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authority figure. It
helped immeasurably, simply to feel that the Real-chief understood the situation.
    Heads Off retrieved his mare, nodded thanks to the young man who handed him the reins, and swung to her back. He skirted the site of the Sun Dance, and arrived at the camp of the Elk-dog band. Pole skeletons for the lodges were tilting against the sky, and women called to each other as they established their lodge sites. The children ran excitedly in and out, accompanied by yapping dogs. Heads Off threaded his way among the lodges in various stages of construction, and located his family.
    Coyote and Long Elk had assisted in placing and tying the poles, and were just raising the skin cover into position on the lodge of Heads Off. Tall One stood a bit aside, her near-complete pregnancy preventing the strenuous effort required to lift the heavy cover. The young chief stepped down and took a place alongside Big Footed Woman to assist in the lifting. Their combined strength swung the lifting pole, and the lodge cover, nearly thirty skins in size, settled into place. The women circled the lodge frame, dragging and smoothing the cover as they pulled it into position.
    The men, meanwhile, turned to the slightly smaller lodge frame alongside, that of Coyote’s family. By the time the women had laced the front of the lodge of Heads Off and positioned the smoke flaps, they had erected the skin cover on the other structure.
    As they strained to lift it into place, a young woman passed and smiled covertly at Long Elk. That young man became embarrassed and confused, and nearly lost his hold on the lifting pole.
    â€œ Aiee ,” Heads Off chided his brother-in-law, “we will soon be lifting a new lodge for Long Elk!”
    The women joined them and completed the positioning of the
lodge cover. In a short while, cooking fires were crackling, and the children of Coyote and Big Footed Woman were bringing firewood and buffalo chips for fuel.
    The men settled for a smoke against their willow backrests. The establishment of a new camp was always a satisfying time, reflected Heads Off. The site was clean and without the odor it would have later. Everyone was tired, but satisfied and happy that the journey was over.
    In addition, this time held other advantages. It was the first site for many suns where the band had erected the big skin lodges. While on the move; the temporary camps were established with only crude brush shelters or in the open; it was far too complicated to set up the lodges for only a night or two. Now, setting up the more permanent camp seemed like coming home, Heads Off thought.
    The other pleasant aspect, of course, was that this camp would include all the excitement and revelry of the Sun Dance.
    Sun Boy carried his torch slowly toward the western edge of the world, and Heads Off began to relax. Tall One brought meat, and sat beside him to eat. Young Eagle, tired from all the excitement of the day, played sleepily before the new lodge and accepted bites of food from his parents as they ate. Finally, Tall One rose and packed the youngster off to his sleeping robes. Then she returned to sit beside her husband as he smoked, leaning against his knees.
    â€œYou spoke with the Real-chief?”
    He nodded. “There was not much to say. Many Robes sees the matter well.”
    â€œWhat will he do?”
    â€œNothing. He can do nothing, unless the Bloods break the rules of council or the laws of the People.”
    Tall One nodded. The same old story.

    â€œI will say very little of the thing at the Big Council,” her husband continued. “That will hurt the Bloods most of all.”
    â€œThat is good, Heads Off. They take themselves much too seriously now.”
    The lengthening shadows brought a chill to the prairie, and she crept closer to him for warmth. Finally she rose, to seek the shelter of the lodge and the soft comfort of their sleeping robes. Heads Off followed. Let tomorrow take care of