he warned his men. ‘But I have medicine for that.’
    ‘The Death Bringer’s medicine?’ asked one of the braves,
    ‘My medicine,’ agreed Fire Dancer. ‘I have seen that you will defeat the white lance carriers, then sweep across the prairie to greater victories. For who will dare stand in the way of brave-hearts who have defeated the carriers of lances?’
    Knowing in what respect they themselves held warriors brave enough to carry a lance into battle, none of the listening crowd could doubt that Fire Dancer’s predictions would bring about the desired result. Even those who did not relish tangling with lance-carriers, even white ones, began to take faith when they heard that the full,