At one time, when pursuing a war party by their tracks across the prairies, he repeatedly discharged his rifle into the prints made by their feet and by the hoofs of their horses, assuring his followers that he would thereby cripple the fugitives, so that they would easily be overtaken.

He in fact did overtake them, and destroyed them almost to a man; and his victory was considered miraculous, both by friends and foe.

By these and similar exploits, he made himself the pride and boast of his people, and became popular among them, notwithstanding his death-denouncing fiat.
With all his savage and terrific qualities, he was sensible of the power of female beauty, and capable of love.

A war party of the Poncas had made a foray into the lands of the Omahas, and carried off a number of women and horses.

The Blackbird was roused to fury, and took the field with all his braves, swearing to "eat up the Ponca nation"-- the Indian threat of exterminating war.