The wolf had yellow eyes and sharp teeth.
Teddy snarled and barked. Annie rushed forward to grab thelittle dog.
Suddenly the wolf stood up on its hind legs!
"Yikes!" said Annie.
She leaped back.
Then she and Jack started to laugh.
The fierce wolf was Black Hawk wearing a wolfs hide! Hishead came out through a slit near the wolf's neck. He gave Jackand Annie a little smile.
"That's a great wolf suit," said Annie.
"Why do you wear that?" asked Jack.
"The wolf is the most powerful hunter of the buffalo," saidBlack Hawk. "When I wear his skin, I feel his strength.""Wow," said Annie.
Black Hawk looked at his grandmother.
"May I show them the buffalo now?" he said.
"Only show," said Grandmother. "Do not hunt. We haveenough meat today."She looked back at Jack and Annie.
"Lakota never take more buffalo than we need," she said.
"That's good," said Annie.
Black Hawk handed his wolf skin to Grandmother. Then heran to the grazing ponies.
He climbed on his. Then he herded two ponies, one black andone yellow, over to Jack and Annie.
"Hi, Midnight. Hi, Sunlight," said Annie, naming the ponies.
She patted their noses.
"Annie," whispered Jack. "How are we going to ride withoutsaddles or reins?""Just hold on to their manes," she said, "and grip with yourlegs. Watch."Annie threw her arms around Midnight's neck. She slung herleg over the pony's back and pulled herself up.
"I'll carry Teddy in the bag," Annie said.
Jack picked up Teddy and slipped him inside the leather bag.
He handed it to Annie, who hung it over her shoulder. Teddy'shead peeked out of the bag.
Arf! he barked.
"Giddy-up, Midnight!" said Annie. The pony started to walkaway.
"Wait--" said Jack.
He turned to Black Hawk. He had just a few questions.
Black Hawk let out a wild whoop and took off, too.
Jack took a deep breath. He threw his arms around Sunlight'sneck. Then slung his leg over the pony's back.
The pony started to move!
"Wait--wait!" said Jack.
He hopped on one foot, trying to keep up.
The pony stopped.
Slowly, Jack pulled himself onto Sunlight's back. He grippedthe pony's mane. Then he carefully reached up and pushed hisglasses into place.
He looked over his shoulder. Grandmother was watching.
She nodded at him.
Lakota people admire those who do not show fear, Jackremembered.
He liked Grandmother. He wanted her to admire him. He letout a wild whoop, and Sunlight took off like the wind.
The whoop made Jack feel braver.
He held tightly to Sunlight's mane. They caught up with BlackHawk and Annie, and together they all rode through the tallgrass.
Shadows of clouds swept over the plains. They looked likegiant dark birds spreading their wings.
Black Hawk's pony stopped at the top of a grassy slope.
Sunlight and Midnight halted right behind him.
Jack couldn't believe his eyes.
Before them were thousands and thou-sands of grazingbuffalo. |