TONDA 
 
 A STORY OF THE SIOUX. 
 
 WARREN KMOOREHEAD 
 
FRED LOCKLEY 
 
 RARE WESTERN BOOKS 
 
 4227 S. E. Stark St. 
 PORTLAND. ORE. 
 
TONDA 
 
 A Story of the Sioux 
 
 BY 
 
 WARREN K. MOOREHEAD 
 
 CINCINNATI 
 
 THE ROBERT CLARKE COMPANY 
 1004 
 
COPYRIGHT 1904 
 BY WARREN K. MOOREHEAD 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 PRESS OF THE ROBERT CLARKE COMPANY 
 CINCINNATI, U. S. A. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 We have had many books treating of life on the Plains, 
 ranging from pure fiction to that which can lay some 
 claim to historical accuracy. In these, with one or two 
 exceptions, the rough-and-ready Whites are endowed with 
 virtues and the Indians not only are denied them, but are 
 portrayed as skulking savages. It is only in recent years 
 that the Indian has had justice done him, for which he 
 should thank the ethnologist, the philanthropist, and the 
 educator. 
 
 In Tonda we regard the white people through Indian 
 eyes, and most of the aborigines are sketched from life 
 or are composites of what was best in " old time " Indians. 
 There is a sharp distinction to be drawn between Indians 
 of forty years ago and those of the present day. 
 
 While the author wishes to have Tonda classed as 
 fiction, many of the incidents related actually occurred. 
 Generally, the customs are true to life, although some 
 ethnological liberties have been taken. The Indian form 
 of speech is frequently changed, yet many sentences are 
 given as literal translations from governmental and 
 other reports, from the author s records made while at 
 Pine Ridge reservation, etc. 
 
 The men responsible for most of the trouble with the 
 Plains tribes from 1840 to 1891 were traders, hunters, 
 horse-thieves, adventurers, and other white rascals. As 
 a rule, the bono fidp rn oneers and settlers were noble 
 
 959526 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 men and it is far from the writer s intention to speak ill 
 of them. As the Indians came in contact with the worst 
 white men, naturally the Bills and Dicks of these pages 
 do not present an edifying spectacle. 
 
 It is worthy of note that Canada has had no serious 
 trouble with her Indians during the past hundred years. 
 Why? 
 
 W. K. M. 
 
 Andover, Massachusetts, March 10, 1904. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER. PAGE 
 
 I TOXDA COMES HOME 1 
 
 II THE COUNCIL 15 
 
 III TOXDA AT THE AGENCY 24 
 
 IV THE BUFFALO DANCE 35 
 
 V THE BUFFALO HUNT 49 
 
 VI RICHARDS MEETS THE HORSE THIEVES 61 
 
 MI A FIGHT WITH THE CROWS G7 
 
 VIII THE Sioux PLAX AGAIXST THE HORSE THIEVES. ... 85 
 
 IX O DoxxELL AXD TOXDA 98 
 
 X LE MOYXE AXD SPOTTED EAGLE 108 
 
 XI TOXDA ESCAPES FROM SPOTTED EAGLE 120 
 
 XII DEFEAT OF THE HORSE THIEVES 134 
 
 XIII TOXDA AXD STROXG HEART 150 
 
 XIV THE MARRIAGE OF TOXDA 159 
 
 XV MIXERS ARE DISCOVERED 165 
 
 XVI CUSTER COMES 177 
 
 XVII RUXXER AXD THE WOLVES 189 
 
 XVIII THAT CORK LEG 201 
 
 XIX DEATH OF MIXXEHAHA 209 
 
 XX TROUBLE ix THE NORTH 216 
 
 XXI TOXDA RESCUES RAIX-IX-THE-FACE 225 
 
 XXII PRISOXERS ARE KILLED 234 
 
 XXIII THE COXGRESSIOXAL COMMITTEE 244 
 
 XXIV EXELBY S SCHEME 260 
 
 XXV CUSTER MAKES WAR 275 
 
 XXVI THE WAR DAXCE 282 
 
 XXVII THE DF.ATH OF CUSTER 289 
 
 XXVIII COXCLUSIOX 300 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 IONDA Frontispiece. 
 
 OMAHA AND Two BEARS 11 
 
 W ADA HA. THE MEDICINE MAX 19 
 
 STRONG HEART 40 
 
 THE HIDE-HUNTER 48 
 
 STRONG HEART ESCAPES FROM THE HERD 54 
 
 \YHERE THE MILLIONS HAVE GONE 59 
 
 RAIN-IN-THE-FACE IN FULL COSTUME 84 
 
 THE EVIL FACE OF SPOTTED EAGLE 1 10 
 
 RAIN-IN-THE-FACE IN ORDINARY COSTUME 123 
 
 THE Sioux AND THE HORSE THIEVES 135 
 
 THE DEATH OF JACK 144 
 
 BILLY BURNS THE AGENCY 171 
 
 MlNNEHAHA .212 
 
 RED CLOUD AND PROFESSOR MARSH 25G 
 
 SITTING BULL 273 
 
 THE DEATH OF CUSTER 296 
 
 STRONG HEART. ,1 R 301 
 
 [vii] 
 
TO N D A. 
 
 i. 
 
 TOXDA COMES HOME. 
 
 Lt was nearly thirty years ago. Those were the good 
 old times of the Indians, which to-day they tonehingly 
 refer to as " the-days-when-buffalo-were-here." 
 
 A great Sioux village lay along the Xiobrara river in 
 northern Xebraska, the heart of the buffalo country. 
 Three or four days journey northward were the Black 
 Hills, far to the south and the east lay the White settle 
 ments; beyond the Black Hills on the upper Missouri 
 lived the Crow Indians hereditary enemies of the Sioux. 
 
 It was early morning, and the camp had bestirred itself. 
 Over the sand-hills eastward the sun was mounting and 
 the prairie dogs with joyous and multitudinous barks 
 hailed his warm beams. Indeed it was a happy day for 
 all. Did not the Great Father on this date give rations 
 to his red children? So the squaws must needs hasten, 
 and the smouldering embers of the camp-fires were raked 
 together, and the blaze rekindled. The remnants of food 
 in the tipis were prepared and hastily eaten, and, as soon 
 as the ponies could be caught and brought in from the 
 plain, nearly every man, woman, and child mounted and 
 rode off to the agency buildings, five miles distant, to 
 receive supplies. 
 
 Xear the center of the village stood Two Bears lodge. 
 Like all the tipis, it was built of heavy buffalo hides 
 
 [l] 
 
& TONDA. 
 
 > 
 
 siiiio tweBty-t^^feet high and fifteen feet base diameter. 
 The poles supporting the hides were strong and straight. 
 Inside lived, besides the warrior and his wife, two girls. 
 The younger., although about ten years of age, had not yet 
 been named according to a custom prevalent among 
 tribes of long ago. When some important event in Her 
 history occurred she would be named accordingly. 
 
 Two Bears himself was a head warrior and sat in the 
 old men s council. He was an intelligent, kindly old fel 
 low, highly respected, and he stood nearly on an equality 
 with the second chief, Gopher. Omaha, the squaw, was 
 named after the tribe of Indians from whom she had 
 been captured, the Omahas. In Indian history it often 
 happens that a woman is seized during a fight or raid 
 upon a village. She is adopted by her captors, and is 
 taken to wife by the man who captured her or by one of 
 his relatives. She soon becomes reconciled to her new 
 home, and no social distinction is made by the women of 
 the village between her and any of the squaws whom they 
 have known since childhood. 
 
 Two Bears family took along two extra horses, not 
 because they expected to receive more supplies than other 
 Sioux, but that they might be properly prepared for a 
 certain event. Their eldest daughter was coming back 
 to them ; a bright beautiful girl of eighteen, the pet of 
 the entire village, Tonda, or Bright Star. Tonda had been 
 some three years in the East, for her parents, listening to 
 the good advice of a missionary, had permitted him to 
 place her in one of the schools for Indian girls. 
 
 In the olden times food was issued to the Sioux on 
 every alternate Wednesday, which was designated by them 
 " the-day-we-get-food." It was always followed by feast 
 ing, dancing, and demonstrations of joy. The provisions 
 would be amply sufficient to keep the natives in food dur- 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 3 
 
 ing the ensuing fortnight if they were at all economical, 
 but they generally gorge themselves to the utmost capacity 
 during the next few days and nights; hence when two 
 weeks have passed they are often in sore need of food. 
 
 And so they set out for the agency and scattered them 
 selves, observing no order, as they journeyed toward the 
 goal. Some of them raced their horses, and each man 
 took care of himself, for first come would be first served, 
 and in the eyes of the agent the chief was no better than 
 a common warrior. 
 
 The government buildings consisted of a small two-story 
 frame house, in which the agent lived ; smaller houses for 
 the " boss herder " who had charge of the cattle, and for 
 the other employees; a long, low building, wherein was 
 the store and the distributing office, a large warehouse 
 where the supplies were kept, and a little log fort which 
 could be used in case of disturbances. This fort was also 
 used as a jail, and more than one obstreperous Sioux was 
 familiar with its interor. 
 
 The corral was a large inclosure of two or three acres, 
 and into it were driven, on the morning of ration day, 
 enough cattle to supply the entire tribe. There was not 
 a little competition on the part of cattle-men living two 
 or three hundred miles south of the agency to supply beef. 
 The cattle were brought overland two or three times a year 
 in large herds, and were kept on the range near the agency. 
 Although the Indians sometimes stole cattle from settlers, 
 it is worthy of remark in passing that they never robbed 
 each other, and the government cattle were safe except 
 from white cattle-thieves. 
 
 This was the initial beef issue of the season, for it was 
 early fall, and the Indians were supposed to have had 
 sufficient game to last them through the summer. It was 
 the first year in which buffalo had become scarce; or 
 
4 TONDA. 
 
 rather the first on which, because of the great number 
 of white hunters, the bison had begun to range farther 
 west, north, and south. There were two great bodies, each 
 comprising millions of creatures, known respectively as 
 the north herd and the south herd. As the Indians had 
 killed no buffalo during July, August and September, the 
 agent received instructions to issue beef early in October. 
 Ordinarily he would give them cattle every two weeks 
 from November until June. Even this was an innovation., 
 for it was only recently that cattle had been issued to the 
 Sioux at any time during the year. 
 
 When the horde of Indian horsemen came in sight of 
 the agency building they belabored the little mustangs 
 and thundered forward, kicking up a great cloud of dust 
 as they approached. There was much flaunting of blank 
 ets and feathers and streamers, and as it was a clear day, 
 the sight presented by these Sioux and thirty years ago 
 they were the finest horsemen in the world as they drew 
 near, decked out in all their trappings and finery of the 
 most fantastic hues, was one not soon to be forgotten. 
 
 Upon reaching their destination the men dismounted, 
 and, leaving the squaws and children who had been lum 
 bering along in the rear, for the warriors were on the 
 host horses and had given the squaws and children the 
 old and broken-down ones, entered the agency building 
 and stood before the distributing clerk. Here they re 
 ported their names, and each head of a family, or, in the 
 case of small families, each man who represented some ten 
 or twelve persons, received two tickets on the warehouse 
 keeper. With their tickets they passed in a long row in 
 front of the warehouse platform, where, upon presenta 
 tion of one of them, the warehouseman and his assistants 
 delivered coffee, beans, flour, sugar, etc. The squaws 
 kept near their husbands and assisted in carrying the 
 supplies to their ponies. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 5 
 
 The second ticket is presented to the employees in 
 charge of the corral, who turn out as many steers as there 
 are tickets. The men know how many Indians draw ra 
 tions, so that the number of animals is just sufficient to 
 satisfy the demand. At a given signal the gates are 
 opened and the cattle let loose. The Indians have mean 
 while mounted their ponies, and as soon as the first steer 
 makes its appearance, they set up a great yell, and the 
 terrified animals pour out of the pen, filling the air with 
 loud bellowings. The Indians surround the herd and 
 drive it toward their village, the squaws, meanwhile, com 
 ing slowly behind with their children and the supplies on 
 the backs of the patient, worn-out ponies. \Vhen near the 
 village, each man singles out the steer that he prefers, 
 and drives it some little distance away from the herd. 
 When a favorable spot is reached for the slaughter of the 
 animal he sends an arrow or a bullet into some vital spot, 
 and thus the chase is ended. He hastily dismounts, cuts 
 the jugular vein in order to let the animal bleed, and then 
 returns to the village. -while the squaw skins and cuts up 
 the meat. In some cases the braves help do this work, 
 but more frequently the squaws are compelled to do it 
 alone. 
 
 AVilliam O Donnell was agent for some four thousand 
 Sioux. He had been a lesser politician in a certain large 
 city, and his party, net ungrateful for his services, had 
 rewarded him five years previously by this appointment. 
 O Donnell was known to the frontiersmen and most of the 
 Indians as Billy, and rumor had it that he was becoming 
 rich. A hard master he was in some ways and, contrary 
 to most of the sons of Erin, he possessed very few good 
 points. In him the bad predominated. Smoking his in 
 evitable pipe with the official interpreter alongside, he 
 marched back and forth on the warehouse platform and 
 called out greetings to the assembled natives. 
 
6 TONDA. 
 
 " The beans are not good, they are wormy/" growled 
 Sitting Bull. 
 
 " Sure and youse fellers is always kicking/" he replied. 
 Two Bears came up. 
 
 " When does the stage come? Tonda is in it. Have I 
 time to get my meat?" 
 
 "It s a good two hours yit. Kill your mate. And so 
 the pretty one is coining home? You re a good Injun, 
 Two Bears, and have a foine daughter. Oi wish they was 
 all loike youse/ Two Bears called out to Omaha what 
 O Donnell had said. 
 
 l{ Yes, but remember the oily tongue," she replied 
 grinningly. "You shoot the steer as near camp as yon 
 can. We will wait here. Gopher s people can take the 
 meat home for us. We must not miss Tonda." 
 
 "Aow,* Gopher, will you take my meat to your tipi?" 
 
 "Aow," grunted Gopher. To the corral they w r ent and 
 when a favorable steer came forth they drove him slowly 
 toward home. Women of Gopher s lodge followed for 
 Gopher had a large family. 
 
 Two Bears was somewhat above the average Sioux, and, 
 when he had shot his steer, he dismounted, and, taking 
 his sharp hunting knife, skinned the beast and then dis 
 emboweled it, helping Gopher and the women load the 
 quarters on their ponies. The weight caused the animals 
 to stagger under the load, and when relieved they seemed 
 greatly pleased, for with one accord they whinnied, flour 
 ished unshod heels, and started on a trot to join those of 
 their companions that were grazing on the undulating 
 plain near-by. Gopher s people cut the meat into long 
 strips and hung it upon the little frame-work outside the 
 wigwam. There the sun would dry and harden it so that 
 
 * A peculiar long guttural denoting assent. Its use is not con 
 fined to the Sioux. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 7 
 
 it could be used later in the season. Packed solidly down 
 in leather bags or " trunks/" great stores of jerked beef 
 was laid away for winter use. While the beef dried, 
 smudges were started to keep off flies. 
 
 Two Bears mounted his horse and jogged back to the 
 agency, singing to himself a song learned from his father 
 long ago : 
 
 " Some day the Whites shall go back 
 
 Across the great salt Mater 
 
 Whence they came. 
 
 Happy days for the Lakotas* 
 
 When the Whites go back." 
 
 Poor, old simple-hearted Indian ! Could he have looked 
 forward thirty years game gone, lands taken, disease 
 reducing tribal strength no song of hope would have 
 escaped his lips. 
 
 Tying his pony at the agency store-rack he went in. 
 Omaha had bought cheap calico and gaudy ribbons with 
 his last silver dollar. 
 
 " I go to see Billy," he said. Xow Two Bears understood 
 very little English, but the knowledge, limited though 
 it may have been, was valuable to him. He had never let 
 O Donnell suspect that he knew one word. Such traits 
 among Indians are common. The writer has seen Indians 
 enter an agency store to buy some sugar and coffee from 
 the storekeeper. Two whom lie has in mind could speak 
 English as well as their interpreter, yet they confined all 
 their remarks to the Sioux tongue, and although conver 
 sation engaged in by those near-by pertained to them per 
 sonally, and they undoubtedly understood every word, 
 they did not betray the least sign of intelligence, nor 
 could you have told that they knew anything about the 
 English language. 
 
 * These Sioux called themselves Lakota : Northern Sioux. 
 Dakota. 
 
8 TONDA. 
 
 As Two Bears entered (Indians never knock) he caught 
 two sentences 
 
 You got ter quit taking ? em, Exelby. There ll be 
 trouble/ remarked O Donncll. 
 
 "What the Hell do you care 1 ; You don t give "em the 
 rations Washington buys/ they stopped, as the Sioux 
 entered. His bronzed features were stolid, but his heart 
 beat fast. What he and his chiefs had long suspected 
 was true. " Doc Exelby " after all was a horse-thief ; and 
 Le Moyne, the French half-breed squaw-man, had lied 
 when he declared that Exelby was unjustly condemned by 
 the Indians. 
 
 " Oi got ter git the interpreter. Set still. He don t 
 understand a word of American," and O Donnell ran out 
 of the office. Meanwhile Two Bears drew out his small 
 pipe of Catlinite, the sacred red-stone of which all Plains 
 tribes made pipes, and began to smoke. Exelby, suspicious 
 of all Indians, regarded him narrowly, but the warrior 
 never glanced in his direction and the outlaw, relieved, 
 drew a deep breath. Back came the agent and his 
 interpreter. 
 
 "What is it? I am busy. You have not time to talk. 
 The stage is due." 
 
 "Aow. I shall come in two days. We want to go on a 
 buffalo hunt." 
 
 " Come in three days. We will talk then," and Two 
 Bears, who had heard enough, went out. 
 
 " Omaha, I have bad news. I must get to the village." 
 
 " But Tonda is coming." 
 
 " We can ride to the hill and if the stage is not in sight 
 you will have to meet her alone." Mounting, they can 
 tered down the road half a mile and halted on a ridge 
 crest commanding a view of some miles in every direction. 
 
 " Tonda, Tonda, Tonda ! " cried the little girl joyfully, 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 9 
 
 for near at hand lumbered the old coach, Jim Smith a 
 true old timer and one of the few honest men in that sec 
 tion on the box, his hands full of reins skilfully direct 
 ing four sweating horses. Our three friends cantered 
 down and old Smith pulled up. Open flew the door and 
 Tonda bounded out into her mother s arms, then em 
 braced her father and sister while tears of joy sprang to 
 her sparkling eyes. 
 
 "I ll take your trunk to the agency." cried Smith, 
 whipping up. " Guess you want to ride a pony back." 
 
 " Yes. I do/" she replied, jumping up ahead of the little 
 one. The first greeting over, there came such brief ques 
 tions as we are wont to ask one dearly beloved whose 
 countenance we have not beheld for years. After that 
 we think of more serious matters: so with these Indian 
 people. The first greetings were short, but they were 
 sincere, and from inquiries they passed to small talk. 
 
 On the qui cive was the village, and when Two Bears 
 party came in sight, many natives ran down the trail to 
 meet them. People poured out of the tipis and a great 
 shout went up as Tonda entered the camp. Indians among 
 themselves are a very affectionate and jolly people. It is 
 only in the presence of Whites that they are reserved and 
 stolid. It is a popular error that they never express 
 emotion. In his wigwam with his family, a brave is a jollv. 
 whole-souled person, from whose lips flow humor, wit. and 
 amusing anecdotes. He has a bright word for even- 
 child in the tribe, and his face, instead of bearing a look 
 of impenetrable stolidity, is often wreathed in smiles. 
 
 Few Indian women are handsome, but this girl was an 
 exception. Tonda was standing in a crowd of people on 
 the bank of the stream friends who had come to welcome 
 her. There were young Indian girls with whom she had 
 played and romped, and there were young Indian youths 
 
10 TONDA. 
 
 with whom she had enjoyed many a wild pony race across 
 the plain. There was her aunt, her uncle, her cousin; 
 there was her old grandfather, the medicine-man of the 
 tribe. lie stood waiting for her to run to greet him, and 
 as she approached, lifted his hands toward the blue sky 
 above and asked for the blessing of the Great Spirit, 
 Waukantanka, upon his grandchild. 
 
 What a change there was in Tonda! She went away 
 from the Indian village sun-burned, with the complexion 
 of a dark prairie rose, with raven tresses, which had never 
 been clipped or trimmed, and which, when she was 
 mounted upon her pony, racing across the prairie, streamed 
 backward in the breeze, or falling about her neck and 
 shoulders, set off to the best advantage her pretty face. 
 She went away with a freshness and vivacity which one 
 absorbs from nature alone, like some wild flower that had 
 reared its shapely form upon the green sward of the 
 prairie; she came back like that same flower which, when 
 taken up and transplanted to some conservatory, loses 
 part of that beauty which it had in its natural surround 
 ings. The flower may have become whiter and more deli 
 cate, but it has lost its wild and characteristic freshness. 
 So with Tonda. She came back educated, and robed in 
 garments such as those who know not the pleasures of a 
 personal contact with nature are wont to wear. 
 
 Two Bears sprang from his horse and threw back the 
 buffalo-skin covering to the entrance " Enter and wel 
 come, daughter." The .friends followed and soon the tipi 
 was crowded ; those who could not get in blocking the 
 entrance. Omaha offered meat and sugar to the guests. 
 Her lodge was better and more tastefully arranged than 
 the majority of Indian homes. 
 
 " Mother," said Tonda, " I am so glad to be with you 
 again. Although I have been away three years, I have 
 
OMAHA AND TWO BEARS. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 13 
 
 not forgotten my friends, nor have I given up all my 
 Indian ways. The school contains many girls from the 
 agencies near here, and from the southwest, and while 
 we studied in the white man s tongue, yet we always 
 talked among ourselves in our native languages. I have 
 come back to do what good I can for you and try to 
 persuade some of our young people in the tribe to go 
 away to the white man s school, but I do not intend to 
 leave and take the white man s road. They treated us 
 very well there, and they did not make us work as hard as 
 you think. I learned a great many new things, and I can 
 be very useful to you, dear mother, in taking care of the 
 household. In the trunk I have some presents/ 7 
 
 " Richards, the squaw-man, can go for your trunk," said 
 her father; " My child, we have too much confidence in our 
 children to think they would do wrong. You are a Sioux 
 girl ; you are the daughter of a brave father who will do 
 anything for you; we are glad that you have been to 
 school: we are glad that you have learned much, and we 
 want you to teach us something of what you have learned, 
 and to aid your mother in her work.* 
 
 "My grandchild/" said the medicine-man, Wadaha, 
 " you have spoken wise words to us, and I have listened 10 
 them patiently. We do not want you to become one of us 
 unless your heart prompts you to do so. Xo Sioux maiden 
 shall be compelled to do what she does not like. Decide 
 yourself, my child, Tonda. Remember the Indian 
 family to which you belong, a family that has become 
 stronger in late years instead of weaker; a family of which 
 the Sioux nation is proud. You are one of a people whose 
 bravery and deeds of valor have been sung by all the 
 red men from the far Xorth to the South, and even those 
 Whites who live in tall houses in the land toward the ris 
 ing sun tremble when thev hear of us. 
 
U TONDA. 
 
 "You are free to come and go; you can wear your 
 white women s clothes or put on your frock of beaded 
 doer-skin, and with your old friend and companion of 
 your childhood, your faithful pony, Brown Eyes, you 
 can clash across the rolling prairie, smelling the sweet 
 perfume of the wild flowers, with a stretch of blue sky 
 above and a green carpet below, as you used to do before 
 you entered the white man s school." 
 
 Indians are emotional, and Tonda, when she heard these 
 words, was much affected. She had looked forward for 
 many clays to her home-coming. She had enjoyed many 
 privileges at the school, and had learned a great deal, 
 but her proud and free Indian spirit longed to get into 
 the open air again. In those days Indian children sent 
 East to school took up their old mode of living on their 
 return to the reservations. To-day, more than half con- 
 finue "the white man s road" when once they have 
 entered upon it. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 15 
 
 II. 
 
 THE COUNCIL. 
 
 Chief Gopher came and entered the lodge, greeted 
 Tonda and said : " Has your daughter made you forget 
 the meat? " 
 
 *Aow, Omaha, let us see if our daughter has forgotten 
 how to work and cook. You women fetch the meat." 
 
 " Father, I shall broil the best meat you ever ate," she 
 cried, as the women went out and turned toward Gophers 
 tipi. 
 
 " Gopher, I have bad news. We must call a council. 
 Xo squaw-man or half-breed shall attend, only the old 
 men and dog-soldiers," * and he told what he had heard. 
 
 u Bad medicine, bad medicine," groaned Gopher. " ATe 
 must confer at once," and he ran out to the lodge of the 
 village crier. 
 
 Call a council of old men and dog-soldiers at once." 
 Then he came back to Two Bears. 
 
 In the old-time village, the lodges were placed from 
 one hundred to three hundred feet apart. This com 
 munity, acknowledging Rain-in-the-Face as head chief, 
 covered two miles of ground. A certain responsible man 
 of middle age officially carried the news. Usually he had 
 a younger relative as assistant. The crier at once set out 
 toward the east, while his son, known as Runner and he 
 \vas well-named started west. On passing the lodges 
 they called out " Councilmen and dog-soldiers, assemble 
 at the great tipi at once." Immediately there was com- 
 
 * The leaders among young warriors. They preserve order in 
 a village and form a brotherhood more or less secret. 
 
16 TOXDA. 
 
 motion. Young and old wondered, women chattered, 
 boys said, " I wish I could get in and hear." In a short 
 time Rain-in-the-Face and more than forty men were 
 present, seated in a circle within the largest structure of 
 the village, their council house. It was fifty feet in 
 diameter at the base, constructed of great cotton-wood 
 poles, lashed together at the top and covered with mats 
 and robes. 
 
 \A atlaha lit the medicine pipe a very large and beau 
 tifully ornamented object. He blew the smoke upward to 
 Waukantanka.* downward to the evil spirit Waukaw- 
 sica, and then to each of the cardinal points. Indians do 
 not forget to propitiate the devil, u for," say they, "the 
 good God will help us without asking. But the devil will 
 not, and we. must make him gifts also." 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face told Gopher to make public his infor 
 mation. Runner stood without and kept the crowd back 
 from the doorway. Silence reigned as Gopher spoke. 
 Ocassionally his periods were emphasized by " aow, aow," 
 grunted in unison. When he ended, Sitting Bull arose. 
 Sitting Bull was one of the most interesting characters 
 America has produced. Thoroughly aboriginal, he hated 
 the Whites, and subsequent history proves that he had 
 cause for bitterness. He was of medium build, heavy of 
 feature and not remarkable physically. But his face was 
 undeniably strong. It was the face of a man of passion 
 and resolve. The lines were deep, the expression cruel. 
 His eyes were black and piercing. An army officer, who 
 had fought him, says that they were " snake-like and 
 glittered." Nothing could be farther from the truth. 
 His eyes were indescribable intense, penetrating, and 
 suggestive of the restless, dominant spirit of the brain 
 
 *The Great Spirit. 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 17 
 
 behind them. He did not belong to this village, but 
 had come from the upper agency a month ago. His in 
 fluence was great among the common folk, but the better 
 class of Indians, such as Two Bears, did not like him - 
 he always talked war. They were afraid of him. A 
 shaman of renown, he became better known later through 
 his making medicine for the Custer fight. All the hostile 
 elements flocked to his standard. He made trouble at 
 every agency. 
 
 However, Sitting Bull was consistent in his hatred of 
 the Whites. What he said at this time was concise and 
 to the point: 
 
 " Brothers, a few winters ago at the Laramie treaty, 
 Red Cloud* made peace. Our young men quit fighting and 
 came in a few are out with the Cheyennes and so on, 
 but most of them came in. We have lived on our reserva 
 tion, and twice a month we go to receive what the Great 
 Father sees fit to give us. (Aow, aow.) 
 
 "A month ago one hundred ponies were stolen. By 
 what men? Our enemies, the Crows? Xo, we know that 
 Exelby and his gang took them. Shall we go to war? 
 The ager.t gives us bad food. Does he not sell the good 
 food before it gets here and issue us bad beans, caked 
 flour, and spoiled rice instead? Are you men? If so, get 
 upon your legs and talk like warriors!" 
 
 There was instant confusion as Sitting Bull ended his 
 fiery speech. Some shouted for war, but Rain-in-the-Face 
 sprang forward, crying, "Be still, be still! and walking 
 back and forth in the midst he spoke as follows: 
 
 "There is folly in haste. We do not know for sure 
 that Exelby stole the horses. We think so. Xow, if we 
 go to war and attack the wagon trains, soldiers will come 
 
 * Head chief of all Sioux bands. 
 
18 TONDA. 
 
 and whip us again. Two Bears is as crafty as the fox. 
 Strong Heart knows white man s talk well. They must 
 find out about this matter. We can t trust any interpreter 
 or squaw-man. John Richards, our only good squaw- 
 man, might help us. He never lied or cheated us yet, but 
 we don t want to tell him unless all other means fail. 
 Let us leave it to them and they can talk to Richards if 
 they think best to do so." 
 
 Wadaha had kindled a small fire, and the thin line 
 of smoke sought the central opening above. Producing 
 a fiat,, polished object made from a buffalo rib, he said: 
 " If the buffalo bull comes to light on my sacred 
 medicine-rib, it is safe to trust Richards." They looked 
 on intensely, while he slowly heated the relic. Having 
 warmed it he ran to Rain-in-the-Face and Gopher. 
 
 " Yes, we see it," they said. But as the rib cooled the 
 tracing disappeared. 
 
 Various comments upon the best action for Strong 
 Heart and Two Bears to take were made. Then all 
 smoked Wadaha s council pipe and went home. 
 
 Gopher was the story-teller and had in keeping all tribal 
 records and history. Soon after the council he and Two 
 Bears entered the latter s lodge. Presently the women 
 came back with another load of meat. 
 
 " What an odor there is in the camp," said Tonda. 
 
 " Umph." grunted Gopher. " You have been living 
 with Whites. It is curious how odors affect people. 
 Once a young woman had been lost from a party who 
 were crossing the Plains on the way to the Black Hills 
 to hunt buffalo. There was nothing heard of her for 
 nearly a year, and then another party who were traveling 
 for the same purpose discovered her hiding place. A 
 young man, who had been riding some little distance 
 from the main body, ran his horse into camp, saying that 
 
WADAHA. THE MEDICINE MAN. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 21 
 
 he had found the woman who had been lost, but that 
 he could not get near enough to induce her to conie to 
 cajnp. Some of her relatives happened to be with the 
 party, and they went in great haste to the place where 
 the young man said the woman could be found. But 
 they could not get near her for a long time, for she said 
 they had a strong smell about them and that she did 
 not want to go with them because of this odor, which 
 was very offensive to her. She had lived, she said, with 
 a pack of buffalo wolves, and the wolves had killed buf 
 falo calves for her, and thus furnished her with food. 
 She had a knife with which she cut up the calves. The 
 meat, she had carried to a cleft in some rocks where 
 she lived. She had great quantities of dried meat in this 
 place, which she pounded with stones quite fine and ate 
 raw. She had no way of building a fire, and therefore 
 could not cook the meat. She was finally induced to go 
 to camp, and after a short time said that she did not 
 notice the smell any more, and at last consented to stay 
 with the people. She lived to be an old woman, and 
 her name is I-guga-o-ti-win. The-woman-who-lives-in- 
 the-cleft. " 
 
 With this Gopher arose, and, handing the pipe back to 
 Two Bears, stalked out of the wigwam. Gopher was 
 never known to tell more than one story at one sitting, 
 and the other Indians went to their respective tipis, and 
 thus the family of Two Bears was left alone. 
 
 It was now growing late, and after eating a hearty meal 
 out of the kettle Indians eat whenever hungry each 
 one lay down and dropped asleep. The owls hooted from 
 the neighboring cottonwoods, the wolves howled on the 
 prairie, and the Indians, accustomed to this lullaby of 
 nature, slept on without fear of molestation. 
 
 The next morning, when they were up and about their 
 
22 TONDA. 
 
 usual duties, two horsemen came into camp from the upper 
 Sioux reservation, eighty miles away, and announced that 
 this lower reservation was invited to join them in a great 
 buffalo hunt. This was to eclipse anything the Indians 
 had ever done of its kind, and therefore preparations 
 ought to begin at once. 
 
 Some of the Indians went up to Rain-in-the-Face s tipi 
 as soon as the invitation became generally known. 
 
 " Let uc go and see Billy at once," said Gopher. 
 
 "Do you think he will let us hunt?" asked Strong 
 Heart. 
 
 " He can t prevent it," growled Sitting Bull. " This is 
 the last of the warm season. In a few days it will get 
 cold. Buffalo coats are now thick. Does not the Great 
 Father wish to feed us as little as possible? We must 
 kill many buffalo. The more meat we pack away, the 
 fewer empty stomachs there will be." 
 
 " Well spoken," said Rain-in-the-Face. " Two Bears 
 and I will go and see Billy at once." 
 
 " It is better for me not to go, Billy does not like me," 
 said Sitting Bull. Whereat the Indians all laughed, for 
 they knew that Billy had threatened to put him in the 
 guardhouse if he did not quit complaining and making 
 trouble. So the two Indians got their ponies and ran 
 them to the agency. O Donnell had just received a letter 
 from Washington in which the Commissioner of Indian 
 Affairs advised economy, that opponents of the political 
 party in power particularly the members of Congress 
 west of the Mississippi were making capital out of the 
 extravagances of the Indian Bureau. Billy therefore 
 was glad to give consent and the Indians had no more 
 than stated the object of their visit before he told them 
 to go out for two or three weeks and to be sure and bring 
 back meat enough to last the entire tribe all winter. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 23 
 
 " An youse fellers take notice/" said he, "that Sit 
 ting Bull s heart is bad. His people have got a grudge 
 agin the government. You re goiir ter hunt wid his 
 band but don t youse git any o that foolishness in yer 
 heads. Youse know what the soldiers done the last time 
 they was here." 
 
 This was a very tactless remark on the part of a man 
 who prided himself that he " knew how to handle Indians," 
 because even conservative Two Bears resented it. The 
 Indians were too much engrossed in enlarging on the 
 pleasure and excitement of their annual buffalo hunt to 
 think of it at the time : but when they joined Red Cloud s 
 band, the agent s words came back to them. 
 
 The messengers were instructed to return to their peo 
 ple and say that the invitation was accepted, and that 
 in three days the entire village would move to the upper 
 reservation, and from there the start should be ma de. 
 
24 TOXDA. 
 
 III. 
 
 TOXDA AT THE AGENCY. 
 
 When Richards brought Tonda s trunk over from the 
 agency the word flew from mouth to mouth that she had 
 presents for relatives and friends presents made by the 
 strange Whites of the far East. Expectantly the people 
 gathered. They crowded about as Tonda unlocked a 
 large second-hand Saratoga a gift frem some philan- 
 thropically inclined person, and threw back the lid. 
 
 "Washta, Washta," (good, good!) cried the women and 
 children as gorgeous garments and wonderful articles were 
 taken from the ample recesses of that old trunk. When 
 new, it had been to Europe and in it were stored Parisian 
 creations for certain members of a rich family in Phila 
 delphia. But the reception the indifferent and satiated 
 Whites accorded that Saratoga was far different from the 
 greeting given it by these simple-hearted folk of the 
 prairie. Sincere and joyful shouts of pleasure and an 
 ticipation greeted each article spread upon the grass. 
 Even stoic men gathered about the edge of the circle 
 they did not crowd, for this was a woman s affair and 
 enjoyed the sight. 
 
 " Mother, a fine colored blanket for you," and she flung 
 a big, cheap, bath-robe of many hues to Omaha, who im 
 mediately put it on and strutted about, the admiration 
 and envy of all the other women. "A pipe for you, 
 father/ and she handed to the nearest woman a largo 
 ornamented wooden pipe. This was passed back to the 
 men. An inexpensive clock was given to her grandfather, 
 Wadaha. Now Wadaha had no use for a clock, as onlv 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. ?o 
 
 Indians who have been away to school carry watches or 
 make use of clocks. But this timepiece contained a 
 strong and almost tireless alarm. Had not the other In 
 dians seen it Wadaha might have used it in his medicine 
 making. However, it was a never-failing source of de 
 light to the youths of the village. There were many and 
 different things for her friends. So interested was Tone! a 
 in making her presentations that she did not observe 
 her little sister, standing alongside. Even a Sioux child 
 is more or less of a Stoic, but this one s heart began to 
 sink within her as she saw other persons remembered and 
 as yet nothing for her. She put on a bold face and pluck 
 ing at her sister s dress said : 
 
 " Is there nothing for me, Tonda? " 
 
 u Oh, my dear sister, I had nearly forgotten you. " 
 Apparently there remained nothing in the trunk but 
 Tonda s personal effects. She* pulled many things about 
 in hasty search and then dragged forth a remarkable doll, 
 something far more magnificent than had occurred to the 
 little one in her childish dreams. 
 
 " See this,* cried Tonda, placing the doll in the arms 
 of the wondering child. " It is asleep. * 
 
 The girl regarded it fixedly, smoothed its beautiful 
 dress, stroked its yellow hair, while the other youngsters 
 elbowed through the crowd in order that they, too, might 
 behold the " medicine baby."* 
 
 " Xow, child, said Tonda, " place the doll on its 
 feet/" The little one obeyed, steadying her toy by the 
 arms. The eyes were now opened. All the children 
 sucked in their breath in wonderment. What kind of a 
 doll was this that was awake when it stood or sat up 
 and went to sleep the moment you put it down? Indeed, 
 
 * Medicine and mvsterv are svnonvmous terms in Sioux. 
 
26 TONDA. 
 
 they now believed the awe-inspiring tales told them about 
 the camp-fire by their parents of the wonderful power 
 and mystery of the Whites. 
 
 When Tonda had leisure she began the instruction of 
 her sister in various simple subjects, continuing the lessons 
 as opportunities presented themselves. 
 
 " Xow, little one, I have a nice book to show you/ and 
 Tonda opened a child s book. It was full of wonderful 
 pictures. There were fairy tales, Bible stories, and de 
 scriptions of birds, flowers, and animals. A new life was 
 opened to the mind of the young aborigine. 
 
 " How happy the white men s children must be," she 
 sighed : " When they are tired of play, stories are read to 
 them. We tell our stories, but tl;ey are not written down. 
 Just think, before you came home I had one doll, that was 
 all. Now I am rich, for I have more than any girl in 
 the camp." 
 
 Omaha regarded all these things with great curiosity. 
 Tonda showed her some photographs. In one a child 
 held a dog and a girl was caressing a cat. 
 
 " Tonda, do they have dogs about their towns, where 
 the Whites live. 
 
 * Oh yes. And cats, birds, and all sorts of live things. 
 They feed them and keep them in their houses." 
 
 "What for, to eat?" 
 
 " Oh no. Just to play Avith. In great cities rich women 
 carry dogs about in their arms. In cold weather they wrap 
 them in blankets. They even have places where , sick 
 dogs and cats can be cared for and made well. I have 
 seen a woman combing the long hair of a small dog while 
 it lay on a pillow." 
 
 "Huh, huh! Have they no children to love? What 
 kind of women are those who waste care on dogs and 
 cats!" 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 27 
 
 " That s nothing, mother. In a great city called London, 
 which is across the eastern salt-water, the many rich 
 women live in one end and the poor in the other. They 
 do not share food or clothing as we do. More people 
 than you can count starve while the few have abundance. 
 They have laws for the care of cats, dogs, and horses. 
 While they keep these, little boys and girls are starving in 
 the other part of the city. The rich do not have chil 
 dren." Omaha became angry. 
 
 "If I was husband of such a squaw 1 would throw her 
 dog out and then beat her! What foolishness! And 
 these white people come out here and say - \\ hy don t 
 you Sioux be civilized and be good? Of what use is a 
 woman that loves a dog more than a child? I would like 
 to catch one of those lazy, rich women here! " 
 
 "What would you do?" said Tonda, amused at her 
 mother s wrath. 
 
 " Why I d make her work good and hard and whip her 
 afterward. Carrying clogs and combing their hair! Huh, 
 huh!" 
 
 One day Omaha and Tonda mounted their ponies and 
 rode over to the agency to purchase some supplies. The 
 post trader generally trusted the Indians. Aside from 
 the regular rations issued, once or twice a year the Indians 
 received cloth, a certain sum of money per head, blankets, 
 and other necessary articles. In the old days this money 
 was often withheld by the agent until the native had 
 squared his account with the post trader. By the time 
 that individual was paid there remained little or nothing 
 for the Indian, and he was continually in debt. 
 
 Brown Eyes felt very good that morning and pranced 
 about. During the two months previous to Tonda *s 
 home-coming, her mother had been hard at work upon a 
 new costume composed of the finest tan buckskin, orna- 
 
28 TONDA. 
 
 merited with bead-work, split porcupine quills, etc. 
 Omaha was an expert even in those days when Indian 
 tanned buckskin was famous. The texture of the dress, 
 the skirt, and the leggins was as fine as that of chamois 
 skin. The costume was strikingly beautiful, and Tonda 
 dressed in it was entirely in keeping with her surround 
 ings. Far more picturesque was it than the modern 
 ill-fitting, inartistic suits worn by the Indians who have 
 been away to school, and have returned to the agency 
 with just enough white man s learning and ways to make 
 ridiculous spectacles of themselves. 
 
 O Donnell and Charlie had gone to the store early that 
 morning, and were perched on the counter ready for a 
 social chat. Said the agent: 
 
 "Henry, bow s business?" 
 
 " Slow, purty slow. I wisht that the great and good 
 Father would double what he sends his red children, 
 particularly the money. I want to go back to St. Louis 
 in two or three years." 
 
 " Youse are doin very well, Henry. Think o the 
 thousands as ain t done so well. If Washington don t 
 sind no more pace commissions out here, youse an I 
 kin go back and live aisy an comfortable, loike gintlemen." 
 
 " If them blamed hide-hunters would keep out of this 
 region I could send more buffalo robes East. It ain t 
 helped my business any. Confound era." 
 
 "Lots of hide. hunters, is they?" 
 
 " Yes, an they kin all go to Hell. They is goin to 
 ruin the country an ain t got sense enough to see it. 
 Why, there s Buffalo Bill, as they calls him. A great 
 feller to hang around whar the sogers is. He hunts fer 
 market, an he bragged the other day that he done killed 
 four thousand, two hundred an eighty buffalo in eigh- 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 29 
 
 teen months?.* A man s a hog ter kill em like that." 
 O Donnell laughed. 
 
 " Henry, ef the hide-hunters sold ter youse it would be 
 all right/ The men grinned, and the agent continued, 
 4 Oi told the chiefs that they could go buffalo huntin." 
 They jines Rid Cloud s band an* the two of thim will get. 
 more robes than they need. If youse is keerful you kin 
 have siveral hundred of thim at your own figger." 
 
 " Xow that AYinchesters and shells have jist come in," 
 remarked Henry, and Indians all want the new arms, 
 it seems to me that I can get twenty robes for a rifle and 
 a robe for five cartridges." t 
 
 When they rode up to the agency store, Brown Eyes 
 sidled about so that it was with difficulty that the girl 
 could restrain the steed and dismount. Hearing the 
 noise, the three men came to the door and commented 
 upon the girl and her costume. 
 
 " Great Scott, Charlie/ said O Donnell, "what a good 
 looker an foine one is Two Bears daughter." 
 
 " Yep, Billy. I reckon more than one buck would 
 give all his ponies to marry her." 
 
 " Seems a pity ter waste such good looks on thim damned 
 Injuns. 
 
 " Wall, it does. But you don t need no squaw. The 
 gov ment don t allow its agents to marry Injuns." 
 
 " Xo, it don t, and Oi ain t hankerin after losin" my 
 aisy job." 
 
 " How did youse git on. East ? " he inquired, turning 
 to Tonda. 
 
 " Oh. very well, I liked it there. 
 
 * Smithsonian Report. 87. Prof. Hornady on Destruction of 
 Buffalo. 
 
 t Just before the Custer fight, when Indians were short of am 
 munition, the traders charged them one robe for three metallic 
 cartridges. 
 
30 TONDA. 
 
 " So you re going tcr teach the Injuns the white man s 
 road?" inquired the agent. 
 
 " Oh, I don t know/" replied Tonda. " The Indian 
 trail is good enough for most of us. What is the use of 
 following the white man s road here?" 
 
 " Sure an Oi can t see any particular good in it," said 
 Billy, winking at Charlie. " Whin we ve lived on the 
 reservation we become more Injun than white/ 
 
 "You can change and we cannot/* replied the girl. 
 " We have to live here always. It is easy enough for you 
 who make a good living oft the poor Indians/" and here 
 she glanced at each of the three men "to talk about 
 taking the white man s road. When I think of all the 
 trouble that the Whites have caused my people, I do not 
 wish to trail the white man s trail here. It is straight 
 in the East, but it is crooked here." 
 
 " That s not fair to us," said Charlie. " I wisht you 
 Injuns would quit complainin . Nawthin goes to suit 
 you." 
 
 "Would you complain if you were in our places?" 
 
 " Huh," grunted Bonn ell. " Don t youse get stuck-up 
 simply because you ve been East. What did youse mane 
 whin youse said straight back East and crooked here?" 
 
 "I did not say that," replied the girl with some spirit, 
 " as any insult to you. You know perfectly well what 
 the Indians get and what they should have." The other 
 men listened attentively. 
 
 " Take notice," said O Donnell, coming near her, anger 
 showing in his blue eyes as he brought down his fist upon 
 the counter to emphasize hi? remark; "that Oi m master 
 here an ef yer git chewin the rag bout how the Injuns 
 is trated, Oi kin cut off Two Bears rations." Tonda was 
 a woman of spirit and she, too, became angry and looked 
 at him without the quiver of an eye-lash. She said: 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 31 
 
 " You cut off Two Bears rations if you dare/* 
 
 " Oh, quit ! " called Henry. " Let the girl alone. Can t 
 you keep your temper? What will the chiefs say a 
 woman makes the agent mad will that help you ? " 
 O Donnell laughed. He waited until Tonda got through 
 buying and then attempted to curry favor with her. 
 
 "Glad ter git back, air youse, Tonda?" he inquired, 
 coming near to the woman. " Want ter stay here or go 
 hack tor the white man s road ? * 
 
 Tonda knew more of Billy than he imagined. Her 
 mother had cautioned her to beware of the oily tongue and 
 so had put her on her guard. 
 
 " Oh. yes. I like to be with my own people. Don t you 
 ever think of your own folks over in Ireland?" 
 
 " Ha. ha. ha." roared Charlie. " He ain t no Irishman, 
 his father was; he don t talk like one. He is American 
 and agin the government. " The agent s face flushed. 
 
 " Shut up, Charlie." Henry looked up and joined in 
 the mirth. It was seldom that they got the better of 
 Billy in wit. 
 
 " See here, girl, Oi m agint and Oi don t allow no girl 
 whither she has been ter school or not ter git flip with me.* 
 Tonda regarded him coolly and fearlessly. In her heart 
 she loathed the man. Possibly he opined it: at any rate 
 he did not address her again. When the women were 
 outside Omaha spoke: 
 
 " What made the men laugh ? Why did Billy get mad? " 
 Tonda related the circumstances. 
 
 u My child, do not anger Billy. He has the power to do 
 us harm/ 
 
 When the women had gone the three Whites continued 
 their conversation. While they conversed the stage rolled 
 in. Jim Smith, the driver, dismounted, gave his team 
 to the boss herder and his assistant and entered. Henry 
 treated all to drinks and cigars. 
 
32 TONDA. 
 
 "I got some news fur you fellers, said Jim, as he 
 mounted the counter. They were all attention, for Jim 
 never delivered himself of gossip and unimportant matters. 
 
 " Word come through from driver to driver from the 
 Missouri river that they discovered placer gold in them 
 Black Hills. The old Calif orny prospectors an anybody 
 what knows anythin bout gold is goin in; some keepin 
 on steamboats until up by the Cheyenne river where they ll 
 foller up the river to the Black Hills. Others may go up 
 the White river. By these two routes they ll run less 
 chance of seein the Injuns. Ef they kin get settled thai- 
 without the Injuns seein em, they kin mine all they 
 want to." The other three instantly became excited. 
 
 "Was much gold found?" inquired Charlie. 
 
 " Wall, I should say there was. I seen with my own 
 eyes an handled with my hands two big sacks that held 
 five thousand apiece in em." 
 
 " How many men is in the camp? Is it goin to last? " 
 
 t( They say," continued Jim, " that it looks like Cali- 
 forny did in the early days. Men is jest pourin in. And 
 women went too Old Man Card tuck his daughter 
 Elizabeth and they re callin one o the camps Elizabeth- 
 town cause whenever a miner goes down stream from the 
 main camp, Deadwood, they say, ( where is you goin ? an 
 he says, e I m goin to see Elizabeth. * Things is bloomin . 
 A shoemaker is gittin four dollars a pair fer solin* boots. 
 More saloons than anythin else. Lots o fakirs an tin 
 horns. Everythin is very high an money plenty." 
 
 " Gosh, I d like ter go," said Charlie. Henry expressed 
 similar sentiments. 
 
 " Xo gold fer me," remarked O Donnell. " Oi kin lay 
 around very well here. Miny a mon has gone busted in 
 
 * Fact. She was the first white woman in the Black Hills. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 33 
 
 thim minin camps. Howsumever that may be, there ll 
 be^a bit cr trouble whin the Sioux hear o it." 
 
 " It sartinly will help business," said Jim. " I don t 
 believe in maltreatin the Injuns, but they got too much 
 land, and if there s gold in the hills, it ll bring in money 
 an people." 
 
 " Jim," said the agent, " Oi don t want ter leave here. 
 A bird in the hand you know the rist. But ef youse 
 want ter go up thar an locate claims before the rush 
 begins, Oi ll stake youse. " 
 
 "Wall," mused Jim, "I don t like this drivin business 
 an 7 goin up thar can t be no worse. I d like to make a 
 strike an get a nice farm down somewhar in Iowa. You 
 give me five hundred, Billy, and I ll pull my freight fer 
 the Black Hills. Charlie kin go with me back to the river 
 on the trip tomorrer, as they ll need a man in my place fer 
 a few days. That way, the Injuns here won t suspect 
 nawthin ." 
 
 " Done," said O Donnell, " Shake hands on the bargain." 
 
 " Xow," he continued, " there s one thing youse fellers 
 got to promise. Xot a word to squaw-mon or Injun. If 
 this gits out we re done for. Sooner or later they ll find 
 out about thim miners. But it mustn t leak from us." 
 
 " Spose the Injuns did find out miners was there." 
 began Jim. 
 
 " There s no tellin what the rid rascals would do. They 
 might all start for thim hills at once/" 
 
 " You could order em back," suggested Henry. 
 
 " Order Hell ! It s all fine enough ter bluff these here 
 Injuns. Ivery toime Oi tells thim ter do so an so Oi 
 expect thim ter rafuse. But if they ever sets their heads 
 on goin ter a place, their worthy an honest agint will 
 play hob tryin ter hould thim. Don t youse forgit." he 
 cautioned as they parted for the night. " Xot wan word." 
 
34 TONDA. 
 
 It was even so. When the Sioux learned of gold 
 hunters in the Black Hills, it was not through a wlyte 
 man. A Sioux girl from Standing Rock agency had lost 
 her parents and was sent East to school. She secured a 
 position at Omaha and was employed there by a white 
 family favorable to Indians. Wishing to keep posted 
 concerning her people, she corresponded with Tonda. It 
 was from her that Tonda learned of the new gold fields. 
 She read the letter to Omaha and Two Bears. Botli 
 agreed not to speak of the matter elsewhere, for they did 
 not believe it, and it would excite the natives, whether 
 true or not. 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 35 
 
 IV. 
 
 THE BUFFALO DANCE. 
 
 Whenever there is to be a big buffalo hunt, the Indians 
 as a prelude usually spend two or three nights in dancing, 
 not only to prepare themselves for it, but to " bring the 
 buffalo." The ceremony is more or less religious in 
 character. It was known, therefore, among those present 
 that two dances would be held that night, one for men and 
 the other for women. In the center of the village there 
 was a large area of hard-baked earth, two or three hundred 
 feet in extent, and quite smooth and level. This was used 
 for a general assembly and dance-ground by all the people. 
 
 It was now beginning to grow dusk. Every Indian who 
 expected to take part entered his tipi and put in good 
 order his very best suit. He then took down from one of 
 the posts a mask made from the hide of the buffalo. To 
 this the horns were attached, while a strip of buffalo skin 
 fell down the back, ending in a tail and two hoofs, one on 
 each side. This mask he strapped on his head: the skin 
 was fastened around his body by a heavy leather thong. 
 and the hoofs hung down and struck upon the ground. 
 When dancing they clashed together and made a clatter 
 ing sound, imitating though in much less volume 
 that made by the bison when galloping over the hard earth. 
 
 Let us consider the two leading men, while preparation? 
 begin for the dance. 
 
 Gopher is the richest Indian, for he owns over live 
 hundred ponies. His children are married and live apart, 
 but they all help him on ration day. He and his pre 
 maturely aged wife live alone. Rain-in-the-Face. the 
 
3G TOXDA. 
 
 leading chief of his time, is about forty-five years old, 
 tall, commanding, and of pleasing address, although at 
 times very stern and relentless, and possessing a temper 
 which, when fully aroused, sweeps and rages and turn.-; 
 him into a demon, as the fearful cyclone sweeping across 
 the prairie turns a scene of beauty into a wilderness of 
 desolation. Eain-in-the-Face has a squaw, Wa-wa, and a 
 son, Strong Heart. 
 
 There are several squaw-men, whites who have married 
 Indian women, and who live off the tribe and the govern 
 ment, and a number of worthless persons. We find these 
 in our civilized communities, as well as in the barbarian s 
 home; it is a thing to be deplored, but one for which no 
 remedy has yet proved effective. 
 
 Evening has settled down, and the sunlight has faded. 
 Dark forms can be seen here and there hurrying toward 
 the dance-house, some in groups of three and four, talk 
 ing and laughing, others singly and silently wending their 
 way to the scene of the festivities. 
 
 The ground outside the house is being used by the 
 small boys and girls of the tribe as a play-ground, arid 
 they run here and there with merry shouts and laughter, 
 chasing a dog or tripping up a companion, just as our 
 boys and girls do in our country towns on the evening of 
 some political meeting. Presently the drummer takes his 
 position near the door of the dance chamber. He strikes 
 upon the tom-tom, and the boys and girls instantly cease 
 their boisterous merriment, and in subdued tones and with 
 stealthy tread approach the building. Some of the bold 
 est enter, while the others lurk about the entrance or 
 apply their ears to crevices in the walls, and give them 
 selves up to longings to be a grown man and dance. 
 
 As the drummer pounds upon the tom-tom, the boys run 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 37 
 
 out; the dancers file into the structure until some sixty 
 or seventy are present. All do not dance at once, but 
 from time to time those who are tired retire, and their 
 places are taken by others. The head-dress of buffalo 
 horns is heavy, and a warrior cannot dance over two hours 
 without great fatigue. Outside, the women and young 
 folks are free to dance, and they frequently do, for the 
 music is plainly heard by them. Indeed the chants of 
 the women are often louder than those of the men. After 
 some hours the children and older women withdrew and 
 numbers of young men and women appeared in the open 
 space. A new and pleasing feature presented itself. An 
 old woman who always led the squaw dances called 
 out " The lover s dance," whereupon fifteen or twenty 
 unmarried women, led by Tonda, formed a line on one 
 side of the dance-ground, and began a low chant. Thev 
 were decked out most gorgeously, and looked really charm 
 ing. There was no horrible buffalo mask about their 
 shapely shoulders; they had come for a social and pleasure 
 dance. In this young braves and maidens are at their 
 best, and often become betrothed. It is an event keenly 
 anticipated by all the young people. When the maiden* 
 began numbers of young men left the medicine lodge, 
 threw off the masks and appeared in feathers and paint, 
 dressed with great care and taste. The column of y 011112: 
 women moved with a graceful motion, although similar to 
 a shuffle. The young men advanced, hopping on one foot, 
 then on the other: then, when the lines were about ten 
 feet apart, all turned suddenly and danced backward to 
 opposite sides. The lines delayed a moment, the squaws 
 came to the assistance of the orchestra, and a new tune, 
 much more lively, was struck up, and the young men 
 began the love chant. A rude translation of some of the 
 lines mav be of interest: 
 
38 TONDA. 
 
 Young man : " Pretty one, will you take my hand and 
 dance? I am strong and brave; none can treat you so 
 well." 
 
 Young woman : " Who are you thus to speak ? I will not 
 take your hand." 
 
 "A trial will assure you that I am not so bad. I think 
 you will prefer me to other braves here." 
 
 " Since you are so bold, I will dance with you once." 
 
 " I shall come near your tipi and play the flute 
 (courting). 
 
 "Have you no heart for the girl to whom you played 
 flute last spring?" 
 
 " She is not so nice as you," etc., etc. 
 
 So the conversation ran, very dull te us, but full of 
 meaning to the Indian. 
 
 Tonda had danced forward and back again several time?. 
 She saw no one she fancied; in fact, it was the first danco 
 she had attended for three years, and she was somewhat 
 bewildered. She remembered that Rain-in-the-Face s son, 
 Strong Heart, was a friend of hers before she went East, 
 but supposed that he had forgotten all about her. She 
 had not seen him since she returned, and could scarcely 
 imagine how he looked. 
 
 When the second call came, and the time for each givl 
 to be led across the floor to the other side, she noticed a 
 large, broad-shouldered, finely-dressed young brave ap 
 proaching her, his face full of expression and his eyes 
 intently set upon her face. There was something familiar 
 about the features; could it be Strong Heart? He was 
 near; he asked to dance with her; she consented, and 
 before she could realize where she was, they were across 
 the room and responding to each other in chant. 
 
 Now Strong Heart had been trained by his father with 
 a view to his ascending to the chieftainship. The famous 
 
I- 
 
 STRONG HEART. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 41 
 
 Sioux missionary. Biggs, had taught him English and to 
 read and write a little. Naturally Strong Heart was more 
 congenial to Tonda than the more aboriginal warriors. 
 
 "Have you forgotten me?" 
 
 " Xo ; how could I ? I am the daughter of a Sioux, and 
 as such 1 would feel ashamed to forget any one whom I 
 had known and with whom I had played." 
 
 And so they talked and chanted back and forth. The 
 half hour allowed for this dance seemed but a few mo 
 ments, and both were very sorry when it was over. The 
 people looking on were struck with the beauty of Strong 
 Heart and Tonda, and many said: " How well they look; 
 how they keep time: what a fine son our chief has! " or, 
 " Two Bears ought to be proud of his daughter." 
 
 As the dance was concluding. Strong Heart said: 
 
 " Tonda, let us take a ride on our ponies in the morn 
 ing. I want to talk with you. Would you not like to see 
 the rocky glen where I shot an antelope for you when last 
 we romped across the plain? Will you go?" And f\* 
 she left him and rejoined her companions outside, she 
 whispered " Yes." 
 
 The bright, faces vanished and in their place came a 
 crowd of masked warriors, pouring out of the great lodge 
 in order that they might have more room, shaking bows, 
 spears, and guns and calling on the Great Spirit for plenty 
 of buffalo. The young men who had been in the lovers 
 dance strapped on their masks and furiously beat moe- 
 casined feet upon the earth. Thus the dance went on all 
 night frequently Wadaha cried out. " come, buffalo ! 
 Buffalo, come as of old." Around and around they cir 
 cled, now bending low to the earth, now straightening up 
 and delivering a piercing yell. The fire-light, the shadows 
 of the dancers, the doleful singing of the squaws and the 
 drone of the orchestra make a combination of sight and 
 sound which, when once heard, can never be forgotten. 
 
42 
 
 When one becomes fatigued with the exercise, he sig 
 nifies it by bending forward, resting upon his hands and 
 sinking his body toward the ground ; when another draws a 
 bow upon him and hits him with a blunt arrow, and he 
 falls like a buffalo is seized by the bye-standers, who 
 drag him out of the ring by the heels, brandishing their 
 knives about him; and having gone through the motions 
 of skinning and cutting him up, they drag him off, and 
 his place is at once supplied by another, who dances into 
 the ring with his mask on; and by this taking of places, 
 the scene is easily kept up night and day, until the desired 
 effect has been produced, that of " making buffalo come." * 
 
 As soon as the sun was fairly above the eastern hills, 
 those who had taken part repaired to their tipis, where 
 they were glad to pass nearly the whole day in sleeping 
 and smoking. 
 
 Tonda had stayed up no later than midnight in antici 
 pation of what was coming, so when Strong Heart rode 
 toward the tipi on his fleet, pony, she was ready to ac 
 company him. Her father had brought in Brown Eyes, 
 and when her escort was drawing near, she leaped nimbly 
 upon the animal s bare back and galloped out to meet the 
 chief s son. Strong Heart advanced to meet her with 
 n smile upon his face, and as soon as he was beside her, 
 with a common impulse both lashed their ponies into a 
 mad run and raced away across the rolling prairie toward 
 the north. 
 
 While the preparations continued, Eichards, the squaw- 
 man, decided to go fishing, and accordingly got out a ball of 
 heavy twine known as a " trot-line," to which he attached 
 fifteen or twenty short lines or staging, and at the end 
 of each he tied a monstrous hook. Wrapping his for 
 midable tackle on a board, he proceeded down the river 
 
 * Catlin. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 43 
 
 about a mile to a certain broad, deep pool. The Xiobrara 
 had been higher than ordinary because of rains, and 
 Richards thought it not unlikely that large channel and 
 shovel-head catfish might have ascended from the Mis 
 souri. He tied one end to a bush, affixed a stone to the 
 other end, and having baited his hooks with raw meat, 
 swung the stone about his head and cast it far out into 
 the stream. Eichards was undeniably lazy, and to " live 
 on the government " was to his liking. After the manner 
 of all squaw-men, he occasionally visited some mining- 
 camp or frontier town and got drunk, but be it said to 
 his credit that he never intrigued with the worthless ele 
 ment in preponderance in Julesburg. Hays, and other 
 board and canvas " cities," to swindle the Indian?. 
 
 Moreover he was secretive, and although he knew who 
 had cheated or were likely to defraud his adopted people, 
 he had as yet volunteered little information to the Sioux. 
 While he watched his line Le Moyne joined him. Born 
 in Canada of French Canadian parents, this man had been 
 partly educated by a priest. He was the linguist of the 
 village, speaking French, English. Sioux, and Crow. They 
 were out of sight of the village and not an Indian could be 
 seen from the bluffs or elsewhere. 
 
 u Got any thin yit? " 
 
 " Xo, I ve just set the line." Le Moyne seated himself 
 and produced a plug of tobacco from which each cut a 
 chew. 
 
 " What was that council about the other night ? " 
 
 "I don t know. I didn t ask the Indians." replied 
 Richards. 
 
 "Have you any itlea?" Richards cast his eye upon the 
 line, saw it move slightly, placed his hand upon it and 
 gave a sharp jerk : then he released his hold and faced 
 Le Movne. 
 
W TONDA. 
 
 "How should I know? Don t the dog-soldiers give a 
 medicine dance about this time every year? " 
 
 "Shucks, Richards, ain t you got no idea?" The 
 fisherman laughed. 
 
 " Wall, Le Moyne, since you brought up this matter, 
 suppose you give me your idea why they was in council." 
 
 " I had some whisky the other day. It was not 
 enough for a drunk, but I gave Spotted Eagle three or 
 four drinks of it this mornin and tuck the rest myself. I 
 axed him but couldn get no information, but I heard 
 old Sittin Bull say, as I went by a tipi, that they d gei 
 them horse-thieves." Richards grunted. 
 
 " See here, Le Moyne, you take my advice. These 
 Indians won t stand no foolin . You know what it was 
 three years ago when they was raidin . Xow you know 
 the men at Julesburg well and if they say anything to you 
 ycai be keerful what you tell em." There was a strong 
 tug on the line. Richards gave an answering jerk and the 
 fish was fast. 
 
 " Better pull him in." 
 
 " No, wait until I git another one." 
 
 "What do you keer, Richards? The Indians got plenty 
 of horses. They can t fight because the soldiers will 
 come in. Say, I m goin ter Julesburg day after the 
 buffalo hunt, you d better go over with me. You may 
 learn somethin ." Richards again grunted and spat into 
 the water. "Is it a go?" asked Le Moyne. 
 
 "Yep," replied the fisherman. Le Moyne got up and 
 went up the river to camp. "So," mused Richards, "Le 
 Moyne is putt in out a feeler fcr to git me to go in some 
 deal of the horse steal in order. I kin see clear through 
 it. They had the council to debate what should" be done. 
 Some buck heard sonu thin up at the agency, and it must 
 have been Two Bears, because he was there all the 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 45 
 
 mornm ; * and he continued to think and occasionally to 
 jerk his line. Presently he drew in two large catfish: 
 rebaited, and cast out the stone. He would go to Jules- 
 burg and find out all that he could and he might or might 
 not tell the Indians; that would depend upon circum 
 stances. Undoubtedly Le Moyne was worse than when he 
 had joined the tribe ten years before. When Gopher, 
 two years before, sold a drove of horses, Le Moyne was 
 the interpreter. The sale was effected one hundred miles 
 south of the agency, and when Gopher bought a lar^e 
 amount of supplies at the store and handed over a roll 
 of bills to pay for it. the storekeeper laughed in his face. 
 The horse buyers had given him Confederate money.* 
 Gopher and Richards and some others went in search of 
 the horse buyers but they could not find them. Richards 
 did not blame the Indians for demanding silver afterward. 
 They could appreciate the difference between a metal 
 dollar, a half and a quarter, but they could not dis 
 tinguish between a ten dollar bill and a one. 
 
 Undoubtedly Le Moyne was responsible for this swindle. 
 Le Moyne lived better than the other squaw-men and fre 
 quently had money with which to gamble in the frontier 
 towns. "Where did he git that money?" pondered 
 Richards. 
 
 It clouded up and the fish bit well. Richards caught 
 more than he could carry : some of the big fellows weigh 
 ing upwards of ten pounds. At dusk he cleaned his fish, 
 hung them upon a tree beyond the upward leap of a wolf 
 and carried thirty or forty pounds to camp. His young 
 son and a squaw brought in the remainder. 
 
 Strolling about the village after supper, he met Strong 
 Heart, and told him of his luck and that the Indians 
 
 * This has actually occurred more than once. 
 
46 TONDA. 
 
 should make a brush net and drag the pool on the mor 
 row, for now was a good time to lay in a supply of fish, 
 as cold weather would soon begin. 
 
 "Anybody with you?" asked the Indian. 
 
 " Le Moyne was there a while." 
 
 " He just went to the agency," said Strong Heart, as 
 he strode forward in the direction of Tonda s tipi. 
 
 " Wall," thought Richards, " Here is a good chance fur 
 me to sound Rain-in-the-Face without Le Moyne know 
 ing that I done it," and forthwith he made a circuit of the 
 village, keeping away from groups of people in order that 
 they might not see him. On coming to the chief s lodge, 
 without ceremony he threw back the flap, stooped and 
 entered. Rain-in-the-Face happened to be alone. With 
 out formality Richards told him what Le Moyne had 
 said. Rain-in-the-Face did not inform Richards of the 
 council, but he said: 
 
 " I am glad that you have spoken. I always thought 
 you had a good heart and now I know it is so. Le Moyne s 
 heart is bad. A feather shows which way the wind blows. 
 We are worried over the theft of our horses. I shall talk 
 with Gopher to-morrow. Instead of your coming to see me 
 again, I shall come to your lodge after the hunt. In the 
 meantime let no word escape your mouth." 
 
 "Aow," grunted Richards and took his departure, fe3l- 
 ing that he had done the Sioux a good turn. 
 
THE TITDE-IIFNTER. 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 49 
 
 V. 
 
 THE BUFFALO HUNT. 
 
 They set out soon after daylight. Everybody went save 
 a few old men and women and a score of sick persons. 
 The ponies, the dogs, and the children caught the con 
 tagion of the chase and a multitude of noises ascended 
 as the village moved. 
 
 Indians transport baggage by both dog and pony. A 
 lodge pole is fastened on each side of the pony, the ends 
 dragging upon the ground. Smaller poles are lashed on 
 either side of the dogs. Across the trailing poles short 
 sticks are tied and on these they fasten the blankets, skin 
 coverings of the lodges, etc. Extra horses are tak-en 
 along so that thousands of pounds of meat and hundreds 
 of new robes can readily be transported back to the 
 winter camp. These travois. as they are called, enable the 
 natives to move a great amount of baggage. A good-sized 
 dog draws seventy pounds, and a pony from three hun 
 dred to five hundred. As the faithful animals jogged 
 along, numerous small children not large enough to walk- 
 might be seen nestled among the blankets. Only when 
 rough ground was encountered did the mothers carry 
 them in the papoose boards upon their backs. Everybody 
 went light, but on the return the squaws must carry every 
 child of tender years. 
 
 In a few days they united with Red Cloud s band. He 
 made a speech; dog-soldiers were appointed as hunt cap 
 tains over bodies of twenty warriors, and then they sought 
 the herd, which had previously been located by scouts. 
 
 The Indians left their temporary camp. The wind was 
 4 
 
50 TONDA. 
 
 from the herd and there was no danger of a stampede. 
 They approached within half a mile and halted heneaih 
 a ridge of sheltering sand-dunes. Runner leaped agilelv 
 up to the summit of the elevation and coining liastilv back 
 reported that there were about twelve hundred buffalo 
 perfectly at rest, some grazing and others lying down. 
 Then there was great, though suppressed excitement. 
 Each man stripped himself of the loin-cloth. Xone of 
 them carried guns, for the old style of hunting was 
 greater sport. Some took their long lances, the keen 
 polished blades glittering in the sunlight, and others 
 seized their bows and arrows. The horses are all trained 
 for this business arid seem to enter into it with as much 
 enthusiasm and spirit as the riders themselves. While 
 the men stripped and mounted they exhibited the most 
 restless impatience, and when the approach began (which 
 is in a somewhat compact body, upon a slow walk and ia 
 a straight line toward the herd) they all caught entirely 
 the concept of the chase, for the laziest nag amongst them 
 pranced with elasticity in his step, champed his leather 
 bit, his ears erect, his eyes strained out of his head and 
 fixed upon the game before him.* Both rider and pony 
 were trembling with suppressed excitement and in this 
 way they carefully and silently proceed until within fift\- 
 rods; then one of the creatures, an old and grizzle 1 
 veteran, emitted a hoarse bellow. L T p sprang the sleeping 
 animals, the whole herd faced about, the bulls roaring and 
 bellowing and pawing the dust. At this instant the 
 leader of the hunt, Red Cloud, emitted a shrill " hi, hi, 
 hi, yah !" and the Indians clapped moccasined heels sharply 
 against the ponies ribs. The horses laid back their ears 
 and leaped forward. As the column thundered on it 
 
 * From Catlin s description. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 51 
 
 separated, one-half taking the right flank and the other 
 eharging to the left. Soon they were abreast; then the 
 excitement and fun began. Away flew the thundering 
 mass over the prairie, a cloud of dust marking its trail. 
 The women and the children with the pack animals and 
 scores of dogs had also begun to advance and were less 
 than a mile distant. On the moment of the charge, they 
 quickened their pace, singing the buffalo song as thev 
 came on. "Thrust! thrust!" cried Strong Heart, as a 
 splendid buffalo charged in his direction. The Indian 
 immediately behind plunged his long lance between tin 
 ribs, and the first victim of the hunt fell upon the earth. 
 
 Indians are careful. How they can watch the ground 
 and the herd and avoid the charge of wounded or infuri 
 ated animals is a mystery. Yet they do all these tiling^ 
 and are seldom hurt. Buffalo can run over very rough 
 country and as their legs are stronger than those of the 
 horse, prairie dog holes seldom cause them to fall, although 
 they may stumble. Watching his chance, warrior after 
 warrior sent an arrow or a lance home as the buffalo was on 
 the jump. There is more likelihood of a mortal wound 
 if the weapon can be directed when the ribs are stretched 
 farthest apart at the beginning of the jump. The differ 
 ence is not much, but it counts, and all Indian hunters 
 avail themselves of favorable chances. 
 
 Strong Heart was superbly mounted upon 2 big Ameri 
 can horse for which he had traded a ranchman six good 
 ponies. He gained on the herd and was soon near its 
 head, leaving the other Indians several hundred yards 
 behind. His bow was strong and shapely made of thin 
 strips of Rocky Mountain sheep horn, glued together and 
 wrapped with sinew a relic of a fight with the Crows. 
 He shot arrow after arrow long steel-pointed affairs 
 with grooves cut in the sides in order that the blood 
 
52 TONDA. 
 
 might run freely. His horse partook of the exhilaration 
 of the chase and needed no urging. 
 
 There was a gap in the herd, and he forced his way 
 into it for one or two hundred feet. Just beyond hi in 
 towered the head and shoulders of a magnificent bull, the 
 largest the Indian had ever seen. " Now/ he thought " if 
 i could only get that fellow and make a mask out of his 
 head, I would have the finest dance dress in the whole 
 tribe/ He hitched the quiver a little more to the left, 
 felt in it and found that he had but seven arrows remain 
 ing. He strung and shot one, but the point coming 
 squarely in contact with a rib did not pierce more than 
 six or eight inches, and the wounded creature instantly 
 wheeled to the charge. 
 
 This caused some commotion, for the bull was a leader. 
 As the animal turned, other buffalo began to close up the 
 gap until they were massed together about Strong Heart. 
 His horse had been running evenly and fast, and had 
 dodged danger several times. Now great brown bodies 
 hemmed in mare and rider on every side. 
 
 In a twinkling Strong Heart realized that he must 
 leap or be killed. Remember that he was not only very 
 active but he was accustomed to bareback riding on half- 
 broken horses. Gathering himself as the horse stumbled 
 preparatory to going down under the thundering hoofs, 
 he jumped upon a young cow s back. She trembled and 
 bellowed, but he retained his upright position. Then 
 upon a bull s broad, brown back he leaped. It was exciting 
 and lie enjoyed it. The other Sioux saw him and ki-yied 
 in astonishment. The bull shook his head, but he was too 
 closely hemmed in to swerve, or kick, or plunge. A dust 
 arose about the Indian and the odor from great sweating 
 bodies nearly stifled him. Like a great brown sea heaving 
 up and down, appeared the bodies about him. What if 
 

 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 55 
 
 one should fall ? So without hesitation he skipped nimbly 
 from one back to another until he reached the outer ani 
 mals. Two or three buffalo on the edge separated, and 
 Strong Heart was compelled to leap out as far as he 
 could. This he did, barely avoiding the hoofs of Gopher s 
 horse. Gopher had seen the accident, and being nearest 
 urged his horse forward, and as Strong Heart fell, used 
 his long lance to effect upon the animal nearest him. All 
 this happened in an instant, and several Indians reined 
 in their horses as soon as possible and stopped where tin- 
 Indian was lying somewhat stunned. As they dismounted 
 he raised himself on his hands, and with his eyes and 
 mouth full of dirt, felt about for his bow and quiver in 
 a dazed fashion. Then he got up, and the other Indians 
 seeing he was not much injured continued after the herd. 
 The horse, however, did not fare so well. Borne along 
 by the heavy bodies of the buffalo for a few yards, he was 
 soon down never to rise again, for by the time the herd 
 had passed, his mangled remains indicated the scene of 
 the accident. Strong Heart looked back across the plain. 
 For a mile and a half the surface was dotted with the 
 bodies of slain animals, but it did not seem to him that 
 they had already run the herd so far. He walktd in the 
 direction of the women to procure a fresh horse. Only 
 one buffalo was up and he watched him, knowing that the 
 creature was too badly wounded to do him any injury. 
 Xo one can imagine the look and expression of such a 
 subject. Frightful and hideous he appeared, turning 
 round and round for battle, swelling with rage: his eyes 
 bloodshot and his long shaggy mane hanging to the 
 ground: his mouth open: his bellowing guttural and 
 weak; the blood pouring from his mouth and through 
 his nostrils as he vainly endeavored to gather sufficient 
 strength to charge the Indian. He lurched forward, but 
 
56 TONDA. 
 
 planted his legs apart to steady liis body, then with a last 
 groan fell upon his knees and another king of the herd 
 had paid the penalty.* 
 
 The train of women had now reached the first slain, 
 and one or two stopped at each body. Soon the carcases 
 were surrounded by exulting groups. The dogs capered 
 and barked, eagerly seizing upon such unimportant morsels 
 as the squaws cast in their direction. Shrill cries rent the 
 air, as busy knives severed the meat from the bones. 
 
 " Meat and clothing," they shouted as he strode past 
 them. 
 
 "Where is Tonda? " but the first groups knew not, for 
 they were northern or Brule Sioux, and Tonda was an 
 Ogalala. So he went on, the women joking him meanwhile, 
 bantering him to help butcher, to take care of the children 
 and so on. 
 
 " I never saw so many women before. All the squaws 
 in the world must be here," he thought. Presently he 
 found her helping Omaha cut meat. 
 
 " 0, Tonda, let me take Brown Eyes. My horse was 
 killed and I barely escaped by running over the top of the 
 herd." Tonda laughed. 
 
 " You must be so nimble on foot as not to need a horse. 
 Why didn t you shoot from there? Think of the chance 
 you had carried along by the herd." The women looked 
 up and grinned. 
 
 " let me have her. I am in a hurry. " 
 
 " Well, be careful, don t run her hard. She is not as 
 young as she was." 
 
 " I shall treat her as well as you did the other day when 
 we had our fine ride over the plain/" 
 
 " Pretty speeches, hunter. But go ; you said you must 
 make haste." 
 
 * Abridged from Catlin. 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 57 
 
 "Got any arrows? I lost mine." 
 
 " I see you saved the bow.* 
 
 " I threw it out of the herd as I jumped/ 
 
 Tonda ran to a pack animal and got Two Bears extra 
 quiver. 
 
 " He can get more from some other hunter," she said, 
 and handed it, smiling, to Strong Heart. The Indian 
 leaped up, and glancing toward the herd, now three miles 
 away, cried, " They are turning the buffalo this way." 
 
 " Good, good." cried the women, " We shall get all the 
 meat we need. * 
 
 He did not hurry, but rode slowly to the right and 
 approached the coming mass. Less than five hundred 
 animals remained. The Indians were all on the outside, 
 and those in front succeeded in their purpose, that of 
 swinging the leaders so that the herd ran in a circle. 
 This meant that all would be killed. Strong Heart nerved 
 himself for action. Brown Eyes used to be a good buffalo 
 pony, but was somewhat old now. and knowing that, he 
 would save her all he could. 
 
 They came near. The horses were foam flecked; the 
 riders bronzed bodies warm with exercise and excitement, 
 glistened in the sunlight. Yells of triumph issued from 
 every throat. The buffalo were running heavily; sides 
 heaved and froth dropped from shaggy beards. The light 
 hunting steeds charged in and out, now dodging the rush 
 of a wounded bull, now circling to the attack. The earth 
 trembled as the body swept by him. Picking out a fat 
 cow, Strong Heart began the killing again, Brown Eyes 
 bearing him swiftly here and there. The graceful, pictur 
 esque riders were everywhere. Stupid animals they 
 must be, for had the herd galloped straight away on the 
 moment of attack and sought broken country, four-fifths 
 
58 TOXDA. 
 
 had escaped. Xow they were bewildered and fell an easy 
 prey to the horsemen. 
 
 Did the buffalo think? Did they know that others 
 must live through their deaths? Nature-students claim 
 that all animals think. Even if this is true which we 
 may doubt at best few thoughts passed through their 
 thick heads. A man lost travels in a circle; but he has 
 thoughts. Certain it was that the circles became smaller, 
 the center of the remaining bison was soon stationary. A 
 general Indian charge brought low the survivors; the sod 
 ran red with blood, and the annual buffalo hunt, begun 
 and ended in one day, was over. 
 
 That night there was feasting and dancing in the 
 hunter s camp. Squaws smoked meat while men danced. 
 Wadaha and Sitting Bull, as medicine-men for both tribes, 
 offered sacrifices to the spirits of the slain buffalo. They 
 set up the head of an immense bull, and to propitiate his 
 spirit or ghost, placed before it a platter of mush and 
 bowl of stewed meat, saying meanwhile, " Eat that, eat 
 that." 
 
 Gopher stood before a camp-fire, and surrounded by an 
 appreciative audience, told one of his stories. 
 
 For ten days the natives tanned hides, cut, dried or 
 jerked the best meat, gorging themselves meanwhile on 
 what remained. Added to what beef the agents would 
 issue, they now had sufficient to carry them through the 
 winter. Camp was broken and the ponies and dogs 
 sweated as they dragged heavy loads homeward. Babies 
 journeyed on mothers backs, for every pound of beast 
 energy must be devoted to meat transportation. 
 
 As the long column wended its way eastward, gangs 
 of wolves rushed upon the field and searched the skeletons 
 for such few morsels as remained. At Ked Cloud s camp 
 his band about a third stopped; the Ogalalas pushed 
 on southward and home. 
 

 11 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 1 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 61 
 
 VI. 
 
 RICHARDS MEETS THE HORSE THIEVES. 
 
 In a day or two Le Moyne and Richards saddled their 
 ponies, packed a small camp outfit upon an old horse, 
 and rode to Julesburg. At dusk the fourth day they 
 entered the town, left their horses at a corral and visited 
 the saloons " for it has heen a long time since we 
 irrigated our innards " said Le Moyne. They went 
 into the Belle Union, a famous frontier resort. 
 
 Xow, Richards, you stay here. Take a hand in the 
 game if you want to. I got to see some men " - here he 
 winked impressively " afore I kin let you in on what 
 may be doiirV 
 
 "Got any money?" asked Richards. "I ain t got 
 but five dollars and that ain t nothinV 
 
 " Here s ten. That s all I kin spare. It s enuf fur a 
 small game/" and he went out. Richards sat down where 
 some miners were playing a t \venty-five-cent-ante-and- 
 dollar-limit poker game. The proprietor introduced him, 
 saying: "Like you fellers he is busted." They dealt, 
 drew, and called. 
 
 " Wall, grunted one of the party, " this is the small 
 est game 1 ever set in. But you Injun traders ought 
 to have money. We ve lost ours." 
 
 " 1 ain t no trader, * said Richards, as he laid down 
 three jacks, a pair of nines and drew in chips amounting 
 to six dollars. " I m a squaw-man." 
 
 "Wall, there is some squaw-men who has money." re 
 marked another player. 
 
G3 TOXDA. 
 
 " Yes, and mebbe they gets it standin in with Exelby. 
 Did you hear what he done day afore yesterday?" 
 
 Richards shook his head. 
 
 " Wall, him and six of the gang held up the mail 
 stage and got five thousand/ 
 
 " Who is his gang? " 
 
 " Wall, I suppose you is all right, but I don t know 
 em all. Billy the Kid is his right-hand-man." 
 
 " Humph/ grunted Richards as he lost part of his 
 winnings. The game ran on for nearly two hours. Le 
 Moyne came in. 
 
 "How much to the good?" 
 
 " About twenty." 
 
 " Come out with me." 
 
 "All right/ and as Richards left lie treated the 
 players. 
 
 " Come agin when you is flush, and then we ll git your 
 money/ cried a cowboy. 
 
 " Sure, I will," and the squaw-man went forth. 
 
 They walked two blocks down the street, entered a 
 side entrance of a two-story frame building and went 
 up stairs. Players were in the large room they passed 
 through, but neither man paid them attention. Into a 
 small rear room, thick with tobacco smoke, strode Le 
 Moyne. As they entered, some one threw open the single, 
 small window. Two men were present, but they sat at 
 the farthest side from the window. A single candle gut 
 tered upon a soap box. Richards was brusquely intro 
 duced to Exelby and Billy the Kid. 
 
 In an eastern community such men would be con 
 tinually in hiding if they could exist at all. But here, 
 although three-fourths of Julesburg knew them and that 
 they were in town, no attempt at concealment was made. 
 Thev sat back from the window not through fear of 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 63 
 
 recognition, but. because some jealous and equally bad 
 " bad-man " might be tempted to make a pot shot. 
 
 In its infancy Julesburg could be taken as typical of 
 the frontier towns. But it was quite different from a 
 mining camp. Cattlemen, scouts, hunters, traders, and 
 desperadoes invested Julesburg, Hays City, and similar 
 Plains settlements. In the summer of 186? Whites from 
 Julesburg carried on a regular business in murder and 
 robbery the same was true of Dodge City in 1873.* 
 
 Exelby was tall, thin, and wiry; Billy the Kid, short, 
 light, and frail-looking, with the worse face of the two 
 a lean, malignant countenance. He had the pointed chin, 
 the flat ears, the low brow, and the furtive eyes of the 
 habitual criminal. He killed for pleasure and, although 
 barely twenty-three, more than twenty men were already 
 victims to his six-shooter. Once he shot some sheep- 
 herders; "just to see them kick.* Exelby stole for gain 
 and killed in self-defense. 
 
 Both men rather anticipated winning over Richards 
 
 who Le Moyne said had great influence with the Sioux. 
 Having struck hands, all sat down. 
 
 Have a drink?" and Exelby indicated a bottle and 
 glasses. Billy the Kid poured out for each man. 
 
 * Xow, Richards/ announced the leader, " I have 
 heered as how the Crow Injuns intends to raid the Sioux 
 fer ponies." 
 
 " They ain t got no grouch agin my people," remarked 
 Richards. 
 
 " Mebbe they ain t and mebbe they has. I got a friend 
 there who knows the Crows like you know the Sioux and 
 he says that the Crows must have more scalps and more 
 ponies." 
 
 * Our Wild Indians ; Col. Dodge, p. 650. 
 
64 TONDA. 
 
 " They ain t strong emif . We can outfight em. How- 
 somever if they was to come, Washington would be wired 
 and troops sent." 
 
 " Did you ever hear of the gov ment interferin when 
 Injun was fightin Injun? " asked Le Moyne. 
 
 * Wall, let them Crows come. There will be the big 
 gest time you ever seen not barrin the times when 
 the Sioux used to raid the Platte trails/ 7 growled Rich- 
 ards. 
 
 See here, Richards. You don t want to git into no 
 trouble, but you wouldn t throw a few hundred over your 
 shoulder. The Crows is shorely goin to raid. What s 
 the matter with my gang puttin on moccasins, ridin 
 unshod horses, and gittin away with a big bunch too?" 
 
 Exelby leaned forward and regarded Richards fixedly. 
 Then Billy the Kid put in. " It is dead easy. There 
 won t be no shootin , ef that s what you is afeered of " 
 
 " Hold on thar, Kid, I ain t afeered of no shootin ." 
 Billy chuckled and continued: 
 
 " You got a good chance to make your stake out of 
 this by doin what we tell you and helpin . Ef you think 
 them Injuns is going to find out about it, why they 
 won t." 
 
 " No. They won t know unless you tell em," com 
 mented Exelby. 
 
 " And ef he done that there would be one squaw-man 
 less," interjected the Kid. 
 
 " Why don t you fellers git Le Moyne to do this in 
 stead of me?" 
 
 " Say, you is innocent. You can t jolly us. You know 
 well enuf why we come to you. They will do as you 
 say, but they won t pay no attention to Le Moyne not 
 since them Confederate bills was passed " and all but 
 Richards laughed. 
 
A STOKY OF THE Sioux. 65 
 
 " When do them Crows raid ? " 
 
 " That ain t decided/ 7 continued the leader. " You 
 will be told in plenty of time. All we want you to do 
 is to help us. We will do the hard work.* 
 
 " Then you wants me to be the confidence man. 
 
 " Sure. 7 cried the Kid. " You is the tin horn this 
 time."* 
 
 Richards thought quickly. These men would snuff hi> 
 life out on the instant if he said them nay. The very 
 fact that they were quietly conversing with him, not 
 urging, convinced him - and he had a broad and deep 
 knowledge of frontier characters of their determina 
 tion. They would arrange the details as coolly as he might 
 plan for a trip to the agency. One suspicion that he was 
 playing them false and the squaw-man was no more. So 
 he did as would most men under the circumstances lie 
 lied. 
 
 "All right, boys. I am with you. But Le Moyne here 
 has got to be mighty keerful. Them Injuns is foxy, and 
 he don t want to make no breaks." 
 
 " That s it," cried Exelby, striking hands with Richards 
 again; "we will leave it in yer hands. Le Moyne won t 
 open his head onless you tells him to." 
 
 " Xeed any money ? Got plenty of dough, if you wants 
 to git in another stud-poker game ? " 
 
 " Xo, I d jest lose it. The best move fur me is to ride 
 back to the agency so there won t be no suspicionin*. I 
 don t mind gittin drunk with you fellers, or takiir enuf 
 liquor to last me until I git nearly back. But I better 
 be movin . Le Moyne kin stay as long as he wants to." 
 
 * Tin horn was applied to crooked gamblers. There was a 
 sharp distinction drawn in the early days between gamblers who 
 cheated and those who did not. 
 
 5 
 
66 TONDA. 
 
 " Jest so," grunted the Kid. " If he gits back ahead 
 of Le Moyne them Injuns will think more of him." 
 
 " That s rough on me," said Le Moyne, and they all 
 roared. 
 
 Then there ain t nothin until I hears from you?" 
 asked Richards. 
 
 " That s all," replied Exelby. " Keep the Injuns in 
 a good humor an do what we tell you when we sends 
 word." Then they made a night of it and shouted, told 
 stories, boasted of what they had done and of projected 
 events. But Richards did not permit himself to betray 
 his real heart. About sunrise, sitting his horse unstead 
 ily, with a package consisting chiefly of bottles securely 
 fastened behind the saddle, he bade the trio good-bye 
 and started for the agency. 
 
 When he rode up to his tipi Wadaha, who saw him 
 dismount, said to Gopher: 
 
 " Richards been taking too much Minne-wakan " 
 (whiskey). 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 67 
 
 VII. 
 A FIGHT WITH THE CROWS. 
 
 Richards lay in his lodge until the next morning. His 
 head cleared, he at once sought Rain-in-the-Face, and told 
 him that he wanted an absolutely confidential talk with the 
 five leading men. Instead of sending the crier the chief 
 himself summoned Gopher, Wadaha, Two Bears, and Sit 
 ting Bull. They met in Two Bears wigwam ; Omaha and 
 the child being sent off to visit. The men talked low and 
 earnestly. Sitting Bull placed himself near the entrance 
 and made sure that no eavesdropper approached. 
 
 At an early hour Strong Heart and Tonda had set out 
 for a day in the cliffs a region some fifteen miles to 
 the north. 
 
 The horses had proceeded but a short distance before 
 they settled down into a steady gait, and when about five 
 miles from the village, far ahead toward the north could 
 be seen looming up and clearly outlined against the azure 
 sky, the first rocks and ledges of the Bad Lands. In the 
 clear dry air of the northwest distances are very decep 
 tive, and a mountain or hill may look not more than three 
 miles away, when in reality it is ten or fifteen. Tonda 
 and Strong Heart were not deceived by this, for they 
 were accustomed to the atmosphere and rode on, chatting 
 pleasantly together. 
 
 " How much more enjoyable," said Tonda, " is this life 
 than that which I led at the school in the East! Here I 
 have no dismal walls to surround me. no one to dictate 
 what I shall do, none of the rules which bind my free 
 spirit and make me feel as did that poor red bird which 
 
68 TOXDA. 
 
 I once saw in a cage, vainly beating its wings against the 
 bars in a mad but hopeless effort to escape. Never again 
 will I leave my people; I am a Sioux girl and I will live 
 as such." 
 
 Strong Heart was not much given to sentiment, but 
 he voiced a tremendous grunt of approval, which, al 
 though it might lack in elegance, still made up for the 
 deficiency by coming from his heart and being exceedingly 
 emphatic. Indian-like, he passed over her remarks with 
 out any comment, and, changing the subject hastily, he 
 said: 
 
 "What did you think of the dance last moon?" 
 
 "Oh, I liked it very well," she replied; "I had not 
 been at a dance for three years, as, of course, they have 
 nothing at the white man s school except one totally dif 
 ferent from ours. I saw one or two of these, and did 
 not think much of them. I had a very good time, but 
 as you were the only young man that I remembered or 
 cared to dance with, it would have been rather tedious 
 had you not been there." 
 
 " Many of our people thought we looked very well upon 
 the floor," said Strong Heart; " they said that you did just 
 as well as if you had been at our dances once a week for 
 years, instead of having been away all the time." 
 
 They rode on in silence for awhile, and then conversa 
 tion began again, Strong Heart asking Tonda what the 
 white man s idea of the Indian was. He had seen many 
 white men on the reservation and on his travels, but he 
 had never been to a large city, and he did not know how 
 many there were of them and what was their mode of 
 life. 
 
 " You would be surprised to know the ignorance of 
 most "Whites about our customs and habits. Many whom 
 I saw in their country would pass me upon the street 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 69 
 
 and turn around and look at me as if I were some wild 
 animal. You know, Strong Heart, that were a white man 
 to go through our village we would talk among ourselves 
 and wonder who he was and what he wanted, but unless 
 he asked questions or showed interest, no one would 
 crowd about him and be so rude as to stare at him. ask 
 him impertinent questions and laugh aloud at his replies; 
 yet he calls himself a civilized being, and looks upon us 
 as savages. Another thing I could not understand was 
 how their men could cheat and defraud each other, say 
 ing with open face this dress or horse which I have for 
 sale is the finest to be bought in the city, and I am selling 
 it at less than I paid for it/ when they know that which 
 they offer has not cost them half what they sell it for, 
 that it is a very poor dress or horse, as the case may be, 
 and worth very little. Were one of our tribe to defraud 
 his neighbor in such a bold-faced manner, he would be 
 driven out of the village." 
 
 " Aow, aow/ grunted the young man. 
 
 " But they have some very beautiful writings and say 
 ings about our nation, and about other Indian nations 
 in the West, some of which I read or our teacher read 
 to us, and we committed to memory. There was a great 
 man named Longfellow, who wrote some beautiful poetry 
 about the Indians, which, while in some particulars un 
 true, is still so beautiful that I wish you could hear it. 
 
 " Say some of it to me, I should like to hear what the 
 great story-teller of the white man has to say about us/" 
 
 " He wrote a big book full of these stories, which, of 
 course, when I translate to our people, I shall try to make 
 interesting. To-night, if the people will come to the 
 lodge, I will read them what the great story-teller has 
 to say. 
 
 The young man gave another grunt, and she con- 
 
70 TONDA. 
 
 tinned : " He writes a beautiful story about our red pipe- 
 stone, and as I remember some of it, I will say it for 
 you." Then Tonda began to recite, translating into the 
 Sioux tongue, Longfellow s celebrated " Peace Pipe," 
 which begins: 
 
 " On the mountains of the prairie, 
 On the great red pipestone quarry, 
 Gitchie Manitou, the mighty, 
 He, the Master of Life, descending, 
 Stood, and called the nations, 
 Called the tribes of men together," etc. 
 
 Strong Heart thought it was very well done, and he 
 expressed his approval, saying that his people would 
 greatly rejoice to hear the poem recited, and he should 
 tell all whom he saw to assemble at the large dance-house, 
 where she would read it to them. 
 
 Tonda hoped to get the Indians interested in some of 
 these poems, because she thought it would do them good. 
 She had a very peculiar character herself, and while she 
 wanted to be free, independent, and live with the tribe, 
 she still wished to retain some of the white man s ways 
 and to give the other Indians an idea of what the white 
 men said of their people. 
 
 They were now close to the Bad Lands, and vegetation 
 bad almost entirely disappeared. They traversed a dis 
 tance of nearly a mile before reaching the base of the 
 cliff along the bank of a small and muddy stream. To the 
 right and left of this stream there was a stretch of red 
 dish earth, with nothing green upon its surface. Where 
 the waters flowed and irrigated the soil within a short 
 distance on each side, the vegetation flourished; but even 
 the banks of the stream soon began to present a deso 
 late appearance, and when the young Indians passed into 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 71 
 
 the opening of the glen from which the stream issued, 
 almost everything that had life had died out, save here 
 and there large ferns and colored flowers growing in crev 
 ices and openings. 
 
 " Let us get off here and walk," said Strong Heart. 
 So they dismounted, and the young man made fast the 
 halters of the horses to a good-sized stone. 
 
 An Indian never goes out alone without being armed, 
 so Strong Heart had taken his Winchester with him and 
 about thirty-five or forty cartridges. 
 
 They had seen one or two deer grazing in the plain as 
 they approached the Bad Lands, but as the young people 
 were not on a hunting expedition, he had made no attempt 
 to shoot them. 
 
 " Gather some of the flowers for me," commanded the 
 girl. " These are the last of the season." 
 
 " What do you want them for? They are no good." 
 
 " They are nice to smell." 
 
 "Did they give you flowers at school? * 
 
 " Yes, and they taught us to plant them/ The man 
 thought this request foolish and made no movement to 
 obey her. 
 
 " If Spotted Eagle were here he would get flowers for 
 me.* 
 
 "He is no good;" but Strong Heart at once became 
 all attention and gathered ferns and flowers until her 
 hands were full. He scaled precipitous places, gathering 
 the more beautiful ones and at her bidding came and 
 went. As he would, perchance, slip and fall, or stumble- 
 when making a supreme effort to gain her approval, she 
 would laugh and her musical voice echoed from side to 
 side of the gorge, until it died away in the distance. 
 Thus the time passed pleasantly. About one o clock 
 they sat down on a ledge of rock, and. with their feet 
 
72 TONDA. 
 
 dangling, began to eat some little corn cakes and dried 
 beef which he had brought in a beaded bread-sack, such 
 as braves generally carry when hunting. But suddenly 
 something happened which drove all thought of pleasure 
 out of their minds, and caused the ferns and flowers 
 which Tonda held in her hand to fall into the narrow 
 defile below. 
 
 Just after Strong Heart had opened the bread-sack 
 and had given the corn cake to Tonda they heard voices 
 far up the gulch echoed clearly toward them by the rocky 
 walls. They knew instantly that the sound was made 
 by the Crows, old enemies of the Sioux nation. Both 
 were aware that, while there had been no hostilities for 
 some time, the last depredations committed had been by 
 the Sioux of their own village, so that, should they be 
 seen, they could expect little mercy at their hands. Like 
 his father, Strong Heart was kind and considerate to 
 his friends, but revengeful and cruel to his enemies. No 
 sooner had the sound reached him than he caught Tonda 
 by the arm and pulled her back, while he glanced up 
 and down the defile. He saw an opening in the rock 
 about two hundred feet beyond them, nearly on a level 
 with the ledge on which they had been seated. Running 
 hastily thither he looked in, and returned to Tonda say 
 ing, u Come quick ; get in here. The Crows are coming. 
 Keep perfectly still." 
 
 Hurrying to the opening, they found a narrow space 
 some five feet high leading into a small, irregular room 
 or fissure. This had once an opening above and below, 
 but, fortunately for our friends, a contraction in the 
 rock, or some upheaval in past ages, had slipped a large 
 slab across its top. This had broken, and a part of it, 
 falling into the crevice below, had wedged itself tightly. 
 It formed an uneven lloor, which had a dip or slope toward 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 73 
 
 the west, which was hard to stand upon, but which 
 afforded a safe retreat. There was no way for a missile 
 to reach the interior, except through the opening in 
 front. 
 
 " Tonda, keep near the opening. Don t run back. 
 Shots will glance from the roof backward and downward. 
 Help me build a wall. There were not stones enough 
 to make a barrier more than waist-high, but Strong 
 Heart was in hopes it would suffice as a protection. 
 
 It was nearly ten minutes before the enemy, who were 
 advancing through the gulch, had come near enough to be 
 seen by those above. The feelings of fear in Tonda s 
 breast had passed away, and she now had considerable 
 curiosity as to the movements of the Crows. Of course, 
 the presence of the two in the cave was unknown, and 
 they would, perhaps, have been passed unnoticed, but for 
 the flowers and ferns which had accidentally dropped into 
 their path. The mounted Crows were carefully picking 
 their way in and out among the boulders. They had 
 passed the cave, which was about eighty feet above them, 
 and would, in all probability, have gone on, not sup 
 posing that any Sioux were near at hand, when one of 
 their number discovered the freshly-broken ferns and 
 flowers lying in a little heap near the wall of the defile. 
 As soon as he saw them he uttered a cry of surprise, 
 dismounted, picked them up and showed them to his 
 companions, who immediately gathered about and looked 
 up and down, this way and that way. They saw the cave 
 entrance, but as it was partially filled with stones and 
 its interior quite dark, they could not. of course, tell 
 whether it was inhabited. 
 
 Five or six dismounted from their horses and started 
 on a quick run ahead of their party. They soon came 
 in sight of the tied ponies. An Indian pony knows an 
 
74 TOXDA. 
 
 enemy or a stranger, and gives an alarm on their ap 
 proach, just as a farmer s watch dog lets it be known when 
 a person of a different community passes the farm house 
 or a stranger enters its gate. So the two horses, hearing 
 the patter of the Indians feet, were on the alert, and 
 recognizing, perhaps, that something unusual was taking 
 place, pricked up their ears, snorted, and sprang back as far 
 as the halters would allow them. When Strong Heart 
 had made them fast he did not expect to be gone long, 
 and so had tied them to a stone of about three hundred 
 pounds weight. The animals struggled vainly to escape, 
 while the Indians quickened their pace, in order to cap 
 ture them before they could break away. Brown Eyes 
 gave a great plunge, and overturned the stone to which 
 she was tied; the rope around the end of it slipped off, 
 and thus freed her. The stone in falling tightened the 
 knot in the halter of the other animal, so that, although 
 it struggled frantically to escape, it was unable to join 
 its fleeing companion, and fell an easy prey to the exultant 
 Crows. Brown Eyes dashed down the rocky bed of the 
 stream, and would have soon been out of danger; but, 
 quick as thought, one of the Indians caught up his gun 
 and sent a well-directed shot after the fleeing mare. Al 
 though this grazed her flank and wounded her slightly, 
 drawing considerable blood, it proved a blessing rather 
 than a curse, because it frightened the animal so that she 
 redoubled her speed, dashed across the plain in furious 
 haste, and traversed the fifteen miles between the scene 
 of the capture and the Sioux village in an hour and a 
 quarter. 
 
 The sight of Brown Eyes dashing into the village, 
 covered with foam and blood, created great excitement, 
 the conference in Two Bears tipi broke up abruptly, 
 
A STORY OF Tin: Siorx. 75 
 
 and it was not thirty minutes before half a hundred 
 mounted Sioux were hot upon her trail, anxious to learn 
 whether or not the son and daughter of two of their 
 most prominent people were in trouble and needed as 
 sistance. 
 
 The Crows, meanwhile, led the captured horse back to 
 their companions with exultant shouts. Those who had 
 halted where the flowers were found had been looking 
 all about, but could find no trace of trail or see any 
 living being. Some moments were spent in consultation, 
 and it was advised to go down the canon to where the 
 rocky ledge, up which our two friends had clambered, 
 began its ascent. The ledge was about five feet wide, and 
 ran slantingly up the side of the canon until eighty feet 
 from the ground, then it was quite level in extent for 
 nearly a hundred feet, the farther end being in front 
 of the cave. In other words, it was a sort of a road 
 formed by nature, a freak which cannot be explained, but 
 which is of frequent occurrence in the Bad Lands. 
 
 Two of the warriors began the ascent at the lower 
 end of the ledge. Intense excitement reigned inside of 
 the cave as these two braves clambered upward. Strong 
 Heart s eyes were flashing, his sinews stretched to their 
 utmost tension, and grasped his trusty Winchester, and 
 made ready to fire upon the approach of the foremost 
 Indian. Tonda stood in the corner and whispered to him 
 some suggestions, but as a warrior cares little for the ad 
 vice of a woman when there is a fight on hand, he silenced 
 her with, " Be still." 
 
 He decided upon a bold course, and bidding her stand 
 with cartridges ready, so that he might lose no time in 
 filling the magazine, he stuck his head and shoulders out 
 of the aperture, and shouted " Stand back. I will shoot 
 
76 TONDA. 
 
 the first man that comes upon the ledge. We desire 
 peace. You are on our land, where you have no right. 
 Our nations have not had war for many moons. Stand 
 back, I say/ 
 
 The Crows debated a few moments among themselves, 
 then one of their head warriors called out " Come down 
 and surrender. We will not harm you; we wish to ex 
 change you for two Crow prisoners in your camp. Come 
 down, or I will order my young men to shoot/ 
 
 Strong Heart turned to his companion and said, " What 
 do you want me to do ? " " Why, there are only thirty 
 of them. Make them keep off." 
 
 Cautiously screening his head and shoulders behind one 
 of the irregular-shaped rocks in the opening, Strong 
 Heart called out, " We will not surrender. We will stay 
 here. Call those two men off the ledge, or I will fire." 
 Then, turning to Tonda, he said, "I have only thirty- 
 six cartridges. I must not waste the ammunition. Here, 
 take my hunting knife." 
 
 He drew a keen, bright blade, fitted into a handle made 
 out of a deer s foot, from his sheath, and placing it in her 
 hand, said, " Tonda, hide this in your dress. If they cap 
 ture or kill me, advance to the head warrior as if to shake 
 hands, and say, how, and run the knife through him 
 as quick as thought. Then they will instantly kill you. 
 You don t want to be captured." She hesitated, the 
 white man s learning prompting her to weaken or say 
 " no." But he urged. Then she concealed the blade 
 under her deer-skin dress. 
 
 " It will be the leading man." 
 
 "Aow, the sub-chief," he assented. 
 
 The Crows on the ledge hesitated, then turning, ran 
 back to their companions. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 7? 
 
 The band withdrew up the canon, secreted their ponies 
 in a sheltered spot, and advanced on foot to the attack. 
 They were armed with muzzle-loaders, and bows and ar 
 rows, being evidently just coming in from a hunting 
 excursion. There were thirty of them, and there was not 
 one Winchester in the entire band, so Strong Heart stood 
 a fair chance if he could make his shots count, and, at the 
 same time, keep himself well secreted. It had taken the 
 Crows some time to go down the gulch to the horses and 
 return, so that, with the time taken for the parley, 
 an hour had passed by. Strong Heart and Tonda 
 had heard shot and saw the pony led up the canon. 
 They divined that Brown Eyes had escaped. This 
 greatly gratified them, for they knew that it would reach 
 camp, be seen by their friends, and that a party would 
 be sent for their rescue. The Crows, too, were well aware 
 how near the Sioux village they were, and they would not 
 dare to remain very long for fear of the approach of their 
 enemies. 
 
 They returned after hiding their horses, and ran up 
 and down the canon, secreting themselves behind rocks, 
 or standing where they thought the bullets of the enemy 
 would not reach them. Strong Heart, knowing well their 
 superior numbers, reserved his fire as long as possible, 
 and it was not until several volleys of arrows had whizzed 
 through the entrance, or splintered themselves against the 
 rocky walls on each side, that he fired his first shot. Then 
 he became consumed with a lust for blood. He foolishly 
 sang his song of defiance and thereby aggravated the 
 Crows : 
 
 " Come and fight. I am not afraid. My medicine is 
 strong and I shall take your scalps. 5 
 
 " Coward of a Sioux, they shouted. "Afraid to come 
 out of your den. Hiding like a ground-hog. Sioux 
 
78 TOXDA. 
 
 we shall dance the scalp dance to-night with your scalp 
 on a pole. 7 
 
 " The war eagles scream on high, 
 They whet their forked beaks ; 
 I shout, I raise my battle cry ; 
 Tis fame that Strong Heart seeks. "* 
 
 And he gave the Sioux war-whoop, full-toned and 
 piercing. The canon echoed the cry far and wide and 
 the Crows answered it with their own as they advanced 
 to the attack. He lay down on the bottom of the cave 
 and fired through a little opening, scarcely three by four 
 inches, as it was too dangerous to shoot standing. Tonda 
 crouched in the corner at his side, holding the spare shells 
 ready. The arrows and bullets that entered above the 
 breast-work flattened themselves against the wall behind, 
 doing no damage. Strong Heart wished to keep the Crows 
 from ascending, because they would then have a better 
 command of his stronghold. If they shot from the creek- 
 bed upward their missies struck against the ceiling and 
 glanced to the rear wall, where they fell harmlessly. 
 Hence the importance of keeping the enemy from reach 
 ing a height equal to his own. 
 
 Crack, crack, came two loud shots, from the cave, at 
 two reckless Crows who had run from cover to get nearer. 
 Ono warrior was killed outright, and the other had hi> 
 a I m broken at the elbow. Strong Heart hastily slipped 
 two now cartridges into the places of those discharged, 
 it being very important in a fight like this, against great 
 odds, to keep the magazine of the gun filled. Two more 
 shots disabled another warrior. Then ten Crows, armed 
 with bows and arrows, came on a dead run, with loud 
 
 * Adapted from Sehoolcrafts North American Indians. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 79 
 
 hi-hi-hi s," up the rocks, in order to secure a position 
 that would command the cave. 
 
 Strong Heart sprang to his feet and shot as rapidly as 
 he could aim and work the lever. One brave fell mor 
 tally wounded: another was slightly hurt and the rest 
 took to cover. 
 
 As Strong Heart dropped to the floor several arrows 
 and bullets passed close to his head, one of them making 
 a scalp wound about three inches in length, but not 
 stunning him. The Crows became convinced that he had 
 plenty of ammunition, and a superior gun. So they ran 
 with the speed of the wind back to their ponies, and 
 held a consultation. The sudden death or disabling of 
 four of their number considerably disheartened them, and 
 from their loud words and " ki-ky-ing," the companions 
 in the cliff thought that many were counseling a re 
 treat. Xearly half an hour passed in the debate, and 
 just as our friends were hoping that they were to be left 
 alone, the remaining warriors, with loud yells, charged 
 down the creek, grasped the bodies of their dead and 
 wounded, and rushed back to shelter. Strong Heart 
 meanwhile sent two shots, which, at this short distance, 
 with a steady hand, could not fail to do damage. One 
 man was shot through the lungs, and another one had his 
 right hip broken. The Crows did not remain in hiding 
 long, but soon came with a wild rush down the canon, 
 stripped nearly naked, with all the knives, tomahawks and 
 rifles they could command, evidently designing to storm 
 the place. As they swept by they scattered out, then came 
 together again at the beginning of the terrace or ledge, 
 and charged up in a body. As soon as they were in full 
 view. Strong Heart, supposing that this was their last 
 charge, resolved to take the risk of being shot. He 
 screened himself as well as he could, and resting his rifle 
 
80 TONDA. 
 
 across the stones, poured twelve of the sixteen shots in the 
 magazine of the gun into the advancing crowd. Those 
 in front staggered back, and those behind tried to push 
 forward. There was a pause for an instant. 
 
 The besieged leaned forward, forgetting their danger in 
 the tense, strained excitement of the moment. The man 
 slipped more shells into his gun, but even as he did so 
 the Crows leaped into cover. Some jumped down fully 
 twenty feet from the ledge and below the angle of rifle 
 shot. There were two dead Indians and two badly 
 wounded ones on the ledge. 
 
 Again the enemy consulted and their low voices could 
 be heard at the base of the wall. Some were for leaving, 
 others said that it was a shame to lose so many men on 
 account of two Sioux. However, Strong Heart did not 
 understand Crow, and the one Crow who spoke Sioux 
 naturally conversed in his own tongue, so the imprisoned 
 ones did not understand what was being said. 
 
 Even as they talked a faint, distant war-cry was borne 
 up the canon. The Sioux were coming! Tonda s 
 heart took on new courage. Strong Heart became 
 a demon and sent forth his pealing war-whoop again 
 and again. The Crows ran hastily up the canon toward 
 their ponies, not even stopping to take their dead and 
 wounded. Strong Heart s Indian spirit exulted now 
 that he had vanquished his foes, and, rifle in hand, 
 he pushed down the barrier and leaped out on the 
 ledge, threw back his head and uttered the long, shrill 
 war-cry. As it echoed and re-echoed through the rocky 
 walls of the gorge, there came an answer from the dis 
 tance of loud re-echoing war-whoops, mingled with the 
 welcome clatter of horses feet. The Sioux were com 
 ing, led by Rain-in-the-Face. As Tonda heard this glad 
 sound she laughed hysterically, alternating her mirth with 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 81 
 
 sobs, and stood in the doorway ready to behold the glad 
 sight. At this moment, just as the horsemen came in 
 sight, one of the wounded Crows, maddened by the sound, 
 drew himself up to a sitting posture, presented his piece 
 and fired, the ball taking effect through Strong Heart s 
 left shoulder and piercing the shoulder-blade. The in 
 stant that the savage fired he fell back among his dying 
 companions, weak from the loss of blood. With his re 
 maining breath he chanted his death song. 
 
 Strong Heart dropped fainting from the shot, and Tonda, 
 with mingling emotions of pity for him and hatred for his 
 slayer, grasped his rifle, cocked it, and would have fired 
 upon the two remaining Crows had they made a motion, 
 but as their guns were empty, she left them to meet their 
 fate at the hands of the coming Sioux, and bent over her 
 fallen friend. She quickly tore off part of her dress, 
 staunched the flowing blood, and called out loudly to Rain- 
 in-the-Face,who was a few hundred yards distant, to hasten. 
 She lifted the head of Strong Heart into her lap. 
 and, holding him as gently as she could, called his name 
 again and again. The tears streamed down her cheeks 
 as she remembered his brave defense of her and the 
 noble spirit which he had shown. The horsemen were 
 near at hand, and raising her head, still holding Strong 
 Heart, while the blood flowed from under the bandage 
 across her deer-skin dress, coloring it crimson, she called, 
 "Come quickly; bring water. Strong Heart is dying." 
 
 Two Bears and Rain-in-the-Face dashed into the creek, 
 filled the little bread-sacks that they carried with water, 
 wet their blankets, and hastened up the ledge. The other 
 Indians took charge of the bodies of the wounded and 
 dying, went through their usual horrid yells, and were 
 instituting a hasty scalp-dance, when Rain-in-the-Face 
 called to them to desist and come near. 
 6 
 
83 TON DA. 
 
 The chiefs bound up Strong Heart s shoulder, brought 
 him to his senses by dashing water in his face, and, while 
 praising his bravery and telling him to be strong 
 and of big heart, they carried him tenderly down into the 
 creek-bed. Forty of the warriors followed the trail of 
 the Crows, while the others scalped the bodies of the slain 
 and rode on ahead to take the news to the village. The 
 Indians took turns in carrying the wounded man on a 
 sort of rude litter made from their blankets. 
 
 After a few miles they placed him upon the gentlest 
 pony, and supporting him on either side thus slowly they 
 moved across the prairie; and when the procession entered 
 camp, about eight o clock that night, there were demon 
 strations of joy over the victory. 
 
BAIN-IN-TIIE-FACE IN FULL COSTUME. 
 
A STOKY OF THE Sioux. 85 
 
 VIII. 
 
 THE Sioux PLAX AGAINST THE HORSE THIEVES. 
 
 
 
 While the lovers were journeying, Richards was telling 
 the assembled councillors his tale. They listened in 
 silence. 
 
 " Bad medicine, bad medicine/ growled Rain-in-the- 
 Face. 
 
 " Xowy" concluded the squaw-man. " you fellers got to 
 stand by me. If this becomes known. 1 am a dead man." 
 
 Wadaha stood up and impressively said : " May the 
 buffalo never come again and may our women and children 
 die if we tell any man that you opened our eyes to this 
 danger and our ears to this information." And every man 
 got up and swore accordingly. Then all fell to plotting 
 as to how they might save Richards and capture the 
 thieves. While they thus consulted, the wounded pony 
 came in, and, as we have seen, the warriors went to the 
 rescue. 
 
 Late that same night they got together again and con 
 ferred in secret. Rain-in-the-Face would call a council 
 of the old men and dog-soldiers in the morning. He 
 would say nothing about Richards, but Sitting Bull would 
 skilfully turn what Richards had conveyed to account. 
 Presently the warriors returned unsuccessful from their 
 pursuit, for the Sioux ponies were too tired after their 
 dash of fifteen miles to overtake the Crows. 
 
 Crier and Runner went through the village next morn 
 ing and announced the council. Richards was the only 
 white man present. Runner took up his position as 
 guard at the door. After the smoking ceremony, the 
 
36 TONDA. 
 
 head chief briefly narrated the incidents of the fight and 
 asked what should be done. 
 
 Full of indignation, Sitting Bull arose. Himself a con 
 stant hater of the Whites, he had been awake all night and 
 by council time he had worked himself into a frenzy. 
 Back and forth he strode like an Iroquois orator of old. 
 His long, lean hands he waved about, his feet he beat upon 
 the ground, his body he bent this way and that as bitter 
 words of denunciation fell from his lips. The circle 
 stirred now and then, swayed by his emotional address, 
 and at its conclusion the men would have stormed the 
 agency had he so commanded. 
 
 " I have lived long upon the prairie. I have seen but 
 six good white men. Since the Fetterman fight I have 
 been at peace. I am a great medicine-man and made the 
 medicine for that day. Then we killed ninety Whites. 
 Our arms were strong and we struck hard. They ran like 
 antelopes. The men in the fort could not come out. 
 And Washington tore down the fort and abandoned the 
 Powder River country. Why? Because Washington 
 knew it was dealing with men whose business was war. 
 
 " We have whipped the Crows (Aow, aow). We used 
 to take scalps from the Omahas and the Pawnees (Aow, 
 aow). And we can whip the Whites again. 
 
 "What were those Crows doing here? Did they come 
 to fight? No. I think they came to spy our herd and 
 steal the ponies. Would thirty warriors come to attack 
 us at home? No. They came to see how many horses we 
 had and where we grazed them. They knew that we were 
 in from the hunt and busy in curing meat. Did Billy 
 know anything about the Crows coming? I think not. 
 Who did know and who told them to come? Would they 
 have come of their own accord? 
 
 " Some man in this village we cannot trust. He must 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 87 
 
 have told the Crows to come and see how the land lay. 
 Then on a dark, rainy night the Crows would quietly steal 
 down here in force. When we arose on that morning 
 we would find our herd gone. We go after them and 
 Billy sends talk to the fort over the lightning wire that the 
 Sioux are raiding. Soldiers come and drive us back. 
 
 "I am going home in a few days. If you young men 
 will not raid I shall tell my young men to raid. I will 
 not have my horses stolen. 
 
 " I am tired of talking. God Almighty made me. 
 God Almighty never nfade me an agency Indian, and I ll 
 fight and die fighting before I become an agency Indian."* 
 
 " Listen to me," cried Gopher. " Sitting Bull goes too 
 far. We must not raid unless we have to "- 
 
 " Warpath against the Whites," cried several enthusias 
 tic young men. 
 
 u Xo. no. Let us be careful and find out more about it. 
 I don t like the signs. I fear trouble. Can Wadaha s 
 medicine tell us what to do?" 
 
 The shaman got up slowly. " I also closed not my eyes 
 all night. I am afraid of horse-thieves. We had better 
 guard the herd at night. The Crows will smart and come 
 back in force. We must be ready." 
 
 " Brothers," and Eichards addressed them. " There is 
 no telling what is coming upon us. Gopher speaks well 
 when he says, I do not like the signs, on the warpath 
 we watch the ground carefully, our eyes are fastened upon 
 the trail. We tell from many things what to expect. 
 We scent danger in the air. Xow I scent danger or 
 trouble (sensation), and think that we must be on guard. 
 
 " There is one man we have to obey and do not like 
 Billy. If we go not to him he will wonder. If we go 
 to him and he wires Washington, then they cannot blame 
 
 * Literal translation. 
 
TOXDA. 
 
 us if anything happens. We are at peace with all, yet 
 Crows conic into our reservation and Whites steal our 
 ponies. Let us go and tell Billy at once." 
 
 The meeting adjourned ar.d all the council members 
 rode to O Donnell s office. Sittr-ig Bull agreed to hold 
 his tongue and let others talk. 
 
 "Wall, boys, what s up?" and Billy regarded them in 
 some curiosity. Richards stood by the official interpre 
 ter on important occasions each side has its translator. 
 
 " We come." began Rain-in-thc-Facc, " to tell you that 
 Strong Heart and Tonda were attacked at the cliffs yes 
 terday by thirty Crows. They got into a cave and he killed 
 and wounded eight or ten of the enemy. He was shot 
 through the shoulder. What does this mean? Are the 
 Crows at war again? Will they attack us? Will you send 
 for soldiers if we move against them ? " 
 
 "Wall, wall, this is serious business. What the divil 
 do youse suppose they come down here fur? It is a good 
 two hundred moiles ter their nearest huntin village, and 
 nigh onto three hundred ter their agincy. I shall write 
 words to their agint." 
 
 " We want to go up therp and fight them." 
 
 " Youse will do no sich thing. Oi can t have youse fel 
 lers marchm armed so far. Youse might kill settlers 1 
 cattle on the way. Washington wouldn t allow it. If 
 they come down here, fight em. Youse got no kick 
 comin. Your man killed an drove em back. That s j 
 record ter be proud of." 
 
 "We are afraid. Wadaha s medicine says that some 
 thing is going to happen." 
 
 " Wadaha s medicine is no good. Nawthin will hap 
 pen. How can there? Youse got eight hundred fightin 1 
 men, ain t youse? An guns too? Who is ter trouble 
 vottsc ? " 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 89 
 
 Two Bears then spoke. " We had horses stolen some 
 moons ago. We told you. but you did nothing. If any 
 more are taken we go out looking for them." 
 
 O Donnell knew that Two Bears and Rain-in-the-Faee 
 often held the younger men in check; that if they said. 
 " Go out," more wagon trains would he attacked and suffi 
 cient horses taken to make up for past losses. 
 
 " Oi can t tell who took yer horses. Oi ve written 
 words an* used the lightnin" wire, but oi will say this, if 
 any more ponies are stolen youse can follow the trail." 
 (Aow. aow.) 
 
 ** Charlie," he called, " give these Injuns three hundred 
 weight o" sugar an a hundred sacks o" smoking tobacco." 
 They shouted in approval, received the presents and rode 
 homeward. 
 
 Charlie Carter was a trusted employee. He and O Don 
 nell retired into the inner office, closed the door, treated 
 themselves to drinks and discussed the situation. 
 
 " How long have youse knowed Injuns, Charlie? " 
 
 " I was born on the Santa Fe trail forty years ago. 1 
 know Injuns from Taos to Sleepy Eye. They are past 
 understandin . One day all right, next all wrong. They 
 are like children. Yet they has their good points. Xow, 
 you can thank God for sech men as the chiefs here. 
 Them Brule Sioux would have followed the trail of Ex- 
 elby s gang the mornin of the raid." 
 
 " Yis. What do youse think is brewin ? " 
 
 " Wall, that s hard to say. Them Crows never would 
 come down here of their own accord. It s too resky. 
 Seems to me there is somethin comiiv, but rest easy. Our 
 feller s got their dander up. Say. if Exelby come over 
 here raidhr some night there d be Hell to pay." 
 
 Yis. An they moight wipe out the hull of whatever 
 town he rode back ter. 
 
90 TONDA. 
 
 " Injuns don t like to tackle a big place. They won t 
 hurt Hays City." 
 
 " Xo, but they moight go south an take Julesburg." 
 
 " Wouldn t be no loss if they did. Xobody but tin 
 horns an road agents there." 
 
 " Charlie, we got ter be foxy. Exelby can t hurt us, but 
 he may squeal if we lets thirn Injuns go after him." 
 
 " Can t do it. We can say he is a horse thief and that 
 Billy the Kid is the worst road agent and killer in this 
 country. How can lie tell Washington about our ration 
 deals? We got him." 
 
 " That was a foine deal last month. Oi got the draft 
 this mornin eight hundred dollars. Youse gets a 
 hundred, Charlie. When oi looked out this mornin oi 
 says to meself, e this is a foine day and there ought ter be 
 a prisint fer the givirnmint s faithful agint. And when 
 the stage come there was." 
 
 "Wish we could work what they done once at the 
 Apache agency." 
 
 "What was that, Charlie?" 
 
 " Why, hay was scarce. The contractor says to the 
 agent, Seems like it is a pity to waste hay at forty dollars 
 a ton on them damned Injuns. Why/ says he, its for 
 the cavalry horses. 
 
 " Same thing/ says he. They come to keep the In 
 juns down. Looks as if this same load of hay might be 
 used agin/ and he waves his hand to the driver. Dick 
 winks, and after the agent calls out One load of hay to 
 the clerk, and that feller says, Check/ Dick drives around 
 the corral and comes through the gate again. 
 
 " Another load of hay/ calls the agent, and the feller 
 inside says Check. So they kept that blamed load of 
 hay goin until they had checked her up twenty times! : 
 Both men laughed gleefully, and Billv said, " Surely, them 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 91 
 
 was foine days, but we couldn t do it here not quite that 
 strong. But so long as Congress don t kick we can git on 
 easy and comfortable like." Billy thought a moment. 
 
 " Suppose them Sioux did git Exelby and his gang? " 
 
 "Wall, what of it? This ain t no country fur tender- 
 feet, and they shorely ain t that. If they can t take kcer of 
 themselves, why let the Sioux nail "em." 
 
 " Yis, an if they do it may save youse an me trouble. 
 At any rate youse an oi got ter sugar the Injuns and agree 
 wid em as fur as we kin." 
 
 Strong Heart was now the most famous man in the 
 tribe. In their annals there was no record of a similar 
 exploit. Single men had killed many, or escaped great 
 dangers, but no lone man had himself defeated thirty 
 Crows. He lay ill and weak in his father s lodge, and 
 friends came to ask how he did. Tonda also received 
 her share of praise. Young women were proud of her, 
 and young men jealous of Strong Heart. 
 
 That night a great scalp-dance was given in celebration 
 of the victory. Tonda stood near the dancers and watched 
 their evolutions for some time. At last, wearying of it 
 all, she sought her father s tipi, and, throwing herself 
 upon the pile of skins, gave up her mind to meditation. 
 The excitement of the scenes through which she had 
 passed would have unnerved any but an Indian girl. 
 Tonda s strong spirit scarcely knew fear, and while think 
 ing over what had taken place she was highly gratified 
 with the results, more especially because she was fond 
 of adventure, and because the adventure had given her 
 great notoriety in the tribe. Indians will do almost any 
 thing to gain the approval and applause of their own peo 
 ple. Tonda thought of her friend Strong Heart lying 
 wounded, and deciding upon the impulse of the moment, 
 
92 TOXDA. 
 
 ran out into the open air, passing many fires, and winding 
 in and out among the tipis until she reached his lodge. 
 
 It was ten o clock, and none of the Indians had as yet 
 quit dancing. Wawa, Strong Heart s mother, was prepar 
 ing a little broth for her son at the camp-fire back of the 
 wigwam, so, before entering, Tonda spoke a few words with 
 her. "How is he getting on?" she asked. 
 
 " Oh, he is feeling much better, although the wound 
 those Crows gave him pains him severely. Would you like 
 to go in and see him?" 
 
 Wawa entered the lodge, followed by Tonda, and going 
 over to one corner where Strong Heart was lying, said, 
 " My son, here is Tonda, come to see you." 
 
 Strong Heart turned his head toward the new-comer 
 and made a slight motion with his right hand for her to 
 sit down. She found a seat on the pile of soft furs on 
 which he lay, and from the little light shed by the small 
 fire in the center of the tipi, could see that he was suf 
 fering. His face she could not distinguish plainly, but 
 she opined from his heavy breathing that he was feverish. 
 
 " The medicine-man has little that will do you good. 
 Strong Heart. I have some medicine which I brought 
 from the school, which my teacher gave me, that may be 
 better. Shall I bring it to you?" 
 
 " Yes," murmured Strong Heart, " bring it here." 
 
 At this Tonda ran quickly home, opened a little wooden 
 box, and took out one or two morphine powders. Then run 
 ning hastily back, she seated herself close beside Strong 
 Heart, telling Wawa to bring a little water. Raising the 
 sick man s head carefully, she gave him one of the mor 
 phine powders and then a drink of water. She sat 
 patiently beside him for -nearly an hour, holding his hand 
 and watching the deep sleep into which he had fallen 
 from the effects of the drug. She explained to Wawa the 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 93 
 
 use of the powder? and left them, so that should Strong 
 Heart suffer during the night, he might be given another. 
 
 Richards, who knew a little of medicine as practiced by 
 white physicians, had been there and had rudely dressed 
 the wound. The medicine-man had been there also with 
 his rattles and drums, making the usual hideous noise to 
 drive away evil spirits. Wawa had great faith in the 
 medicine-man, but neither her son nor his father placed 
 any confidence in him, Strong Heart himself being 
 especially wearied by the noise he made, so that he was 
 very glad when he had gone. Whatever Tonda might 
 think of the Sioux people, she had learned enough at 
 school to lead her to believe her grandfather a fraud as a 
 physician, although in other ways he might be an esti 
 mable Indian. She resolved to see him and find out if lie 
 would not give up the care of Strong Heart to her and the 
 squaw-man. It would not be worth while to make known 
 this idea to her parents, as they would not approve of it, 
 neither would it be best to tell any one save Rain-in-the- 
 Face himself. Therefore she decided that as soon as her 
 grandfather should be up in the morning for he would 
 sleep late on account of his efforts at the scalp-dance she 
 would see him and extort, if possible, a promise from him. 
 Having decided on this, she gave herself up to thoughts 
 about Strong Heart himself for a few moments, and then, 
 with a slight parting pressure upon his hand, returned to 
 her father s tipi. 
 
 She slept beside her little sister until late the next 
 morning. Her father and Omaha had been attending the 
 scalp-dance, and did not return to the lodge until broad 
 daylight, so that when they arose, about noon, Tonda had 
 been up for some time, and was on her way to see her 
 grandfather. 
 
 As is the custom in Indian tribes, the medicine-man 
 
94 TONDA. 
 
 always lives on the outskirts of the village. His lodge is 
 looked on with some superstition by the other Indians, 
 as there are in it objects which seem to them to be more 
 or less akin to the supernatural. Although she had been 
 taught to pay no attention to such things, and to regard 
 them without fear, it was with some hesitation that she 
 entered the lodge. Her grandfather, not imagining her 
 mission, received her very cordially, bade her be seated, 
 and asked her what news she brought. 
 
 k " I have come/ said the girl, " to ask a favor. 
 
 " Wadaha would grant a favor to his granddaughter, he 
 well knows that she would ask nothing foolish, and her 
 brave spirit, as shown by what she did at the cliffs, 
 entitles her to many favors." Pleased with the words, she 
 became quite bold, and broached the object of her coming 
 without further delay. 
 
 " I want to give Strong Heart the white man s medicine, 
 of which I have a supply, which was given me in the East. 
 It will do him good make him strong ; it will do more 
 for him than all the noise which you make about his 
 bedside." 
 
 "My child/ said Wadaha, "it is a good plan to give 
 him your medicine, but it is not best for the great medi 
 cine-man not to see him, as there are many evil spirits 
 hovering about which I must drive away." 
 
 Tonda s heart sank when she heard these words, but she 
 did not give up, and said, " Give him to me, grandfather. 
 I will take as good care of him as you could, and I am sure 
 he will get along better under my care. Please do this, 
 0, great medicine-man, and I will do anything for you 
 that you may wish." 
 
 Wadaha thought a moment before replying. " My 
 child, if I do not cure the chief s son they will say my 
 medicine is not as good as yours; they will laugh, and 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 95 
 
 say the great medicine-man has failed. Xo, my child; I 
 cannot give him up to you/" 
 
 "Oh, this you must do," she cried; "I will give him 
 good medicine, and, if you will only say that I can take 
 care of him, I will tell the people that it is your medicine 
 that is doing him so much good. You shall have all the 
 credit and the honor of making well the son of great 
 Rain-in-the-Face." 
 
 This put a new phase on the matter. The old man 
 knew well the potency of the white man s medicine, and in 
 his secret heart was compelled to acknowledge it. He 
 therefore reasoned thus with himself : " If I accept, I get 
 all the credit of this great healing, and many in the tribe 
 will make presents to me to conjure their enemies and 
 cure their sick. Therefore, I shall accept, and it shall he 
 known that great Wadaha s medicine is so powerful that 
 even dangerous gun-shot wounds can be cured with it." 
 
 Wadaha loved power and prestige. Turning to her, he 
 said, " My child, you bother me much, and you are very 
 forward, for one so young, but it shall be; I give up 
 Strong Heart to your care, with this condition: You 
 must tell every one whom you meet, and who shall ques 
 tion you as to the condition of the patient, that great 
 Wadaha s medicine is doing a wonderful work, and that 
 the patient is rapidly recovering." And, with that, the 
 old rascal began muttering to himself, and strode back 
 into a dark recess of his wigwam, where he rattled some 
 bones and other trinkets probably to frighten the girl. 
 She knew what he was about, and, with a merry laugh, 
 sprang out of the lodge and ran rapidly home, full of 
 delight at her success. As she tripped gaily past" the 
 lodges and exchanged salutations with those whom she 
 met, she thought of her dear friend who was now under 
 her tender care, and of whose recoverv she felt certain. 
 
06 TONDA. 
 
 She entered the tipi of her parents, humming a little tune 
 which she had learned in the Eastern school, and as bright 
 and happy as the birds in the air, that with cheerful 
 chirpings, were migrating southward in large flocks. 
 
 Two Bears came out shortly after she came, partook of 
 food prepared by Omaha, and then stretched himself in 
 the sun, lighted his pipe, and indulged in a quiet smoke. 
 Scarcely had he settled himself, when a number of young 
 people came running up to the wigwam, and called loudly 
 for Ton da to come out. 
 
 " You promised us," they said, a to read from the great 
 story-teller s book the words he wrote about the Indians. 
 We should like to hear what he has to say," and they 
 forthwith seated themselves. Tonda was rather sorry that 
 she had told any but Strong Heart of the book, because she 
 could not expect to escape ir less than two hours if she 
 attempted to read, for as soon as they heard one story or 
 poem they would wish another. However, she got the 
 book and opened it at Hiawatha s fishing. This pleased 
 the young men very much ; then, for the girls, she began 
 with Hiawatha s wooing. As the reading of this poem 
 went on, they expressed their admiration in various ways, 
 some by grunts, and now and then by laughter, and when 
 the author attributed to the Indians customs far removed 
 from e very-day life of the Sioux, they shouted in derision, 
 but Tonda explained that he wrote of Algonkins. On 
 the whole, the poem was considered a success, and when 
 the book was closed, it was with reluctance that the crowd 
 dispersed to their homes. As night fell, she went to see 
 Strong Heart. 
 
 Entering the tipi, she found both Rain-in-the-Face and 
 Wawa present, also Richards, the squaw-man. Richards 
 had been feeling Strong Heart s pulse, and said that the 
 morphine, in putting him to sleep, had greatly reduced 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 9? 
 
 the fever, and that he was in hopes that no serious inflam 
 mation would set in. If he could be kept perfectly still 
 for some weeks, the shoulder blade would heal sufficiently 
 to allow him free movement of the muscles of the upper 
 arm, breast, and shoulder, but, if he should move about 
 much, he might be maimed for life. 
 
 Wawa and Eichards went across the flat to the river to 
 pick up drift wood. The chief, his son, and Tonda heard 
 Wadaha approaching chanting a weird song, and rattling 
 his necklace and chain. Before he entered, in a few 
 words she told them what had taken place that morn 
 ing in the lodge of her grandfather. 
 
 Among our people it would be considered very im 
 proper for a young girl to take care of a wounded man 
 when his parents were at hand to do this, but Indian cus 
 tom is quite different. The way the Indians live, 
 separated from each other by a simple door of thin hide, 
 permits many things which with us would be con 
 sidered impossible. Therefore, when a warrior is injured 
 or in distress, there is not a woman in the entire tribe who 
 will not do all in her power to assist him to recovery. 
 Whether such a woman be attached to him or have not 
 the slightest affection for him, makes no difference. 
 
 " You did well," said Strong Heart ; " your medicine 
 is good, and I have much faith in it, I shall tell old 
 Wadaha that his noise disturbs me greatly, and I do not 
 want him here." 
 
 " Xo ; do not do that, said the father. " He is a great 
 man in the tribe, and exerts a powerful influence; were 
 you to tell him this he would be furious, call a council, 
 and I should be denounced as favoring the Whites instead 
 of a man supposed to be endowed with power from the 
 Great Spirit." So they suffered him to come and practice 
 his incantations. 
 
98 TONDA. 
 
 IX. 
 
 O DONNELL AND TONDA. 
 
 O Donnell admired Tonda every time she came to the 
 agency. He had purposely not spoken to her since their 
 spirited conversation of some time previous. But he 
 told Henry to give her anything she ordered, to reduce the 
 price a third, and to treat her well. 
 
 Being Indian Tonda felt flattered and proud. Had not 
 she stood by the brave youth when he defeated the 
 Crows? Were not all the young men in the tribe casting 
 eyes at her? She enjoyed being admired. Her mother 
 noticed it and cautioned her. But Tonda was a woman. 
 One day she put on her best dress, got Brown Eyes, and 
 in company with other girls rode over to the agency. 
 It was a clear, crisp fall day the last of Indian sum 
 mer. In the high and dry northwest the air was tonic 
 one s blood leaped through his veins, and man or woman, 
 red or white, felt stimulated. Naturally the girls raced, 
 shouted, and made merry. O Donnell stood in the agency 
 doorway, humming " Garryowen." 
 
 " Charlie, got sore eyes? Here s a sight for thim." 
 Charlie came out. Said the agent, " Oi m goin ter call 
 her in here fer a talk." 
 
 " Be keerful," commented Charlie. Seeing he was not 
 wanted he went over to the store. Billy called after him, 
 " Tell Henry ter give the girls candy an calico on me." 
 
 Tonda interpreted to the Sioux maidens what Billy 
 said, and they shouted in approval. An Indian may not 
 like you, but he will seldom refuse a gift, and sad experi 
 ence with the Whites has taught him that when any man 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 99 
 
 offered something for nothing, they had better accept at 
 once. 
 
 u Good morniny he cried to Tonda. " Oi have words 
 ter spake ter youse. Come inter the office. Wondering 
 what he wanted, Tonda entered. 
 
 " Sit down/"" pushing a chair toward her. She did so. 
 
 " Oi got a letter here : read it." He handed her a 
 communication from some person in Boston. The writer 
 wished to buy Sioux bead-work and trinkets and offered 
 to take a considerable quantity. At that time there was 
 little demand for Indian goods in the East. To-day, the 
 tribes derive no small revenue from their sale. 
 
 " Xow, Two Bears daughter, here is a chance for youse. 
 Thini people East will pay a good price for such things as 
 youse can aisy make, or already got. Youse think it over 
 an 7 talk wid Omaha." 7 
 
 Tonda was pleased. Truly an opportunity presented 
 itself whereby she might make money and buy for her 
 parents many needed articles. This was very good of 
 Billy possibly she had been hasty the other day. 
 Visions of prosperity floated through her little brain. 
 
 u 1 thank you with my whole heart. You have done ns 
 a good turn. I shall ride home at once and tell mother." 
 
 " Youse are welcome," said Billy with a lordly wave of 
 his hand. " It s nawthin . If there s money in it, sure 
 an Oi m glad." 
 
 Tonda threw herself upon the horse, galloped past the 
 store, calling to her girl friends that she must go home. 
 Once there she rushed into the lodge and read Omaha 
 the good news. 
 
 " Just think, mother. We can sell enough goods to get 
 a hundred dollars, and, perhaps, more." 
 
 " Aow. But what do the white people there want with 
 Indian things? " 
 
100 TOXDA. 
 
 " Oh, just to look at them and wonder what we use them 
 for/ 
 
 " Huh! Why don t they use their own things? " 
 
 " They do. They hang our bead-work up about the 
 great houses and look at it and make strange guesses as to 
 how we live and what we do." 
 
 " Tell me more about them, daughter/ 
 
 " Well, they think that our men beat us women and that 
 they smoke all the time while we support them. They 
 have a favorite saying, Xo good Indian but a dead 
 Indian/ They all go to church on Sunday and sing about 
 being good and hear long speeches about the white man s 
 God. Then the other six days they rob and cheat each 
 other, and shut children up in big buildings where they 
 have to work like grown men. The women sit up all night 
 at parties, take care of houses larger than the agency ware 
 house, and tire themselves out with visiting about over the 
 country. When they meet an Indian girl they ask (as 
 they did me) " Why do you work so hard when your 
 husbands loaf? 
 
 " So they live in tall houses far above the ground, you 
 say?" 
 
 * Yes. Taller than the biggest cotton-wood tree you 
 ever saw and built of stone and iron." 
 
 "Why do they build of such hard materials?" 
 
 " Oh, so that they will last a long time. They spend 
 much money in building one of these houses." 
 
 "Huh! White men think that by doing so they will 
 live long and keep away from the evil spirit. But white 
 men cannot live forever. They have got to die the same 
 as us poor Indians. So they make the children work 
 hard?" 
 
 " Yes. The poor little ones look so pale and sick." 
 Omaha pondered a moment. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. -I Ol 
 
 " There was a man preached to us for a-lof/g timi-. - I 
 think he was a good man. He told about the God of the 
 \Vhites. Some followed his road. When my baby died 
 he said I was a wild woman because I cut my arms when 
 I buried my little boy." Omaha got up and came over to 
 Tonda and shook a long, bony hand in her face. 
 
 "I wish I could have words with that man again. I 
 would tell him I am a wild woman, am I? But I do 
 not whip my children; I do not make them work hard all 
 day ; I do not hear them cry, and so long as I have a mouth 
 ful of buffalo meat my children have meat too! A wild 
 woman! Huh, huh! Why does he not preach to his 
 own people? They need it. I always thought in my 
 heart white people bad. Xow I know it." 
 
 " They work from daylight to dark in the big cities 
 in little, dimly-lighted rooms. They shut each other up 
 in prisons. Lots of them go hungry half the time; yet 
 they say to me How can you Indians be so cruel? 
 
 " * That s talk enough. Stop, daughter. Why does the 
 Great Spirit allow such people to crowd us out? " 
 
 Tonda sat by the entrance and gazed off toward the 
 sand-hills. 
 
 " Why does He, mother? " She mused. 
 
 " When I was a girl," began the mother, we had no 
 trouble. Buffalo, elk, and deer everywhere. Traders 
 brought us goods and we gave them robes. Some spirit 
 water was given us more than was good for us but 
 there were no bad men, no agents like Billy to hold us 
 down, and no Great Father at the rising sun to send sol 
 diers after us every time we stood up for our own rights. 
 Xow bad white men are about us on all sides. We cannot 
 move where we would. We are penned up like hogs! 
 Huh ! I wish the warriors would fight again ! " 
 
102 TONDA. 
 
 >; mother, Washington would whip us if we did 
 take the path. No good could come of it." 
 
 " Child, you know little. Was I not in the village in 
 the Big Horn country when Red Cloud killed Fetterman s 
 troops? Did not Washington tear down the forts and 
 get out of the good hunting region and leave it for us? 
 Did not Washington make peace at Laramie? Aow! A 
 fight is a good thing sometimes/ 
 
 " But we would be killed/ 
 
 " No, no ! Some of us would, not all. White soldiers 
 attack, but when w r e give in they quit. They are different 
 from the old-time Indian tribes who fought among them 
 selves and killed all but young women and children." 
 
 " Think of the pain and suffering." 
 
 " Pain ? What do you call pain ? A bit of lead through 
 you is not as bad as starving to death. Would you rather 
 die in a few moments or be months in dying? Huh! My 
 man better take his gun and die like a brave than to sit 
 around and starve to death." 
 
 " But we are not starving now." 
 
 "My daughter, no. But the days may come when we 
 must have one of two kinds of hearts. Brave hearts, and 
 die fighting like warriors of old, or weak hearts, and die 
 by inches." 
 
 The old-time Indians had these moments of passion, 
 these longings for revenge and action when they brooded 
 over their wrongs. Tonda endeavored to calm her mother 
 and presently turned her thoughts into other channels. 
 
 That afternoon she rode over to the agency and mailed 
 a letter to the Boston person. A correspondence ensued, 
 and Tonda was able to gather among her friends numerous 
 Indian articles. Eichards and Charlie packed them in 
 two barrels, and these, in due time, were sent East, and 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 103 
 
 thus was established a trade that in time brought to the 
 Indians considerable revenue. 
 
 Tonda tied Brown Eyes and made a few purchases at the 
 store. O Donnell, ever on the watch, saw her, and called 
 to her to come in. 
 
 "What did the ould woman think of my scheme?" 
 
 " Oh, she was glad. All of us were. We can now make 
 some money. 
 
 " Yis, vis. There is more than wan way ter make 
 money. Xow. Oi ain t no hand at sewiir an* bein" an 
 onmarried man : Oi has much niendin* ter be done. Youse 
 been away at school an* has learned all thini things. Why 
 can t youse take my clothes home an sew on the buttons? " 
 
 Tonda laughed. Think of the powerful agent asking 
 her to mend his clothes! The subject amused her she 
 did not feel insulted: Billy had done her favors; moreover 
 Omaha and Two Bears had said. " Do not cross Billy." 
 She would not mend his old garments, but some poorer 
 girl might do so, and whatever Billy paid her she would 
 give to the one that did the work. 
 
 Billy continued, " Oi think that foive dollars would be 
 about right, for they need considerable fixin* an so foine 
 an* competent a sewin" woman as youse must now be, 
 should be paid a good price. " 
 
 " Yes, I will fix them. Get them ready." 
 
 " Did youse come on a saddle or bareback? They makes 
 a big roll, an if you got no saddle they will be onhandy 
 ter tie on." 
 
 " Oh. yes. I always ride with a saddle. You can show 
 me the things, and I shall help you roll them up." 
 
 O Donnell s bedroom opened from the office. He threw 
 open the door, and as he sought his garments Tonda 
 looked in with some curiosity. " The agent of the Great 
 Father," she thought, " does not keep his room in as 
 
104 TONDA. 
 
 good condition as we keep our lodges. The rooms of 
 the eastern Whites were far cleaner." 
 
 " Youse see, Oi has ter do my own work. Charlie helps 
 me wid the males, as he is a good cook; Oi m not. We 
 has ter bach it here." 
 
 " Why don t you get married ; you have money enough? " 
 
 " That s aisy said. But white women don t want ter live 
 on the agency. They is afraid of the Injuns." 
 
 " We would not hurt them." 
 
 " Of course not. But thim women is a quare lot. Oi 
 offered wan a dollar a day ter come here an be cook an 
 housekaper for me, an she would not." 
 
 Tonda s white training told her that it was not to be 
 wondered why the woman refused; but a Sioux unac 
 quainted with the ways of the world would see nothing 
 improper in the arrangement. 
 
 He came out with the clothes, put them in a heap upon 
 the floor. 
 
 " Yousc lamed ter cook well ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes. I can cook both Indian and white styles." 
 
 " Xow, see here, Tonda, Oi would not want one of thim 
 Injun girls ter cook for me or to keep my house, but youse 
 is different. Youse is nate an attractive, an youse got 
 sense. Oi will give youse tin dollars a wake ter come here 
 an cook for me an take care o my house." 
 
 Her eyes had been fastened upon the coats and trousers 
 during his proposition. 
 
 " Now," coming over to her and standing by her chair, 
 " youse kin tell Omaha that Oi need youse for ter look 
 after my place; that youse is ter be my housekaper. Youse 
 kin go home iviry Sunday mornin an come back Mon 
 day mornin ; that will give youse a chance ter see the 
 other Injuns. An youse kin ride over afternoons after 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 105 
 
 the work is done. Its big pay for such light work as 
 Oi have. 
 
 O Donnell s voice seemed rather to tremble; why should 
 he be either moved or excited in making an ordinary 
 business proposal? A fear stole into her heart. She re 
 membered what Omaha had said of this and that girl 
 who had worked for the Whites. Surely he meant no 
 harm, and the offer was tempting, but she must first talk 
 with her mother. Something told her not to answer 
 finally now. 
 
 She looked up, about to speak. A peculiar light was 
 in his gray eyes, and she guessed the truth. She started 
 for the door. He seized her arm. 
 
 " Hould on, Tonda! Stay and talk it over. Youse has 
 not got the clothes/" but she tore away and stepped outside. 
 
 " Whin youse talk wid Omaha, come back an tell me," 
 he urged. Hot anger now leaped through her veins, her 
 dark cheek turned a darker red. She could think of 
 nothing fitting to say, so she ran away, mounted Brown 
 Eyes and galloped home. 
 
 Billy cursed to himself, heaped maledictions upon the 
 girl, and went over to the store. 
 
 Once home, she threw herself upon the bed and gave 
 way to tears. Omaha came in. 
 
 " Why, child, what s the matter? A Sioux girl should 
 not cry unless some one has died. Xo one is dead. Tell 
 me. You act like the bird-hearted white people." 
 
 Tonda told her. Omaha came over and stroked Tonda s 
 head. 
 
 " Bad hearts in all of them. Do not go to the store or 
 his office again. I shall buy what you want there. If 
 Two Bears was not an agency Indian he could go over 
 there and take Billy s scalp. But if he did that soldiers 
 would come again. The first time we fight he will shoot 
 
106 TONDA. 
 
 Billy. He has no right to speak bad words to my 
 daughter/ 
 
 "Do not tell any one, mother/ 
 
 " I may speak to husband if I think best. You come of 
 a family known for its good record. We do not want 
 war, but it is just such men as Billy that bring on wars. 
 If Washington knew all the evil we have to suffer, Wash 
 ington would not send soldiers after us every time we 
 strike back. Billy does not dare tell this to a man, white 
 or red, and neither you nor I can speak. If I tell Two 
 Bears he will keep it to himself. But you are a Sioux 
 girl. Your heart is strong. My husband s heart is strong. 
 I, too, have a brave heart, and have fought twice with 
 my butcher knife when Whites attacked the village.* 
 
 " So be of good courage. You are a good girl. You 
 shall be revenged some day." Omaha s eyes snapped. She 
 beat her clenched hands upon the ground. " Billy cheats 
 us; Billy makes money off us; Billy tries to ruin our 
 daughters; but some day Billy will get a bullet through 
 his lying, white carcass," and she gave the high, shrill 
 scream of the old women. Indians came running up to 
 the lodge, asking what was the matter. Tonda remained 
 on her bed, but Omaha, who had wonderful control of 
 herself, smilingly told the inquiring ones that she was 
 showing Tonda how the women used to scream when they 
 taunted the wounded on a battle-field. 
 
 Tonda, being Sioux, and having no nerves, got over her 
 experience in a few days. 
 
 When she went to visit her girl friends, Omaha told Two 
 Bears. He listened gravely, then put down his dish of 
 buffalo meat and swore an oath according to the La- 
 
 * Sioux women have helped the men fight in more than a score 
 of engagements. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 10? 
 
 kotas. He would bide his time, but he would not forgive 
 O Donnell. 
 
 Afterward, when Two Bears and Omaha went to the 
 agency he wore Rain-in-the-Face s six-shooter. He pur 
 posely stood about where Billy could see him and almost 
 tenderly and wistfully he handled the gun. Billy saw 
 and understood, but he joked with Charlie and Henry 
 about it. Henry did not understand, but Charlie guessed 
 the truth. When they went in to supper, and before 
 Henry came, Charlie said: 
 
 " Well, I don t know just what s up, but I kin see this, 
 that you ll never be no nearer death than if you meet 
 Two Bears alone." 
 
 "Oh, the divil! It s a bluff." 
 
 " Two Bears ain t no bluffer," and down in his heart 
 Billy knew that Charlie spoke the truth. After that Billy 
 also wore his pistol. 
 
108 TONDA. 
 
 X. 
 
 LE MOYNE AND SPOTTED EAGLE. 
 
 One or two days passed. The air grew colder. A skim 
 of ice at night formed along the margin of still waters. 
 Soon the natives must confine themselves to camp, for in 
 winter they seldom travel. 
 
 Le Moyne came back. He rested a day and then sought 
 Richards. That worthy had thought out the conversation, 
 told him about the Crow fight and the talk with Billy. 
 
 " They are watchin the herd an afeered of the Crows/* 
 he mused. "Ef Exelby kin come quick and there is a 
 light snow falls the same night to kiver tracks, mebbe he 
 kin git away with a good bunch." 
 
 Le Moyne rode to the agency and had Charlie with 
 out the knowledge of O Donnell or any one else write 
 a letter to Exelby at Deadwood, setting forth the facts. 
 
 The son of a rich father, Spotted Eagle, wanted for 
 nothing, and was a dandy among the Indians. So far as 
 it is possible to draw a parallel, one might say that he 
 represented the idle, rich young man what we call a 
 dude. This type is the same whether found in a Sioux 
 camp, at Newport, or in London. It adds nothing to 
 knowledge, is of no benefit to civilization, and even lacks 
 manly virtues. If sucli an one among ourselves is lav 
 ish of money, he has his followers, although sensible per 
 sons hold him in scorn. So the Sioux especially some 
 younger persons were glad to accept presents from 
 Spotted Eagle, for he spent money freely at the store, 
 but behind his back they made sport. More handsome 
 and better dressed than any other warrior, yet his per- 
 
THE EVIL FACE OF SPOTTED EAGLE. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. Ill 
 
 sonal bravery was in dispute; some held that he would 
 fight, others called him a coward. 
 
 Spotted Eagle had cast glances at Tonda and strutted 
 past her tipi daily, arrayed in his best costume. 
 
 " Strong Heart is sick. Here is an opportunity to be 
 come acquainted with the girl," he thought. k * I shall 
 play the flute near her lodge. 
 
 As it was the custom to give notice by some little pres 
 ent or token before commencing the flute song, in order 
 that the maiden might, expect her lover, Spotted Eagle 
 sent by messenger to Tonda s lodge a very handsome silver 
 bracelet that he happened to possess, and a little piece 
 of well-tanned deer-skin, upon which was engraved, in 
 Indian pictographs, a sentiment, the whole having about 
 the same purport as a valentine with us. Tonda was 
 within the lodge sewing for her mother when this ar 
 rived, carried by a small boy, to whom Spotted Eagle 
 had given a handsome tobacco-pouch for his services. Xo 
 sooner had she glanced at the articles than she interpreted 
 their meaning. 
 
 The Indians, when courting, observe several methods. 
 One is playing the flute. They have a little reed flute, not 
 unmusical, and of a very weird sound, which is used for 
 this purpose alone. The brave who desires to wed ap 
 proaches within a hundred yards of the wigwam of his 
 intended, just after dusk some evening, and, seating him 
 self, begins a plaintive melody. If the maiden favors the 
 suit, she comes forth from the wigwam, shyly at first, but 
 growing gradually bolder, she advances toward the spot 
 where her lover is seated. Tonda decided to accept the 
 whole matter as a joke, and dismiss the young man that 
 evening, telling him that she could not love him and that 
 he must not hope. So she waited rather impatiently for 
 dusk to come, at first with some trembling, and later 
 
TOXDA. 
 
 with expectation of the run in store for her, and with 
 not a little vanity for he was a goodly youth to look 
 upon and rich. In any civilized community attentions 
 from a young man like Spotted Eagle would be thought 
 insulting to a respectable girl, but, as we have already 
 said, the Indians, good and bad, mingle very freely in 
 their social life. 
 
 Scarcely had the sun disappeared over the vast stretch 
 of prairie, when the notes of a flute were heard issuing 
 from a clump of bushes about a hundred yards from the 
 tipi. The player was evidently in a desperate strait, for 
 he piped and blew with all his might, and made such a 
 noise that it called forth the remarks of all persons near 
 at hand. 
 
 Tonda chuckled to herself, and unmindful of her moth 
 er s frowning caution, " Do not go/ she ran out. 
 
 Spotted Eagle saw her coming and came forward, his 
 heart beating rapidly. 
 
 " Pretty one, you are here. Let us walk on the plain 
 where no one will disturb us/ 7 
 
 " No, I cannot walk with you." 
 
 " But you came out. See, the boys are running this 
 way. Come with me." Tonda knew that she would be 
 recognized, for a dozen youngsters had heard the music 
 and were assembling for a good time. " She needs urg 
 ing," he thought, and seizing her by the arm he attempted 
 to lead her. " Nice one, let us run away from these 
 bad boys. I want to talk with you." She was now aware 
 of the indiscretion she should have remained at home. 
 
 " No, I cannot go with you," and then seeing her father 
 approaching, she fled home mortified. 
 
 Thinking that he might lure her out he blew upon the 
 reed again, but the boys crowded about and the lover 
 had great ado to keep them back and continue his tune. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 113 
 
 The lads crowded around the disconsolate lover, some to 
 hoot, and others to laugh. Although somewhat of a 
 coward, Spotted Eagle could not stand being tormented, 
 and, losing all patience, he seized an Indian boy stand 
 ing near and planted a vigorous kick in his ribs. The 
 boy went down with a howl; there was an instant of sur 
 prise upon the part of his companions, and then a num 
 ber of them, from twelve to sixteen years old, assailed 
 the Indian on all sides. The flute was broken in the 
 scuffle, and Spotted Eagle was roughly used. He knocked 
 some boys down, but others leaped upon him and he was 
 pushed and pummelled until he rolled over the bank and 
 down among the briars. Some men now ran forward 
 and the lads fled, leaving him to make his way back to 
 his wigwam. He returned thither without further moles 
 tation, probably the maddest Indian upon the. whole Sioux 
 reservation. His neatly-trimmed buckskin leggins were 
 soiled and rent; the beaded work on his beautifully em 
 broidered shirt was much torn, and the shirt disfigured, 
 while his handsome face was cut and scratched. 
 
 Le Moyne happened to be one of those who ran up. 
 Catching a boy he demanded : 
 
 " Who was he? " 
 
 " Spotted Eagle, and he played the flute to Tonda." 
 
 "Aow! " Le Moyne thought a moment. This youth 
 was not liked by the best Indians. " Might not he be of 
 service to me?" A desperate scheme flashed through the 
 half-breed s mind, and he went home to smoke a pipe and 
 perfect it. 
 
 Meanwhile, Spotted Eagle, whom, by the way, Two 
 Bears called " a coiled snake, " was rushing hither and 
 thither, gnashing his teeth, and fairly foaming at the 
 mouth because of his defeat. Indians detest to be laughed 
 at. How could he face the boys to-morrow? Hot anger 
 8 
 
114 TONDA. 
 
 surged through his veins. How could he obtain Tonda? 
 How might he be revenged? He could neither answer 
 these questions, nor invent a balm for his feelings. So 
 he gave up to violent outbursts of rage. Possibly there 
 was some way whereby he could humble both Strong Heart 
 and Tonda. 
 
 "They say I dress too much. Huh! I am not stuck 
 up like that girl. Who is she to throw my heart away? 
 I am rich and beautiful to look upon. Why will she not 
 have me ? " 
 
 He got out the medicine-pouch and holding it against 
 his heart, cursed both the girl and her lover. 
 
 Wide awake lay Le Moyne on his bed of buffalo robes 
 that night. Why should the Indians guard the pony herd? 
 Surely they must know that the Crows were not suffi 
 ciently strong to raid more than two hundred miles 
 from home. Moreover, if the Crows did raid O Don- 
 nell would correspond with the Crow agent, and the fact 
 that the Crows had returned with a large number of 
 horses could not be concealed. As a result* the soldiers 
 would return io the Sioux such ponies as had been stolen. 
 Exelby had not told Le Moyne that there was no truth 
 in his statement to Eichards regarding a prospective Crow 
 raid, but he believed that Exelby had deliberately con 
 cocted the story in order that he might blind Kich- 
 ards. Now, Le Moyne was convinced in his own mind 
 that the only raid contemplated was that proposed by 
 Exelby himself. The few Crows defeated by Strong 
 Heart constituted a band of young men, he thought, who, 
 to distinguish themselves, hoped to slip into the Sioux 
 agency unseen and run off a drove of ponies. He 
 was convinced of the accuracy of his theories. Le Moyne 
 sober was more far-seeing than Le Moyne drunk. There 
 fore, it was perfectly plain that Richards had broken his 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 115 
 
 word, and informed the Sioux of Exelby s expected raid. 
 Under no other theory could he explain the presence of 
 guards. He noticed coolness, not to say contempt, on 
 the part of the dog-soldiers and the leading Indians 
 toward himself. Eichards would have all to gain and 
 nothing to lose by standing by the Sioux. As for him 
 self his course was nearly run. He must seek new pas 
 tures. He knew something of the Crows and spoke their 
 language, although imperfectly. If he could steal twenty 
 or thirty horses and join the Crows, he might escape the 
 vigilance of the Crow agent for that worthy had some 
 thing like two thousand persons under his control bv 
 claiming to be a half-breed recently arrived from Canada. 
 Thirty or forty ponies would not be sufficient to cause 
 the Sioux to go to war. Yet that many would supplv 
 Le Moyne s needs for some years to come. He would 
 join a village of Crows far removed from the agency, and 
 live quietly so long as the ponies lasted. His *Sioux 
 squaw, he mused, was possessed of a temper, and he had 
 supported her long enough. She was no longer young- 
 and comely. He would marry a young attractive Cro\v 
 >quaw. and through her coaching would be able to speak 
 the language very well before he visited the agency. 
 
 He reasoned that every man should take care of himself. 
 If he could gain anything by assisting Exelby in the raid, 
 well and good. If not. he would, on the night of Ex 
 elby s raid, drive his own herd (the herd he appropriated^ 
 through to the Crows country and act independently of 
 Exelby. Richards, the Sioux, or any one else. The gov 
 ernment was bound to support his squaw, and she would 
 not starve, even if he ran off. 
 
 Such was Le Moyne s character, and accordingly he laid 
 his plans. 
 
 The next morning, making sure that Spotted Eaglet 
 
110 TONDA. 
 
 relatives were out, he visited that person. Spotted Eagle 
 was busy with his thoughts, when the flap was thrown 
 aside and Le Moyne entered. 
 
 "What want you?" demanded the Indian in an angry 
 tone. 
 
 " Just came for a talk," replied the squaw-man. 
 
 " My heart is not right for talk." 
 
 "What s the matter? Trouble? Le Moyne can help 
 Spotted Eagle if he will trust him." 
 
 " You can t do anything. It s about a girl." 
 
 " You played flute to Tonda. The boys told me. She 
 was bad to run away." 
 
 " May Waukawsica* take her and the little devils." 
 
 "You want her for your squaw?" 
 
 "Yes, but how can I get her with that Strong Heart 
 and the rest of the people against me?" 
 
 " Elope with her." 
 
 " What ! " cried Spotted Eagle, starting up in great 
 amazement. " You put into my head what cannot be 
 done." 
 
 " It can be done. If you will say words in no man s 
 ear, I shall tell you." The Indian swore secrecy. 
 
 " Once you are away with her you can claim her as a 
 squaw, and they cannot get her back without flghting 
 and they seldom fight for a girl, for there are too many 
 marriageable girls in the tribe." 
 
 " But not as pretty as Tonda," remarked Spotted Eagle. 
 
 "That makes no difference. See here, Spotted Eagle, 
 I got a plan, but I do not know whether to let you in on 
 it or not. If you breathe a word I am lost." 
 
 "I do not care what you have in your head; I have 
 sworn that I will not tell." 
 
 "The Sioux do not like me now;" the Indian grunted 
 
 * The bad spirit. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 117 
 
 that he knew that long ago. He was not a mender of 
 the council, and, therefore, did not know why the dis 
 like of Le Moyne was now intense. " I propose to join 
 the Crows." The Indian looked up in blank astonish 
 ment, for, with all his faults, and notwithstanding a con 
 suming anger against the girl and her relatives, he had 
 been trained from infancy to hate the Crows. 
 
 " Remember, you are not to speak of it. I have been 
 treated like a dog here, and do not propose to stand it 
 longer. I know the Crow tongue, and I shall skip out 
 some night soon. It is Indian summer for a few days 
 yet. They will never find me once I get there." 
 
 " Yes. but me ? Where am I benefited ? " 
 
 " I am going to take thirty ponies for the tribe owns 
 many, and they owe me some. You need not fear : I shall 
 not steal yours: but you can give me some for helping 
 you win the finest woman of all the Lakotas. With these 
 ponies I flee northward. If they do not find me before 
 morning I am a good fifty miles on the trail, and they 
 can t catch up. East of Billy s place is a small camp 
 down in a draw. The Indian living there left last night 
 to go on the upper reservation, where he will live." 
 
 " How do you know that? " 
 
 * Oh." grunted the white man, " I know everything. 
 These Indians do not know no one is there. Xow. the 
 night I run off with the ponies you are to steal Tonda and 
 take her to that camp. They won t find you for a day or 
 two, and then she will be your squaw according to the old 
 tribal law." 
 
 In former years a warrior could steal his squaw. But 
 as the Indians became acquainted with white men they 
 gradually abandoned the practice. At the time of our 
 story, marriage by consent was in vogue, and the suitors 
 gave ponies or robes, etc., to the bride s father. 
 
118 TONDA. 
 
 " But, 7 objected Spotted Eagle, " her friends are more 
 powerful than mine, and as Strong Heart wants her, when 
 he is well he will kill me." 
 
 " No, he won t. Some people think the girl feels her 
 self above them because of school training. Many do not 
 like her. If an outcry is raised, these people will say, If 
 Spotted Eagle was sharp enough to get her, let him keep 
 her. You have no right to part them. : The Indian 
 laughed gleefully and rubbed his hands. The picture 
 drawn by Le Moyne was pleasing. Yes, he would do as 
 the white man suggested. 
 
 " How am I to take her? " 
 
 " Her medicine is making Strong Heart well. Every 
 body knows that. I shall say that the old fellow who 
 lived in the draw camp is sick and wants Tonda. Wadaha 
 will offer to go also, but 1 shall say that he is not wanted. 
 Tonda will ride out there alone. Meanwhile, you have 
 gone to the agency. You are at the old camp and have 
 put it]) lodge poles and covered them, made a fire inside, 
 and got all ready. When she enters the tipi you seize 
 her. That same night about dark I select thirty good 
 horses from the bunch fartherest from the village. There 
 will be twenty of your ponies also there which you are to 
 give me for helping you get the squaw." 
 
 " But twenty ponies are too many." 
 
 "Your father is rich. What are twenty to you? You 
 could not think out this plan yourself. Besides, it will 
 help save me. You can sell me twenty ponies in the 
 presence of other Indians. Then when the loss is dis 
 covered they will debate before they follow, for had not 
 Le Moyne a right. to drive his own horses off? They may 
 talk several hours before they take up my trail. The 
 longer they talk, the farther I am toward the Crows." 
 
 " I see," said the Indian. " It is a good plan and worthy 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 119 
 
 of a great schemer. Are you sure all will move along as 
 planned ? " 
 
 " It can t help but work that way. Now. you ride over 
 to the agency store at once and buy a lot of tobacco and 
 candy. Be liberal with your presents. Put the Indians 
 in a good humor. I also ride over there, but we do not go 
 together." With that Le Moyne strode out of the lodge. 
 He was soon on his way to the agency. Spotted Eagle 
 bought so much at the post trader s that that individual 
 was astonished. Spotted Eagle s lavish presents, when he 
 returned, did much to put him in favor again with the 
 natives. 
 
 Le Moyne went to see Charlie. They entered Charlie s 
 sleeping quarters unseen and when the door was shut he 
 read him this letter: 
 
 Pard Le Moyne. we is comin thursday night about 
 ten you and Richards be shore and tell them injuns that 
 the crows tuck the ponies meet us two miles west of agancy 
 git thar early and lay still there is fifteen of us 
 Doc sxelby " 
 
 Le Moyne turned pale. What should he do? Charlie 
 watched him a moment and said: 
 
 " Damned if this ain t bad business. But I swore not 
 to tell and I won t. But I won t carry no more notes nor 
 have nothirr to do with it. There ll be Hell to pay/* 
 
 " Charlie, give me some liquor. I must have it." 
 
 " I will if you don t give none to the Injuns." He 
 promised and Charlie gave him a filled jug. 
 
 Le Moyne rode homewards heeding nothing, for he was 
 buried in thought. 
 
120 TONDA. 
 
 XI. 
 
 TONDA ESCAPES FROM SPOTTED EAGLE. 
 
 The Sioux were not always fighting. Omaha voiced the 
 opinion of the majority when she said: "We must have 
 time to rear our children." Regarding the " buffalo 
 days * thirty years afterward we can take a dispassionate 
 view of those tempestuous times. The Sioux must fight 
 for existence. Besieged by enemies on all sides they must 
 battle for their rights and they did. Xo one extended 
 a helping hand, no Indian Rights Association, such as 
 we have to-day, stood out for honesty and humanity. All 
 were hostile every man s hand against them. Hence 
 their merciless retaliation. 
 
 Le Moyne was desperate. If he told Richards, the 
 Sioux would balk Exelby s scheme. If he started for 
 the Crow country as planned, certainly the Sioux, thinking 
 the large herd stolen by Exelby was taken by the Crows, 
 would follow him clear there and Billy had not the 
 power to prevent pursuit. Once at the Crow agency the 
 Indians would surrender him and his stock to the Sioux. 
 If Exelby turned off the Crow trail and drove his herd 
 back to the southern settlements, the Sioux, coming 
 upon the divided trails, would send half their force 
 northward and the remainder southward. Without doubt 
 they would follow both trails to the end, for they would 
 be fighting mad. One course only was open, to abandon 
 his flight to the Crows and stick to Exelby. There was 
 a ghost of a chance and as he sought the jug he yearned 
 for that chance in case it should snow the next even 
 ing he might get through, for the Sioux would follow the 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 121 
 
 heavier trail. If much snow fell, both Exelby and himself 
 might get away. He prepared himself to act in any 
 emergency. He must get away whether alone or with 
 Exelby. Spotted Eagle could work out his own plans and 
 Le Moyne was in too tight a situation to think further 
 concerning the love-sick aborigine. 
 
 Morning broke and it was colder. Le Moyne s spirits 
 rose. He met Spotted Eagle. Said that worthy: 
 
 " I rode to the draw last night, after the village was 
 asleep. Took lodge coverings and blankets. I found some 
 old tipi poles there and put up a good lodge. You better 
 ride up to Tonda s lodge before sundown to-day and tell 
 the story of the sick Indian." 
 
 " All right. Let us make the pony deal where other 
 Indians hear us." So they walked about among the 
 lodges and talked loudly arguing whether Spotted Eagle 
 would sell twenty ponies or not. The bargain was struck. 
 Gopher remarked to Rain-in-the-Face : 
 
 " What does Le Moyne want with so many horses? " 
 
 " Oh, I suppose Charlie is buying them through him." 
 
 The afternoon seemed long and tedious. About three 
 o clock Spotted Eagle rode over to the agency with Le 
 Moyrie. Few Indians were there and the men rode east 
 ward. When near the draw they separated, Le Moyne 
 returning home. These movements created no comment, 
 as Indians frequently gallop about with no apparent object 
 in view. 
 
 Down the ravine a quarter of a mile from the tipi the 
 depression was dee}) and narrow and one upon the plain, 
 unless within a few hundred yards, could not discern that 
 a horse was there hidden. Spotted Eagle picketed his 
 pony and returned to some brush near the tipi. Full of 
 expectation he sat down to await the coming of Toncla. 
 
 Le Moyne rode direct to Two Bears lodge, reaching 
 
122 TONDA. 
 
 there about two hours before sundown. He called aloud. 
 Two Bears came forth. 
 
 "Aow Kola/ (how are you?) grunted the Indian, and 
 Le Moyne in return saluted him. 
 
 " That Brule who lives alone with his squaw is sick. 
 He has heard of Tonda s great medicine and wants her to 
 ride out and see him and make him well." Tonda and 
 her mother came out at this moment. 
 
 "Why doesn t he send for Wadaha? " she asked. 
 
 u Because he says Wadaha s medicine is no good. He 
 wants Tonda. I think he has fever." 
 
 " I shall ride there at once. Father, you get the pony 
 for me." 
 
 " I will go with you," said Two Bears. 
 
 " Chief Kain-in-the-Face said he wanted you to talk 
 with him," remarked Omaha. Le Moyne at once said: 
 
 " She can ride there, see him and get back by the time 
 it is dark. He is in a hurry to see her." 
 
 "Aow," ejaculated Two Bears. " I will get both ponies 
 and she can start. I shall tell Rain-in-the-Face that we 
 can talk later." 
 
 Le Moyne, well knowing that suspicions would be 
 aroused if he urged further, turned his horse about and 
 slowly rode to his own lodge. Tonda mounted Brown 
 Eyes in a few moments and started for the draw. Two 
 Bears reached Kain-iri-the-Face s lodge and told that 
 worthy of the Brule s sickness and that he thought it well 
 for him to accompany his daughter. 
 
 " There is no danger," remarked Rain-in-the-Face, " sit 
 down and talk half an hour." 
 
 Bearing a little skin bag in which were the remedies, 
 Tonda rode rapidly northeast. Intent only on rendering 
 the sick a service, and not suspecting treachery she reached 
 the tipi and dismounted. Seeing no one about she thought 
 
RAIX-IX-THE-FACE IX ORDINARY COSTUME. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 125 
 
 that the Brule must be ill indeed if all his family were 
 within, and did not look out when they heard her horse s 
 hoof beats. Pushing aside the usual covering she stooped 
 and entered. 
 
 Spotted Eagle had rolled a blanket about chunks of 
 wood and placed the roll upon a heap of robes. In the 
 dim light it appeared like one lying down. He was not 
 in the lodge, for did Tonda see him she would withdraw 
 at once. He lay ten feet away in a clump of bushes, his 
 evil face thrust through wild grass and shrubs, regarding 
 her intently. As she passed inside a sinister smile over 
 spread his countenance, triumph possessed his heart and 
 he jumped up, rushed within the lodge, seized her in his 
 arms, crying " You are to be my squaw, you are to be 
 mine ! * 
 
 There was an instant of terrified surprise. Her heart 
 leaped into her throat, then heredity asserted itself and 
 the daughter of a long line of fighting men began a tre 
 mendous struggle for freedom. Spotted Eagle at once 
 realized that he had no common, weak woman with whom 
 to deal. She was short, thick set. and very strong; he, 
 slender and wiry, but not capable of long endurance, be 
 cause of his indolent life and untrained muscles. At first 
 she endeavored to tear herself loose, but failing in that 
 whirled him around. He tripped her, but she never re 
 laxed her hold and they fell heavily and rolled over this 
 way and that ; neither speaking, each straining every effort 
 to seize the other s throat. 
 
 She could not master him with naked hands, and he had 
 not the strength to hold her down until he could tie her 
 hands and feet. This was his plan and he had prepared 
 cords to tie her and compel her to listen to his argu 
 ments how useless it was to resist and how happy she 
 would be as his squaw. 
 
126 TONDA. 
 
 She was desperate and thoroughly angry. He, acting on 
 the defensive, wished to capture rather than injure her. 
 But now he too became angered. There were stones with 
 out the lodge and if she could but reach through the door 
 and seize one Spotted Eagle would meet his fate. Once 
 over, they turned toward the entrance. Another superhu 
 man effort and she threw him again. Then, divining that 
 she sought to escape, he furiously struck end bruised her 
 face, vainly endeavored to hold her their breath came 
 in gasps, like men locked in mortal combat. He got 
 upon his knees, but she clung to him. He called to his 
 totem to help and appealed loudly to the evil spirit, for he 
 was entirely aboriginal. But she spoke not a word. 
 
 " My gun, oh, my gun ! " he gasped, heaving himself 
 strenuously to escape her arms. She seized both liis 
 cheeks in her strong hands, hatred gleamed in her eyes, 
 and the spirit of her ancestors lighting men of renown 
 came mightily upon her and she threw him down near 
 the doorway. Then, casting her body through the en 
 trance, she seized a stone. Quickly, even like the pan 
 ther, he had leaped for his gun to knock her senseless. 
 But her heart was surging with hot anger and she too 
 sprang forward like a tigress and struck him hard and 
 fair upon the forehead. The light went out of Spotted 
 Eagle s eyes and he fell senseless upon the ground. 
 
 Before this happened Two Bears had mounted his pony, 
 and, as was customary in those days, had put his Win 
 chester in the case alongside his saddle and ridden forth 
 to meet Tonda. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 12? 
 
 Exelby* had with him fifteen as desperate outlaws as 
 ever roamed the northwest. This is saying a great deal. 
 He had been told marvelous stories of the cattle country 
 down in Texas and the mining developments in Arizona 
 and Xew Mexico. Exelby was a very shrewd man. He 
 concluded that it would be necessary for him to seek new 
 fields. He proposed to steal more than a thousand ponies 
 from the Sioux, and as he retreated, to sell these at 
 various frontier towns through Nebraska and Kansas. 
 He would leisurely proceed to Texas and begin a new 
 career there; later moving to the mining regions. By 
 that time he might be able to return to the vicinity of 
 Julesburg or Deadwood. The theft of a thousand ponies 
 would cause the Washington authorities to send out a 
 troop of cavalry, and Exelby, being conversant with fron 
 tier history, knew that sooner or later United States cav 
 alry rounded up any body of outlaws in search of whom 
 they went. Sometimes it required six months, but they 
 never failed. Moreover. Exelby was not afraid of the 
 Indians themselves. He had stood off on the plains ten 
 times as many warriors as he had men. But Exelby made 
 a fatal mistake. An intrenched force, or a guard accom 
 panying a wagon train, or a body of desperadoes or cow 
 boys, or any other body of determined men could outfight 
 several times their number of Sioux. The action he was 
 about to precipitate was quite different a running fight; 
 and the Whites were inconvenienced and retarded by a 
 large body of stock. They must keep this stock together. 
 If they lost it the very object for which they raided was 
 defeated. If they planted themselves upon a hill to repel 
 an Indian charge the natives might hurl three-fourths 
 
 *He was a real person, and was killed in 1SS4 by Deputy Mar 
 shal George E. Bartlett. 
 
128 TONDA. 
 
 of their number against the hill, while the remaining 
 fourth drove the ponies back to the village. 
 
 His men were armed with both Winchesters and Colts. 
 They had been five days and nights on the trail, coming 
 very slowly. Their horses were in splendid condition. 
 They moved almost due north. 
 
 They had selected broken country over which to travel. 
 Before crossing table lands or prairies Exelby carefully 
 inspected the country through his field glasses. Thus, 
 unobserved, they reached a point about a. mile from the 
 beginning of the draw in which Spotted Eagle had built 
 the tipi. The mile of level ground lying between them 
 and the draw was dangerous, and Exelby decided to wait 
 until dusk before crossing it. In a thicket of wild plum 
 bushes they picketed the horses and, sitting down, they 
 played cards during the afternoon. 
 
 They would follow the draw some two miles, still 
 keeping well north of the agency, then move carefully 
 four miles west and be at the rendezvous about nine 
 o clock. There they would rest their horses one or two 
 hours, slowly push on to the herd, cut out a thousand or 
 fifteen hundred ponies, rush northward ten miles, then 
 swing to the west and to the south. If discovered before 
 they had gone far enough to give the Sioux the impression 
 that Crows had raided, they would turn the herd directly 
 south. The ten best shots (and there were none better 
 in the whole country) would cover the rear and hold the 
 Indians in check. About five it began to get dusk. A 
 few flakes of snow fell. Billy the Kid crawled up one 
 of the sand-hills and surveyed the surrounding country. 
 No Indians were in sight. Exelby gave the word to move 
 their horses across the plain at a lope in order to get into 
 the draw as soon as possible. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 1*29 
 
 Trembling in every limb, horrified at what she had 
 done, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, Tonda came 
 out of the lodge. Her father was nowhere in sight. 
 Brown Eyes possessed that keen perception common to 
 ponies and dogs and all wild creatures, as well as the 
 Indians themselves. She snorted and pawed when she 
 heard the struggle, but did not attempt to run away. 
 Excited though she was. fearful lest his relatives would 
 take vengeance upon her, yet conscious that she had saved 
 herself, Tonda ran to the animal and mounted. Brown 
 Eyes needed no urging and swung into the long gallop 
 that would rapidly cover the six miles lying between this 
 detested place and home. The snow was falling lightly 
 but fast. In two hours there would be enough on the 
 ground to cover tracks. As Brown Eyes rushed along 
 she pricked up her ears and looked of! to the left. Tonda 
 knew that Brown Eyes never did this unless there was 
 something in sight. She too looked, and saw a body of 
 horsemen moving compactly and with some speed. A 
 moment later Billy the Kid saw the Indian girl. 
 
 " There s an Injun, Doc." 
 
 " Yes," replied Exelby. " it s six miles to the village. 
 If you nail him they can t hear." 
 
 " Hurry up. Kid." cried another outlaw. " Injuns kin 
 see furder than we kin. If you don t git him he ll shorely 
 carry the news." 
 
 You got to git him. The rest stay with me and ride 
 slowly," commanded Exelby. " Xo use to blow the 
 horses." 
 
 The Kid clapped great Mexican spurs to the sides of 
 his horse and the animal leaped forward in pursuit of 
 Tonda. She had fully a half mile start and. not realizing 
 the danger, naturally expecting that the horsemen were 
 Indians, she did not urge Brown Eyes. As a result the 
 9 
 
130 TONDA. 
 
 Kid gained, and in a short time was within pistol shot. 
 Tonda thought it strange that the horseman pursued her, 
 and was in mind to check Brown Eyes, so that she might 
 see whom it was. Brown Eyes whinnied and increased 
 her speed, whereat Tonda looked back and saw the man 
 distinctly: that he was a white and heavily armed. Sud 
 denly fear seized her, and drawing the quirt she struck 
 Brown Eyes two or three sharp blows. 
 
 Again glancing backward she discerned the hard, set 
 face of Billy the Kid. There was no pity in that coun 
 tenance. Compassion was unknown to him and if he had 
 thoughts they could be summed up tersely in one sen 
 tence: that here was an Indian no better than a dog and 
 that both Indian and pony must be killed. Even as he 
 thought the revolver spat out its ball and had not Brown 
 Eyes run somewhat unevenly it had found its mark. The 
 woman again lashed the horse. Brown Eyes gathered 
 herself for a race the like of which she had never run 
 before. For the moment Billy the Kid was left behind. 
 The trail was now slightly snow-covered, but it was hard 
 and straight. Brown Eyes knew it and the horse thief 
 did not. Once or twice his horse stumbled and swerved. 
 Again the red flame shot out, and this time the ball passed 
 through the folds of her deer-skin dress. She screamed 
 aloud; the wind favored her and the piercing cry reached 
 Two Bears, now almost in sight. Hearing the shooting, 
 recognizing the voice of his daughter, he too lashed his 
 steed and drawing his Winchester shot into the air. She 
 instantly divined that help was at hand, and her heart 
 took courage. Billy the Kid also heard the shot and 
 wondered. If other Indians were coming, he should ride 
 back and notify Exelby. If it was a single Indian and 
 he stopped to fight him, the first Indian being unarmed 
 would not stop, but continue on his way to camp and 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 131 
 
 carry the news. He must act quickly. Again the cruel 
 spurs were applied and the horse he rode bounded forward 
 like the wind; then he shot. Brown Eyes was struck, 
 but dashed on with accelerated speed for a hundred yards, 
 stumbled and fell, Tonda springing clear as the animal 
 went down. At this moment Two Bears loomed up in 
 the gray of the fast settling night and, taking in the 
 situation at a glance, fired upon Billy the Kid. Tonda 
 ran as fast as she could toward her father, calling to him 
 meanwhile. He told her to run on to the village, that he 
 would stand off the assassin, whoever he was. 
 
 Accustomed to arms, Billy the Kid at once knew from 
 the report that Two Bears had a Winchester instead of a 
 Colt. He stopped his horse, drew his own Winchester 
 and fired at the advancing Indian. Two Bears was about 
 a hundred yards distant and upon the shot his horse fell, 
 instantly killed. The Indian leaped up, got behind the 
 fallen animal, and returned the fire. 
 
 Billy the Kid knew that the Indian was under good 
 cover, that he could not charge him without being killed 
 himself or at least losing his horse. He was more than 
 a mile and a half from Exelby. Xothing remained but 
 to return, and cursing his luck he wheeled about and rode 
 back rapidly. Two Bears fired three more shots, each 
 without effect. 
 
 Tonda ran as fast as she could toward home. In spite 
 of her best efforts she was about fifty minutes in reaching 
 the village. Two Bears being past middle age and ac 
 customed to the saddle was not able to overtake his 
 daughter, although he arrived some moments later. 
 
 Billy the Kid reported to Exelby. The robbers con 
 ferred hastily and concluded that they must either act 
 quickly or abandon the plan. Exelby abruptly announced 
 his decision. 
 
132 TOXDA. 
 
 " Le Moyne and Richards kin take keer of themselves 
 an go to the devil. We kin whip them Injuns if we 
 hurry. The main pony herd is a mile an a half west of 
 the village an there is sand-hills between them horses 
 an the village. We will ride straight west to the herd, 
 cut out a thousand ponies an move straight south to 
 Julesburg."* The others all agreed, tightened their sad 
 dle girths, hitched their Colts more to the front, passed 
 Winchesters across their thighs, and thus made ready for 
 instant action. Then the whole cavalcade moved west 
 ward at a sharp trot. 
 
 Meanwhile Tonda, unnerved by her experiences, ex 
 hausted by the running, staggered into the first tipi crying 
 that her father was fighting with some unknown white 
 man who had shot at her and killed Brown Eyes. There 
 happened to be a number of persons about this lodge. 
 
 " Bun and tell the people," cried Tonda, and she sank 
 upon a pile of robes. Immediately there was wild excite 
 ment. Two old women cared for Tonda, while a dozen 
 men, boys, and young squaws rushed about the nearest 
 lodges crying the news. Self-appointed criers multiplied 
 rapidly and in ten minutes three hundred persons knew 
 that something unusual had happened. Some ran after 
 horses, all the men seized guns not the arms used in 
 buffalo hunting, but their best rifles and in a very short 
 time a string of mounted men poured out of the village. 
 The foremost met Two Bears, got information from him 
 in a few broken, breathless sentences, and urged their 
 horses on toward the draw. 
 
 Two Bears, once safely in the village, threw himself 
 upon the ground to recover his breath. Presently some 
 
 * In this story Julesburg and Hays City are made to appear 
 farther north than they really were. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 133 
 
 one brought a horse and he mounted and ran the animal 
 to the center of the village. Here he told the story 
 briefly. 
 
 " Every man arm and mount," shouted Rain-in-the- 
 Faee. " Some go to the pony herd and watch it on all 
 sides; others scout and trail." 
 
 " Yes," roared Richards in a voice that penetrated far 
 and near. " I think the horse-thieves are coming. Keep 
 in parties of thirty or forty and ride wherever there is 
 shooting." 
 
 Women began to cry and moan, as they always do when 
 the men are going into action. An old man. who was 
 unable to fight, but who had been a famous warrior twenty 
 years previous, volunteered to ride out to the agency and 
 tell Billy. There was hubbub and confusion, and steeds 
 galloped here and there and men shouted orders to each 
 other. 
 
134 TONDA. 
 
 XII. 
 
 DEFEAT OF THE HORSE-THIEVES. 
 
 The outlaws reached the head of the draw. Spotted 
 Eagle, in a dazed condition, yet recognizing the sound of 
 hoofs, crawled out of the lodge and, standing unsteadily, 
 leaned upon his rifle for support. In a moment the 
 Whites were upon him, and when the foremost passed 
 there was a sudden flash. Spotted Eagle fell, shot through 
 the head. The horses ran fast and the outlaws pushed on 
 to the pony herd. The old Indian who had offered to 
 notify O Donnell heard them coming, dismounted, and 
 covered the head of his animal. The rohbers passed just 
 out of sight to the north and the aged warrior was saved. 
 He immediately mounted, ran his horse to the agency, 
 and acquainted O Donnell with the facts. 
 
 By the time Exelby reached the main body of the herd 
 perhaps forty Indians had mounted. There were difficul 
 ties and delays, for the night was stormy and the herd 
 had split into small groups and sought more sheltered 
 spots among the sand-hills. Not a few mustangs were 
 under the banks of the river, where further protection 
 was afforded. Not only did the Indians have trouble in 
 catching their horses in the darkness, but it was impossible 
 for them to find their favorite mounts the war ponies. 
 Therefore each man leaped upon the first animal he 
 caught. 
 
 Exelby rode in advance, the others strung out on either 
 side, the whole covering two or three hundred yards. 
 Driving before them a small bunch of eight or ten ponies 
 they crossed some sand-hills and picked up fifty or sixty 
 more. A dozen mounted Indians appeared dimly sil- 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 137 
 
 houetted in the darkness. The outlaws checked their 
 steeds, fired upon the Sioux, killing one and wounding 
 another. The Indians at once fell back to await rein 
 forcements. 
 
 " We kin keep em back/ shouted Exelby. " Save yer 
 horses." There was a note of triumph in his voice. 
 
 They came upon the flat bordering the Xiobrara river. 
 Here were thickets of wild plum trees. A few Indian 
 guards, apprehending from the sound that the road agents 
 were in force, fired ineffectual shots and retreated down 
 stream toward the village. 
 
 "They ain t worth followin ," cried Billy the Kid. In 
 the plum thickets two or three hundred more ponies were 
 collected. 
 
 "Where s the ford?" asked one, as the horses paused 
 on the bank. There was a small, light man named Camp 
 bell among the thieves. His horse was large and strong. 
 
 " Find the ford, Campbell," ordered Exelby. Camp 
 bell rode down the sloping bank, entered the water, his 
 horse swimming easily. 
 
 " It s deep," he shouted. " I don t want no fish," and 
 the rest laughed. 
 
 " Try up and down." Campbell rode up the bank and 
 Billy the Kid proceeded down stream for several hundred 
 yards. Both entered the water frequently, but there was 
 no ford. Meanwhile the ponies were held in check by 
 outriders on either flank and the rear guards. Unless 
 urged they would not take to the water. 
 
 " We kin swim ef we has to," said Exelby, " but it 
 won t hurt to wait a leetle while." The only cautious 
 outlaw of the lot remarked : " Them Injuns is gatherin ." 
 
 They can t do nothin ," grunted Exelby. Meanwhile 
 Billy and Campbell searched still farther. Twenty or 
 thirty Indians had gathered on the opposite side of the 
 
138 TONDA. 
 
 river and opened a fire that was more galling to their own 
 ponies than to the horse-thieves. 
 
 " Don t shoot, boys," cried Exelby, " fur these here 
 ponies will stampede.* 
 
 During the halt, Richards arrived in the rear and, 
 having heard Exelby s comments, rode rapidly down the 
 river, resolved to attempt a strategem. 
 
 There was a ford a quarter of a mile up, but it was 
 rather narrow and somewhat hidden by high banks. A 
 good ford existed a half-mile below the first tipis. If 
 the outlaws crossed there, the Indians might be in suffi 
 cient force to hold them in check. Richards galloped his 
 horse thither as hard as he could, in the meantime telling 
 an Indian whom he met to run his horse ahead and tell 
 the women and children to abandon that end of the 
 village, and for unmounted men of whom there were 
 great numbers in the camp to guard the ford. 
 
 Billy the Kid was some hundred yards below working 
 his way along carefully and trying the water every rod 
 or two. Placing himself in a favorable position, but 
 not as far down as the ford, Richards shouted with all 
 his might: 
 
 "Hyar s the ford." Billy the Kid supposed that it 
 was one of their own men, so he made no reply, and 
 Exelby and the rest immediately moved the ponies down 
 the bank. 
 
 " Ther ain t no ford here/ 7 shouted Billy the Kid as 
 they came up. 
 
 " Who was it hollered from below you there was a 
 ford?" demanded Exelby. 
 
 "I don t know. Who did you send down thar?" 
 
 "I didn t send no one. Are we all here?" demanded 
 Exelby. Each man called out his name except Campbell, 
 who they knew was up the stream. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 139 
 
 " Swim the horses," urged Billy the Kid. 
 Exelby shouted, " Come back, Campbell/" and he re 
 plied "All right." It required some urging to make the 
 animals take the water, but the thieves succeeded in get 
 ting them across in ten or fifteen minutes. 
 
 By this time the Indian fire had some effect, for at 
 least a hundred had congregated near the spot. The 
 thieves returned it and killed and wounded a number of 
 ponies and two Sioux. Two thieves had their horses shot 
 and Campbell was slightly wounded. Upon the opposite 
 bank climbed the dripping animals. 
 
 Some delay was caused in obtaining horses for the 
 dismounted men, and the Sioux rejoiced. Well knew they 
 that each delay rendered more probable two important 
 things the return of their ponies and revenge. 
 
 " Every man push em through hard, ] shouted Exelby. 
 Spurs were applied, the thieves* mounts dashed forward, 
 but the ponies ran slowly. Whether they recognized that 
 they were leaving their rightful owners it is impossible 
 to say. Certain it is that they hesitated and when the 
 outriders applied whips they flourished heels and squealed, 
 for many of them were unbroken. The banks on the 
 south side were more uneven and several gullies entered 
 the stream. Here Exelby added more ponies and soon had 
 a total of about six hundred. Every little while a tongue 
 of flame shot out from behind a clump or bank, and 
 bullets whistled about the outlaws. Billy the Kid, Exelby. 
 and Campbell, being magnificent shots, fired at every flash 
 and did some execution. 
 
 While this was happening, back through the village 
 galloped the Indians who had gone to the draw. They 
 heard the shooting as they advanced. 
 
 " Spotted Eagle shot through the head," they cried 
 as they passed lodges. Women and children yelled. 
 
HO TOXDA. 
 
 Angry warriors poured out of the tipis and followed the 
 horsemen as fast as they could on foot. The whole village 
 was stirred even as a hornet s nest is aroused when it has 
 been struck. Young men who had never been at war 
 sang their medicine songs and ran forward to join in 
 the fray. 
 
 Richards met the advancing stream, his horse sweating; 
 for he had galloped here and there incessantly since this 
 trouble began. 
 
 " They are heading for Julesburg," he cried. " Eide 
 in front of the herd if you can." 
 
 Ponies were lashed and warriors- whooped as they 
 endeavored to out-travel and swing the herd, but they 
 failed. Fifty Indians were now behind or on either side 
 of the outlaws. 
 
 " Drive em back/ ordered Exelby, cursing frightfully. 
 Turning about, dropping the bridles over the saddle 
 horns, ten desperate men, a six-shooter in each hand, 
 charged back. The Indians retreated before that fierce 
 advance. One, two, three went down. Two more outlaws 
 lost horses and one robber was killed. Billy the Kid took 
 up one dismounted man and Campbell the other. " We 
 got to git ponies fur these fellers," shouted the Kid. 
 Exelby passed the word, for it would never do to wind two 
 of their best steeds carrying double. A delay of twenty 
 minutes was occasioned before saddles could be trans 
 ferred and the men mounted. Indians gathered and war 
 cries arose from all sides. 
 
 " Charge again," shouted the leader, and it was done. 
 The natives scattered and only one was hurt. 
 
 " We ain t goin to make head-way ef this keeps up," 
 commented the Kid, riding alongside of Exelby. " Wish 
 I had got that first damned Injun." 
 
 Word was passed along to move straight on and not 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 141 
 
 fire unless charged. In the rear followed the Sioux. 
 Rain-in-the-Face deputized several of his most faithful 
 warriors to notify all to keep behind at some distance and 
 to follow until daylight. " We have lost several brave 
 men. Let us await sunrise/ So they settled down to a 
 long and determined chase. From time to time Indian* 
 came up and joined the pursuers. As daylight broke the 
 forces were fourteen of the gang and sixty Indians for 
 some had been unable to catch up and several had dropped 
 behind or abandoned the chase. 
 
 They were forty miles from the village. Rain-in-the- 
 Face said to his friends as they gathered about him : 
 
 * * Our hearts got to be strong. They cannot make 
 Julesburg short of two days. Our people are moving 
 and by evening we shall have a good force. Keep right 
 after them until help comes. 7 
 
 There were four inches of snow and the sun came out. 
 Richards had gone to a lodge, painted and put on Indian 
 costume. About midnight he got a fresh horse and with 
 three Indians took up the trail. He carried his long- 
 range buffalo gun and one Sioux had a heavy Sharpe s 
 rifle. These would outshoot the Winchesters, but were 
 muzzle loaders. 
 
 During the night and early morning fully live hundred 
 men mounted and followed. At eight o clock a dozen of 
 these arrived and every hour afterward through the day 
 recruits entered upon the scene. The Indians had little 
 food with them, but were too angry to think of hunger. 
 With their flint and steel a fire could be built in some 
 thicket and horse meat cooked: but all of them were 
 able to continue through the day without food. 
 
 Exelby looked about him and swore. The Indians he 
 could defeat, but they would not stand and take punish 
 ment. 
 
148 TONDA. 
 
 They continued, riding doggedly at a walk. Presently 
 a splendid natural position came in sight, a small basin 
 encircled by sand-hills and the whole about three hundred 
 yards in diameter. Exelby halted the herd to let the 
 ponies rest, and viewed the situation. The outlaws look 
 up positions within support ing distance on the crests of 
 hills. The Indians rode around at the base just ou.1 of rifle 
 shot and completely surrounded Exelby s men. 
 
 "This ain t nothing he remarked. "Their line is 
 thin an ? we kin easy cut through/ 7 They all dismounted 
 to relieve their horses, and ate some jerked beef; smoked 
 their pipes, joked upon the situation, and bantered the 
 Sioux. The latter also dismounted. For two hours the 
 animals rested. 
 
 " We ain t got enuf, but if we gits the six hundred 
 through all right we ought to git ten dollars a head fur 
 em. 
 
 It was past eight o clock and growing colder when they 
 started. 
 
 "When they start try to cut out part of the ponies/ 
 said Gopher. The Indians divided into two flanking 
 parties and rushed on the wings of the wind, waving 
 blankets and yelling shrilly as the herd came over the 
 hills. Of course the outlaws opened fire, but they saw 
 only ponies sides and human heads and feet, for the 
 warriors hung down on the opposite sides of their steeds. 
 It was a spirited action, a picturesque sight. A hundred 
 ponies were stampeded and started homeward at a good 
 gait; four outlaws lost horses, an Indian was killed, one 
 wounded, and several dismounted. The Kid and Exelby, 
 with three others, charged the dismounted braves. Then 
 a heroic thing occurred. A dismounted and wounded 
 Sioux, seeing that his hour had come, began his death- 
 chant of defiance. In plain sight of all he lav, and even 
 
-ft 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 145 
 
 the toughened desperadoes marveled. Shooting stopped 
 and everybody listened. 
 
 " I fall, but my body shall lie 
 A name for the gallant to tell, 
 The gods shall repeat it on high 
 And young men grow brave at the sound."* 
 
 " Enuf of this. Go shoot him, Jack." To a man lying 
 down there is something terrible in the charge of mounted 
 men. They seem unnaturally large, now sinking down, 
 now rising to great heights on the crest of the jump. 
 
 Jack and Campbell rode toward him. The Sioux was 
 dying but he feared not. Gathering himself upon his 
 knees in a last effort, even as his voice quavered he 
 steadied himself, fired and killed Jack. Immediately 
 Campbell was upon him, shot him, and returned to his 
 fellows. 
 
 The natives continued yelling, shooting, and riding 
 about. Exelby and the gang worked hard for half an 
 hour before they secured suitable mounts. 
 
 At last they started again, the Indians following as 
 usual. At nine o clock came Richards and his friends 
 with the long-range guns. They had ridden without 
 stop, their horses were tired, but the disguised squaw-man 
 was anxious to fight. They pushed ahead, got within range 
 and shot carefully. An outlaw fell, instantly killed, and 
 one more thief had his horse shot. 
 
 " To Hell with these Injuns ! " cried the infuriated 
 leader. " Two of you fellers go on with the herd. Keep 
 right on and don t stop. We ll hold em back." They 
 wheeled, scattered out into a long line. 
 
 "Cheer, boys!" Ten high-pitched voices rent the air, 
 a look of joy came into Exelby "s face, for the Sioux fled. 
 
 * Schoolcraft. 
 10 
 
1-16 TONDA. 
 
 Children of nature learn quickly, and the Sioux were 
 now schooled and knew how to fight these men. Re 
 member that Ogalalas in point of horsemanship and in 
 the art of dodging had no equals. 
 
 Those on the freshest horses lied directly homeward in 
 evident panic. After them thundered the Whites, 
 breathing slaughter, determined on extermination. On 
 and on raced the Sioux. So well did they dodge, so 
 quickly threw they themselves on this side or on that 
 side of their steeds that but one man was killed. Mean 
 while Rain-in-the-Face, Gopher, Richards, and a cloud of 
 warriors dashed after the herd. Exelby had run a full 
 mile before he pulled up. The other outlaws also stopped 
 and, looking back, saw that they were outwitted. Their 
 horses were breathing hard, but they ran them back 
 toward the herd. 
 
 When Exelby pursued,, Eain-in-the-Face cried, " Here is 
 our chance. Whip, whip! We can rest after we get the 
 ponies." About the herd they circled. The ponies knew 
 their owners and ran away from the two guards. These 
 men, with white, set faces, hurling imprecations upon the 
 Sioux, charged in vain. In the twinkling of an eye they 
 were overpowered, shot through and through. The herd 
 was split up and the Indians quickly seized their favorite 
 ponies and mounted them as Exelby and his followers 
 returned to save the day. Like a flock of blackbirds the 
 Sioux charged them; then scattering, as the Whites shot, 
 even as those birds fly away upon alarm. The ponies 
 were dashing homeward and nothing could stop them. 
 
 " It s too late," cried Billy the Kid, his voice choked 
 by anger. " We got to save ourselves." 
 
 " Yep," said Exelby, as he glanced back and saw ten 
 more horsemen coming in the distance. " I never thought 
 them Injuns could do it. I lost five good men." 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 147 
 
 The ten remaining outlaws rode slowly southward, aban 
 doning the herd. Well knew they that before they could 
 recover it they must sustain more losses. Disappointed 
 and filled with impotent wrath they wheeled and fired 
 whenever the Sioux came within range. In an hour, 
 the Indians, growing bolder, advanced within rifle shot. 
 Richards and his friends succeeded in wounding two more 
 outlaws, and shot a horse. 
 
 " Boys, I can t keep up," said Campbell, the more 
 seriously wounded man. 
 
 " You got to pass in yer checks, pard," volunteered the 
 leader. " Git behind the dead horse and nail some of em 
 before yer goes under." 
 
 Exelby handed him a dead man s Winchester and 
 belt. The outlaws paused long enough to shake hands. 
 
 " Here, lead my horse, Kid; you may need him. Good 
 bye, fellers." Among his sins cowardice had no part and 
 the outlaw walked back to the fallen horse and, taking 
 his position behind the animal, placed one Winchester on 
 the ground, saw that both magazines were full, and waited 
 the attack. The Indians paused. 
 
 " Take him alive if you can." said Eain-in-the-Face. 
 " He shan t follow the others." 
 
 " Aow." grunted Gopher. " We got our ponies and six 
 of the outlaws. Xo use to follow the others and lose 
 more warriors." 
 
 More Indians came up and in an hour a hundred of 
 them had gathered just beyond rifle shot of the wounded 
 man. Meanwhile he had chopped through the thin frost 
 crust with his bowie knife, hoping to make a pit in 
 which he might withstand attacks from the rear, but he 
 was weak and soon desisted. Richards rode to the top of 
 a commanding sand-hill and called upon him to surrender. 
 He replied with a shot. Again Richards told him to 
 
148 
 
 surrender or be killed. Campbell would not surrender 
 and did not answer Richards. Lying there on the 
 ground absolutely fearless, aching for revenge, caring not 
 for the future, he had few thoughts of the past. A dere 
 lict from the East, he had committed crimes in many 
 States. His end was near. He realized that Hell yawned 
 to receive him and cursed accordingly. 
 
 "Give me the Sharpes," said Rain-in-the-Face. He 
 dismounted, rested the barrel across his pony s back and 
 shot carefully. Campbell leaped backwards and lay still. 
 Then the Sioux went down and examined him, took his 
 arms, his coat, and what odds and ends were in his pockets. 
 With ceremony they scalped him and then rode slowly 
 homeward, leaving the body lying out there on the plain. 
 The winds eddied the snow about and drifted a white 
 shroud over Campbell s remains. 
 
 First they congratulated themselves and then rested, 
 for men and beasts were tired. Now that the excite 
 ment was over hunger began to be felt. They would 
 ride on leisurely and could not hope to reach the vil 
 lage short of forty hours. They gathered brush in ra 
 vines, built fires, and roasted horse flesh. About thick 
 ets and in hollows the ponies ranged, pawed aside the 
 snow, and cropped grass and bush tops. Having ap 
 peased their appetites they continued the homeward march. 
 They had proceeded about ten miles leisurely, recruited 
 from time to time as they met riders from the village, 
 when appeared O Donnell, Charlie, and two agency em 
 ployees, all heavily armed. 
 
 " We come as hard as we could," he said, as he reached 
 Rain-in-the-Face. "What luck? Did youse git em all 
 back?" 
 
 "Aow. We lost about fifteen warriors killed and 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 149 
 
 wounded. We shot six horse thieves killed them and 
 got their scalps." 
 
 " The divil ! " said Billy to Charlie. " Oi think it ll 
 be some toime afore Julesburg sinds Doc out agin." 
 
 " They s tired/* said Richards. " But we hold a pow 
 wow before we sleep. They re all stirred up and mad. 
 You better hear the talk." And so they did; talking of 
 Le Moyne and the thieves and of Tonda s escape until 
 every one became excited and it was proposed to raid 
 Julesburg. Then O Donnell got up and gave good ad 
 vice : 
 
 " Be aisy, boys. Youse can take Julesburg, but youse 
 will have many min sint ter the happy huntin* grounds. 
 Oi have sint word ter Washington over the lightnin wire 
 about Exelby, and the Great Father will sind soldiers 
 after him." 
 
 They took turns keeping up the fires, got what rest they 
 could that night, and reached the village at dark the next 
 evening. 
 
 O Donnell wrote a detailed report of the events and 
 forwarded it to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 
 Xothing was done, and the Sioux were left to work out 
 their own salvation. 
 
150 TONDA. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 TONDA AND STRONG HEART. 
 
 The two old women did what they could for Tonda. 
 They bathed her face and made strong coffee for her to 
 drink. A boy was sent running to find Omaha, and when 
 she came upon the scene the meeting between mother and 
 daughter was quite affecting. An old horse was brought 
 presently, and Tonda taken home. 
 
 Two Bears did not join the pursuit. He, Omaha, and 
 Tonda remained in their lodge until the next morning, 
 when the girl had somewhat recovered. Her face was 
 scratched and swollen, but otherwise she was practically 
 uninjured. A white woman would doubtless have suffered 
 nervous prostration, but such ailments are confined to 
 those who lead artificial lives, and is unknown among 
 dwellers in the open air. The family held a long con 
 sultation and Tonda told them everything. 
 
 " Now/ said Two Bears, " Spotted Eagle has been 
 killed by the thieves. The Great Spirit has seen fit to 
 remove him out of our way. Le Moyne is gone no one 
 knows where. I have a suspicion that we shall not see 
 his evil face again. 
 
 " Xow, my daughter, you surely should have learned a 
 lesson. If any more young men play the flute or come 
 about here, have nothing to do with them. Strong Heart 
 is the only one worthy of you. Suppose you had not been 
 strong, Spotted Eagle might have carried you off. Then, 
 according to old custom, you would be his squaw and 
 have to live in the tipi of one you did not like/ 
 
 That was all he said he did not deliver a loud scolding 
 as would a white father. But it sunk into her heart. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 151 
 
 While she was in this state of suspense, the thought of 
 her friend, Strong Heart, came to her. Should she go to 
 his wigwam to see how he fared during all the excitement 
 and turmoil? Did he need her? It was nearly eleven 
 o clock, and high time that she helped Omaha prepare 
 dinner, but she could not resist the temptation of paying 
 another visit to him. 
 
 Strong Heart would have gone with the others had not 
 his mother and Wadaha restrained him by main force. 
 
 " You cannot do anything, and you are not able to ride 
 that far." 
 
 They plainly heard the shooting and the shrill Indian 
 cries. As the noise moved southward it became fainter 
 and fainter until it passed away. Toward midnight a 
 dismounted Indian came into camp and reported the 
 events. Xo more news was brought until the warriors 
 returned. Wadaha remained with Strong Heart. Eumors 
 had reached them as to Tonda and Two Bears, but they 
 were in ignorance concerning Spotted Eagle. 
 
 Reaching the tipi, Tonda entered noiselessly, for her 
 moccasined feet made no sound upon the hard, packed 
 dirt floor of the lodge. Her breath came quick as she 
 stepped to the side of the room where he lay. It was 
 dimly lighted, and no one was there but the wounded man. 
 Strong Heart was conscious of a presence near him, and 
 called out : 
 
 " Who is there? " 
 
 " It is I Tonda," she replied. 
 
 "What brings you here?" he asked. She knelt by his 
 side, and told him briefly the story of last evening s doings. 
 When she had finished, he seemed more impressed by the 
 part that Spotted Eagle had played than by the horse- 
 thieves raid of which he had already heard. 
 
152 TONDA. 
 
 " Tonda, surely you must be watched by Waukantanka. 
 No other girl could have escaped him. He was bad and 
 Waukasica has him now. Why did you go to meet such a 
 man? If he lived and had made you a squaw I would kill 
 him." Some of Strong Heart s old fire returned. He 
 raised himself a little. 
 
 " You are a fine girl and I like you. But my heart is 
 sore because you went out to see this man. Had I been 
 well I had played the flute at your door." She was pleased 
 at this. 
 
 " So Le Moyne brought the word? They say he is miss 
 ing now. We shall hear more when the warriors return." 
 Tonda told him what she knew of Le Moyne. 
 
 " You have been away at school too long. You think 
 the Whites 7 thoughts and act like them. Do not do it. 
 Be a worthy daughter of a noble father. Do any people 
 know of this ? " 
 
 " No one but you ; Le Moyne and my parents know that 
 he tried to make me his squaw." 
 
 " That is good. I shall tell no man/" Nevertheless the 
 secret leaked out through Rain-in-the-Face s speech in 
 Council the next day. They talked for an hour, and 
 Tonda went to her own tipi. 
 
 Nothing of consequence occurred in the village during 
 the next two weeks. Cold weather came and the Niobrara 
 froze. Several times Tonda went to see Strong Heart, and 
 on one occasion met Richards there. He said that it 
 would not be necessary for him to make another visit 
 to Strong Heart, as he was now nearly well. Then he 
 added, with a smile and a chuckle, " I reckon, young girl, 
 that your friend kin now go to your own lodge to see 
 you. He is able to get about almost as well as you kin. I 
 suppose you are very glad that your duties are about 
 ended." " 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 153 
 
 At this he burst out laughing, and started for another 
 part of the village to see how some of those wounded in 
 the fight with the horse-thieves were getting on. 
 
 " It is good weather, let us walk forth," said Strong 
 Heart, and they passed slowly through the village. 
 
 They continued to her lodge. People greeted him with 
 glad shouts, for he was very popular. Omaha and Two 
 Bears shook his hand, told him that he was fully welcome 
 and set meat before him. 
 
 The Indian is. as a rule, very unceremonious in love 
 matters, although there are some exceptions. He joins in 
 ceremonial dances before he goes to war, and the medicine 
 man carries on incantations and other orgies, but when 
 an Indian deals with matters which pertain to his heart, 
 and selects a bride, he wastes but few words and little 
 time. She knew of the white man s love; he did not. 
 Affection had he in a marked degree more than somo 
 highly cultured Whites who say that they love but soon 
 divorce. There was no love scene such as we have, yet 
 there was great and deep affection. 
 
 " I have come," said Strong Heart. " to ask Two Bears 
 and Omaha for Tonda to be my squaw. She shall share 
 all that I have and I promise to keep her well and to be a 
 good husband to her/ 
 
 "Aow." grunted the parents in unison. Two Bears 
 spoke : 
 
 "What does my daughter say?" Tonda went over to 
 where Strong Heart was and sat down beside him. He put 
 his arm around her and raised his right arm. " Waukan- 
 tanka sees that I promise to be a good husband to her. 
 There is none better or prettier than she in the tribe." 
 
 " She is a good girl," said the father. " We know that 
 you will treat her well/ 
 
 Two Bears and Omaha were well pleased. It was quite 
 
154 TONDA. 
 
 a " catch/ and now that Tonda s future was assured the 
 old Indians were given to song and mirth. The host 
 could not contain himself. Bidding Strong Heart to re 
 main, he w^ent out, found Rain-in-the-Face and told him. 
 He also was pleased and brought his wife and Wadah.i 
 dow r n to offer congratulations. All afternoon the good 
 friends chatted, ate, and smoked. 
 
 " Mother," said Tonda the next morning, " we must 
 name my little sister. She is too big to go longer without 
 a name. 
 
 "I think so, child; go tell our friends, oh husband. 
 
 Two Bears, therefore, called in the members of the tribe 
 to assist, and that afternoon they named her with clue 
 ceremony. Wadaha was present, smoking his great medi 
 cine pipe and singing softly to himself a chant composed 
 in honor of the lives of little children. Then he passed 
 ihe pipe about and each one of the men present blew a 
 cloud of smoke over the head of the little one and then 
 above to the Great Spirit. This done, Two Bears spoke. 
 
 "All great men and good women were once children. 
 Who knows but that our daughter may some day be the 
 wife of a great chief. She must have a proper name." 
 Then they all offered suggestions, but no one thought of 
 an appropriate name. 
 
 " Friends," said Tonda, " when I was in school and 
 found that book out of which I have read you so many 
 stories, I found a description of a beautiful girl who lived 
 far east of us on the Father of Waters. She was the pride 
 of her people. Her father made arrows; great medicine 
 arrows they were and any man who carried one was not 
 harmed when he went to war. There was a strong and 
 brave man named Hiawatha who courted this girl and was 
 accepted. Her name was Minnehaha, because she lived 
 near the falls, and in these falls the spirit of the Father of 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 155 
 
 Waters laughed and sported and made noise both winter 
 and summer." 
 
 " Aow," grunted Wadaha. "" That is good medicine." 
 
 "Aow," echoed the parents. " Minnehaha is a good 
 name." 
 
 " People, listen," remarked Two Bears. " It is a good 
 name. It came from a white man s book and I have little 
 faith in white men, but I think that this white man had 
 a good heart. I wish some of his kind lived out here. 7 
 Then "\Vawa, as leader of the old women, rose in her place 
 and spoke: 
 
 " The women own the land and we have authority in 
 the village and all the girls obey us. My child, Minnehaha. 
 take this name which your sister Tonda has given you 
 and be good. When you are grown up, and if you are 
 true to the Sioux nation, you will have a voice in the 
 council. I have finished. Tonda got up and kissed her 
 sister. 
 
 " Xow, my little one, you are named after a woman 
 whom many people know about, and I am sure that we shall 
 all be proud to call you Minnehaha. 
 
 Gopher, quietly sitting in the corner, was evidently 
 prepared to entertain them. Knowing well how to loosen 
 the old man s tongue, Two Bears handed him his pipe, 
 and after he had smoked, he related one of his long folk 
 stories, but as a recital of it required more than an hour, 
 we shall not repeat it here. When he had finished Two 
 Bears changed the subject and spoke at some length: 
 
 " Xow that we are here. I want to tell you something 
 that I have kept to myself for two moons, but you ought to 
 know now. A Sioux girl who was in school with Tonda 
 wrote her that the Whites have found yellow metal three 
 or four days journey north of our reservation. I know 
 from what people told me when I was a young man and 
 
156 TONDA. 
 
 from tales of other tribes, that when this metal was dis 
 covered in the mountains by the great salt-water of the 
 West, many white men went across the Plains, and our 
 people suffered as you all know. But the Indians in 
 the mountains were more persecuted and at this day some 
 of them only exist by digging roots and trapping small 
 game. Now, if the Whites are not stopped by Washington, 
 they will pour through our country, kill the buffalo, and 
 seize our lands. What do they want that yellow metal 
 for? It is not as good as red pipe stone. Why should 
 they hunger and thirst and become weary in search of it? 
 White men are fools." 
 
 " Two Bears, you speak wisely," said Eain-in-the-Face. 
 Much evil will come upon us if the Whites pour through 
 our country into the Black Hills. We must notify Wash 
 ington to send soldiers and drive them out." 
 
 While they yet conversed their thoughts were turned 
 into an entirely different channel. A horseman approached 
 the tipi. Omaha looked out and cried: "Here comes 
 Billy." The men went outside, shook hands with the 
 agent and heard from him some interesting information. 
 
 " Oi lias some news for youse. Oi jist got a letter from 
 that ould gintleman who sint Christmas prisents tor youse 
 Injuns last year. He s comin in a few days with a whole 
 wagon-load of stuff shipped from friends in the East who 
 love the poor Injun. He wants ter make a spach tor youso 
 fellers before he distributes the prisents. Oi ll give him 
 the warehouse an lie can stand on a barrel an give you 
 the usual spach about bein good Injuns an so on. Youse 
 tell your friends ter come on Christmas mornin, an hear 
 the wards an recave the gifts dirict from Santa Clans." 
 
 "Who is Santa Claus?" asked the Indians of Tonda af 
 ter he had gone. When she told them, Omaha remarked: 
 " The Whites have strange ways." 
 
A STUKY or THE Sioux. 157 
 
 The village was interested, and more Indians visited the 
 agency Christmas morning than the warehouse could 
 accommodate. The kind old gentleman (sent out by a 
 certain society) was present, and he opened his various 
 boxes and barrels. They had been hauled from the rail 
 way at no little expense. Judging from his experience of 
 the former year and that was the first year that dona 
 tions of old clothes and odds and ends had been made the 
 Sioux he was astonished to note with what avidity the 
 chiefs seized upon a few discarded silk hats included in 
 the former consignment. He did not know that Eed 
 Cloud, five years previously, had been East, and observed 
 that men in authority wore silk hats. This time he came 
 fortified. It had been announced from pulpit and press 
 that he would visit the famous fighting Sioux and dis 
 tribute the Christmas gifts. The incident of the silk 
 hats was not forgotten, and he brought with him a beauti 
 ful collection of various sizes and kinds from the vintage 
 of the fifties down to 18 Tl. There were three-score of 
 them. Richards, O Donnell, Charlie, Henry, and Tonda, 
 and one or two others present who knew something re 
 garding the Whites were suddenly seized by paroxysms of 
 violent and uncontrollable mirth when they beheld dig 
 nified Two Bears, grave Rain-in-the-Face, sedate Wadaha 
 and other prominent men. each with a sik hat upon his 
 head, riding in due solemnity toward the village. Silk 
 hats were not all, for in the early days all sorts of useless 
 and senseless articles although the gifts were prompted 
 by the best motives and kindest feelings were sent 
 out and given to the " heathen " in America. 
 
 When all was in readiness, O Donnell introduced the 
 benevolent gentleman, and Richards kindly volunteered 
 to act as interpreter. After he had spoken an hour, the 
 Indians got impatient. They had not come to be lectured. 
 
158 TONDA. 
 
 One and a half hours passed,, and general restlessness pre 
 vailed. Billy himself was bored and longed to be back in 
 his office, pipe in mouth. The gentleman could not resist 
 the opportunity of impressing his views on the natives. 
 Finally old Two Bears said something out loud. The 
 other Indians laughed. Turning to the interpreter the 
 gentleman asked: 
 
 "What did my good friend say?" 
 
 " Wall," said Eichards, as he hemmed and hawed and 
 tried to evade the question, " he jist spoke like Injuns 
 often do." 
 
 " Yes," persisted the speaker ; " but I want to know 
 what he said." 
 
 " Well, Mister, if you must know, Two Bears said, 
 Give us more presents and less talk/ 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 159 
 
 XIV. 
 THE MARRIAGE OF TONDA. 
 
 Three weeks of very cold weather ensued. Indeed, it 
 was daily below zero, and the Indians kept within doors. 
 They had plenty of meat, but as soon as the January thaw 
 came they all visited O Donnell and drew rations. 
 
 Strong Heart was nearly well. He came down to see 
 Tonda. 
 
 " Eichards has been very good to you," said Tonda. 
 " What do you intend to give him for his services?" 
 
 " Father gave me a good horse for him. and the next 
 time that I see him, I will go to the corral and present 
 him with the pony. That will be pay enough." 
 
 Tonda thought, as she looked across the stream at the 
 fringe of timber upon the other side, of the young man 
 who sat beside her. and wondered whether he would pro 
 pose a date for their marriage. As he would soon be en 
 tirely well, this important matter should surely be settled. 
 He sat in moody silence, blowing great clouds of blue 
 smoke from his catlinite pipe, high above his head. He, 
 too, was thinking of the same subject as the Indian 
 maiden beside him. and wondering if she would consent 
 to have it announced to the tribe that they were to put 
 up their own tipi. 
 
 When two young people are thinking of the same thing, 
 especially if the matter lies near their hearts, it does not 
 take them long to come to an understanding. Indians, 
 especially, are the most abrupt and decisive people in the 
 world. There are few long courtships among them. Sel 
 dom, if ever, does one occur. Often young people are 
 married within two weeks after their first meeting. 
 
160 TONDA. 
 
 " Tonda," said Strong Heart, at last breaking the 
 silence, " 1 cannot wait much longer for you to become my 
 squaw. The hours of each day drag by their tedious 
 length. I sit and smoke, and try to amuse myself when 
 you are away, but I fail. As our young men say, my heart 
 is gone, for you have stolen it. If I tried hard I might live 
 without you. But I don t want to. My heart beats 
 quicker when I see you coming. 
 
 " My totem s spirit says, " there is the squaw for you, 
 Strong Heart. She is finer than any one in the tribe. 7 
 So, Tonda, let us put up our tipi in a few days. Why 
 wait? I am well enough to work now. Tell your father 
 that we are going to set up our own home ; think how happy 
 we shall be." 
 
 " Yes, I will," replied Tonda. " I have been thinking 
 of this matter also, and I, too, am lonely when not with 
 you. I should not care to put off our tipi-building longer 
 than six or seven days." 
 
 The young girl blushed as she said this, but looking up 
 into the noble face of her future husband, regained her 
 composure and confidence, and let him embrace and caress 
 her as lovers are wont to do. 
 
 "It is winter," he said, "but there is sunshine in our 
 hearts. It will be warm for at least a week and we can 
 build the lodge in that time." 
 
 " Yes," she murmured. " Go and tell your father. I 
 shall tell my people." 
 
 The week passed very rapidly, the time being spent by 
 each in getting together the necessary articles with which 
 to furnish the home. Strong Heart brought Tonda some 
 bear and buffalo robes. They were partially tanned, but 
 needed some additional work before they were in a fit 
 condition for service. These, with the help of her mother, 
 she decorated here and there with strings of beads, and 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 161 
 
 fringed with red flannel. In this way she adapted them 
 for use as coverings for their couch and as seats for visitors. 
 The large buffalo robes, which were to be used in building 
 the tipi, were presented by Two Bears. Upon them 
 Strong Heart, with Tonda s aid, drew pictures to illus 
 trate to passers-by his exploits with the Crows and his 
 success as a hunter. 
 
 He drew a rude scene, wherein was depicted a young 
 man and maiden in a cave, furiously assaulted by many 
 painted warriors, wearing upon their heads feathers, and 
 upon their bodies marks denoting that they belonged to 
 the Crows. 
 
 A second covering showed a rush of savage? up a narrow 
 ledge, where the young man, standing just outside the 
 entrance of his retreat, killed many of his enemies. The 
 next portrayed a heap of enemies lying upon the rocky 
 ledge, the blood pouring from many bullet-holes, and 
 coloring the stones around with a crimson hue. 
 
 In the pictograph that he considered his "master 
 piece," he, wounded, was supported by Tonda; the blood 
 gushing from his wounds had stained the girl s dress. In 
 the last scene the Sioux horsemen are charging up the 
 rocky defile, and the enemies are being hotly pursued. 
 
 Thus was the dwelling of Strong Heart and Tonda 
 decorated, and right beautiful did it look to Indian eye?. 
 The warrior who was entitled to place these upon hi? 
 tipi told no lie. and did not boast unduly as he thus 
 vaunted his bravery. He had earned the right to so ex 
 press his achievement. When he had finished his work 
 and stood admiring its decorations, he said to Tonda : 
 
 " When we see soldiers marching or riding, there is a 
 
 head man among them and he wears gilt braid on his 
 
 shoulders showing that he is a great man and has seen 
 
 hard service. The Indians and the Whites who come to 
 
 11 
 
162 TONDA. 
 
 the village will see that I also am a great man and have 
 vanquished my enemies." 
 
 At last there broke the morning of a day long to be re 
 membered by Tonda and Strong Heart. They were above 
 the average intelligence of their tribe, and knew well the 
 serious nature of the step they were taking. They did not 
 enter upon it with the carelessness Indians usually dis 
 play at such a time. The ceremony was \ery short and 
 simple. Strong Heart and his mother had selected one of 
 the most beautiful sites in the village for the tipi, had 
 planted the center pole and stretched the others around 
 it, braced them at the top, and then had taken the center 
 pole away. They had stretched the buffalo hides tightly 
 around the frame-work, with their decorations outward, 
 where all could see them. This was all that they had 
 done, save to pile the blankets and gifts in a promiscuous 
 heap in the center of the lodge. 
 
 The sun had not been up long before every one was 
 astir in the entire camp, and, as soon as the morning meal 
 had been eaten, there stepped from the lodge of Eain-in- 
 the-Face a young man, clad in all his finery, who walked, 
 with rapid strides and head erect, to the lodge of his in 
 tended bride. He wore in his hair many eagle feathers, 
 and carried in his hand, for good luck, a little medicine- 
 bag filled with strange herbs which Wadaha had given him. 
 This he was to hang high above their heads in the wig 
 wam, and nobody was ever to open it to ascertain what it 
 contained. Reaching the lodge of his loved one, he walked 
 directly to the doorway, and calling to Two Bears, said: 
 
 " Father, I have come for your daughter." Then, turn 
 ing and peering into the darkness within, said to his 
 sweetheart : " Your husband awaits your coming." 
 
 Half shyly, and not without embarrassment, the maiden 
 advanced, and stood in the entrance a moment before 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 163 
 
 joining her husband. Her mother came forward also, as 
 did the braves of the family. 
 
 " Good-bye, my dear mother/ said Tonda, tears spring 
 ing to her eyes for a moment. Regaining her composure, 
 she added : " May Waukantanka, he who watches over us 
 all, the God of the white man and the God of the Sioux, 
 guard and keep my father and mother, and my sister. 
 Make our home yours, and come to see us often." 
 
 She caught up her little sister, Minnehaha, pressed her 
 to her breast, kissed her: then turning, embraced her 
 mother, her father: then turning to Strong Heart, she 
 said : i% My husband, we will go." 
 
 Strong Heart took her hand. and. leading her out of the 
 entrance, turned to her father and mother, and said: 
 
 " Two Bears, you are my father : Omaha, you are my 
 mother now; Minnehaha, you are my sister."- and he 
 grasped each hand in turn with a warmness that denoted 
 that the words he spoke were sincere. 
 
 " You have given me your daughter," he continued, 
 " and I will be a good husband to her. Remember that 
 Strong Heart is ready to do whatever his squaw s father 
 and mother may desire, and that when old age shall come 
 upon them, if Waukantanka permits us to live, he will 
 stand by and protect, provide, and love, as long as strength 
 remains in his arm and he has an eye to sw. Good-bye, all. 
 Come. Tonda. let us go." 
 
 Turning away, he led her to their new tipi, while the 
 Indians of the village, who had come to escort the couple 
 to their abode, cheered and shouted in honor of the oc 
 casion. Some ran forward with little gifts, others wished 
 the couple good luck. Taken all together, the reception 
 was one which few young men and women in the Sioux 
 nation had the honor to receive. 
 
 Thev walked homeward amid the good wishes of the 
 
164 TOXDA. 
 
 entire village. The wedding-march was the shouts of the 
 assembled throng; the ceremony was the few words that 
 were spoken at the bride s home, and the hymns sung were 
 the songs in their hearts. 
 
 Having led his bride to the lodge, and the ceremony 
 being over, they laid aside their finery and put on their 
 every-day clothes. They set about putting the interior 
 of the lodge in order, and, lighting the fire, made the 
 things present as home-like an appearance as possible. 
 
 The days rolled by in perfect happiness, and the young 
 couple spent the next two weeks as men and women 
 spend their honeymoon, whether made man and wife by 
 bishop or joined by mutual consent, as are the children of 
 the forest. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 165 
 
 MIXERS ARE DISCOVERED. 
 
 It was rumored that a few Rocky Mountain sheep had 
 wintered in the Bad Lauds, having come down from the 
 Black Hills. Indians prize the great horns of these ani 
 mals. This, added to the fact that the sheep are difficult 
 to approach, induced a party of warriors to set out after 
 them. 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face gave consent. " It has been a long 
 winter. My young men are restless. Such a trip will do 
 them good," he said. 
 
 "Aow," agreed Gopher. " I go also. We need not 
 tell Billy. It is on our own reservation. Can t we travel 
 over the land we own? " 
 
 So a party of fifty, well provisioned and armed, left 
 before daylight, passed some miles west of the agency and 
 were unobserved. There was very little snow, and when 
 the Indians halted, the ponies could paw out enough of 
 the long, dry prairie grass to nourish themselves. At 
 this season of the year horses are in poor condition, and 
 the riders, recognizing this, did not urge their steeds, and 
 frequently stopped. " There is no hurry, said Gopher. 
 
 In a week they were on the north side of the Bad Lands, 
 seventy-five miles from home. A few lean deer and an 
 telope and numerous prairie chickens kept their larder 
 half filled. For days they searched the hills, gullies, and 
 rock} cliffs, but got only five big-horns. Gopher said that 
 they must do better. 
 
 " The people will laugh at us when we return. Let us 
 hobble our horses in that nice valley a mile away, and put 
 
166 TONDA. 
 
 in a whole day at surrounding. If our medicine works 
 we ought to get a dozen that way. Certainly we can t 
 do worse." So they scattered to distant points some 
 traveling six or seven miles away and began to work to 
 a common center, making noise meanwhile. The circle 
 was irregular and weak, yet they succeeded in bagging a 
 dozen deer, two or three bears and ten big horns, and 
 held a feast lasting well into the night. 
 
 Next morning it was late when they got up and break 
 fasted. Strong Heart climbed a high butte to view the sur 
 rounding country. They saw him run hastily down, and ap 
 proach, crying : " Two white men mounted are coming this 
 way." Instantly there was surprise and curiosity. What 
 were white men doing on their land? A half dozen war 
 riors seized rifles and started toward the strangers. Other 
 braves went to procure horses. Over rough country they 
 passed for half a mile, then on coming out of a small 
 canon, found themselves within a hundred yards of two 
 mounted white men, one of whom led a pack mule. These 
 stopped their horses instantly, and Strong Heart called out, 
 " Who are you ? What do you want ? " 
 
 "Go to Hell," cried one of the men. " You can t skeer 
 us." 
 
 " You are on our land. You must get off/ Both men 
 pulled their Winchesters. 
 
 " Don t shoot," yelled Strong Heart, " or you will both 
 be killed " fair warning he gave them. 
 
 " Git out of our way, you red robbers." 
 
 "What did they say?" asked Gopher. Strong Heart 
 told him. " Draw guns," commanded Gopher. " If they 
 aim we ll all dodge about, But do not shoot until they do." 
 There was no hesitation on the part of the Whites. Both 
 aimed their guns, and the Indians danced about to avoid 
 being hit. Each rifle was discharged, and Gopher felt the 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 167 
 
 wind of a ball. One Sioux received a wound in his side, 
 the ball glancing along a rib but not disabling him. Sev 
 eral Indians shot and one of the men fell, instantly killed. 
 The other turned to flee. 
 
 " Stop. Throw up your hands ! " rang out Strong 
 Heart s clear voice. Momentarily expecting a bullet 
 through his body the man dropped his gun and obeyed. 
 They advanced, watching him narrowly, ready to shoot. 
 
 " Don t move," cautioned Strong Heart. The man 
 could not, had he so desired. He was badly frightened, 
 sitting on his horse like a statue, his hands elevated, his 
 eyes set and terror stricken. The Sioux were amused 
 all Indians like to see a white man afraid and grinned. 
 Strong Heart seized the bridle, while other natives ex 
 amined the dead man and took charge of his mule and 
 horse. 
 
 " Get off and sit down here, we want to talk. We ain t 
 going to hurt you." Greatly relieved at this, he dis 
 mounted. About him gathered the Indians. Gopher 
 gravely filled his pipe, lit it, and offered the stranger a 
 peace-smoke. The rest smoked. The man had not spoken ; 
 but the sweat stood out on his forehead. Gopher ques 
 tioned through Strong Heart. 
 
 "White man, why did you two fire on us? We did you 
 no harm. You behave as your people always do. Had you 
 got away, the soldiers would come after us when they lis 
 tened to your story of l Lakotas on the war-path. What 
 do you here, far from white settlements? 7 
 
 " I am a miner. George and I were prospecting in the 
 hills. There is a camp ten miles north of here. We left 
 two days ago to prospect, not knowing the country, and 
 got out of the big hills yesterday afternoon. We were 
 about to return when you saw us." 
 
 " How manv men are there in the Black Hills? " 
 
168 TONDA. 
 
 " Oh, three or four hundred. They are after gold, most 
 of them, hut some are building saloons, others running 
 boarding-houses." 
 
 "Are they finding much gold? 7 
 
 "A great deal." 
 
 "Where do you live?" 
 
 "I live in New York State and never was here before. 
 If I get back alive 1 shall stay there. Other people arc 
 welcome to the gold. This is too rough a country for me. 
 What are you going to do with me?" 
 
 The Indian translated to his companions. He did not 
 know where New York was, so he said, " Washington/ for 
 thus they usually designated the far East, in the buffalo 
 days. The Sioux differentiated between the dead man 
 and the living. One was plainly a miner, the other 
 " looked like a peace-commission man," as Gopher put it. 
 
 " Tell him," said Gopher, " that we are sorry his friend s 
 heart was bad. This man can go with us. We will take 
 good care of him. He cannot re.turn to his camp." 
 
 The white man seemed satisfied. He did not care to 
 travel alone in an unknown country. Moreover, he found 
 these Indians decent fellows and not the blood-thirsty 
 wretches he had heard them called. They impressed upon 
 him that he was a prisoner, but could do as he pleased. 
 
 " You can t get away because you don t know enough," 
 laughingly said Strong Heart. " When we get home you 
 can go to the agent, Billy, tell your story, and be sent 
 East." So they got up and moved over to where their 
 ponies had been left, taking the horses and mule with 
 them. Said the White to Strong Heart. 
 
 " I want to bury my friend." 
 
 "What shall we do, Gopher?" 
 
 " Tell him the ground is frozen, and we can t dig. But 
 I will send warriors back to pile stones on the body; take 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 169 
 
 the scalp and any trinkets he has. We have not had a 
 white scalp in some years. We killed him in a fair fight. 
 Don t let this man see the scalp. Keep it hidden." Some 
 youths returned and obeyed Gophers orders. Presently 
 they came back and all set out for home. 
 
 The White found his experience novel, and his first 
 night was a sleepless one. But afterward he slept soundly 
 and confidently. Xor did the Sioux lie, for he was well 
 used, conducted safely to camp, and surrendered to Billy 
 as the warriors passed the agency. Billy took the White 
 into his home, questioned him fully, and sent him off 
 on the stage next day. 
 
 After the stranger had gone to bed, Billy, Charlie, and 
 Henry gathered in the office and talked far into the night. 
 
 " B ys," said the agent in summing up, " here s the 
 chance o" our lives. There ain t goin ter be no war, so 
 don t youse fret. Thim Injuns don t need the Black Hills; 
 they don t go in em hardly iver. Its bad medicine. A 
 man has been killed air one captured. Yistiddy Oi give 
 out the last o the rations. More is comin" by freight 
 to-morrow. Thim Injuns wouldn t suffer if the agency 
 burned down to-night they is not foine buildin s any 
 way, as youse both knows." The men started. He re 
 garded thorn with cunning eyes. Xow this buildin , the 
 warehouse an" thim shacks about here, could go air lave 
 the store, the boss herder s house, an" so on. Oi might see 
 an Injun runnin away whin the fire got started. An the 
 Injun would start her from the windward." 
 
 "My God, Billy! You ll go to the pen if Washington 
 tumbles. Where does it benefit you? 
 
 " Don t youse lose slape. Sure an Oi d ha been in the 
 pen long ago if Oi wasn t born niver ter go there. Where 
 do Oi come in? Why, Washington will need new buildin s. 
 Charlie here is the contractor, an" he moight make nionev 
 
170 TOXDA. 
 
 a buildin o them. When this tenderfoot wakes up he 
 sees the agency on fire, and he may think thim Injuns 
 done it." Billy winked. " He an Oi have a talk an its 
 loikely that Oi tells him as how treacherous thim Injuns is. 
 They brought him in safely an nivir harmed a hair o his 
 head jist ter jolly him over a killin o his pardner. Thin 
 that same night they burns the agency over the hid o their 
 firm frind, the agint. The tenderfoot he spreads that 
 East whin he gits there. The newspapers howl : Pro- 
 tict the brave agint from thim rid divils. Thin Wash 
 ington sinds sogers here fur ter protict the miners an 
 agint. The Hills is opened, min come in ter git gold, 
 sogers spind money, Billy, Charlie, an Henry makes money 
 an iviry body is happy/ Billy leaned back contentedly. 
 It was a bold, wild scheme. They sucked in deep breaths 
 in astonishment. 
 
 " But suppose we are found out ? " ventured Henry. 
 
 " We can t be diskivered unless one of us squeals. An 
 we can t squeal. It s a case of hang together or hang 
 siparately. Let s take anither drink on it." 
 
 " Billy, I don t want to git into no trouble," began 
 Henry, " and I don t think much of your scheme." 
 
 "Billy leaned forward in his chair and gesticulated 
 with his right hand to emphasize his words. His long 
 index finger pointed now toward Henry, now at Charlie. 
 
 "A man kin testify in court only ter what he sees or 
 knows. Youse fellers is in your beds. Youse don t see 
 nawthin . Youse hear the agint who is always lyin awake 
 nights feelin the responsibility o the givernmint prop 
 erty. The agint roises up an runs out an yells, c fire ! fire ! 
 Thin the faithful employees " agin the finger pointed 
 at each one " an the agint bestirred thimselves ter save 
 the givernmint property. The tenderfoot, he comes out, 
 an runs about oxcited loike. Charlie an Henry an the 
 
BILLY BURNS THE AGENCY. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 171 
 
 tenderfoot follow the agint s orders an help move the 
 most valuable things out. By that time the Injuns see 
 the fire an* they come over. Whin the agincy inspector 
 from Washington comes out, Charlie an Henry was in bed 
 an all they know is that the aforesaid watchful agint 
 called thim up an saved thim an the tenderfoot air the 
 boss herder an* his assistant. The house o the boss herder 
 was not hurt by the fire, bein at some distance, an thim 
 men an the stage driver an the horses slept pacefully 
 ontil they was aroused/ 
 
 The men, rather dubious, were not in a position to go 
 contrary to O Donnell s wishes. Xeither the stage driver 
 nor the boss herder who happened to be honest men 
 would O Donnell dare take into his confidence. Billy 
 kept his head fairly clear, but he sent his assistants to 
 bed considerably under the influence of liquor. 
 
 About four o clock in the morning a figure wrapped 
 in a blanket, wearing moccasins and carrying a large coffee 
 crate filled with kindling and paper, went down the stage 
 road. In that beaten track he left no trail. Coming up 
 to the Indian path which diverged from the road, he 
 walked carefully, stepping only on the smoothest and 
 hardest places. He faced about, left the trail, and made a 
 bee-line for the west side of the warehouse. The person 
 placed the box against a corner of the building, poured a 
 quart of coal oil over it, leaned boards and other light 
 material against the end, and opened the small window 
 immediately above to create a draft. He scanned the 
 plain in the vicinity his hand ready to draw his gun 
 should anyone appear nothing in sight. The moon 
 was bright and would not go down until long after sun 
 rise. He struck a match, turned and ran in the direc 
 tion of the village, endeavoring to make a trail as he went. 
 He walked pigeon-toed as do most Indians. Reaching the 
 
11 2 TONDA. 
 
 trail lie came back to the road, entered his room, and went 
 to bed. 
 
 Soon he smelled smoke. lie \vent to the end of his 
 building, observed a blaze six feet high at the end of the 
 warehouse, returned to his couch, and waited five or six 
 minutes. Again he looked out. The wind favored the 
 flames and they were shooting ten or twelve feet into 
 the air. The smoke began to drift into his residence. He 
 leaped up, partially dressed purposely to appear sud 
 denly aroused from sleep rushed forth crying, u Fire! 
 fire! fire!" running first to the room occupied by Charlie 
 and Henry and then to the house of the chief herder. The 
 men assembled in a few moments. By this time the flames 
 were beyond control. 
 
 Men who have led strenuous lives are cool in time of 
 danger. The stranger was the only excited person present. 
 
 " Hyar, git an axe/ cried O Donnell, and when the 
 boss herder did so he cut through the end door of the 
 warehouse it. had been nailed up. The flames had not 
 eaten through the partition that divided the structure 
 into two rooms, although they were raging fiercely on 
 the other side. Through every crack and crevice poured 
 streams of smoke. 
 
 " Do youse see anythin worth carryin out? asked 
 Billy, as they ran about the room. 
 
 " There ain t nothin here that I see/ cried Henry. 
 In fact the room was empty, as O Donnell well knew. 
 They ran out. O Donnell s quarters were separated from 
 the warehouse by a space barety wide enough for a wagon 
 to pass between. The wind was toward the agent s resi 
 dence, and the men realized that no power could save the 
 building. The miner ran up: 
 
 " Haven t you got any hose or buckets or anything we 
 can use?" The men laughed sarcastically. 
 
A SXuKY OF THE SlUl X. 1^ 
 
 " What! " demanded Charlie. " Do you think we got a 
 tire department out here? There ain t nothin* we can u>e 
 except some old buckets, and as far as puttin* out the 
 fire with them is consarned, we might jest as well use tin 
 cups." 
 
 " Get a move on yer, b ys, an* carry out my stun"," com 
 manded O Donnell. They opened all the doors in his 
 house and office and worked like beavers, carrying out 
 the records and the few valuables he possessed first, then 
 devoting their energies to the furniture. 
 
 The squaw, Wawa, could not sleep well. About the 
 time that the agency employees began fighting the fire, 
 she looked out of her tipi to ascertain if morning were 
 nigh. The agency being on higher ground, she plainly 
 observed the glare of the flames and instantly aroused her 
 husband. They hastily dressed and ran from one lodge 
 to another crying that the agency was on fire. In a short 
 time the people were on their way to render assistance. 
 Xaturally those on the fastest horses got there first, and 
 as they all followed the short cut the Indian trail - 
 they obliterated the tracks of the incendiary, save in one 
 spot. 
 
 As the Indians advanced, they saw the white men run 
 ning back and forth, and lashing their horses, came as 
 rapidly as possible. At first a half dozen braves dis 
 mounted and rushed into the threatened building, and 
 presently a score of them were hard at work. The smoke 
 drifted heavily and the white men were coughing and 
 choking. 
 
 " Go off to one side, said Gopher. " You white men 
 are full of smoke. We ll save the things." 
 
 The Whites were well-nigh exhausted, although they 
 had been at work no more than twenty or twenty-five 
 minutes. The Indians draped various boxes and chests, 
 
174 TONDA. 
 
 bedsteads, etc., to safety. More Sioux came up and rushed 
 into the sheds where many and willing hands made quick 
 work of the few articles and outfits worth saving. The 
 smoke and the glare and the heat were now unbearable, 
 and all withdrew out of danger and left the buildings to 
 their fate. 
 
 They watched and hung about for several hours. At 
 last they could approach the end of the warehouse where 
 the fire started, and the agent s quarters were burned out, 
 but the embers glowed and gave out intense heat. 
 
 " The fire started in the west end," said Billy. " Look 
 fer tracks." 
 
 Some of the old men who were good trailers went there. 
 Ashes and cinders extended out for one or two yards on 
 all sides, obliterating all tracks within ten feet of the 
 building. In the soft ground farther to the south they 
 found the imprint of a moccasin, five feet beyond that 
 another, then one or two more, and then the trail dis 
 appeared. The Indians grunted in astonishment and 
 gathered about. 
 
 "How old is the trail?" asked Billy. 
 
 " I think it was made early this morning." That was 
 all O Donnell asked. He called the white men to witness 
 the moccasin prints. All the Indians saw them and were 
 depressed thereat. They could not imagine what Indian 
 should be so foolish as to burn up his own supplies. 
 Apparently an Indian had committed this crime. They 
 stayed no longer, but mounted their ponies and rode 
 homeward. 
 
 " It seems to me/ said Two Bears, " that Waukawsica is 
 injuring us just now. Everything is no good." 
 
 O Donnell at once telegraphed to Washington that 
 three of the agency buildings had been burned; that in 
 the morning he discovered a moccasin track leading away 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 1T5 
 
 from the warehouse; that a miner had been murdered, and 
 one captured about seventy-five miles north of the agency. 
 He wrote a long letter setting forth additional particulars. 
 He suggested that while he did not ask for troops, being 
 unafraid of Indians, yet it might be well to have them 
 present. 
 
 The Indians talked it over informally among them 
 selves, and in a day or two sent Eichards to the agency. 
 His mission was to play the spy and learn all he could. 
 O Donnell did not know of Richards 7 part in outwitting 
 the horse-thieves. In fact he knew less of Richards than 
 of Le Moyne; and while he thought the former the 
 straighter man, he was inclined to place him in the same 
 category with other squaw-men. Richards spent half his 
 time during the next three or four days in hobnobbing 
 with the agent. 
 
 Two or three weeks passed. It was now the end of 
 February. Custer was wintering the Seventh Cavalry 
 down at Fort Laramie. The Secretary of War notified 
 him that there might be trouble and that he must have his 
 command in readiness to be moved. Custer was greatly 
 pleased with the prospects, for he loved action, and re 
 plied, u I am ready by day or night." He advised a friend 
 that, although he did not like winter campaigns, yet as he 
 expected only one or two more cold snaps, he did not 
 object, to taking the field. 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face and Gopher went up to see Billy. In 
 spite of the lack of buildings he had managed to crowd 
 the supplies into the remaining sheds, and stored in some 
 unoccupied Sioux lodges the less valuable property. With 
 some tact the agent informed his wards that he had 
 notified the Great Father, and that it was just possible that 
 soldiers might come to the reservation. The chiefs did 
 
176 TOXDA. 
 
 not reply, but their faces hardened and they strode out. 
 Charlie remarked a moment later: 
 
 This is had business, Billy. You should not have sent 
 fer troops." 
 
 "The Injuns can t do nawthin ." 
 
 "You ll see/ said Charlie sententiously. 
 
 Immediately upon their arrival the chief called a coun 
 cil, to he held that afternoon. Those who were at his tipi 
 left for their homes, and told their neighbors what had 
 been done, for in such a case there was no secrecy. There 
 was great excitement throughout the camp in consequence, 
 and that afternoon there was an enormous gathering at 
 the large council-house. The matters at stake were of 
 such vital importance that even Sioux women were pres 
 ent. Those who could not crowd into the building stood 
 outside. Those in the doorway repeated what was said to 
 those without, and thus all were acquainted with the 
 details of each speech. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 177 
 
 XVI. 
 
 OUSTER COMES. 
 
 As Kain-in-the-Face left the agency he saw Richards, 
 and, glancing about, observed that no other white man 
 was in sight. As he passed Richards he whispered: 
 Come to the village at once." So when they were in 
 the council-house the chief commanded, " Richards, tell 
 us from the beginning what you Jearned of Billy." Rich 
 ards cleared his throat and gave a comprehensive state 
 ment of all the incidents and disclosed much new infor 
 mation. " You know," he said in conclusion. " how we 
 cared for him while he built the new buildings. We fed 
 him even when we were short of food ourselves and 
 loaned him tipis in which to store goods. He is now liv 
 ing in a half completed house." 
 
 "Aow," commented the Indians present. " The rumor 
 that gold hunters are in the Black Hills is true and there 
 are many men there now. Billy notified the Great Father, 
 but he thinks that we burned the agency buildings. 
 
 " I told Billy that we did not want the Great Father 
 to misunderstand us. and that he must at once send word 
 that the soldiers must keep the white men out of our 
 country, or that there would be trouble. The agent 
 laughed at me and said that the white men must get gold, 
 whether they came upon the reservation or not, and that 
 he would send word to the Great Father when he had 
 time. He told me to go back and tell Rain-in-the-Face 
 that it would turn out all right. 
 
 " Chief, I am a white man, but have done much for 
 t-ke Lakotas. I want to see you prosper. You cannot 
 
178 TONDA. 
 
 have yellow-metal hunters on your land. Let us tell 
 Runner to ride as fast as lie can to the railway station 
 and telegraph Washington to withdraw the gold hunters 
 from our reservation. 1 have done." 
 
 " Richards speaks the truth/ - said Rain-in-the-Face; then 
 turning to Runner: " Get your swiftest horse and come to 
 the lodge instantly. Strong Heart, go get Tonda and 
 have her come here with paper and write my words. 
 Strong Heart went in search of his wife. 
 
 Runner selected his two best ponies; knowing that he 
 must change mounts as they became tired, and appeared 
 at the council-house. 
 
 Tonda came also. She sat down and wrote out the 
 telegram. Rain-in-the-Face and Gopher gave Runner 
 several silver dollars. He put the paper carefully inside 
 his shirt and pinned it there. It read: 
 
 "General Grant, President of the United States: 
 " White man coming into our reservation. Wants 
 
 gold. Agent thinks we set fire to agency, but we 
 
 did not. We are good Indians. Keep soldiers and 
 
 white men out of our reservation. If soldiers and 
 
 white men come through reservation they will be 
 
 killed. Ogalalas very angry. 
 
 " Chiefs Rain-in-the-Face and Gopher." 
 
 They gave him a great cheer as he mounted and started 
 upon his long ride. The third morning, tired, but ready 
 to go yet farther for duty s sake, he entered the office. 
 Of course the operator was surprised, and stoic Runner 
 marveled at the strange instrument and its " medicine 
 clicking." He gave to the operator the message, and it 
 was sent forthwith. Then he leaped upon his horse and 
 turned his face homeward. 
 
 When the dispatch was received in Washington the 
 officials passed it about and laughed over it, not knowing 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 179 
 
 of what great importance it was to the Sioux nation. 
 It lay upon the table of the Secretary of War several 
 days, and was officially pronounced by one of the Indian 
 fighters to be the work of some squaw-man and of no 
 consequence. This same Indian fighter told the Secretary 
 that, in his opinion, the Sioux had caused the destruction 
 of the agency buildings, and that they were very hostile 
 to all the Whites in Xebraska and Dakota. The Secretary 
 concluded that it would be best to send the brave and 
 dashing General Custer through the heart of the Sioux 
 country, into the Black Hills region. The matter was 
 referred to one of his subordinates, and General Custer 
 was duly notified to march through the Indians land 
 and be ready to end hostilities. Thus was the plea of 
 the Sioux nation treated in Washington. Little did the 
 officials who signed the orders dream what would be the 
 cost to the United States in human lives and valuable 
 property during the next five years, and that Custer him 
 self should fall. 
 
 The Commissioner of Indian Affairs had telegraphed 
 O Donnell that Custer would be at or near the agency 
 within a week. The agent rode over to Rain-in-the-Face s 
 lodge and delivered the information, cautioning the In 
 dians not to attack the troops. Then he returned and 
 held a jollification with Charlie and Henry. 
 
 A council was immediately called. It was a matter of 
 moment, of life or death to the Sioux, and so they delib 
 erated and debated for hours. Strong Heart s spirit had 
 been restless within him, yet he had steeled himself to 
 silence. At last he arose, and a murmur of approval ran 
 through the audience, for there were many who loved the 
 youth. 
 
 Saluting Eain-in-the-Face as chief and not as his 
 father, he addressed them : 
 
180 TONDA. 
 
 " Chiefs and young men of the Ogalala, T have never 
 said much in council. The old men should talk, and the 
 young men act. My medicine tells me that this is a 
 matter of life or death to us. We need our great man, 
 Red Cloud, here. (Cheers.) I speak for the young men 
 and they want Red Cloud and Sitting Bull and a hun 
 dred head-men and dog-soldiers from both reservations. 
 (Aow.) Our chiefs have spoken quiet words, but our 
 old men know that Washington never gives us increased 
 rations and never treats us like men until we have 
 fought. (Aow.) Speaking for the dog-soldiers and all 
 the young men, I say send twenty of our best riders 
 north to our brothers in the other bands and have them 
 come. 
 
 The white man that was captured said that there 
 were at least three hundred rough white men in the Black 
 Hills. If they stay there who knows but that death may 
 be coming upon us?" Even the chiefs were carried 
 away by the contagion and joined the young men in 
 their yells. 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face got up, named twenty young men who 
 were to go with Runner and take orders from him. In 
 two hours they had provisioned and started. 
 
 " Listen. Every man here and all those outside the 
 lodge, tell the women and the boys that no word of 
 this must reach Billy s ears." They agreed to tell no 
 white man, but as the boss herder was out looking after 
 some stray cattle he met the messengers ten miles east 
 of the agency. 
 
 " Where are you going ? " he demanded. The Indians 
 looked at Runner. 
 
 " We re goin to get eagle feathers," and all the Sioux 
 laughed. 
 
 The boss herder understood the language imperfectly 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 181 
 
 and failed to grasp the idiom. He opined that they 
 made sport of him. When he reported to Billy, the 
 official interpreter explained that as eagle feathers were 
 worn by brave men only, the sentence carried two mean 
 ings. Probably Eunner meant that they were going on 
 a foray which only brave men dared attempt. Billy 
 rushed to Charlie and Henry, shook hands with them 
 and said: 
 
 " Horray ! Things is comnf our way ! Oi shall wire 
 Washington that contrary ter my orders the Injuns wint 
 raidhf north. B ys. this is bully.* He did so. and the 
 officials telegraphed Fort Laramie. A courier, conveying 
 a copy of the dispatch, was sent after Ouster. 
 
 Custer had won great reputation among the Indians. 
 They gave him a distinguishing name. General Crook 
 they called " The Gray Fox." because he slipped upon 
 them unawares. Custer had long, almost yellow hair. 
 In the field he frequently dressed in buckskin. Other 
 long-haired men were familiar to the Sioux, but none of 
 them had hair of the color of Custer s, so they called him 
 " Long Yellow Hair."* They feared him and wished to 
 whip him at some time, because he had killed the women 
 and children when he attacked Black Kettle s camp on the 
 Wichita in 1809. 
 
 There were two warm days. The ground dried and 
 became dusty. Custer had several hundred men. well 
 mounted, plenty of provisions, and all the ammunition 
 necessary. The first intimation that the Indians received 
 of this march was the news brought in by a party of 
 scouts who were out some twenty miles southeast of the 
 camp. They had seen an enormous cloud of dust, and 
 thinking it was buffalo, galloped to a ridge near-bv in 
 
 * The Cheyennes called Custer " Creeping Panther." 
 
182 TOXDA. 
 
 order to observe the movements and extent of the herd. 
 Judge of their surprise and consternation at beholding 
 three hundred and fifty cavalrymen, led by the renowned 
 Long Yellow Hair, moving in good order northward. 
 They watched the column for a few moments and then 
 retreated cautiously, until they had placed several miles 
 of broken country between themselves and the Whites, 
 when they lashed their ponies into a dead run and flew 
 across the prairie with unabated speed until they arrived 
 at the Sioux camp. 
 
 One dashed to the chiefs lodge, another to the council- 
 house, and a third rode through the village, crying out 
 the startling news : " Three hundred whites are march 
 ing up the valley, led by Long Yellow Hair, with two big 
 guns and many rifles. They are mounted on cavalry 
 horses, and look as though they meant to fight." 
 
 Some ran to the council-house, while others crowded 
 around the messengers. Kain-in-the-Face rushed out and 
 sounded the war-whoop. Hastily calling a messenger, he 
 mounted him on his own pony and charged him to ride 
 for his life to Sitting Bull s camp and notify him what 
 was happening, and to tell him to send messengers every 
 few hours, in order that each might keep informed of the 
 others movements. Eain-in-the-Face cautioned his war 
 riors to begin no hostilities unless the Whites should 
 offer to attack, but to see that their arms were in good 
 condition, and to be ready to jerk down their tipis and to 
 move to Sitting Bull s village at an hour s notice. He 
 told Gopher and Strong Heart to mount their best ponies 
 and take a white flag, which the Whites would respect, 
 intercept the column, and hold a conference with Long 
 Yellow Hair. 
 
 While these preparations were going on in the village, 
 the two messengers rode post-haste toward the southeast, 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 183 
 
 to meet Ouster and ascertain his intentions. They had 
 gone fifteen miles only, when they came in sight of the 
 column. The troops moved leisurely, and the army 
 wagons lumbered along in the rear. The scouts were in 
 advance and General Ouster and Captain Brown rode 
 with the main body. 
 
 The two horsemen with the white flag rode boldly down 
 the ridge and advanced to meet General Ouster. Seeing 
 them coming, he sent out two orderlies to meet them. 
 They stopped when within a hundred yards of each other, 
 and Strong Heart, who was to act as spokesman, cried out 
 in English, "What do you here? Is General Ouster 
 there? I want to speak with him." 
 
 " If you are unarmed," replied one of the orderlies, 
 " we will conduct you to General Ouster, and you may 
 speak with him." 
 
 Laying their rifles upon the ground, they approached 
 the General. He advanced from the column to meet them, 
 and they held a parley lasting for some little time, 
 
 " General Ouster," said the Indian, " what are you 
 doing on our reservation? Why are the soldiers here?" 
 
 " I guess I shall take my troops wherever suits me. " 
 replied Ouster, and added, "Who are you?" 
 
 %: I am leader of the dog-soldiers, and we want peace. * 
 
 "A queer kind of peace you observe," replied the 
 General. " The Great Father ordered me here because 
 he intends to stop you people from killing white people 
 and burning agencies. 
 
 " We did not burn the agency, nor have we killed 
 Whites save in self-defense.* replied Strong Heart. 
 
 While the parley ensued, other troops came up. among 
 them being a famous scout and old timer. California Joe. 
 This man had been with Ouster for many years, and 
 idolized the General. 
 
184 TOXDA. 
 
 :TF 
 
 "How far is your village from here? 
 
 " Fifteen miles. 5 
 
 "Are all your warriors in? 
 
 "All," replied Strong Heart Indians think nothing 
 of telling a lie when it is necessary. 
 
 " What did you come out here for? " 
 
 " To see why you are here and why the Great Father 
 at Washington does not drive the gold hunters out." 
 
 " You seem/ replied Ouster, " to be speaking the 
 truth,, but I must see the agent at your reservation and 
 talk with him. If he says that you have told the truth, 
 I will report to the Great Father that you are good In 
 dians and should be left alone. If I receive orders to drive 
 the white men out, I will do so. Go back to your people 
 and tell them that I will not attack them at present/ 
 With that Ouster rode back to the column, and the In 
 dians, satisfied with the interview, picked up their arms 
 and returned to the camp as fast as their tired ponies 
 could bear them. 
 
 The council was in session when they returned, and 
 the news they brought was received with shouts of 
 delight. Runners were dispatched to Sitting Bull s 
 camp with the intelligence, and all were greatly gratified 
 that Long Yellow Hair meant no harm to them. Many 
 of the warriors went to the agency to learn what the 
 result of the interview between the agent and General 
 Ouster would be. 
 
 Tonda remained at home anxiously awaiting Strong 
 Heart s return, and impatient to learn what course her 
 people would adopt in so important a matter. She was 
 not kept long in suspense, for her husband, as soon as he 
 could leave, rushed from the council, and running quickly 
 to the tipi, burst through the entrance and told in a few 
 rapid sentences all that had taken place. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 185 
 
 " Strong Heart," said she in a pleading voice. Don t 
 try to fight the Whites unless they attack us. Even if 
 Custer is here, I don t believe he will attack us. Don t 
 lead the dog-soldiers into any foolish action, for we shall all 
 be killed if you do. I know the white man s land well 
 and have seen his strength: how he lives in great cities, 
 how many warriors he has, and how many guns. I have 
 seen houses so large that many hundred people live in one; 
 therefore listen to the advice of your squaw, dear husband, 
 and do not fight without just cause." 
 
 " Dear Toncla, I will do as you wish. Long Yellow 
 Hair will stop at the agency for two weeks or longer, 
 and will hold a council with our people. You must 
 not be anxious if I am there most of the time, for I 
 must have a long talk with the General. We must drive 
 out those old gold hunters. He is a great man and 
 has won many battles. I think he will keep his word." 
 
 Custer and O Donnell had a long conference. Charlie 
 and Henry had little to say, but the herder and the 
 stage driver, not knowing the particulars, substantiated 
 O DormeH s claims. Custer went into camp at a favor 
 able spot ten miles down the river. A few days passed and 
 about eight o clock one morning, Red Cloud, Sitting 
 Bull, other chiefs and five hundred warriors of the Sioux 
 nation arrived and advanced within a hundred yards of 
 the agency buildings. The main body of the Indians stood 
 near, close enough to hear most of the conversation that 
 passed. The General and his staff came forward to meet 
 the Indians, accompanied by the agent. After consider 
 able hand-shaking, Custer opened the conversation by 
 saying : 
 
 " Chiefs Eed Cloud and Hain-in-the-Face. you have 
 come to talk with me upon an important matter, and I 
 trust that we shall reach an understanding without 
 
186 TONDA. 
 
 difficulty. Your agent has informed me that some Indian 
 caused th e burning of the buildings, but it cannot be 
 directly laid at your door. He has also told me of your 
 kind treatment of himself and employees and your assist 
 ance at the time of the fire. I have just sent two mes 
 sengers to the railroad station to telegraph the Great 
 Father in AVashington these facts, and it will be only 
 a few days before all will be right. Do not disturb the 
 miners. Let them pass through your lands for the 
 present. 
 
 Sitting Bull and Rain-in-the-Face looked at each other 
 a moment, then turning to the interpreter, Sitting Bull 
 drew himself up to his full height, looked about him, and 
 began : 
 
 " Chief Long Yellow Hair, we have listened to what you 
 have to say, and are glad that the news of our good feeling 
 has been sent to the Great Father. But there is one 
 thing which you do not understand. The men who have 
 come upon our reservation seek to injure us by killing 
 our game and driving us from our land. Chief Long 
 Yellow Hair, they have not driven us from our land yet, 
 but if they are allowed to stay, it will be a question of time 
 only before they do drive us out. 
 
 " You know Red Cloud, chief of all the Sioux. He 
 wants no trouble. He whipped Fetterman and Kidder 
 and at various times took a hundred wagon-trains. Powell 
 whipped him. You have whipped our people, we bavo 
 never whipped you. But our hearts are strong and we 
 are not afraid." 
 
 " Aow," shouted five hundred voices. 
 
 Custer smiled and Brown pulled his mustache. 
 
 " Interpreter, be careful to interpret truly/ 
 
 "Yes, GinYl." 
 
 " Sitting Bull, Red Cloud and the rest. I do not think 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 187 
 
 that your medicine-man s heart is good. He always talks 
 war. If you Sioux want a tight you can get it very 
 quickly. You must do as I say/" 
 
 The Sioux growled in disapproval. 
 
 " I am head chief," said Red Cloud. " and I know you 
 are a great man. You have struck us hard. But some 
 clay you are going to strike once too often. (Aow.) I have 
 made peace at Laramie and you and my agent Billy and 
 Washington know that I never broke my word. (Aow.} 
 My young men may fight, I shall remain in my cabin, for 
 I have made peace. 
 
 " We seldom beg. We now ask you to take away those 
 yellow-metal hunters. If you do not, there may be 
 trouble. Why do you white men keep forever crowding 
 us toward the setting sun? * 
 
 Custer consulted his officers a few moments. Then he 
 said : 
 
 " Do nothing rash. Restrain your young men. Mean 
 time I shall send words to Washington over the lightning 
 wire setting forth your claims." 
 
 The chiefs talked among themselves several minutes, 
 and then Rain-in-the-Face said : " Chief Long Yellow 
 Hair, we will not molest these men until you have orders 
 from Washington, provided they do not steal our ponies 
 or shoot any of our young men. We regret very much 
 that you cannot run out those metal hunters at once." 
 
 The chief, at the end of this remark, walked nervously 
 back and forth, muttering to himself. General Custer 
 saw that no good could come of prolonging the interview 
 further, and so shaking hands once more, he turned to 
 his officers and gave orders to mount. 
 
 The Indians drew together and began talking among 
 themselves. The cavalry moved in good order toward 
 their camp, the gallant Custer. with his long hair wav- 
 
188 TONDA. 
 
 ing in the wind, riding on ahead. As. the heavy horses 
 Lumbered out of sight, the Indians mounted their light, 
 fleet ponies and returned, disappointed arid disheartened 
 that the general had not at once turned north and re 
 moved the Whites from the reservation. 
 
 Strong Heart did not go to his father s lodge, but to his 
 ;>\vn. His wife saw from his downcast face that the inter 
 view had been an unpleasant one, so she tenderly threw 
 her arms about his neck and drew him to a seat upon the 
 bear-skins, saying, " Tell me all about it." 
 
 He told her what had taken place, and she listened to 
 every word with great anxiety. 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 189 
 
 XVII. 
 
 RUXXER AXD THE WOLVES. 
 
 Le Moyne would doubtless have been turned out of the 
 Sioux village when the natives suspected his part in the 
 Confederate bill deal, but for a curious circumstance. HP 
 had come from Canada many years before, bringing with 
 him a pair of steel skates. These he carefully preserved, 
 even going to the trouble of having the agent send them 
 East to be repaired. In the north Le Moyne had learned 
 to skate, and every winter put on heavy shoes the rest 
 of the year he wore moccasin? strapped on the skates. 
 md to the amazement and delight of the Sioux, skated 
 ii}) and down the Xiobrara river. Runner, naturally an 
 athlete, became much interested in the spectacle and 
 begged Le Moyne to teach him the use of those " iron 
 ice-shoes," as they were called. Le Moyne did so, and 
 although the stiff leather hurt the Indian s feet, yet he 
 did not desist until he had become even more proficient 
 on the ice than Le Moyne himself. Indians were known 
 to come from far and near to see Runner skate. Le Moyne 
 in his precipitate departure failed to take the skates with 
 him. Runner wished to purchase them and promised the 
 squaw payment when goods other than food wore to be 
 distributed in the early spring, and received from her 
 these coveted articles. He borrowed a file from the agency 
 blacksmith and sharpened them. 
 
 During the March thaw of this year there was more 
 warm weather than usual. Some rains fell and the SHOTT 
 ice of the Xiobrara was thoroughly drenched. Later In 
 March a blizzard followed and the surface froze solid a 
 
190 TOXDA. 
 
 glistening expanse on either side, farther out by a hundred 
 yards than the ordinary channel of the river, and capable 
 of bearing up a man at any point. This was the first 
 winter in the memory of old men that Sioux had been 
 troubled by wolves. Buffalo herds, disturbed by white 
 hunters, had migrated far to the south, arid many wolves, 
 both prairie and the larger and fiercer kind the gray 
 wolves ranged about the country seeking what they 
 might devour. They killed a number of ponies and tore to 
 pieces some Indian dogs almost within sight of the village. 
 Gopher cautioned the natives to go armed and to avoid 
 traveling alone. 
 
 Minnehaha was taken ill. At first the symptoms were 
 not alarming, but as she grew worse and called for water 
 continually, her parents became worried and Indians 
 seldom concern themselves unless there is real trouble. 
 Two Bears went for Tonda and Strong Heart. Said he: 
 
 " Come to our lodge at once. Bring with you some of 
 the medicine which was so powerful to restore Strong 
 Heart to health, and see if it will not bring back the 
 smile to the face of your little sister, Minnehaha, and 
 the bright flashes to her eyes. She fell ill two days 
 ago, and seems very feverish. Do not delay, but come at 
 once. 7 
 
 Tonda rose quickly from her seat, and taking several 
 bottles from a little medicine-chest, hurried to her father s 
 home. 
 
 Tonda saw at a glance that Minnehaha was very ill. 
 She had been playing along the edge of the stream on the 
 ice, where the Indian children went nearly every day, and 
 had slipped into a water hole. Being a delicate child, she 
 took a severe cold from the wetting. She continued to play 
 and romp all day, often getting overheated, and then sit 
 ting down still clad in her wet clothes. The exposure 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 191 
 
 was too much for her, and she caught a heavy cold, which 
 soon developed into a raging fever. 
 
 Tonda drew near the bed, and knelt beside her. 
 
 " I am glad to see you, sister/ said the little sufferer. 
 -You will stay with me a while, won t you?" and she 
 looked up into the face of her kind-hearted sister, with 
 a most piteous expression. 
 
 "Yes, Minnehaha, I have come to bring you some 
 strong medicine, good medicine, which will speedily make 
 you well again. You must take it whenever mother tells 
 you to, and lie still and be patient, like a good girl." 
 
 " Yes, sister, I will take the medicine and will lie still. 
 You must come and see me often. Do not leave me long, 
 Tonda. 
 
 Tonda held Minnehaha s hand and told her several lit 
 tle stories to amuse her and if possible make her forget 
 the burning of the fever. She stayed with her sister 
 nearly two hours. When the time came for her to return 
 to her own lodge, she smoothed the hot brow and kissed 
 the parched lips, and then, with a parting instruction for 
 the little one to take plenty of cold water, she went home. 
 
 But Minnehaha did not get better. Xext morning Two 
 Bears again summoned Tonda and Strong Heart. Omaha 
 insisted upon having Wadaha also, so they called that 
 worthy. He examined the girl and diagnosed the case 
 as follows : 
 
 "Friends, listen! She has a small evil spirit in her. 
 I must drive it away. I know that Tonda does not be 
 lieve in the power of my medicine, but I shall show you 
 all that Wadaha is a great and powerful man." He went 
 home, got his medicine sack, his sacred drum and other 
 paraphernalia, and in company with the neophyte, his 
 understudy, returned. Then ensued a long incantation 
 accompanied by much singing. Poor Minnehaha became 
 
TO.NDA. 
 
 more feverish, and tossed about on her couch. Tonda 
 offered to give her water, but Wadaha said that water 
 would spoil the efficacy of his charms. As soon as he 
 departed Tonda ran to the river, filled a bucket, and in 
 spite of Omaha s protests gave her all the water she 
 craved. Then the family conferred together. 
 
 " We must do something," said Tonda to her father and 
 mother. 
 
 "What can we do?" asked Omaha. 
 
 " I have no faith in Wadaha/ replied the girl. " His 
 noise disturbs the little one, and Strong Heart and I think 
 that, although he is my grandfather, he cannot cure her. 7 
 
 " See here, 7 said Strong Heart, " there is a doctor with 
 the soldiers who are, as you know, ten miles down the 
 river. He is a great white doctor and can make any one 
 well. We want to get him here quickly. The snow has 
 drifted. I can ride there, but I think that Runner can 
 go on his iron ice-shoes much faster. I think you should 
 send for the white medicine-man/ 
 
 "If he can make her well, .gut him," said Two Bears. 
 " J will give him a good pony, or even three ponies, if he 
 can help her, and all my ponies if he saves her from death." 
 
 " Strong Heart, said Tonda, as she looked at her sis 
 ter s flushed face, "run quickly to Eunner s tipi and get 
 him started." 
 
 The Indian leaped up and ran as fast as he could to 
 the crier s lodge. "Runner." said he. "I want you to 
 go down to where the soldiers are on your iron ice-shoes, 
 because you can go faster than I can on a horse. Minne- 
 halm is very sick, and we want the white medicine-man." 
 
 "Aow." grunted llunner, diving into his little buffalo- 
 hide trunk and dragging out the skates, " I will show you 
 how fast I can go. The Whites have shod horses; they 
 will not slip on the ice, and the white doctor can ride 
 
A STOUY OF THE Sioux. 193 
 
 up the river easier than he can plow through the drifts." 
 They walked to the river bank together. Runner sat 
 down on Strong Heart s blanket and adjusted the skates. 
 
 " Help pull the straps tight/" and Strong Heart did so. 
 
 Although it was cold Runner did not take his blanket, 
 but drew a belt tightly about his waist, confining his coat 
 so that it could not flap. 
 
 " Want your gun? " asked Strong Heart. 
 
 " Xo," said he. " I don t want to carry anything. Must 
 go light." 
 
 People came down to the bank as the long, lithe form of 
 Runner shot out on to the clear ice. Strong Heart told 
 them where he was going, and they marveled and watched 
 him out of sight. There were many bends in the river, 
 and the wind, although not strong, was keen and chilly, 
 but Runner was warmed by his work. He swung around 
 the great bend just below the village, and although the 
 distance was not a mile, because of the curious topog 
 raphy of the country he could neither see the tipis. nor 
 could the villagers observe him. A movement in tho 
 bushes attracted his attention. Two great, gaunt, gray 
 wolves ran out behind him and loped along after him. 
 but keeping on the snow k-e near the shore. Runner 
 thought this strange, for he had never known wolves to 
 follow a man. 
 
 "Huh!" lit- grunted. "They must be like antelopes 
 I m- curiosity, which run up to a white or a red flag only 
 to be shot down. They never saw a man on skates." He 
 swung around a short bend and the wind carried his 
 -cent back to the animals. Xow thoroughly aroused, they 
 quickened their pace for they had been dozing in the 
 bushes one of them raised his head and gave the long- 
 drawn cry of assembly. Several other wolves heard it. 
 and they. too. gave tone, ambled out of their hiding- 
 13 
 
194 Toam. 
 
 places and came down to the river, trailed in behind and 
 soon caught up with the leaders. Runner still regarded 
 the incident as merely curious. He was no coward, and al 
 though he had heard vague stories mostly folk-lore 
 about how wolves in the olden times used to pursue men and 
 tear them to pieces, he was not apprehensive. There was 
 a straight stretch and the wind favored him. He took 
 long, even strokes, bent over and looked at his skates, ob 
 served that they were securely fastened. More wolves 
 answered, and presently the leader appeared, a great whitish 
 fellow, lighter in color than the others. The Indian 
 swung sharply around the narrow bend, getting a full 
 and clear view of the wolves before he entered another 
 straight course. There were thirteen of them, and they 
 ran doggedly and persistently, keeping the rougher ice in 
 order that they might not slip. 
 
 " Huh," growled the Indian, " if they want to race with 
 me, they ve got to hurry/ Still he did not suspect that 
 the wolves would attack him. On and on he skated. The 
 shoes began to hurt his feet. His soles were more callous 
 than those of the white men, but he was unaccustomed 
 to this kind of footgear, and the straps pinched and 
 chafed. He did not hurry. Most Indians are vain, and 
 he flattered himself as he glanced down upon his mus 
 cular legs, working in rhythmic fashion, reeling off stroke 
 upon stroke evenly, gracefully. Less strong skaters have 
 won in championship races, and had he trained accord 
 ing to the white man s standards he would have made his 
 mark in the athletic world. 
 
 It was cold enough to cause contraction in the ice. 
 When ice contracts curious sounds are heard on pond and 
 stream. They are unlike anything in nature, and man s 
 inventions do not reproduce them. Not unmusical are 
 they : deep and clear : again, short and sharp ; long drawn, 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 195 
 
 like thunder, vot different in tone; mellow, ringing and 
 suggestive of power. But they never inspire fear as does 
 thunder. Only in the far northland, or at certain alti 
 tudes, may ono hear them and wonder thereat. 
 
 In the broad stretches as the pursued and the pursuers 
 swept along these sounds followed. " Devils are at work," 
 thought the Sioux. 
 
 The wolves gained a little. He observed the patter of 
 their feet he had not noticed it before, and when he 
 swung around another bend, he heard the scratch of their 
 toes on the ice. Some of them slipped, but in the stretch 
 they recovered and came nearer. The truth began to 
 dawn upon him, and he shivered. But it was only for a 
 moment fear was unknown to Runner. 
 
 " Huh," he grunted, " I believe they re after me." He 
 was getting warm but increased the speed. It was per 
 haps six miles to Ouster s encampment, and the Indian 
 now realized that he must conserve his strength and 
 employ all his skill as a skater. There was no appeal 
 from this conflict and defeat meant death. The wind 
 blew against him. He looked ahead and saw that it 
 was nearly a mile to the next bend. The wolves being 
 nearer the ice. and not affected by the wind, increased 
 their gait. Runner glanced back and saw the leader in the 
 act of opening his great red mouth, and the man turned 
 and lengthened his strokes. The sound came; fierce, mer 
 ciless, and pregnant with death. Down the mile course 
 flew the wolves and the man. He unbuttoned his coat, 
 tore it off, and flung it back. There remained only a 
 thin deer-skin undershirt about his body. The wind cooled 
 his chest and revived him. The leader stopped, seized 
 the coat, tore it about in his jaws and flung it backward 
 to other wolves, who in turn bit it. pawed over it, and 
 then raced on after the skater. 
 
196 TOXDA. 
 
 The bend was a three-quarters circle of half a mile cir 
 cumference. The neck was no more than three hundred 
 yards wide. As Runner came to it he realized that here 
 would be the first struggle. The wolves took to the shore 
 and cut across. Runner spurted, taking twenty- feet strokes 
 as he entered the bend, the wind favoring Him. The 
 wolves encountered drifts, and thereby Runner s chances 
 wore improved, for only half of them awaited him as he 
 came tearing town the stream. He swerved sharply and 
 avoided the first three. The leader barred his path im 
 mediately beyond. In dodging he lost speed, and then 
 he spurted while traversing the forty or fifty feet between 
 the first animals and the leader. 
 
 You have seen an expert skater start suddenly, and 
 have heard that peculiar sound as the skates cut into 
 the ice when he spurts. You have seen him, when com 
 ing at full speed, suddenly throw his body to one side so 
 that it seems to the beholder as if he would surely fall. 
 The feet are close together, the skates are inclined against 
 the ice and plane off the surface, shooting the spray some 
 yards ahead. He dodges at an abrupt right angle. Run 
 n er did all of this and more. Snap, went the jaws of 
 i he white wolf as he sprang, but they closed upon empty 
 air; and before he could gather himself for a dash, the 
 Indian had sprinted and bore down upon the remaining 
 four wolves. Here the ice was clear and blue for two 
 or three hundred yards. He simply turned in their direc 
 tion, going faster and faster, and as they raced to catch 
 Him, dodged to the left, and although the wolves braced 
 their feet against the ice, and dug with their toes, they 
 slipped several yards before they could recover from the 
 momentum. Runner became exhilarated and called aloud 
 to the creatures to come on. On they came, keeping one or 
 two hundred feet behind him. As he approached bends 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 197 
 
 he quickened the pace and thus drew ahead. He was 
 getting a little tired, and Ouster was still four miles 
 distant. But the wolves were also tired, for they had 
 run harder than they ordinarily do in pursuit of game. 
 There was one more dangerous bend a mile and a half 
 This side of the troops. If he could pass that he was safe. 
 A monotony settled down upon the chase. Ke leaned over 
 and worked steadily. 
 
 The last bend was at hand. His great thigh muscles 
 began to ache. His breath was coming rapidly, and soon 
 he would be unable to keep up the pace. Never had he 
 skated so fast, never had the wolves run so far at such 
 a speed. He was a firm believer in his medicine, and he 
 prayed to his particular totem, " Great thunder-bird, 
 help me. Strengthen my legs and make my wind hold 
 out." He felt encouraged, and gathering what strength 
 remained he hit up the pace. The brutes also knew 
 that once around the bend men s tents would be in sight. 
 A man they might catch, but men were to be shunned, 
 for men carried something that marie a noise, belched 
 -moke, and killed. Therefore, the white one gathered 
 himself for a final burst, and called aloud to the pack 
 in his deep, sharp tones for he too must needs save his 
 wind to come on. 
 
 The sun shone brightly. Save the occasional ice tones, 
 all nature was still. The cut, cut of the skates, tho 
 scratch, scratch of horny toes upon the ice were the only 
 sounds. There was now no wind. Into the bend he shot. 
 Across the bend leaped the wolves. There were few drifts, 
 but the snow lay a foot deep, blown inshore from the 
 river. Again this circumstance helped him. 
 
 Through the bend ho flew, skating fast, his reserve 
 strength exhausting rapidly. At the narrowest part were 
 the wolves, this time ten of them lined across and some 
 
198 TOXDA. 
 
 fifteen feet apart. Near the shore was snow-ice, with a 
 rough, hard surface. Could he skirt them and not cut 
 through sufficiently to trip? It seemed his only chance. 
 Possibly the men in camp could hear him, and he emitted 
 a short but piercing cry. One hundred feet away was the 
 line, expectant, confident. They stood still, ready to 
 spring. Their shaggy bodies worked backward and for 
 ward swayed by tremendous heart action, and their sides 
 heaved. Two miles more at high speed they could not 
 run. 
 
 "Waukantanka,help me," and he opened wide his mouth 
 to get more air, cried aloud, and dashed at the line. He 
 must dodge to one side or else they would get him. He 
 came down upon them like an arrow, and even as the cen 
 tral wolf leaped, Runner himself leaped four feet into the 
 air and fifteen feet forward. The jaws snapped quickly 
 and cut out a piece of flesh from his side as neatly as if 
 taken by a knife. But he hesitated not and sped on 
 toward safety. 
 
 Two officers on horseback, bent on pleasure, were com 
 ing up the river. They heard the cry, saw the wolves. 
 Their newly-shod steeds did not slip as they raced up 
 the river. Runner, too, saw them and his heart took on 
 new life, his eyes almost snow-blinded by the glare fixed 
 steadily upon the goal, and he wavered on. The fero 
 cious animals also saw and they stopped, turned, and 
 sought hiding places on shore. The riders were General 
 Ouster and Captain Brown. 
 
 " By George," said Custer, " that was magnificent ; did 
 you see him jump? Hurry up!" 
 
 " There," cried Brown, " he s down. Wounded, too. I 
 see the blood. I never thought an Indian could skate." 
 They rode rapidly to where Runner lay, and dismounted. 
 Half a dozen men in camp seeing that something unusual 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 199 
 
 had happened mounted, and were galloping the horses of 
 the famous old fighting Seventh Cavalry to the scene of ac 
 tion. Meanwhile Custer and Brown raised the Indian, 
 wrapped him in a blanket, brought him to consciousness, 
 gave him a drink of whiskey, and made him as comfortable 
 as possible until the others came up. 
 
 " Here Joe, talk Sioux to this fellow and find out all 
 about it," commanded Custer. But Runner s breath came 
 in gasps and he was too weak to talk. So they put another 
 blanket about him. carried him to the camp, established 
 him in one of the tents, and sent for the surgeon. 
 
 " Gin rl," said Joe, " he has got something important 
 to say. He never skated here fer fun." 
 
 Again Joe spoke to the Indian. This time in broken 
 sentences he made known his mission. The white men 
 were deeply impressed. Up came the physician and 
 dressed Runner s wound. Later they feasted and cared 
 for him as he had never been served before. 
 
 " There, Custer," said Brown. " Never again say that 
 only dead Indians are good ones." 
 
 " Yes, I ll admit I am wrong for once. He must have 
 made a grand race. Wish I knew the time. He is all 
 right, and the General s eyes sparkled. Custer ordered 
 the surgeon to ride to Rain-in-the-Face s village with six 
 soldiers at once and attend to the sick girl. They went 
 up the river rapidly, but the wolves did not show them 
 selves. They reached the village safely, and their entry 
 caused no little commotion. Curious men, women, and 
 children came out to see the cavalrymen who had defeated 
 a village on the Wichita and killed so many warriors. The 
 chiefs shook hands with them and good-naturedly 
 answered (through the interpreters) the troopers 
 bantering. 
 
 Meanwhile the doctor worked over Minnehaha. 
 
200 TONDA. 
 
 " Joe," said Ouster, " How many years have you been on 
 the Plains?" 
 
 " Wall, Gin r l, I can t say fer sartin, but I think about 
 thirty." 
 
 "What do you think of this Indian?" Joe was not 
 given to long speeches, and Ouster had never heard him 
 say more at one time than he did now. He shifted his 
 quid into the other cheek and spat generously upon the 
 ground. 
 
 " Wall, GinYl, this Indian is an Ogalala. The Ogalalas 
 is the bes Sioux. They never was well licked except when 
 Major Powell got under them iron wagon beds an the 
 Sioux couldn t take the sodgers. Ef you ever has to fight 
 the hul Ogalala tribe it won t be no Sunday School picnic. 
 This hyar Indian has done somethin I never heard tell 
 on." 
 
 " How fast do you suppose he skated? " asked Ouster. 
 
 " Wall, Gin r l, I can t say fer sartin as I know nawthin 
 bout skatin , but them wolves shorely come on a hard 
 run and they was big timber wolves. I wouldn t like to 
 resk a man on a boss or you on yer hoss, an you is a 
 good rider, Gin r l, fer in that ten mile them wolves 
 would shorely ketch a man no matter what hoss he rode." 
 
 "How fast would you say he skated, Joe?" persisted 
 Ouster. 
 
 " Wall, Gin r l, I can t say fer sartin, but I jest think 
 that them wolves will run at a fifteen or seventeen mile 
 clip. I wouldn t resk no man in this hyar company an 
 you got good men on skates or on a hoss. Them wolves 
 would shorely git him. Nobody but this hyar Indian 
 could ha done it." 
 
A STORY OF THE Siocx. 201 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 THAT COKK LEG. 
 
 The officers of the Seventh Cavalry varied the monot 
 ony of camp life. They roamed the country exploring 
 and hunting, visited the scene of Strong Heart s gallant 
 stand, made themselves at home in the Sioux village, con 
 sulted and joked with Billy. 
 
 A retired officer named Long, who loved action and 
 never missed a chance to see or take part in a light, was 
 visiting Custer. They had been comrades in arms. 
 Long had lost a leg and also wore a glass eye for he was 
 in Forsyth s famous light against the Cheyennes but 
 as Kipling would say. that is another story. They sat 
 in Ouster s tent. 
 
 " General, said Long, " Do you think there is a pos 
 sibility of fighting? " 
 
 " Well, comrade, I don t think so. These Indians are 
 objecting to the miners and are naturally incensed 
 against the horse-thieves, but they seem inclined to be 
 peaceful." " Joe." said the General, turning to his scout. 
 " What do you think? You ve been about the village and 
 in the trader s store and have heard the Sioux talk." 
 
 " Wall, Gin r l. I can t say for sartin, but it seems tor me 
 that we kin git a scrap ef we wants it. 
 
 " Do they talk much? " 
 
 ** Xot much, Gin r l. they feels sore over them miners. 
 They is goin ter have a big feast, Gin r l, and when they 
 does, you officers better go." 
 
 " You think that would please the natives? 
 
 " Yes. an it would make their hearts good ef you got 
 
202 TOXDA. 
 
 ?ome terbacco an sugar of Billy an sent them ter the blow 
 out as comin from the Gin VI." 
 
 14 You go over to the village and find out when they re 
 going to have the feast and then see that Billy remembers 
 to send the presents in my name." 
 
 " Yes, GinYl," and Joe departed. 
 
 In a few days a regiment of infantry marched in and 
 camped by the agency. These troops were to remain as 
 guards in case the cavalry wished to move. Custer was 
 well pleased. 
 
 Captain Brown was in a reminiscent mood in his tent 
 that evening. " Your brother, Tom, always used to tell 
 with great relish a story of an eastern professor. You 
 have heard it several times, but these other officers haven t. 
 The Indians are becoming less superstitious every year, 
 but not so very long ago a captured man, if he had his 
 wits about him and possessed anything in his pockets that 
 the Indians had never seen, by working a supernatural 
 dodge might escape. 
 
 "When Red Cloud was raiding the Platte and Santa 
 Fe trails, his war parties covered an extent of territory 
 fully five hundred miles northeast and southwest. They 
 held up numberless trains and the census of both Indians 
 and travelers killed in these actions will never be known. 
 Just before the Civil war a steamboat coughed and puffed 
 its way up the Missouri, carrying the usual number of 
 traders, trappers, and gamblers. When they came to the 
 great bend which you know is some sixty miles around 
 and only five or six miles across the neck a gentleman 
 asked the captain to be put ashore. Said he, I am a 
 naturalist from Harvard and I wish to make a collection 
 to enrich our museum series in entomology. The captain 
 swore and the traders told the professor that they did not 
 know what he meant, but that at any rate he must be a 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 203 
 
 blamed fool. The country was infested with Sioux who 
 \vpre on the war-path, and the quiet old scientist would 
 certainly be knocked in the head. 
 
 " However, he persisted and his request was granted. 
 They gave the old fellow a lunch, ran out the plank, and. 
 armed with his tin collecting box and a butterfly net, he 
 went ashore. They had given him the direction carefully 
 and he proceeded on his way. It was June, and the bugs, 
 beetles, and other winged creatures drifted about in count 
 less numbers. The scientist made the best of his oppor 
 tunity and soon had a valuable collection stored in variou> 
 bottles and compartments. He was so engrossed in his 
 discovery of new types that he did not observe the ap 
 proach of a war party of Sioux. In spite of the old gen 
 tleman s protestations they took him to their temporary 
 camp some miles distant. Once there they debated re 
 garding his fate. Xot a few were for staking him out 
 at once. Others said: "Wait until the hunters come in. 
 The medicine-man put in his appearance and examined 
 the net, and endeavored to open the tin box. but not 
 understanding the mechanism was unable to do so. al 
 though the fastenings were simple. This is no ordinary 
 white man/ he said. They took an old knife and after 
 several attempts succeeded in forcing the lid. At this the 
 professor started forward to save his treasures, but the 
 young men grasped his arms and restrained him. Out 
 of the box flew beetles and bugs and butterflies. 
 
 " Bad medicine, bad medicine!" shouted the warriors. 
 
 " Bad medicine nothing! cried the medicine-man. 
 He is crazy. Any man who would come into this country 
 on foot, and carrying not even a pistol with which to 
 defend himself, and with little or no food, and fill a box 
 with bugs, must be crazy. Therefore, turn him loose. 
 
 "As Indians have a horror of the insane, the man was 
 
204: TONDA. 
 
 led to the outskirts of the village,, threatened with knife 
 and tomahawk, and turned loose on the prairie, whence 
 lie made his way footsore and weary to the meeting place 
 just in time to catch the boat. His pack and net wore 
 carefully destroyed by the shaman as bad or inexplicable 
 medicine. The old professor had neither humor nor grati 
 tude; for when he returned East safely after having made 
 another collection, he never ceased to lament the loss of 
 his box and valuable specimens." 
 
 " It s rather dull," remarked Custer a few days later. 
 " I was thinking last night that probably these Sioux 
 never saw a cork leg or a glass eye. We might enliven 
 things by visiting the village. Major Long shall be our 
 medicine-man and through his powers set all the tongues 
 a-wagging." 
 
 " Splendid/ cried Brown. " They half think now that 
 Long Yellow Hair is supernatural. Long will confirm 
 that view. Run a long steel awl into your leg and take 
 out your eye at the proper moment. Do it carefully and 
 ostentatiously." 
 
 Major Long was pleased to consent and they visited the 
 village that day. They went direct to the council house, 
 California Joe accompanying them as interpreter. Leaving 
 their horses outside, they entered. Indians saw them 
 coming and crowded about. All the chiefs and dog- 
 soldiers came. Wadaha passed the pipe. 
 
 " Who is the medicine-man? " asked Custer. 
 
 " I am that one," replied Wadaha. " I cure the sick, 
 make buffalo come, and stand between the people and both 
 good and evil spirits." 
 
 " We have a great medicine-man," began Brown. " He 
 is greater even than Sitting Bull " - the Indians shook 
 their heads " Look upon him. Behold his medicine ! " 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 205 
 
 Long exhibited a big needle such as the packers use in 
 sewing up bags and gravely passed it through his leg. 
 Again he did the same trick this time nearer the knee. 
 Xo blood followed. 
 
 " Great medicine," shouted the natives. Wadaha came 
 over and he passed the needle through, so did Gopher. 
 The Indians grunted in astonishment. 
 
 " Behold our medicine-man now/ said ( uster. 
 command him to take out his eye." Breathlessly the red 
 men leaned forward. Those in the entrance passed the 
 word back. Silence reigned. Deliberately Long removed 
 his eye and turned the sightless orb upon his audience. 
 
 " Behold, he puts it in and sees again." and Long 
 replaced it. 
 
 Wadaha came forward. " Let me see the leg." 
 
 * Oh no," replied Custer. u That would destroy the 
 medicine. 7 
 
 " Can you see as well with that eye as with the other? " 
 
 " Oli, yes. Wadaha. I can see well. " 
 
 " Give me the eye." The officer took it out and handed 
 it to Wadaha. He examined it gravely, turning it over 
 and over in his hands. They passed it from one to the 
 other entirely around the council house. When it came 
 to Strong Heart he cried aloud " it s gkss. he can t see 
 through it/" Brown and Custer laughed aloud, some 
 Indians grinned, others did not relish the deception. 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face got up. " He is bad medicine," he 
 shouted. " Put him out." and in spite of protests on the 
 part of the white men they pulled him up and would have 
 thrust him without but for Wadaha. 
 
 Don t do it. Let him stay. I want to show what my 
 medicine can do." Order being restored. Wadaha made 
 his way to the door. " Oh. people, do not leave the 
 medicine lodge until I return. I am just going to my 
 
^06 TONDA. 
 
 tipi to get my wonderful medicine bone." Wadaha ran 
 off, procured the mysterious rib and also picked up a 
 long darning needle belonging to his wife. He came 
 back to the lodge and lighted the fire. He showed the 
 white men his trick rib. They observed that there were 
 no marks upon it. Then he gravely laid it before the fire 
 and heated it, and ran about and showed them clearly the 
 figure of the buffalo bull. After a moment Ouster said: 
 
 " Let me see the rib again." 
 
 " No," replied the Indian. " Your medicine-man would 
 not explain his mystery, neither will I explain mine." 
 Brown nudged Long. 
 
 " That s one on you," said he. 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face began a short speech. Wadaha crowded 
 back among the men, getting next to Gopher. Unobserved 
 he whispered to him : " I am going to run this needle into 
 the officer s other leg. I think he has got a wooden leg on 
 one side such as I have heard that the Whites make and 
 wear, but a good leg on the other. I will show him that he 
 cannot fool us. I go over and sit on his left side. You sit 
 on his right side so that he cannot strike or hurt me." 
 Wadaha seated himself on Long s left. Carefully and 
 imperceptibly Wadaha drew forth the needle, concealed 
 it in the palm of his hand, slowly moved the hand down his 
 side ready to give the officer a sudden and severe stab. 
 Gopher was watchful and ready to seize Long s hands 
 should he attempt to injure the medicine-man. There was 
 a pause at the conclusion of Rain-in-the-Face s remarks 
 and Wadaha suddenly jabbed the needle a full inch into 
 Long s leg. 
 
 " Oh ! Ouch ! The devil ! " exclaimed that officer, leap 
 ing to his feet and jumping toward the center of the lodge. 
 The Indians set up a great shout and the white men, fear- 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 207 
 
 ing trouble, got up. Wadaha called out in Sioux what he 
 had done. Custer leaped to his friend s side. 
 What s the matter? What s the matter? " 
 " The old rascal ran a needle in my good leg." At 
 this all the white men broke into loud and hearty laughter 
 and good humor fell upon both sides. 
 
 Said Richards : " The Indians say. " You can t fool us. 
 and the next time that you have got a man with a wooden 
 leg and a glass eye, leave him at home. 7 * 
 
 " Gin r l," said Joe. " Ef you ain t got no business here 
 let s go back ter the camp. Xo use ter rile up the Injuns. 7 
 The white men left the council lodge. As they rode home 
 ward Custer remarked; 
 
 " Well, old Wadaha was no fool. But for him we had 
 been great medicine. It was worth something to see 
 their faces when you ran the needle through your leg and 
 took out your eye." 
 
 * Yes, but it was worth more to see everybody s face 
 when Wadaha stuck the needle in your real leg," said 
 Brown. " 1 think that the honors are with them." 
 
 " My leg is sore as the deuce," said Long. The old 
 rascal needn t have run it in so far. 
 
 " Gin rl," said Joe, " ef you ll take the advice of an 
 old friend o 7 yourn, don t you play no more tricks on them 
 Injuns." 
 
 The story was sent to eastern friends and everybody 
 enjoyed it. But Long did not tell how the Indians turned 
 the tables on him. 
 
 " Custer, 77 said the officer, " Did you ever hear of an 
 Indian who really became civilized? It seems to me that 
 this girl Tonda is going to relapse." 
 
 " Oh yes. I once knew a young buck called Bob-tail 
 Coyote. He went East in buckskin and speaking only 
 his mother tongue. 
 
208 TONDA. 
 
 " He remained during the stipulated time, gradually 
 becoming a white man to all intents and purposes. But 
 no greater transformation was manifested, when he re 
 turned to his people, than that of his name, which had 
 evolved from the savage < Bob-tailed Coyote/ to that 
 which appeared 011 his neatly engraved visiting card: 
 
A STOUY OF THE Sioux. 209 
 
 XIX. 
 
 DEATH OF MIXXEHAHA. 
 
 The surgeon s medicine helped the child and she passed 
 a better night. Xext day he came again. The elder sister 
 had gone home after the surgeon s second visit. About 
 eight o clock that evening, as Tonda was sitting in the 
 wigwam, embroidering with porcupine quills and bright 
 beads a beautiful hunting shirt for her husband, her 
 mother entered suddenly in great excitement. Strong 
 Heart, sitting in the corner of the lodge, smoking his 
 pipe and thinking over the events that had taken place 
 during the past few days, did not notice her approach 
 until she was within the lodge. 
 
 At the first sight of her he sprang to his feet, and with 
 his usual hospitality, said, " * Well, mother, welcome to our 
 home; what news bring you?" 
 
 " Oh. my child." she cried dolefully, paying no atten 
 tion to Strong Heart. " Bring your medicine and come 
 quickly. Minnehaha is very sick. Something must be 
 done for her at once or her spirit goes to the land of the 
 great Waukantanka." 
 
 Tonda dropped her work instantly, and seizing her small 
 medicine-chest, the three of them ran quickly to Two 
 Bears lodge. Their hasty passage through the village 
 aroused comment and the word flew from one tipi to 
 another that Minnehaha was very sick. People flocked 
 thither and stood about in respectful silence. The scene 
 in the lodge as they entered was portentous of death. In 
 the corner sat a girl companion, at the bedside crouched 
 her father, holding his little daughter s hand in his own, 
 
210 TOXDA. 
 
 and occasionally uttering a low but pitiful exclamation, 
 " Oh my daughter, my little Bright Eyes ! " 
 
 Tonda poured out a spoonful of the most powerful 
 stimulant she possessed, and Two Bears, raising tenderly 
 the head of the delirious child, opened her mouth and 
 poured the draught down her throat. The medicine 
 seemed to do the little one much good, for she looked 
 around upon those about her, and as her mother and sister 
 knelt down by her side, she whispered : 
 
 "Are you here, Tonda?" 
 
 " Yes, my dear, I am here to stay with you. Do not be 
 afraid. I will not leave you." 
 
 " I am so hot," murmured the sufferer ; " I am as if on 
 lire. Give me some water, mother." 
 
 Omaha ran to the stream, and soon returned with a cup 
 of cool, delicious water for the parched throat and feverish 
 lips. The child lay upon her bed for some moments, noth 
 ing being heard meanwhile save her loud and labored 
 breathing, and the sobs of both mother and daughter, who 
 realized the hopelessness of her condition. 
 
 " Tonda/ gasped the little one, " I am not going to get 
 well. I am going away, far away." 
 
 Emotion overwhelmed the women and they could not 
 speak. Strong Heart, the might) in war, one able to die 
 on the field while singing his defiance chant, gulped and 
 went outside. Runner was there. 
 
 "I d rather be shot than see this. I can t stand it,* 
 and he walked nervously up and down. The child was 
 temporarily sustained by the draught. 
 
 " Tonda, give my dolls and book to Wana." 
 
 " Yes, sweetheart. Your little friend shall have them, 
 and I shall read stories out of the book and make the 
 girls good." 
 
MINNEHAHA. 
 
A STORY OF Tin: Sioux. 213 
 
 " Is our good God s large house and the white man s the 
 same? You said good girls would go there." 
 
 " Yes, dear." 
 
 "Is there room? " 
 
 "Yes, Minnehaha. You will go there. God will take 
 care of you. It is true. There are no bad spirits there. 
 You will be happy forever." 
 
 " Will the white man s God receive in His house a little 
 Sioux girl?" 
 
 " Yes, dear, the white man s God and our great \Vaukan- 
 tanka are one and the same great and good spirit. They 
 watch our every action, they forgive the wrongs that we 
 have done, if we are truly sorry. Believe in this great 
 spirit, Minnehaha." 
 
 Poor Omaha and Tonda found little consolation from 
 their sorrow in the great tears that coursed down their 
 cheeks. Even the stern father and inflexible Strong 
 Heart felt the water springing to their eyes, in spite of 
 their efforts to control their feelings, and they too wept. 
 
 They gave her more medicine. The draught partially 
 restored her, and by the dim light of the fire she recog 
 nized her friends once more. She stretched out her hand 
 feebly toward the loved ones, and beckoned to them to 
 come close to her side. They gently came around to 
 listen to the last few words she might have to utter, 
 for all saw that there was now no hope of saving her. 
 
 " I am going, mother," she whispered, " to the great 
 Waukantanka, and you must not cry or weep when I am 
 gone. I believe what the good book says, and know that 
 there will be room for a little Indian girl in the great 
 house of the good spirit. I am not afraid to die now. 
 
 Good-bye all, I ," and the child tried to speak again. 
 
 But the words refused to come, she gasped once or 
 
*H TOXDA. 
 
 twice, her hands twitched convulsively, and then her spirit 
 sped away on its long journey to the house of Waukan- 
 tanka. Then Omaha began the child s death song that 
 her mother and grandmother had sung before her. There 
 was absolute silence until she had finished it. Like statues 
 sat the mourners; like motionless sentinels stood those 
 without the lodge. 
 
 " The child is gone and comes no more when I call. 
 Her little feet enter noiselessly my home nevermore. 
 Her sweet voice is hushed. 
 She calls not to her playmates, 
 Never will she run to me, 
 With flowers in her hands. 
 
 Never will she smile when birds sing in the trees. 
 She was a good girl and helped me work. 
 She was plaiting out of wild grass a mat for her father: 
 Then sickness seized her and it is but half done. 
 When we look upon it we think of Minnehaha. 
 She has gone to the hereafter; 
 She is in Waukantanka s fine house. 
 1 shall guard her grave and weep for her. 
 
 Scores of friends came to the house of death. "Women 
 sat down and caressed the relatives, and cried. Men stood 
 about sad and serious. For two days they mourned. 
 
 Then Minnehaha was prepared for burial. Fitting were 
 the preparations for she came of a good family, and 
 the gifts must needs be of the finest materials. So they 
 lavished their costliest robes and garments upon her. 
 Through the village the cortege moved, young girls car 
 rying the remains. After the family came her playmates, 
 and among them little Wana weeping much, but bearing 
 in her arms the two dolls. 
 
 Down to a cotton-wood grove, where were many scaffolds, 
 for the Sioux at that time buried in open air, they went. 
 The dog-soldiers had built a platform on poles ten feet 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 515 
 
 above the earth. When those who bore the body had 
 reached the side of this, the young men carefully raised 
 the body of the child upon it, and wrapped it in all the 
 robes which the friends had presented. There Minnehaha 
 was left until nature should have done her work. 
 
 After these last sad rites were performed, the friends 
 returned to the camp. Tonda and Omaha alone remained 
 to weep and wail near the body of the loved one. to be 
 moan her untimely death, and to pray to the Great Spirit 
 to receive her unto Himself. 
 
 There, on the ground, near their dead, for several nights, 
 sat the two mourners. The women came frequently and 
 ministered to them, but the men did not come, for it was 
 not customary. Speechless, and full of sorrow, they re 
 mained at home. Until the last night of the mourning, 
 the women did not speak to each other, although Omaha 
 frequently sang a long and improvised death chant. At 
 last Omaha broke the silence. 
 
 " Death, my child, is like sitting out here in the night. 
 It is cold and it is dark, but there is nothing to be afraid 
 of. The wind rustles about the scaffold, and the spirit 
 of Minnehaha whispers to us through the sound. She 
 i comforted, for we are here. Only in the still night t In 
 spirit comes. Then it wants company, and it is mack- 
 happy when it sees that we have not forgotten Minnehaha. 
 I am glad to be near her. Are you, Tonda? " 
 
 " Yes, mother." 
 
 And, having thus spoken, they again sat motionless and 
 silent, nor was the vigil broken until the sun had lifted 
 himself over the hills, and flooded the Xiobrara valley 
 
 with his light. 
 
 ****** * * * * 
 
 And yet there are " civilized " white persons who con 
 fidently affirm that the Indians have neither religion nor 
 affection! 
 
216 TONDA. 
 
 XX. 
 
 TROUBLE IN THE NORTH. 
 
 The Sioux of the other reservation kept well informed 
 and prepared for trouble soon came. It is not neces 
 sary to go into detail other than to say that three 
 miners were sent from the Black Hills camps to carry the 
 mail to the Missouri river. Some Indian scouts found 
 them, and ordered them off the reservation, whereupon 
 they fired at the Indians, killing one and wounding an 
 other. Of course the Sioux retaliated, and killed two of 
 the miners, but the third escaped, and returned to the 
 camps. The miners held a meeting and appointed one 
 of their number who had had experience in scouting to 
 notify General Ouster. He reached Ouster s headquarters 
 after days of alternate hiding and traveling, and gave the 
 General a highly-colored and inaccurate account of the 
 engagement. 
 
 "Just as I thought," he commented, when the miner 
 had ended. " These Sioux must be whipped. Do you 
 know who killed them? Xow, the prospector did not 
 know the individual names of the Indians, but he promptly 
 replied : " The sub-chief, Dull Knife, who lives in Sitting 
 Bull s village done it." Ouster questioned the man further, 
 and having no reason to doubt his story, consulted his 
 officers to ascertain if they could suggest better plans than 
 the one he had in mind. They expressed different 
 opinions, and Ouster, as usual, made his own decision, 
 and sent a hundred men north with orders to take Dull 
 Knife, the sub-chief, and others. His brother was to 
 establish headquarters nearer the agency, and when op- 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. "2 1 . 
 
 portimity presented itself he would by some means gvi 
 Rain-in-the-Face and a few of the braves to visit the 
 store, and take them prisoners to be held as hostages. 
 
 These hundred troopers left the encampment before 
 daylight, without the knowledge of the Indians, and trav 
 eled unmolested to Sitting Bull s village. They took 
 Dull Knife and a number of other leading warriors pris 
 oners in spite of their protests, brought them back to 
 the agency, and imprisoned them under guard in the 
 corral. 
 
 The squaws insisted upon accompanying their husbands. 
 A total of forty persons were taken. Custer himself ac 
 companied the men and intrusted to his brother, Lieuten 
 ant Tom Custer, the execution of the plan to capture 
 Rain-in-the-Face. The Sioux did not miss the General 
 for two days, and even then did not know where he had 
 gone. Lieutenant Ouster possessed a great deal of ability, 
 both as a soldier and as a frontier detective, if one may 
 use the term, as we shall see by the way he succeeded in 
 taking Rain-in-the-Face. 
 
 The next morning Lieutenant Tom broke camp, 
 moved to the agency, and placed his troops in a semi-circle 
 around a small stream. Then he sought O Donnell, and 
 they were closeted in the agent s inner room. 
 
 " There is no use in talking," said Custer, we have 
 got to catch Rain-in-the-Face, and keep him from killing 
 any more whites. Sitting Bull has a devil of a temper 
 himself when once roused, but he is nowhere when com 
 pared with this fellow. I hear too, that Rain-in-the-Face 
 has a young son, who is married to one of the prettiest girls 
 in the whole Sioux nation/ 
 
 " Yis. His son is Strong Heart, an he is well named. 
 I niver seen a braver mon white or rid. 7 
 
218 TONDA. 
 
 "What did he do to be called brave? " Billy told of 
 the young man s exploits, adding: 
 
 " Him an his squaw is foine Injuns. The Ogalalas set 
 store by him. He is a straight Injun an has a pull with 
 the young min an dog-soldiers. If youse git him on 
 our side, all right ; if he f eights again us he will niver be 
 taken alive." 
 
 " Well/" said Ouster, " he must be a deuce of a fellow. I 
 should like to see him." 
 
 Youse seen him the clay the two Injuns come out ter 
 meet the Giniral with the flag. He done the talkiir. He 
 is six foot tall, weighs two hundrid pounds an behaves 
 himself. His squaw is agin me. She talked disrespectful 
 loike one day an I called her down." 
 
 " How would it do to have him come up here for a pow 
 wow? " 
 
 " It would not do. He is sharp as the divil. He will 
 tell youse ter your face what he thinks o youse. You 
 better lave him alone for the prisint." Ouster thought a 
 moment, then an idea struck him. 
 
 " Suppose you send word by an employee to Rain-in- 
 the-Face, that you are writing a letter to Washington, 
 and wish to know what he has to say about rations. Tell 
 him that you want more meat and flour for his people, 
 and that if he will come up and let you know how many 
 rations he requires, you will specify in your letter ac 
 cordingly. Tell him also that we will keep it a secret 
 from the nation until the first shipment comes. That is, 
 have a little sort of surprise arranged for them, you 
 know." 
 
 Tiptop," said the agent, slapping his companion on 
 the back and offering another fragrant weed, which 
 had he not been an Indian agent, he could not have af 
 forded in this far-off portion of the country. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 21U 
 
 Having lighted their cigars, they arranged the details. 
 All this time Rain-in-the-Face was lounging idly in his 
 wigwam. Suddenly there dashed up to the door of the 
 tipi one of the agent s employees and called him out. 
 
 " What do you want?" demanded the Indian. 
 
 " Chief." said he, " the agent is about to write a letter 
 to Washington. You might get more rations. Come and 
 see Billy." 
 
 " Aow," replied the chief, " I come at once. There is 
 much our people need, our stomachs are never full, and 
 if the agent is going to write the Great Father. I want 
 him to put my words in the letter." 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face summoned several youths to accom 
 pany him. mounted his pony, and calling out to Wawa 
 that he was going to the agency, started out with the 
 employee at a brisk trot, and they were soon in front of 
 the buildings. 
 
 Dismounting. Rain-in-the-Face drove a peg into the 
 ground in a spot where there was considerable grass, and 
 tied his pony. He then entered the store and took a seat 
 upon an empty nail-keg. 
 
 Up to the present time there had been no indication 
 of any intention to capture him. nothing to make him feel 
 in the least suspicious. Several other Indians who had 
 seen him start, leaped upon their ponies and followed 
 him to the buildings, wondering what was to take place. 
 Xone of them came armed save one, who had a hunting- 
 knife stuck in his belt. 
 
 " How," said the chief, as the agent entered, and. rising 
 grasped the white man s hand: then to the attendant, who 
 acted as interpreter, he said. " You sent for me to talk- 
 about provisions for my people. We are much in need 
 of many things. I am glad you are going to tell Washing 
 ton that we should have more." 
 
220 TONDA. 
 
 As the interpreter translated each sentence, Ouster, 
 who was in the back room with several soldiers, said 
 to them, " Hear the old rascal talk. One would think 
 he was a saint instead of a blood-thirsty murderer." 
 
 " Yis," replied the agent, wishing to keep up the de 
 ception a few minutes longer, " I was thinkin about writin 
 a letter ter the Great Father ter ask him ter give youse 
 many things which youse need. Now till me what kind 
 o" grub youse is short of." 
 
 The chief, nodding toward the interpreter, said : " More 
 flour, more meal, a keg every week for ten persons, more 
 live beef, and some blankets 
 
 At this moment, the young men who had been without 
 the door entered, and each said " How " to the agent. 
 They were about to be seated, when young Ouster and a 
 dozen cavalrymen, with sabres and pistols, rushed into 
 the room, fearing, from the presence of more Indians, that 
 the Sioux were coming in large numbers to hear the in 
 terview. As they entered Rain-in-the-Face dashed for 
 the door, but a sergeant had him in a twinkling, and the 
 interpreter called loudly "Stand! Move not! You 
 are prisoners." 
 
 They were astonished and awed for the moment. The 
 chief glared upon one and another of the Whites. Billy 
 had discreetly withdrawn out of sight when Ouster entered. 
 
 Then the young Indians made a threatening movement, 
 but they were unarmed, and, upon the cavalrymen cocking 
 their revolvers, they stood in silence, while Rain-in-the- 
 Face was roughly seized, and his hands bound behind him. 
 The soldiers at once hurried him to a small building twc 
 hundred yards distant, locked and guarded the door. In 
 order to awe his attendants and prevent an attempt at res- 
 c-ue, Ouster had had the cavalry assemble in the rear of the 
 building, and, as the capture wao made, they dashed out in 
 
A STOKY OF THE {Sioux. 221 
 
 front in full force, with the bugles sounding. Custer ad 
 dressed the young men through the interpreter, told them 
 that the United States government would not permit the 
 murder of her citizens, that their chief would probably be 
 hung, and that they had better not attempt rescue. The 
 natives mounted and rode home. But a friend had pre 
 ceded them. 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face paced restlessly back and forth, look 
 ing about him, and taking in, in a few rapid glances, the 
 walls and ceiling of his prison. There was but one small 
 window in the room. He knew well that the news of his 
 imprisonment would soon reach camp and alarm the vil 
 lage, and that it would be but a few moments before all 
 should learn of his misfortune. 
 
 The ever-present Eichards saw and divined the purport 
 of Ouster s action. He turned his horse toward the vil 
 lage, trotted for half a mile to allay suspicion, and then ran 
 the beast at full speed. As he approached he set up n 
 series of yells. Hearing these, every man. woman, and 
 child, with a common impulse, rushed out from the tipis 
 and crowded around the horseman. 
 
 ik Listen." cried he : " Chief Rain-in-the-Face has been 
 captured, and is held in a small room at the agency. Cus- 
 ters brother has done this. To the council house, every 
 one. 7 
 
 As the speaker finished he threw the lariat to a squaw, 
 rushed toward the central square, followed by an excited 
 crowd. 
 
 ** Order! Order! cried Gopher. "Be still and hear 
 what our friend has to say." The Indians did not seem to 
 realize what a disaster had fallen upon them, and it was 
 not until Richards had made a lengthy speech that they 
 took in the situation. At first the Indians seemed 
 stunned. They did not know what to do. Sitting Bull 
 
222 TONDA. 
 
 took his usual position and spoke energetically and to the 
 point. This was his opportunity and he- soon worked him 
 self and his hearers into a passion. 
 
 " Long Yellow Hair has gone away. My dog-soldiers 
 found this out. Where has he gone? Some of the soldiers 
 are missing. I think that death is coming upon us. We have 
 had talk enough, we have sat still here. Our hearts were 
 good, Long Yellow Hair s heart is bad. He fought us be 
 fore, he is going to fight us now. It is time to act. I hear 
 the war eagles cry; they say: Make medicine, Sitting Bull, 
 Make medicine, Wadaha. Make war medicine, for you 
 have a long fight before you. If your hearts keep strong 
 you can whip Long Yellow Hair. Fight, Fight, Fight! 
 
 Instantly pandemonium broke loose. Thunders of 
 cheers shook the council house. Hundreds of women and 
 children and warriors outside joined in. It was heard 
 far off in the agency. Old Rain-in-the-Face heard and lie 
 also gave the piercing Sioux war cry. The guard pounded 
 upon the door of his prison and cautioned him to be still, 
 but he continued to whoop. 
 
 lied Cloud got up, and waved his arms for silence. 
 
 " I made peace. I cannot fight, but I can advise. I am 
 head chief. We got to get Rain-in-the-Face out. We 
 can do it. Sitting Bull speaks well. We got to fight. 
 Long Yellow Hair has done nothing. I know him well. 
 He will not break his word, his tongue is not double like 
 Billy s, But he will write Washington and the Great 
 Father will wait and wait and wait! Now listen; let all 
 the dog-soldiers, warriors, and every man who has a Win 
 chester and a good horse prepare. Let their young squaws 
 able to travel and work get ready. Let everything 
 needed for two moons be packed and taken. Let the old 
 men, old women, and children stay here. The Whites 
 will not attack the village as long as I live here and stand 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 223 
 
 for peace. Let this body of twelve or fifteen hundred 
 fighting men move to-morrow night. Custer will never 
 move those yellow-metal hunters. He will keep us shut 
 in. He will attack us, for he likes to fight. 
 
 "I am like the wolf; I escape, I have cunning. This 
 is my plan. Breathe no word of it to the white man. All 
 the dog-soldiers of the united tribes keep watch on the out 
 skirts of the village. Xo man, no woman, and no child is 
 to visit the agency. Let everybody keep silence if any 
 white man comes here. 
 
 " Eain-in-the-Face is in a small building. There is no 
 moon these nights. To-morrow let the wise young squaw 
 Tonda go and see Long Yellow Hair s brother. She 
 knows how the Whites act. She can make his bitter heart 
 sweet. He lets her visit Rain-in-the-Face. She tells him 
 what we are to do. Late to-morrow night we release Eain- 
 in-the-Face. As soon as it is dark and before we go to get 
 him let all the village help the warriors and young women 
 take down lodges, catch the horses, and make ready. Then 
 when Rain-in-the-Face comes all of you move swiftly to 
 the northwest. 
 
 " Long Yellow Hair is not here. His brother cannot 
 take the soldiers and pursue us. Richards, is that true: " 
 
 " Yes." said Richards. " The brother cannot move the 
 soldiers without orders from the big chief. 
 
 u By the next morning you will be many miles from 
 here. You go to the Big Horn country where we whipped 
 Fetterman. That is good medicine for us. The Whites 
 never whipped us in that country. Runner and some 
 others of the best riders go to-night to the upper agency 
 and tell the young men there to come to the Big Horn 
 country and join us. Then we shall have three thousand 
 men. Long Yellow Hair cannot attack us unless he gets 
 more soldiers. 
 
224: TONDA. 
 
 " Aow," was the unanimous shout of the assembled 
 host. 
 
 " Brothers/ said Sitting Bull, " Chief Red Cloud was 
 born in the wmter-in-which-star-passed-by-with-loud- 
 noise.* His body is covered with scars. He is a brave 
 man. His head is filled with wisdom. His heart is good 
 and sweet. My heart is good and sweet. I have long 
 waited for this day. We are better armed and provisioned 
 than we ever were before. We are going to be free men. 
 You young men will have glad hearts. Hearts that beat 
 quick as you capture the wagon trains. You will find in 
 them fine blankets, much tobacco, beads, guns, red flannel, 
 and everything you want for you and your squaws. 
 
 " It is well to send Tonda alone to the agency. The 
 bad-hearted brother of Long Yellow Hair will speak soft 
 words to her because she is a good-looking young woman. 
 But she will outwit him even as the wolf steals the meat 
 from under the head of the sleeping man. 
 
 " We must be careful. We should dance to-night, but 
 Billy and California Joe would hear us. We must not 
 dance. We must keep still and wait." 
 
 " Dog-soldiers, out war song ! " commanded Strong 
 Heart. They sang it softly; but love of action glowed in 
 every face 
 
 " The War eagle screams on high, 
 He whets his forked beak, 
 Raise, raise the battle cry, 
 Tis fame the young men seek." 
 
 * 1822. 
 
A STORY or THE Sioux. 22 o 
 
 XXL 
 
 TOXDA RESCUES RAIX-IX-THE-FACE. 
 
 Scarcely had the noon meal been finished that day. 
 when a young Indian woman, riding a spirited pony, was 
 seen by the men around the agency to gallop up to the 
 very front of the store, dismount, tie the animal to a post, 
 and enter. 
 
 She was well dressed and seemed bent upon some im 
 portant mission. Tom Custer did not know her and she 
 pretended not to recognize him. Approaching him. she 
 asked in very good English : 
 
 " Where can I find the brother of General Custer? I 
 want to see him." 
 
 " Right here; replied Custer, looking up. He saw 
 before him c<ne of the prettiest girls he had ever beheld. 
 He noticed her black and piercing eyes, her long, dark, 
 wavy hair,, and her strong but frank face. Taking in these 
 points, as well as her shapely figure, at a glance, he put 
 on one of his best smiles and said : 
 
 Young woman, what do you wish?" Tonda looked 
 about, then said in a low voice : 
 
 " Come outside, I have a matter of importance to speak 
 of/ The Lieutenant and Tonda withdrew out of ear 
 shot of those inside. 
 
 " You have, sir, my husband s father. Chief Ram-in-the 
 Face, shut up. I ask permission to talk with him this 
 afternoon. Please do not refuse me. His people are 
 very sorry at his capture, and will do all in their power 
 to have him released. Two of our young men would even 
 15 
 
226 TONDA. 
 
 offer themselves in the chief s stead, as hostages, if they 
 would be accepted. 
 
 "Well/ replied Ouster, "it is against the rules to 
 allow any one to see an Indian prisoner. There have 
 been many escapes and rescues in past years through the 
 thoughtlessness of officers in allowing some of the friends 
 of a prisoner to visit him. If I were certain that you 
 would not use this interview for any other purpose than 
 that of condolence, I would grant your request, but I am 
 afraid I shall have to refuse you." 
 
 " Do I look like one who would deceive you? " 
 
 " Well," replied Ouster, " I must admit that you do 
 look like an uncommon nice Sioux girl, but it would not 
 be right for me to break the rules of the regiment. By 
 the way, have you not been to an Eastern school? You 
 do not look like the other Indian women." 
 
 " I have been educated, but am a Sioux woman for all 
 that. I beg you to let me see my father for an hour." 
 
 " Can t do it." At this the young woman put on a 
 most pitiful and woe-begone expression, and, looking up 
 into his face with eyes full of tears, said, " If your father 
 were in jail, the jailer would let you talk with him." 
 
 " Yes, but my father behaves himself and does not get 
 in jail," and Ouster s eyes twinkled. 
 
 " Don t jest with me," said Tonda ; " it s a shame for 
 you to refuse me this privilege. You are the brother of 
 gallant Ouster and yet won t let a poor Sioux girl see her 
 father for fear she will let him out. Perhaps 1 had better 
 go back to my people and tell them what you have told 
 me." 
 
 " Well, suppose you did, what could they do? " 
 
 " They might come here and do a great deal." She was 
 
A STORY OF TILE Sioux. 227 
 
 easily excited, and C uster became amused as he observed 
 her concern. He attached no importance to her words. 
 
 " Xothing would suit us better. Tell your people to 
 remember the Wichita fight." 
 
 " We shall never forget it," she retorted with spirit. 
 " Our young men are quiet. But it will need just about 
 a dozen strong words from the wife of the principal dog- 
 soldier to bring a thousand brave men about your build 
 ings here. They will carry death and destruction among 
 your men and release their chief." Ouster laughed. 
 
 " I came here shnply to ask to see my husband s father; 
 you have refused me, and there is nothing but for me to 
 return." The young woman, whose eyes had flashed, and 
 whose bosom had heaved during this outburst, turned 
 toward the door, and, with sorrowful countenance and 
 heavy footsteps, was about to leave. 
 
 " Well, Sioux woman, you can see him. It is against 
 the regulations, but you can t get him out so we re safe, " 
 and Tom chuckled. " Follow me." Passing a line of 
 tents he summoned two orderlies, who followed a short 
 distance behind to see that nothing out of the way hap 
 pened. There was not the slightest evidence in the young 
 woman s countenance of the secret joy which filled her 
 heart. Custer unlocked the heavy door, allowed her to 
 enter quickly, then swung it shut, locked it, and re 
 turned to the building, where he spent the afternoon in 
 speculating upon the interview, and in wondering what 
 was the history of the beautiful girl whom he had met. 
 
 When Ton da entered, Rain-in-the-Face. who had been 
 lying upon a miserable buffalo robe in the corner, sprang 
 to his feet and rushed forward with a smile upon his 
 broad face, and said in subdued tones for he did not 
 know who might be listening: 
 
TOXDA. 
 
 " Oh, my child, how glad I am to see you ; I had thought 
 my people had forgotten me." They sat down on the robe, 
 listened for a few moments, but heard no soldiers about. 
 
 " Oh, Chief, I had great trouble in getting this inter 
 view, but at last Long Yellow Hair s brother let me in; 
 so here I am. I have much to tell you," and she related 
 her story. 
 
 When? she had finished he became furious, and uttered 
 some terrible threats against the Whites who had, in 
 spite of his great dignity as chief, imprisoned him like a 
 common soldier. After the old man had calmed down, he 
 asked : 
 
 " What are you going to do after } r ou get me out?" 
 
 The old men and women and those who do not care to 
 fight, together with children, stay in the village. The rest 
 flee to the Big Horn country, taking you. After dark the 
 tipis will be taken down, horses caught, meat packed, 
 blankets rolled up, and everything made ready for a quick 
 journey. Sitting Bull and the rest can tell you all about 
 it when you get with them." 
 
 " If I get out of this prison safely I will be a most bitter 
 enemy of Long Yellow Hair s brother, and some day I 
 shall hope to meet him in battle and be revenged for all 
 my insults." 
 
 "What will you do?" asked Tonda. 
 
 " Never mind what I will do," added Kain-in-the-Face 
 significantly. 
 
 Tonda had finished her mission, and looking through 
 a knot-hole called to the guard. He had been given the 
 key, for at her words he produced it, unlocked the door, 
 made her step out quickly, and then fastened it once more. 
 Without noticing the men, who had stared at her, she 
 mounted the pony and galloped across the plain toward 
 the camp. As her pony bore her swiftly homeward with 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. *3?9 
 
 easy motion. she could not help Thinking how slio hud 
 outwitted young Custer. and laughed loudly as she iv- 
 membered the pitiful expression with which she had begged 
 the interview. 
 
 Strong Heart was in the wigwam, and he accompanied 
 her to Two Bears" lodge, where they found the medicine 
 man and the chiefs. Every one received the news with in 
 tense satisfaction. A rider made ready that evening, and 
 as soon as the rescue was effected he started on his long 
 journey, and presently informed their kinsfolk in the 
 north of the successful termination of Tonda s efforts. 
 
 Tom Custer turned in about ten o clock that night. 
 However, his slumbers were soon rudely broken, for shortly 
 after eleven o clock an orderly pounded hard upon his 
 door, and called out the startling news. 
 
 " What is it? " cried Custer, leaping up. 
 
 " Sir, the Injuns has tuck Bain-in-the-Face away. The 
 sergeant asks for orders." 
 
 " Tell the watch to get the men up. I ll be there in a 
 moment/ 7 
 
 A group of three figures left the tipi of Strong Heart 
 about ten o clock that night, and, mounting their ponies, 
 rode quietly across the plain in the direction of the agency. 
 
 They were all well-armed, Strong Heart himself having 
 his Winchester, bowie-knife, and revolver. The medicine 
 man carried a rifle and a knife also, but no pistol. Tonda 
 had a six-shooter, but no other weapon. In one hand 
 she held firmly a small sack in which was a file, cold chisel, 
 and hammer, with which they expected to force an en 
 trance, in case planks could not be removed by other 
 means. 
 
 They rode slowly across the plain for nearly one hour, 
 until the buildings could be seen looming up in the dark- 
 
230 TOXDA. 
 
 ness. The night was quite dark. When they were within 
 several hundred yards of their destination, the ponies 
 were tied to bushes, so that they would be out of sight 
 of any one who might happen to pass that way. Having 
 made the horses fast, the trio went forward on foot, 
 keeping very near the fringe of trees which lined the 
 banks of a small stream that trickled past the agency, 
 two hundred feet from the nearest buildings. Back of 
 these, about two hundred yards, was the camp of the 
 soldiers. As the three Indians cautiously made their 
 way along the. stream, they heard the cry of the sentry. 
 
 The door was strongly made of oak, hung with heavy 
 hinges at top and bottom, and secured across the middle 
 by an iron bar. It would be almost impossible to break 
 it open without a crowbar. The window was too small tc 
 admit the passage of a body as large as that of the chief. 
 So the party of rescue was at a loss to understand what 
 was the best course to pursue, and they consulted for 
 some time before they arrived at a definite plan of opera 
 tion. Leaving the medicine-man and his squaw at the back 
 of the house, Strong Heart went to the fringe of cotton - 
 Avoods and cut a heavy stick about five feet in length 
 and four inches in diameter. 
 
 Bain-in-the-Face heard the approach of his friends, and 
 knowing that they would attempt his release, placed him 
 self in one corner where there was a slight crevice be 
 tween the boards, and whispered : 
 
 " Look out for the guards. They come here every little 
 while. As soon as you see them approach you must run 
 back to the timber. They came here some time ago, and 
 you had better not do anything until they go away the 
 next time/" 
 
 The medicine-man explained that Strong Heart had 
 gone to the timber after a heavy stick, and that they 
 
A STORY or TIN: Srorx. ->:U 
 
 would make the attempt to pry off two of the wide boards 
 in the rear planks about fourteen inches wide, extending 
 from the rafters to the sills. As soon as Strong Heart 
 returned he was told about the visit of the guards, and the 
 three withdrew out of range of possible discovery. Scarcely 
 had they disappeared when two soldiers approached, 
 walked around the building once, and then retired. The 
 backs of these guards had barely been turned be 
 fore the Indians ran quickly from their covert, and tell 
 ing the chief to be ready to push with all his strength 
 against the boards, they placed a large chunk of wood 
 at the bottom of a plank that looked rather insecure. 
 Strong Heart inserted his lever, bore down with all his 
 might, and sprung the bottom of the board forward some 
 four inches. As the end of his lever was bent to the 
 ground in doing this, he could not move it out farther. 
 Tonda slipped a stone into the space, and so left the stick 
 free to be withdrawn. Moving his fulcrum higher up. 
 he again inserted his lever, and aided by the chief, who 
 was pushing with all his might from within, sprung the 
 plank from its lower and middle fastenings. Tonda put 
 in stones to hold it out, and a second board was sprung 
 in like manner. Then the three friends seized the lower 
 ends of each board and ripped them off. One they were 
 able to keep from falling, but the other tumbled over 
 with a loud clatter upon the ground. Eain-in-the-Face 
 immediately leaped through the opening, and the four 
 ran swiftly to their ponies. Scarcely had they mounted 
 and they had brought the chief s favorite war pony 
 for him when shots from the sentries reached their ears. 
 The white men s camp was soon aroused. Ouster was at a 
 loss to know what to do. 
 
 "What do you think, Joe? ? * 
 
 " Wall, Lieutenant, I can t sav fer sartin, but I think 
 
232 TONDA. 
 
 that them Injuns has gone ter their village. If you send 
 the scouts you c n easy find out." 
 
 " What is your opinion, Captain Brown? 7 
 
 " Well, Lieutenant, I would send the scouts ahead, and 
 follow with a body of the troops. There is no telling 
 what they are up to. Something important, for it is un 
 usual for Plains Indians to travel at night." 
 
 " Boots and saddles! " The bugles blew, and the troop 
 ers ran to the long line of horses, selected their mounts, 
 and prepared for action. 
 
 " Joe, take the scouts and go on ahead. Report to us 
 at once." 
 
 It was perhaps a half an hour after the escape before 
 the troopers, some two hundred strong, left camp an; I 
 proceeded toward the village. 
 
 Craftily did Two Bears, Gopher, Runner, and a score 
 of other responsible persons go about the village, telling 
 every one, " No noise, now. Keep your mouths shut 
 as soon as they come. We must have no fight in the 
 village. You must not rejoice until after daylight to 
 morrow. Let every person stay in his lodge except those 
 who are to run away." Richards, too, gave his advice: 
 
 " The scouts will come to find where Rain-in-the-Face 
 is, but they won t know before morning how many Indians 
 have left. Tell them you don t know where he is." 
 
 After the rescuers had been gone half an hour Gopher 
 gave the command: 
 
 " The young men and the young squaws, with their 
 travois, and all who wish to flee toward the Big Horn 
 country, gather on the plain in the far end of the village, 
 on the north side of the Niobrara." There they waited. 
 Hearts beat rapidly, and ears were strained to hear the 
 welcome sound the return of the chief. Sitting Bull 
 was there making; medicine in the council house entirely 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 233 
 
 by himself. He would go with them, but Wadaha would 
 remain. Tonda would remain. Two Bears was too old. 
 but Strong Heart could not be restrained even by the 
 pleadings of his wife. It was not long. They heard the 
 hoof-beats on the dry prairie, and in a moment Eaiu-in- 
 the-Face was with them. Strong Heart seized Tonda in 
 his arms and bade her good-bye, even as the procession 
 moved, for there was no delay. 
 
 On an uncertain mission went they into the far north 
 west. They hoped for peace and good hunting and happv 
 days on the upper Missouri their old hunting grounds. 
 But no man could foretell, and certainly while Sitting 
 Bull claimed his medicine augured success, many per 
 sons had a presentiment of trouble. The women cried 
 very softly to themselves. Little children plucked at deer 
 skin dresses and asked in subdued whispers where father 
 was going, and why he should depart in the night. 
 
 And so they moved silently and rapidly away, and the 
 blackness of night swallowed them up. 
 
234 TOXDA. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 PRISONERS ARE KILLED. 
 
 Scouts reached the edge of the village. The dogs, here 
 tofore silenced by the continuous hiss of the women a 
 peculiar and savage sound now began to bark. Cali 
 fornia Joe s deep bass voice rang out: 
 
 "Where is Rain-in-the-Face? The commanding offi 
 cer is coming to talk with him." 
 
 Richards and Two Bears, divining that scouts would 
 reach that end of the village first, were both there. Rich 
 ards got inside of the lodge, and as he entered whispered 
 to Two Bears: 
 
 " You do the talking." 
 
 " I don t know where the chief is. The last time I saw 
 him he was going to the agency. I heard that you shut 
 him up." 
 
 " You know very well he has escaped."* 
 
 " Who are you to come down here in the middle of the 
 night, asking to see our chief? Why don t you wait until 
 daylight?" 
 
 " Where is Rain-in-the-Face? " persisted Joe. 
 
 "Go find him," retorted Two Bears, and he got into 
 the lodge. The other Indians were listening, but obeyed 
 Gopher s orders to make no noise. Many of them chuckled 
 and giggled. 
 
 The scouts rode back and reported to Custer. In a 
 few moments the column reached the village. In the 
 darkness they could do nothing, see nothing, and were 
 
 * California Joe, when speaking Sioux, spoke grammatically. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 235 
 
 greatly handicapped. They must find out from the In 
 dians where Rain-in-the-Face was, and capture him. They 
 could not arrest the entire village. 
 
 "Who is head man here now?" demanded Custer. 
 
 " Rain-in-the-Face is head man," said Two Bears. 
 
 " Well, fetch him here." 
 
 " Very well," said Two Bears, " I will go to his lodge. 
 He is in bed at this time of night. What does Long 
 Yellow Hair s brother here? Can t you even let us poor 
 Indians sleep?* As Joe interpreted this, the other offi 
 cers were amused. 
 
 "Put out the trailers," suggested a young officer fresh 
 from West Point. Custer laughed, and Joe was shaken 
 by boisterous mirth. 
 
 " Little use of trying to trail, this night. There is no 
 telling whether that red scoundrel came direct to the vil 
 lage or went somewhere else." The Whites did not 
 dream that the entire fighting force of the village had 
 moved. Richards came out. If he could delay the Whites, 
 so much the better. 
 
 " Lieutenant/ said he, " I kin show you where the chief 
 lives, ef you wants to talk with him." 
 
 Richards walked in advance and the others followed, 
 the troops picking their way with difficulty among the 
 lodges. Xow and then a horseman found himself al 
 most against a tipi. Every doorway was full of heads of 
 all ages and both sexes, peering out anxiously, and trying 
 to see. 
 
 " Thar s Rain-in-the-Face s lodge," said Richards. 
 
 " Go in and see where he is, Joe," commanded Custer. 
 Joe entered and struck a match. 
 
 "Get out of here!" cried Wawa. "If my husband 
 was home he d put a bullet through you." 
 
 " He isn t here, Lieutenant," said Joe. Custer carried 
 
236 TOXDA. 
 
 a dark-lantern, and turned its beams about among the 
 lodges, and discovered many persons hiding here and there. 
 
 " Joe, ask them why they were up and dressed this 
 time of night/ There was a moment of silence. 
 
 " Brother of Long Yellow Hair," cried Wadaha, " can t 
 we even dress or undress to suit ourselves? You come 
 down here in the night and ask why we wear our 
 clothes. Don t you s pose we heard you coming? " The 
 Indians laughed sarcastically, and Brown remarked: 
 
 " Ouster, there s something brewing this night. It 
 seems to me that the best thing we can do is to go back 
 and wait for daylight." 
 
 "And lose an hour and a half, for it s ten miles trip 
 from here to the agency and return. I am in no humor 
 to be fooled. Captain Brown, he ordered, take a de 
 tail of men, go back to camp, bring pack animals and 
 supplies sufficient for three or four days 9 (he consulted 
 his watch). " It is now half -past one. I shall stay here 
 with the troopers until daylight, and then follow the trail." 
 
 Half an hour before dawn Ouster called an informal 
 council. They were all agreed. The infantry was left 
 to guard the agency. As soon as the General returned 
 he would issue orders, in all probability, for the Seventh 
 to follow and attack the fugitives, Tom Ouster thought. 
 Meanwhile, if the troops could provoke a fight without 
 actually firing the first shot, so much the better. Day 
 light broke. Whenever Indians flee they are invariably 
 designated " hostiles," whether they committed any crime 
 or not, and so they were called by the Seventh. The 
 people in the village were up and about. They could 
 not conceal their satisfaction. Broad smiles greeted 
 Ouster s questions. Joe and the other scouts circled about 
 on the plain, and soon found a broad, heavy trail. Joe 
 returned. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 237 
 
 " Great Scott, Lieutenant, half the village must ha" 
 gone. The trail is as heavy as ef made by a thousand 
 ponies and travels.* Bugles blew, the troopers mounted, 
 and set out on a lope. The guidons fluttered gaily, and 
 the men were well pleased, for the famous old fighting 
 Seventh was at last going into action. They soon passed 
 out of sight. 
 
 Two Bears, Eichards, and Gopher conferred. " They 
 can t catch up," said Two Bears. " Rain-in-the-Face will 
 ride the hardest. All of them will hurry until daylight." 
 
 "He is twenty-five miles from here now/ said Eichards. 
 " He can make the rough country by the time the troops 
 are up with him, which will be afternoon. If, he puts the 
 bucks in the rear and keeps in the canons, the soldiers 
 can t get him. They got two hundred and fifty men. and 
 he has got a thousand." 
 
 Secrecy was no longer necessary. The aborigines were 
 in a good humor. Dances sprang up as if by magic. Tonda 
 went over to the agency to see what she could learn 
 there. Billy kept out of sight, but Henry and Charlie 
 in the store would not talk. Each of them wore a six- 
 shooter. The stage driver and the boss herder and other 
 employees were all present, heavily armed. 
 
 The infantry regiment was made up of recruits from the 
 East. Xone of them had ever seen service in an Indian 
 campaign. AVitli Billy and his interpreter, their com 
 manding officer made a careful reconnoiter of the village 
 to ascertain if possible how many men had left. 
 
 That evening a scout came in from General Custer and 
 reported that he had made camp ten miles distant and 
 would be in with his prisoners next morning. Billy and 
 two infantry officers rode back with the scout and gave 
 Custer the news. General Custer was a man of instant 
 action and he ordered his two fastest scouts to ride to a 
 
238 TONDA. 
 
 point five or six miles northwest of the agency and await 
 daylight and follow the trail as soon as possible. They 
 bore to the Lieutenant orders instructing him to return at 
 once with his command. Ouster had been marching 
 
 O 
 
 leisurely, but he allowed his command little rest this 
 night. At daylight he continued toward the agency and 
 by ten o clock the prisoners were safe within the corral and 
 under guard. He summoned Two Bears, Wadaha, Gopher, 
 and other prominent men to a council. Some of the lead 
 ing women were also present. 
 
 " Chiefs/" said Ouster, " now that Rain-in-the-Face is 
 gone I hold you men responsible for the behavior of the 
 hostiles. Red Cloud made peace some years ago I know, 
 but his young men may break loose. I want you to send 
 after your friends who have fled and bring them back. If 
 they don t return inside of ten days I shall make war 
 upon them because war is my business. The Great Father 
 will tell me to kill all Indians I meet who are not on the 
 reservation/ 
 
 " Chief Long Yellow Hair," said Ked Cloud, " this is 
 none of my doing. Your race began it. We had killed 
 nobody. You know the yellow-metal hunters are here on 
 our land: that they fired upon us first; that we did not 
 burn the agency. You have brought Dull Knife and his 
 friends here and shut them up. You shut up Rain-in-the- 
 Face but he got out; yet you say your heart is good and 
 until to-day you said you meant us no harm. Do you think 
 my young men are going to stay here and be abused ? You 
 know that I speak the truth/ Two Bears got up. 
 
 " If you will let out our young men and release Dull 
 Knife and his friends, I shall ride after my friends and 
 have them come back." 
 
 " I shall do no such thing," retorted Custer. " I pro 
 pose to hold on to enough of your fellows to insure 
 
A STORY OF Tin: Siorx. 
 
 239 
 
 peace.* Some moments of silence ensued. " Have the 
 rest of you anything to say? " asked Ouster. Tonda arose. 
 Ouster was somewhat surprised, as he had never seen a 
 woman take part in council. She observed it and ex 
 plained her action. 
 
 "General Ouster, sometimes women have a right to 
 speak. Long ago among the great fighters of your own 
 land, the Iroquois, men could not go to war if the promi 
 nent women were against such action. 
 
 "I know the white man s ways now that I have been 
 East three years. I can t keep silent. I think it is a 
 shame that you have brought your soldiers here on the 
 slightest provocation, have listened to the exaggerations of 
 Billy, and have begun to harry and abuse my poor people. v 
 
 Richards interpreted in a low voice to the other Indians, 
 for she spoke in English, and Omaha and Wawa became 
 very much excited. Ouster was a quick-tempered man 
 and instantly jumped up and seized the young woman by 
 the arm, saying: 
 
 " I allow no one to talk to me in such a manner man 
 or woman, red or white. Get out!" and he pushed 
 her to the door of the warehouse. Omaha, screamed with 
 rage as Ouster thrust Tonda through the doorway and 
 leaping up attempted to seize his throat but was re 
 strained by both Two Bears and Wadaha, who anticipated 
 trouble, and had arisen the moment Ouster laid hands on 
 Tonda. Tonda was very angry and turned red and pale 
 as she left the building. 
 
 At this moment screams and cries from the corral 
 startled the conference. Everybody rushed out. Richards 
 and Billy and other Whites in the lead, the Indians fol 
 lowing. Scarcely had they left the house when- several 
 rifle shots were heard and then more screams the shrill 
 cry of women, angry shouts of men. Soldiers and Indians 
 
240 TONDA. 
 
 ran toward the corral. An orderly rushed out of the corral 
 gate, saluted Ouster, and presented the commanding of 
 ficer s compliments. " There s trouble in the corral and 
 the Indians attacked the guards/ he said. Ouster ran to 
 the gate and met the Colonel. 
 
 "What s the matter?" said he. 
 
 " Rumor reached us that a rescue of Dull Knife and the 
 others would be attempted. We thought best to put Dull 
 Knife, Big Head, and Fat Bear in a room in the agency, 
 keeping the women and children and unimportant warriors 
 in the corral, but they evidently misunderstood our purpose 
 and fought." 
 
 Ouster was now inside the corral. Armed infantry 
 men were guarding groups of captives. As soon as the 
 General entered the stockade, prisoners rushed up to talk 
 with him for this particular band knew him well. He 
 soon learned the story.* A sergeant and the guard had 
 gone to the captives but could neither converse with them 
 nor make intelligible signs. Dull Knife and his friends 
 apprehended that they were to be put in prison and later 
 hanged a death particularly horrifying to all Indians. 
 Naturally the braves resisted with all their strength. 
 
 "All the women and children, witnessing the encounter, 
 surrounded the officer, who had joined the soldiers as soon 
 as trouble seemed imminent, and while he and the sergeant 
 and men were trying to make their exit with the three 
 chiefs, a general fight had taken place. The chiefs quickly 
 drew from the folds of their blankets the knives they had 
 been allowed to eat with. These had been surreptitiously 
 
 * Dull Knife and the men and women of his tribe were taken 
 captive in the Wichita fight. .He and another were killed in the 
 corral, as described, but the author has taken liberties with both 
 geography .and history in making the incident part of the Sioux 
 campaign. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 241 
 
 sharpened and polished, and they flashed right and left 
 as the braves plunged to and fro in their struggles. The 
 squaws, similarly armed, threw themselves with wild fury 
 upon the guard. An old squaw singled out the officer in 
 charge, sprang upon him, and plunged her knife down the 
 back of his neck with unerring aim. One of the chiefs 
 leaped upon the sergeant and stabbed and gashed him in 
 so horrible a manner that his life was despaired of. 
 The remainder of the guard came to the rescue, but not 
 before one chief, Big Head, had fallen dead, and another, 
 Dull Knife, was mortally wounded by a bayonet thrust 
 through the body. The third, Fat Bear, was felled by 
 the butt of a musket, but was uninjured. The outside 
 guard, by firing in, had quelled the mutiny among the 
 women. * While Custer talked the women ran about 
 wringing their hands and angrily and revengefully menaced 
 the guards. He visited Dull Knife and explained to him 
 what the guards were trying to do. The dying chief 
 listened composedly and spoke as calmly as if nothing had 
 happened. 
 
 " I would like the Colonel also here." An orderly sum 
 moned the Colonel. " Xow," he continued, " I want you 
 to let Long Yellow Hair put an interpreter here. We 
 be all dead men if we have to deal with the walking 
 soldiers. They do not know us. Horse soldiers do. But 
 for these fool walk-much men I should be well/" He 
 was not bitter and expressed few regrets. There was no 
 horrible death-bed scene only civilized people are afraid 
 to die. 
 
 The Colonel consented and a squaw-man was called and 
 given authority to visit the captives and communicate 
 their needs to the Colonel. Dull Knife s women mourned 
 
 * " Following the Guidon," Mrs. Elizabeth Custer. p. 106. 
 16 
 
TOXDA. 
 
 and cut their arms and legs with knives. They crouched 
 down and cried and moaned. They begged the Colonel, 
 through the interpreter, to let them go down to Rain-in- 
 the-Face s village and live. 
 
 " Can t do it," said Ouster. " This killing is bad 
 business. Very aggravating at this time." 
 
 Having quieted the excitement as far as possible, he 
 returned to the agency. At the gate were Two Bears, 
 Tonda, Red Cloud, and the rest, permission to enter hav 
 ing been refused them by the guards. Women inside 
 shrieked the news to them and they were far from being 
 in a good humor. When Custer came up, Red Cloud 
 addressed him: 
 
 "Are you going to attack the village?" 
 
 " See here, Chief, I attack no good Indians. If you 
 people behave you will not get in trouble. These Indians 
 resisted and brought their fate upon their own heads. 
 You go back to the village and permit no disturbance. 
 Richards, quiet the people there and assure them that I 
 sha n t attack." 
 
 " General Custer," began Tonda. 
 
 " I haven t time to talk to you. You are disrespectful 
 to authority." 
 
 " What a great man of your own race once said, I now 
 say to you," she cried, following after him, angry, tremb 
 ling, and excited : " Look upon your hands ! They are 
 stained with the blood of your red brothers." 
 
 The stage came about six o clock that evening, two 
 hours after the tragedy in the corral, and halted in front 
 of the agency. Four gentlemen from the far East climbed 
 out and heaved! grateful sighs that their long journey was 
 at an end. They were distinguished gentlemen, for when 
 ever the newspapers referred to them, " Honorable " was 
 placed before their names. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 243 
 
 " How now? v whispered Charlie to O Donnell as they 
 came to Henry :; door. " Is it a peace commission or is 
 they sent out by Congress? " 
 
 k Domned if Oi know," said Billy, **" but we ll soon foind 
 out. They is certainly one or the other, fer whether pace 
 commission min or congressmin does not matter, they is 
 fat, bald-headed, an well kept an comfortable lookin an 
 these fellers has all thim signs/ It was even so, for when 
 Billy introduced himself they informed him that they 
 constituted a committee sent out by Congress to investi 
 gate the condition of the Sioux. Billy told Charlie to 
 notify the others, and that night the Colonel, the General, 
 and others paid their respects. Charlie also rode over 
 and told Richards. 
 
244 TONDA. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE. 
 
 Of course the commissioner^/spent the evening and 
 until midnight conferring with the agent and the officers. 
 There was little sleep for anyone. When the commis 
 sioners retired,, Billy, Charlie, and Henry held a long con 
 sultation, the upshot of which was suggested hy Billy s 
 final sentence: 
 
 " Youse fellows keep yer heads shut an let me do the 
 talkin . Don t give information onless asked." 
 
 The employees bustled about and got the commissioners 
 as good a supper as the larder afforded. Immediately 
 afterward the party gathered in the office. The officers 
 came, and all told, a dozen or fifteen persons of authority 
 were present. The Chairman explained his mission and 
 added : 
 
 u The Secretary of the Interior and the President, and 
 I may say a majority of the honorable gentlemen in 
 Congress, think that these Indians are costing us too 
 much. We don t believe in this policy of continually 
 harrying them. Undue leniency is not to be thought of, 
 but, on the other hand, the experience on the upper Mis 
 souri which resulted in Fetterman s defeat and the de 
 struction of our forts and the withdrawal of troops cost 
 the government several millions of dollars. The Laramie 
 treaty with Red Cloud was a good thing. General Cus- 
 ter s battle of Wichita brought the hostiles to terms. 
 
 " Now, we come empowered to act. We shall make a 
 complete investigation and report upon our return. He 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 245 
 
 continued in the same strain for some time. The agent 
 and Charlie explained the situation. 
 
 " Do you mean/ asked the Chairman of the General, 
 " that Lieutenant Custer has pursued the hostiles and that 
 YOU have notified him to return?" 
 
 " I have sent two of my best men after him and have 
 ordered that he bring in his troops. I have notified Red 
 Cloud, head chief, to observe peace in the village near 
 here." 
 
 " That is well, General," replied the Chairman. " It 
 seems to me that we should persuade the hostiles to re 
 turn at the earliest possible moment. There is no telling 
 what they will do on the trail. Every hour counts, and 
 if word can be sent them to-night through their friends 
 from the village that the peace commission is here, it may 
 save bloodshed and money." At this moment Charlie ap 
 peared, accompanied by Two Bears. Red Cloud, Gopher, 
 Richards, and some young men. The Indians were in 
 troduced and shook hands. Richards observed the official 
 interpreter carefully, ready to correct him if any errors 
 were made. The Chairman told the chiefs to bring all 
 their prominent people to the agency on the morrow. 
 
 " Can you send the soldiers away? " interrupted Red 
 Cloud. 
 
 " We will first get in all of your people and talk over 
 our differences. If those can be adjusted then we shall 
 send the soldiers in the Black Hills and they will remove 
 the miners. (Aow, aow!) Then we shall talk with you 
 about your land, about changing the agency, about send 
 ing your children to school. 
 
 " Good words," said Red Cloud ; " where there are 
 two men who are friends they talk honestly to each other. 
 You have made the hearts of the Indians glad by coming 
 here, but when you come to attend to business you 
 
246 TONDA. 
 
 should notify us in time so we can prepare something 
 to say." 
 
 " How much time do you want? Can t you call a coun 
 cil to-morrow? It won t hurt you to stay up to-night 
 and talk over these matters in your village. You don t 
 need sleep. You can rest after we leave." Everybody 
 laughed. Billy tactfully distributed tobacco among the In 
 dians. x\n excited young man leaped on his pony and 
 rode back to the village with the good news that the 
 peace commission men were going to do much for the 
 Sioux. There was a delay. The Indians were thinking. 
 " We want to hear you Indians talk. We have come from 
 Washington to have a friendly talk with you. We have 
 not come to take your land nor anything that you have. 
 We want to hear your complaints. To-morrow when we 
 hold council no harm will come to any Indian for what 
 he says." 
 
 " Aow, aow," grunted the natives. 
 
 " The first thing," said Commissioner Logan, " is to 
 bring in the hostiles." 
 
 " They are not hostile/ said Two Bears. " The white 
 people began this." And he briefly related the circum 
 stances. 
 
 " We will not quarrel," said Mr. Logan who, by the 
 way, was rather peppery and aggravated the natives 
 " Have you got two or three good riders who can start 
 to-night? We will give the leader a paper signed by us 
 all so that if they meet the soldiers or white men they 
 can explain." 
 
 " Yes," said Red Cloud. " Most of our young men 
 have gone, but I can find three." Turning to a young 
 man he rapidly told him to find and start three persons 
 whom he named. Red Cloud gave explicit instructions, 
 and while he did this, Custer wrote a note explaining the 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 247 
 
 mission in case the Indians should be held up by his 
 brother. The commissioners and Billy affixed their 
 signatures to the document. The young men left the vil 
 lage about eleven o clock that night. 
 
 Next morning those who had a right to sit in council 
 left the village and went to the agency. Many women 
 and children also followed out of curiosity. Everybody 
 was in a good humor in spite of the killing in the corral. 
 Had the captives been of this village, instead of northern 
 Sioux, doubtless the entire band had been on its way be 
 fore now to the northwest. Things looked brighter, and 
 Tonda voiced the sentiment of every one when she said : 
 
 u Just think, mother, perhaps all our troubles will end 
 and happy days come once more." 
 
 The commissioners, the Indians, and the officers talked 
 all day and parted on good terms. The military usually 
 resented interference by civilians, but whatever might be 
 said against the commissioners, certainly they came 
 clothed in authority, and whether the officers would or 
 no, peace must be made. Billy issued some extra rations. 
 During the next two days there was feasting and re 
 joicing. 
 
 ********* 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face, Sitting Bull, Strong Heart, and 
 nearly a thousand warriors traveled as fast, as they could 
 the night they left the agency. Shortly after daylight 
 they halted, rested the ponies, ate a hearty breakfast, .and 
 then pushed ahead: 
 
 " For," said Strong Heart, " we must reach the canon 
 before the soldiers overtake us." 
 
 Before noon they entered a wild and broken country. 
 The women and children and a few men advanced. The 
 warriors brought up the rear. Sitting Bull knew the 
 region thoroughly and selected a long canon which could 
 
248 TONDA. 
 
 be followed with more or less irregularity twenty miles; 
 through ten miles of broken country they must pass and 
 then a second canon afforded a retreat of a day s journey 
 farther. Dog-soldiers acted as scouts, Runner being con 
 spicuous through his tireless ascent of ledges and buttes 
 in order that he might look around and view the sur 
 rounding country. His energy was rewarded, for about 
 four o clock when they were half way through he descried 
 the approach of the cavalry. 
 
 " It s a good place for a fight," said Sitting Bull; " they 
 can t flank us, and they have got to go fifteen miles 
 around to head us." Word was passed up front and the 
 Indians halted. The women concealed the horses and 
 children as well as they could, the men flocked to the 
 rear, painted, stripped, and prepared for action. The 
 best shots took cover under boulders, behind logs or in 
 crevices. 
 
 " Better have a talk first," cried Strong Heart 
 
 " No time to talk now," replied Sitting Bull. 
 
 " But," said Strong Heart, " we do not want a fight if 
 we can help it." 
 
 "Are you afraid?" asked Sitting Bull scornfully 
 
 " Afraid, 7 he retorted, " I have killed more men than 
 you ever did, you boaster. I do not want our home vil 
 lage attacked, and if we fire first, Long Yellow Hair s 
 brother will say that we attacked." 
 
 " Strong Heart is right," cried Rain-in-the-Face. " You 
 men all obey me. We must talk first and fight later." 
 
 Strong Heart, Sitting Bull, Rain-in-the-Face and some 
 others advanced down the canon half a mile, a cloud of 
 warriors followed w r ithin supporting distance, singing 
 their battle songs or personal chants, thus nerving them 
 selves for action. 
 
 California Joe and a fringe of scouts were in advance, 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 249 
 
 picking their way along carefully. They halted. Strong 
 Heart raised a large white cloth on a stick. 
 
 " How," he cried. 
 
 " How/ responded Joe. 
 
 "Where is Long Yellow Hairs brother?" 
 
 " He s cominY" replied Joe. " You ll git enuf uv him." 
 
 The troopers were trotting and Strong Heart saw that 
 they would soon be within rifle range. His young men 
 ranged themselves across the canon, and to the advancing 
 column it seemed as if innumerable heads popped above 
 every boulder. Strong Heart put down his rifle and ran 
 down to where California Joe was, but observing that 
 none of the scouts put down their guns he turned and 
 ran back to the Indians. Joe and several scouts covered 
 him with their rifles, and as they did so a score of Indians 
 in turn aimed at them. Xo shot was fired. The Lieu 
 tenant and Brown halted. 
 
 " Why are you after us? " shouted Strong Heart. 
 
 u Surrender Kain-in-the-Face, Sitting Bull, and yourself 
 or we ll wipe out your outfit." 
 
 " Fair warning, old Long Yellow Hair s brother," cried 
 Strong Heart. " Behold this yellow boulder in the canon. 
 If your men pass it we shall drive you back." And he 
 retreated among his braves. 
 
 " Xow Lieutenant. " said Brown, " here s your chance. 
 Give them old Garryowen."* 
 
 Ouster hesitated. He suspected that there were several 
 times as many Indians as he had troops. What would the 
 General say if he lost men and did not succeed in return 
 ing the hostiles? The troops, waiting quietly, were ranged 
 in two lines across the canon. 
 
 " Joe." 
 
 Always sounded as the Seventh Cavalry charged. It was 
 General Ouster s favorite air. 
 
250 TONDA. 
 
 " Wall, Lieutenant." 
 
 " Take some scouts and go up on the bluff where you 
 can see the end of the canon and report how many In 
 dians there are." 
 
 " Yes, Lieutenant." The scouts climbed up on foot 
 and made their way to a point of observation. The banks 
 were too rough and precipitous for cavalry and the range 
 from them into the valley was so great as to prevent 
 accurate shooting. There was some delay, during which 
 the Indians strengthened their position. Joe returned. 
 
 " Wall, Lieutenant, I can t say fer sartin, but I think 
 there are nigh on a thousand uv em, and they are well 
 armed." 
 
 " It seems a pity to come this far without a scrap," 
 remarked Ouster. " If it is too hot for us, we can go 
 back, report the conditions, and the General can easily 
 overtake them with the entire command before they reach 
 the Big Horn country." Turning he called to the ex 
 pectant troops : 
 
 " Attention, men ! Bugler, Garryowen ! Charge ! 
 Charge ! " 
 
 Great spurs ploughed the big, strong cavalry horses 
 sides. The old Irish tune which had sounded the knell 
 of Black Kettle s village and had been heard by the 
 Cheyennes when they were whipped, rang forth and pene 
 trated into remote recesses. A hundred troopers went in 
 advance, then Custer and Brown and the scouts, and a 
 hundred brought up the rear, but they did not go far in 
 close formation. Multitudes of Indians sprang up with 
 red and blue and white blankets which they waved, and 
 screamed. Scores of Indians made careful shots. A 
 dozen men and twenty horses were down in a few mo 
 ments. Other steeds stampeded, and Custer queried that 
 if the natives fought so determinedly at the beginning, 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 251 
 
 what would they do when he should have penetrated the 
 canon half a mile farther? 
 
 " Lieutenant/" said Brown. u you know what General 
 Sherman said? " 
 
 u Yes, and he was right too. If I should break up this 
 company of the Seventh, George would never forgive me. 
 Things look very squally. I ve got to retreat. We can 
 form again and attack later. I have got twenty men 
 down already." A bugler was riding not far from Brown. 
 
 Tell him to sound retreat," commanded Ouster. He 
 did so and the cavalry galloped quickly down the canon, 
 the Indians following on foot but unable to keep up. 
 The horses returned willingly for they feared blankets 
 and yells more than they did bullets. The under officers 
 reported their losses: Eight or ten killed and fifteen 
 wounded. A number of men were dismounted. 
 
 " How many Indians were killed, Joe?" 
 
 " They got more uv us than we got uv em. You see, 
 Lieutenant, they shot frum rests an we couldn t shoot or 
 use the sabres ter any good cause we didn t go fer enuf 
 up the canon." 
 
 The younger officers respectfully protested to Ouster 
 against the retreat, maintaining that he should have con 
 tinued the charge. 
 
 Well, we can charge again. They are all there yet. 
 The action has just begun." 
 
 " Lieutenant," said Joe, don t do it, you have not got 
 men enough an the canons is full uv em an they is all 
 fightiir mad. At this moment the troopers farther back 
 shouted, and Ouster, turning in his saddle, beheld two 
 messengers riding sweat-lathered horses. They looked 
 wistfully on their brother troopers, longed to fulfill their 
 mission and join in the fray. 
 
 " The Commanding General presents his compliments 
 
262 TONDA. 
 
 to the Lieutenant," said one tired trooper as he and his 
 companion advanced and saluted. He presented two en 
 velopes which Ouster at once tore open, read, and handed 
 to Captain Brown. One was official in which the Com 
 manding General peremptorily ordered his Lieutenant to 
 return without attacking the Indians; the other was a 
 personal note in which the elder brother mildly censured 
 the younger, explained to him that it was not yet time 
 for actual hostilities. 
 
 " Well, Brown, here s a kettle of fish." 
 
 " Wall, Lieutenant," said Joe, " I ve knowed your 
 brother fer years an you ain t goin ter make no mistake 
 obeyin 7 orders." 
 
 " I d like to have a good slap at them," said Brown, 
 wistfully looking up the canon. 
 
 " You ll shorely hev a chance later," said Joe. 
 
 Orders were given and the troops retraced the trail. Xo 
 Indians followed, and they reached the agency two days 
 later. En route they passed the messengers sent to notify 
 the Indians of the arrival of peace commissioners, and 
 heard more news from them. 
 
 liain-in-the-Face and his companions were divided as to 
 what they should do. So they sat down and debated for 
 several hours. Some were in favor of returning, others 
 believed that they should place no reliance in the promises 
 of the Whites but push on to the Big Horn county. 
 The matter was finally compromised. Strong Heart was 
 appointed sub-chief and told to take the entire outfit 
 some forty or fifty miles farther northwest, where there 
 was good hunting, and await news. He would place scouts 
 on all sides, eight or ten miles distant from the village, to 
 give warning of the approach of enemies. Sitting Bull, 
 Rain-in-the-Face, and a dozen prominent warriors would 
 return with the Indian messengers. They rode their best 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 253 
 
 horses and proceeded leisurely. When ten miles from the 
 agency they halted and sent to ascertain if they would be 
 well treated. The commissioners instructed the bearer of 
 this message to advise them that they would not be detained, 
 but permitted to come and go at will, so they came in, and 
 received an ovation in their own village as they turned to 
 ward the agency. The approach to the agency was dra 
 matic. When about a mile and a half distant they halted 
 and came on slowly, thirty-two of them abreast for such 
 men of consequence as remained in the village had joined 
 them. As they advanced they chanted in loud tones a 
 song of victory. A large crowd followed in the wake of 
 the horsemen. The officers and commissioners came out 
 of the agency and stood on the porch. When within 
 half a mile, Sitting Bull gave the word and the horses 
 ran. Every man was superbly mounted and dressed in his 
 full Avar costume. They dashed up in front of Billy s 
 headquarters, and as the last notes of the song died away, 
 leaped to the ground and crowded about the commission 
 ers and shook hands. It was a warm day and the ground 
 was dry. Mr. Logan proposed that the council be held 
 out-doors, so they all sat in a circle, the commissioners in 
 the center and the people grouped about, listening. All 
 day they conferred, and, having settled their grievances 
 for the present at least, an era of good feeling prevailed. 
 
 " Colonel," said the Chairman, u it seems to me that 
 under the circumstances you can release the prisoners 
 from the corral and warehouse, if that meets with your 
 approval." 
 
 " Orderly," said the Colonel, " give my compliments to 
 the sergeant at the corral and tell him to release the 
 prisoners and remove the guards." The Chairman ad 
 journed the council and the Indians ran to the corral gate 
 and joyfully received their friends. 
 
254: TONDA. 
 
 Strong Heart and his band were not forgotten. Run 
 ners sent to him carried the good news, and within a week 
 all the " hostiles " were back and under Billy s watchful 
 eye. 
 
 The commissioners sent and received many telegrams 
 chiefly from Washington. They explained the situation 
 fully, enlarged upon the bad effects of the miners pres 
 ence, and recommended that these men be removed, for they 
 were a thorn in the side of the Sioux. So Washington 
 was pleased to order Custer to deport the miners. He set 
 out at once upon his famous Black Hills march, and with 
 out firing a shot he caught some hundreds of prospectors 
 and took them to the Missouri river, where he warned 
 them not to return upon Sioux land. Thirty or forty 
 miners hid themselves and escaped detection. During 
 the General s campaign no Indian objected to his presence 
 or attempted to stay his progress. Custer returned to 
 Laramie; the infantry went to some other post. The 
 commissioners visited western and northern agencies, 
 promising to stop at Rain-in-the-Face s village as they re 
 turned to the East. 
 
 The Sioux got on peacefully for some weeks. Spring 
 came and the prairie became a carpet of flowers. The 
 ponies fattened up and buffalo began to work northward 
 from the southern ranges. 
 
 The few miners left in the Black Hills were joined by 
 more recruits. As soon as Custer departed many men 
 returned, new ones came up the Missouri, hidden by 
 obliging steamboatmen in out-of-the-way places on their 
 craft, and soon there were more men in the camps than 
 formerly. Western congressmen took up the " rights " of 
 .their constituents and an agitation was begun which only 
 ended when the Sioux had ceded the Black Hills to the 
 insatiable Whites. 
 
BED CLOUD AND PROFESSOR MARSH. 
 
A STOIJY OF THE Sioux. 257 
 
 It was ration day. Billy, encouraged by the turn of 
 affairs, had begun to substitute goods again. In Omaha 
 and Kansas City the rice, beans, etc.. were changed. The 
 first time there was some complaint, on the second occa 
 sion a committee of Indians visited him. He would have 
 paid little attention to it but for the presence of one man, 
 Professor Marsh of Yale. Marsh had spent one or two 
 seasons fossil-hunting in the Bad Lands. He had met the 
 Sioux and treated them well. Eed Cloud gave orders that 
 Marsh the Big Bone Chief they called him be not dis 
 turbed, for Marsh had made some inquiries regarding the 
 food issued them and had listened to complaints and col 
 lected evidence. He promised Red Cloud that he would in 
 terest persons of influence East in behalf of the Sioux. 
 Xoting a white man among the Indians O Donnell advanced. 
 
 " This hyar stranger is Perfesser Marsh," said Richards, 
 introducing him to Billy. " He is the man what got those 
 two wagon loads of bones up in the Bad Lands last fall, 
 and the Sioux thinks a powerful sight of him." 
 
 " Glad ter know youse," said the agent, shaking hands 
 but he was not glad. " What c n Oi do fer youse? " 
 
 " Oh, nothing special," replied the Professor. " 1 came 
 to see my friend Red Cloud. He assured me of his peace 
 ful intention, and we were photographed as we held the 
 peace pipe in common.* I wish to look about the reserva 
 tion somewhat. I just called to pay my respects. I have 
 permission from the Secretary of the Interior to work in 
 the fossil beds twenty or thirty miles from here, and may 
 make this place headquarters," and the Professor handed 
 O Donnell his credentials. 
 
 * The illustration is reproduced from a photograph in the pos 
 session of Miss Fannie Brown, of Andover. The date is uncertain ; 
 negative lost. The writer knows of but one other photograph. 
 Supposed date between 1871-5. 
 17 
 
258 TONDA. 
 
 "Yis, yis, Oi see. If youse needs anything, come 
 round." * 
 
 " Now I have something to say," said Two Bears. 
 " The rations you issued us this morning were very poor. 
 The beans were wormy, the coffee did not taste like coffee, 
 the flour was caked and the rice is 9 here the Indian 
 made a horrible grimace and placed his hand on his 
 stomach. 
 
 " These Injuns," said Billy, turning to Marsh, " is al 
 ways kickin . The givernment spinds millions o dollars 
 on thim rid rascals. We druv out the miners from the 
 Black Hills, we brought a pace commission at great ox- 
 pense, an still they kick." 
 
 " Well," said Marsh, " seems to me they have occasion 
 to i kick/ When I was at the other agency last year I ex 
 amined their food and saw samples of what the white men 
 gave them, and what you issued them, and I must confess 
 that yours is the worst of all. Far be it from me to inter 
 fere in matters that do not concern me, but I should think 
 that the appropriation was sufficient for the purchase of 
 good food which, if carefully and honestly delivered, 
 would prevent suffering." Billy flushed and his eyes 
 began to snap. 
 
 " Where did youse see the grub Oi give em? You ain t 
 been in my warehouse." 
 
 " No, but I visited the village and saw the packs opened 
 as squaws brought them in. 1 believe that any commer 
 cial person who submitted such samples at Washington 
 would be refused the contract." 
 
 " Perf esser," said Billy, shaking his fist in the scient 
 ist s face, "you dig up all the domried owld bones youse 
 wants ter but you keep your head shut an keep away from 
 this agincy. Oi will have youse rayported for makin the 
 Injuns dissatisfied. We s hed trouble enough an Washin - 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 259 
 
 ton don t want no more. If youse conies around here 
 kickin Oi ll have youse sint off in the stage." Marsh 
 abruptly turned on his heel and walked away. The others 
 followed. It was inadvisable to have a scene with the 
 agent. He went back to the village and made up samples 
 of the kind of food Billy issued, together with data as to 
 families from whom he received them. Statements from 
 witnesses were procured and that night he wrote a long 
 letter to the President. In a few days it was necessary 
 for him to visit the railroad and bring in supplies, and 
 he personally mailed these packages and communications 
 rather than intrust them to the stage driver. 
 
 Professor Marsh s report got into the newspapers and 
 created a scandal. It caused the Secretary of the Interior 
 to resign and brought about the defeat of the " Indian 
 ring." After the Yellowstone campaign had ended, the 
 food issued the Sioux visibly improved in quality and 
 quantity. 
 
260 TONDA. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 EXELBY S SCHEME. 
 
 During all this time Le Moyne was living peacefully 
 with the Crows. He had sold some of his ponies to the 
 miners, for the Crows were nearer the Black Hills than 
 were the Sioux. In fact he had used up the money, arid 
 it was necessary for him to dispose of the remainder of 
 his herd. He visited Deadwood, learned of General Cus- 
 ter s actions and met Exelby and Billy the Kid, who, 
 having failed to reach Texas, had come up the Missouri, 
 determined to make a stake in the mining camps. 
 
 " Wall, Le Moyne," said Exelby as he shook hands, 
 " whar did you come from? " 
 
 " Let s go in here and irrigate and HI tell you all 
 about it." They entered one of the saloons, drank and 
 sat down and Le Moyne told his story, not omitting Rich 
 ards treachery. Exelby told of the defeat of the horse- 
 thieves. 
 
 " See here," said Billy the Kid, " Custer ain t comin 
 up here again and we hears that them congressmen is 
 kickin an in favor of openin this country. They want 
 to git the Sioux out. It seems to me that we ought to 
 square ourselves fer losing them ponies, Campbell, Jack, 
 and the rest of our men. We is glad to see you, Le Moyne, 
 ain t we, Doc?" Exelby expressed his gratitude in oaths. 
 
 " There is two others of the gang here," he said. " Be- 
 i ore the sodgers got down on me," he continued, " I was a 
 scout, as you know. I knowed Custer and I ll bet that 
 he hated to give up fightin the Sioux. I kept posted, an 
 I know that the peace commissioners done squared every 
 body, but the next time that the Sioux breaks out, Custer 
 is goin to come an lick Hell out of em. There won t 
 be no more peace commission men until after the fightin . 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 261 
 
 " Xow. Le Moyne, ef you ain t afeered, the five of us 
 will go with a pack outfit down pretty near the agency 
 air be seen by the Injuns. When we went with the ponies 
 we was hampered, an that s why they whipped us. But 
 the Sioux can t git us once we re in the mountains. Ef 
 we lay around and nail a few of them, a bunch of bucks 
 will take the war-path to clean out the miners. The 
 Injuns don t like the Black Hills, an they won t come 
 clear to Deadwood, but they ll kill all prospectors they 
 kin find in the foothills. This will raise the devil an* 
 troops will be sent out. Moreover, there ain t no danger 
 for us cf we work it right. Go light an don t try to run 
 off the bosses." Le Moyne and the Kid nodded. Exelby 
 pounded on the table, a waiter appeared, and he ordered 
 more whiskey. " I want to git square for Campbell an 
 Jack, air also want to make business good. Ef the coun 
 try is opened there ll be stages carry in gold away an lots 
 of tenderfeet with money eomiir in." 
 
 u Suits me 0. K.," said Le Moyne. " The ponies I got 
 from them Sioux is about gone. I need money. Get your 
 gang together and let s start out as soon as we can." 
 
 So it was agreed. For the next few days Le Moyne en 
 joyed a protracted spree, and when all the arrangements 
 were perfected five as fine rogues as ever lived calmly 
 rode out of camp with the deliberate purpose of bringing 
 on war between the Whites and the Sioux. They traveled 
 slowly, reached a point twelve or fifteen miles north of 
 the agency and encamped in the Bad Lands. They 
 scouted continually, and in two or three days were re 
 warded by finding four young Indians who had gone out 
 to gather herbs for medicinal purposes. Two of these 
 they killed and purposely permitted the other two to re 
 turn to the village with the news. Then the outlaws 
 withdrew, and by the time the war party caught up with 
 
262 TONDA. 
 
 them they were well into the foothills. A running fight 
 ensued; the outlaws abandoned the pack animals, lost one 
 of their number, but succeeded in checking the Indians, 
 killing two and wounding several. The Indians pursued 
 within thirty or forty miles of Deadwood and there aban 
 doned the chase. On their return, roaming about the 
 foothills, they fell in with a party of eight miners and 
 killed them all. Then swinging toward the east, they 
 struck the freight road between the Missouri and Dead- 
 wood, held up two or three wagons, taking the horses, 
 killing the men, and loading the extra animals with all 
 sorts of plunder, and returned to the village. Eunners 
 were sent to the northern agencies, and a great war dance 
 was held in Kain-in-the-Face s village. Charlie saddled 
 his mustang and galloped over on a tour of inspection, 
 found the Indians engaged in their war dance, and re 
 ported it to Billy. 
 
 Billy, Charlie, Henry, and the stage driver were in the 
 agency office that evening. 
 
 " It s clar," said Billy, " from what the young bucks 
 say, that it s Exelby an the Kid an Le Moyne who made 
 this raid. () course they had no business ter raid, but 
 the Sioux lias got ter be licked. Oi see it comin . Ef 
 they ain t whipped by the sodgers an the Black Hills ain t 
 opened there ll be the devil ter pay anywhere. Now 
 they re dancin the war dance, which they ain t done for 
 some years. Oi m goin ter wire Washington to-night, 1 
 and he drafted the following message : u Sioux broke 
 loose again, killed a dozen miners and teamsters and looted 
 freight wagons." 
 
 " Now," said Billy, " we ve had enuf o" 5 this hyar fool 
 ishness. That Perfesser from the East has got ter be 
 brought in too or the young Injuns will kill him." 
 
 " He s safe," said Charlie, " since Red Cloud give orders 
 to leave him alone." 
 
A STGR\ OF THE Sioux. 263 
 
 " Xo he ain t. Lots o the Injuns don t know him, an 
 they d as soon nail him as any other mon." 
 
 "Well/ said Henry, " we got to sit tight. What do 
 you think, Charlie? 
 
 " I ve knowed Injuns for a long time, and these fellers 
 is achin for a good fight. What they need is a lickin , as 
 Billy says." 
 
 It was after supper in Tonda s home, where were her 
 parents and also Strong Heart s. The men were very 
 glum. Omaha sang to herself an old folk song. Strong 
 Heart moodily gazed into the fire. Tonda came over to 
 his side, put her arm around his neck and said: 
 
 " Don t go. We have had fighting enough. We can t 
 whip the Whites." 
 
 " Why can t they ever let us alone?" asked Wawa. " I 
 would like to live in the northland. The Great Mothers* 
 Indians are well treated." 
 
 " Yes/" said Two Bears. " It is a fine land But the 
 buffalo are fewer. 
 
 " What matter, there are other animals," commented 
 Eain-in-the-Face. 
 
 " Aow," agreed Omaha. " The traders are honest. If 
 we ever can go there let us do it. Then Washington may 
 send word to come back, and if we do the Great Father 
 will give us more." 
 
 "Well, if Washington did, who would believe?" de 
 manded Strong Heart. 
 
 " Don t say that, husband. It is not Washington or the 
 Great Father, but his men who cheat and lie. He is good, 
 they are not. His great council is honest. There are 
 good and bad Whites. You must not think all are evil." 
 
 "Huh!" exclaimed Omaha. "I wish they would send 
 some of the good ones out here. I would like to see one 
 of them." 
 
 * Queen Victoria. 
 
264 TONDA. 
 
 " Mother, the Whites in the far East are mostly good. 
 They build great buildings for sick people. They feed 
 the poor and do all manner of noble actions. But the 
 folks who do these things have money, and they do not 
 need to come to this country; that is why we do not see 
 them. Sometimes they go on the cars clear through to 
 the Western ocean/ 
 
 " I wish they would come up here and give us some of 
 their money/ 7 said Wawa. 
 
 " They know nothing of us/ continued the girl. " As 
 the cars pass through a very poor, barren section of land 
 and the people look through glass windows and see In 
 dians they ask Why, how can any one live in such a 
 God-forsaken country? and some rich, western cattle or 
 mining man replies Oh, this is an Indian reservation. 
 We gave it to the Indians because we cannot use it our 
 selves/ The friends laughed. 
 
 When the message reached Washington there was a con 
 sultation. The news was communicated to the Secretary 
 of War, who conferred with the President and the Ct>m- 
 missioner of Indian Affairs. Two or three days later the 
 miners sent word to their friends in the East. Billy wired 
 the Congressional Committee and they replied, " Hold 
 the Indians in check if possible." Be it said to the credit 
 of the committee that they immediately left, driving all 
 night to reach the railway. One day on the cars brought 
 them to the station nearest to the agency. Again they 
 traveled all night, and at daylight pulled up at O Don- 
 nelPs quarters. Charlie summoned the chiefs.* 
 
 " All interviews between the Commission and the Indians are 
 modeled after Senate Report 283, Investigation of August-Sep 
 tember, 1883. Forty-eighth Congress. Portions of speeches 
 literal; but generally liberties have been taken. Most of Sitting 
 Bull s speech is a literal translation. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 265 
 
 They needed rest, and their eyes were heavy, for they 
 had not slept the past two nights. Everybody felt the 
 tension. Both commissioners and Indians apprehended 
 that serious trouble was at hand. The Chairman spoke: 
 
 " We supposed that everything was amicably settled 
 when we left here some weeks ago. Xow we come back 
 because of very bad news. You have broken your prom 
 ises and taken the war-path. You have murdered citizens 
 and stolen goods. General Ouster is coming with an army. 
 He will pursue you and make you behave. I want you 
 to send out and bring in your young men who were raid 
 ing. I want those responsible surrendered to the agent 
 in order that the Great Father may punish them." 
 Scowls and ominous looks greeted the speaker. Xone of 
 the chiefs replied. 
 
 Mr. Logan : " Interpreter, ask these Indians why they 
 do not answer us. Are they willing to surrender those 
 young men who have murdered citizens? " Two Bears 
 got up. 
 
 " There is a man named Exelby who is a horse-thief. 
 He stole hundreds of ponies from us. We told Billy 
 there "-- pointing his finger "and he said he told 
 Washington. The Great Father did nothing. Exelby 
 came again, stole six hundred ponies, shot ten of our 
 young men and wounded a dozen others. We followed 
 and recovered the horses and killed six of Exelby s men. 
 
 " Everybody s heart was good until five days ago Exelby 
 and Billy the Kid came down and shot two of our young 
 men. We followed them and they shot two more of us. 
 They went into the Black Hills, and we, following, found 
 miners. Long Yellow Hair said the miners were gone. 
 There are more miners there than ever before. We were 
 very mad and we killed a dozen miners and took goods 
 because the miners are in our land and fought us. Xow 
 we are mad. (Aow. aow.) 
 
266 TONDA. 
 
 " I have been a good Indian and Billy here knows I 
 have. All of the treaties from the time when I was a boy 
 down to the present time have been broken. There was 
 a council held some time ago at which there were present 
 six or seven white men and a good many Indians, and this 
 is something I keep in remembrance of that council (hold 
 ing up a silver medal which he carried suspended from 
 his neck). This medal and I are paupers. The promises 
 the government made to us have not been fulfilled. The 
 white men are taking everything away from us, and I am 
 now a very poor man. 
 
 The Chairman whispered to Logan: "It seems to me 
 that it is useless to continue the council." 
 
 "No, no," replied Logan; "keep it up and let us as 
 certain all we can." 
 
 The Chairman : * " Interpreter, ask Rain-in-the-Face if 
 he has anything to say." 
 
 " Two Bears speaks wisely. We don t want to fight, but 
 we ve got to fight because then you white men respect us 
 and give us more 
 
 Mr. Logan : " Interpreter, tell him that that is not 
 true." 
 
 Rain-in-the-Face : " It is true. Look at the digger In 
 dians and the mission Indians who have never fought. 
 They are hungry half the time. They were never free as 
 we have been. Miners want our land." 
 
 Chairman: " Will you sell the Black Hills to the Great 
 Father? You don t go in the Black Hills, and you don t 
 need the country." 
 
 " We hunt in the foothills. Game winters there and 
 comes out on the Plains in the spring. After this the 
 Great Father ought to let us alone about our lands. 1 
 have been all over this reservation and it is a very small 
 one, and the Great Father ought not to take any of it 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 26? 
 
 from us. All the people here say it is of no use for the 
 Great Father to try to buy any of our lands again. It 
 is no use for him to bother us about it hereafter. All of 
 the Indians love their land. We sold the Great Father 
 some land before, and he promised to pay us for it, but he 
 has not given us that pay yet. We have a great many 
 children, and we want our land for them, and we are very 
 uneasy about them. If other people take our land, what 
 will our children do? They cannot go on the Great 
 Father s land and take up land there. You are wise men. 
 and it is no use for you to try to bother us." 
 
 Logan: " What do you mean by bothering you? " 
 
 " 1 mean continually asking us to sell land. We don t 
 want the poles on which you have strung the lightning 
 wire between here and the railroad." 
 
 Chairman : " Well, you can talk about that to some 
 body else after we are gone." 
 
 Logan: "If you will surrender to Billy the men who 
 killed the miners and raid no more, I think that the Great 
 Father will forgive you." The Indians growled. At this 
 moment Tonda and her mother entered the council circle. 
 
 Chairman: "Ask Sitting Bull if he has anything to 
 say to the committee." 
 
 Sitting Bull : " Of course I will speak to you. I 
 thought it was only such men as you desire to speak who 
 must say anything." 
 
 Chairman: "We supposed the Indians would select 
 men to speak for them, but any man who desires to speak, 
 we shall be glad to hear if he has anything to say." 
 
 Sitting Bull : " Do you not know who I am, that yon 
 speak as you do? " 
 
 Chairman: " I know that you are Sitting Bull, and if 
 you have anything to say we shall be glad to hear you." 
 
268 TONDA. 
 
 Sitting Bull: " Do you recognize me; do you know 
 who I am ? " 
 
 Chairman : " I know you are Sitting Bull/ 
 
 Sitting Bull : " You say you know I am Sitting Bull, 
 but do you know what position I hold?" 
 
 Chairman : " I do not know any difference between you 
 and the other Indians at this agency." 
 
 Sitting Bull : " I am here by the will of the Great 
 Spirit, and by his will I am a chief. My heart is red and 
 sweet, and I know it is sweet, because whatever passes near 
 me puts out its tongue to me; and yet you men have come 
 here to talk with us, and you say you do not know who I 
 am. I want to tell you that if the Great Spirit has 
 chosen any one to be the chief of this country it is 
 myself." 
 
 Chairman : " In whatever capacity you may be here 
 to-da}^, if you desire to say anything to us we will listen 
 to you; otherwise we will dismiss this council." 
 
 Sitting Bull: " Aow; that is all right. You have con 
 ducted yourselves like men who have been drinking 
 whiskey, and I came here to give you some advice.* We 
 will not surrender the young men. We will go up into the 
 Black Hills and drive out the miners. We will all go on 
 the war-path until the Great Father treats us as he 
 should." 
 
 Logan : " Interpreter, I want to say something to that 
 man (pointing to Sitting Bull), before he sits down, and 
 I want you to tell these Indians to listen to all that I 
 say to him. 
 
 " Sitting Bull, this committee came here on behalf of 
 the government, with nothing in view except to ascertain 
 the wants of the Indians, and to inquire into the provi- 
 
 * Literal translation. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 269 
 
 sions of the treaty recently made, and whether or not it 
 was satisfactory to the Indians. We invited the Indian* 
 to come here to-day for a friendly talk, and they ap 
 pointed yourself and two others to talk with the commit 
 tee. When you talked you accused the committee of 
 being drunk, you insulted them; and I understand this 
 is not the first time you have been guilty of an offense 
 of a like kind to a committee of Congress. You said to 
 this committee before insulting them that you were chief 
 of all the people of this country, and that you were ap 
 pointed chief by the Great Spirit. I want to say to you 
 that you were not appointed by the Great Spirit, nor has 
 any one else been. Appointments are not made in that 
 way. I want to say further that you are not a great chief 
 of this country; that you have no following, no power, 
 no control, and no right to any control. You are on an 
 Indian reservation merely at the sufferance of the govern 
 ment. You are fed by the government, clothed by the 
 government, your children are educated by the govern 
 ment, and all you have and are to-day is because of the 
 government. If it were not for the government you 
 would be freezing and starving to-day in the mountains."* 
 
 The Indians heard this in sullen silence. All those 
 Whites present who knew anything about Indians ex 
 pected the commissioners would be attacked. Most of 
 the Whites were armed. While the tension was at its 
 height, Tonda got up. 
 
 " Gentlemen." said she. " I have been schooled in the 
 East and I speak for the women, who are of more import 
 ance in the tribe than you imagine. When I came home 
 a few months ago every one was of good heart and we had 
 no trouble " and she told the story of the horse-thieves 
 and the miners: the commissioners seemed impressed: 
 
 * Literal. 
 
270 TONDA. 
 
 " Now I want to say this, I have seen your country and 
 know your ways. You are rich and powerful. We are 
 weak and poor. But we have spirit, and if you can t give 
 us the few things that we ask and ask in all justice 
 there will be the biggest war that the Plains have ever 
 seen. You will whip us in the end, but there will be more 
 white men killed than Indians." 
 
 Logan : " Young woman, enough ! We did not come 
 here to be lectured." Strong Heart, who had controlled 
 himself with difficulty, now stood before the white men. 
 
 " This woman is my wife and has a right to speak. You 
 men were never nearer death than you are at this minute. 
 She knows your ways better than I do and she can talk to 
 you. You have got to sit here and listen whether you 
 want to or not. There are plenty of young men without 
 our circle, and you will see that they are all armed." 
 
 Strong Heart called : " Give them the war-whoop, 
 brothers," and the circle rang with its roar. The Chair 
 man pulled his beard and thought of far off Washington. 
 Would that he and his friends were at dinner in Willard s 
 rather than here! 
 
 " Gintlemin," said Billy, to the commissioners, " this 
 looks bad, but there ain t nothin ter do but fer youse ter 
 sit aisy an hear the gal talk. Don t none o you make a 
 move." 
 
 " Now," continued Tonda, " when you men get back 
 East I want you to tell those in authority what we have 
 said. You say that you have treated us well and that we 
 have no complaints. I deny that. Professor Marsh has 
 sent samples of the food that Billy gives us East and he 
 is a man of influence and Washington will believe him. 
 We are harassed on every side and when we defend our 
 selves you bring in the soldiers. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 271 
 
 " Up north of us two hundred miles is an imaginary 
 line which separates Canada and the United States. There 
 are thousands of Indians there and few white people. Why 
 haven t the Indians killed-all the whites? Why haven t 
 they robbed the Hudson Bay Company and the Astor Com 
 pany and all the traders stores? They have had good 
 opportunity to plunder, for Canada is weak compared with 
 us. You know why." said Tonda, coming over near 
 enough to touch the commissioners, and shaking her fist 
 at one and then at the other. " You know why ! Because 
 Canada was not overrun by the scum of the East. Be 
 cause agents did not cheat or rob. Because emigrants 
 did not shoot any Indian they met on the trail regardless 
 of the tribe to which he belonged. And those Indians 
 are peaceable and are contented. We are going to Canada 
 to live with the northern Sioux. Yes/" and she cried 
 shrilly as she stamped her foot, "you haven t got the 
 soldiers to stop us either. We are glad that you came 
 here so that we can tell you just what we think of you 
 and your methods, as we may never have the chance 
 again." 
 
 Billy s fighting blood was up, he feared not, he enjoyed 
 the scene. All the rest were apprehensive. Billy re 
 lieved the tension somewhat by saying: 
 
 " That s a foine roast. The trate is on us an ef we was 
 goin East together Of d make the Chairman set thim up." 
 
 Sitting Bull got up. " In council ten winters ago I 
 said that if they had a man in Washington who told the 
 truth to send him out here. Everything told us is a lie. 
 When men go back East they tell lies to the Great Father 
 about us." 
 
 Mr. Logan : You should not call everybody liars. It 
 is not the proper thing to do." 
 
 " Huh," grunted Sitting Bull. - We have talked long 
 
272 TONDA. 
 
 enough. We have told you what we thought. Strong 
 Heart, call the young men. Strong Heart, is the Big Bone 
 Chief safe ? " 
 
 " He is," answered Strong Heart, " and he is within half 
 a mile of the agency now/ 
 
 " Aow," grunted Sitting Bull. " That leaves us free to 
 act. Our hearts are strong. We are going to strike 
 hard " - here one commissioner trembled and seemed 
 visibly agitated. "Don t be afraid/ said Sitting Bull 
 sarcastically, " we won t hurt you white men because you 
 were sent to talk with us. But after we get on the trail, 
 all white men are enemies. Tell Washington what I, 
 Sitting Bull, have to say. We will go the whole vil 
 lage moves this afternoon. Long Yellow Hair will come 
 after us and we want him to come, for we are ready to 
 fight him. Strong Heart, are the young men ready? " 
 
 " Aow/ 
 
 Sitting Bull: "As soon as I finish this speech we all go 
 to the village." Everybody listened breathless. Sitting 
 Bull straightened himself and took a red cat Unite pipe 
 out of a fold in his blanket. " This is a peace pipe. See. 
 He held it high above his head, dashed it upon a stone 
 and shivered it. " I break with you. Now you men are 
 fat and, like most peace commission men are bald-headed. 
 Go back to Washington and tell them all that I have said. 
 All white men are liars and bald-headed men from Wash 
 ington are the worst liars of all," * and he sounded the 
 war cry and leaped without the circle, followed by every 
 Indian present. 
 
 " Literal translation. 
 
 XOTE. During the later eighties, after much practice, Sitting 
 Bull learned to make his autograph. He affixed this to photo 
 graphs and sold them to travelers. 
 

A STORY OF THE Sioux. 
 
 CUSTER MAKES WAR. 
 
 To the village they rode, singing the war songs, shout 
 ing to each other vaunts of what they would do. Young 
 men had preceded them and the word was passed from 
 mouth to mouth that Sitting Bull and Rain-in-the-Face 
 had broken with the Whites. A great throng greeted the 
 riders. Rain-in-the-Face, and the other chiefs, Runner 
 and Strong Heart, carried orders from lodge to lodge that 
 everything must be taken down, the travels prepared and 
 all the baggage packed, and old and young in short 
 everything taken to the Big Horn country, where they 
 would later fight with Long Yellow Hair, who they knew 
 would soon be upon them. 
 
 Tonda was too angry and excited to regret. The white 
 man s training was now subservient to the Indian in her 
 nature ; and so they packed up and moved away and 
 camped ten miles northwest at dark that night. For four 
 days more they traveled, shooting buffalo and elk now and 
 then, surrounding herds of antelope, and laying up great 
 stores of meat. Six days they had been gone when Custer 
 arrived at the agency. Well knew he that young men had 
 left both of the upper agencies. The women and children 
 and old persons, however, remained, and it was only our 
 village that was depopulated. 
 
 The commissioners had gone East. Their account of 
 Sitting Bull s and Tonda s stinging denunciations was 
 given publicity in the press. Washington determined to 
 subdue the Sioux. Officers Reno. Terry. Gibbon, and 
 Crook were sent with commands up the Missouri on steam- 
 
276 TONDA. 
 
 boats, and by the 10th of June two or three thousand 
 soldiers were in striking distance of the Sioux rendezvous. 
 Ouster delayed his march. He had not sufficient men to 
 surround the hostiles, but with the co-operation of the 
 other officers the General commanding the department of 
 the Missouri hoped to reduce to submission Sitting Bull s 
 band at one fell stroke. 
 
 They were encamped not many miles from the Crow 
 reservation. 
 
 " Gin VI," said Joe, " You know that them Crows and 
 the Sioux is enemies. Ef you kin git some Crow scouts 
 it seems to me that we kin git on better as the Crows knows 
 the hul upper Missouri country. They used ter live thar 
 afore the Sioux run em out." 
 
 " All right, Joe. You take the scouts and visit the 
 Crow agency and procure guides." The cavalry rested 
 that day. In the evening Joe returned with half a dozen 
 well-mounted Crows and a squaw-man. 
 
 " None of us talk Crow," said Joe, " but this hyar man 
 does." 
 
 " What is your name ? " 
 
 " Le Moyne is my name, General Ouster." 
 
 "You speak Crow?" 
 
 " Yep, General, and Sioux also." 
 
 " That seems strange, since the two are enemies." 
 
 "Yep, General, but you see I used to live -with them 
 Sioux, but we fell out and I joined the Crows. These 
 here young Crows are anxious to show you where Sitting 
 Bull s outfit has gone. We have run acrost em in huntin* 
 and know where they are." 
 
 " Where are they, Le Moyne ? " 
 
 " They are in the Little Big Horn and the Big Horn 
 country. I cannot tell nigher than ten miles, but that is 
 clost enough for you and we kin easy scout and find out." 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 277 
 
 " Wait a minute, Le Moyne," said Custer. " Joe, come 
 out here." They walked out of earshot. " Is he all 
 right?" asked Custer. 
 
 " Wall, GinYl, I can t say fer sartin, but the agent said 
 he was a squaw-man an rather shady. But ef he knows 
 the country, our scouts kin watch him air see there is no 
 monkey business." They returned to Le Moyne. 
 
 " You guide us faithfully/ said Custer, " and I shall 
 see that you are well paid. Xo tricks, understand, or 
 you ll get" a bullet through you. Tell these Crows that 
 the commissary will give them a feed and they can stay 
 with as. You take your orders from California Joe and 
 direct your men accordingly." 
 
 All right, General/ said Le Moyne. The Indians 
 were fed and put in a good humor. They did not know 
 the strength of their enemies, else they had returned to 
 the agency that night. 
 
 After supper Le Moyne came to Joe s tent. " How 
 many men is there in this command? " 
 " Over three hundred," said Joe. 
 " Sure you got enough? " 
 
 " Yes," growled Joe; "they have all seen sarvice an 
 thar ain t Sioux enough ter lick em. Moreover, four 
 steamboats full of cavalry an infantry hev gone up the 
 Missouri an will march from the Yellowstone." 
 
 " Well, Joe, said Le Moyne, " I don t know for sure, 
 but 1 think there are two thousand of them Sioux. A lot 
 o Cheyennes has joined em also. There surely will be 
 fightin when we get there." 
 
 " Wall," growled Joe, " s pose they is. I ve been with 
 the old Seventh an the GinYl fer years. Give us a 
 chance at them Sioux once. They can t lick us," and as 
 he brought his fist down he added. " an Hell can t lick 
 us, nuther." 
 
278 TON DA. 
 
 Ouster, his brother, and the officers sat about a large 
 bonfire that night, for a scout had brought in the mail, 
 and everybody was happy. 
 
 "At last we can do what I have always commended 
 should be done: utterly thrash Sitting Bull, Rain-in-the- 
 Face, Crazy Horse, Spotted Tail, and their followers/" 
 
 " It suits me, cried Captain Brown, who had been 
 asked to report East, the first of July. " I must have a slap 
 at em before I go. I d like to have old Red Cloud s 
 scalp to take East." 
 
 " You can t do that. He stays on the reservation," said 
 Tom; "but perhaps you can get Sitting Bull s." A scout 
 rode up and announced the coming of Major Reno and his 
 staff. Custer received them gladly, asKing: 
 
 " What s the news, Reno? 
 
 " The dispatch boat hailed me this morning and gave 
 me orders from the ranking officer of this department, 
 telegraphed from his headquarters. I had been with six 
 companies of the Seventh Cavalry and had been directed 
 to reconnoiter the valley of Powder River as far as the 
 forks, then to cross to Mizpah creek, to descend that 
 stream to its mouth. I was provided with rations for ten 
 days, which were carried on pack saddles." Custer tore 
 open the envelope and read his orders. As they were the 
 last he ever received, we may be pardoned for presenting 
 them. 
 
 "Colonel: 
 
 " The Brigadier-General commanding directs that as 
 soon as your regiment can be made ready for the march, 
 you proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians 
 whose trail was discovered by Major Reno a few days since. 
 
 " It is, of course, impossible to give you any definite 
 instructions in regard to this movement; and were it 
 possible to do so, the department commander places too 
 
A STORY OF THE Siorx. 279 
 
 much confidence in your zeal, energy and ability, to wish 
 to impose upon you precise orders, which might hamper 
 your action when nearly in contact with the enemy. He 
 will, however, indicate to you his own views of what your 
 action should be. and he desires that you should conform 
 to th3in unless you shall see sufficient reason for depart 
 ing from them. He then thinks that you should pro 
 ceed up the Rosebud until you ascertain definitely the 
 direction in which the trail, above spoken of. leads. 
 Should it be found (as it appears almost certain that it will 
 be found) to turn toward the Little Big Horn, he thinks 
 that you should still proceed southward, perhaps as far 
 as the headwaters of the Tongue, and then turn toward 
 the Little Big Horn, feeling constantly, however, to your 
 left, so as to preclude the possibility of escape of the 
 Indians to the south or east by passing around your off 
 flank." * 
 
 " What is your opinion, Colonel Gibbon." said Custer, 
 turning to that officer. 
 
 " Well. Custer, since the matter is largely left in your 
 hands we shall faithfully follow your orders. All this 
 Yellowstone country is a hard proposition. There are 
 many hiding places, but with the troops we have at our 
 disposal we can surely surround the Sioux. I would 
 suggest that I be permitted to feel their strength. 7 
 
 " Granted," said Custer. " Don t attack the main vil 
 lage and don t bring on a serious action. I have here Le 
 Moyne, a renegade squaw-man who was with the Sioux 
 but has joined the Crows. He has five or six Crow scouts. 
 Take his outfit with you." 
 
 Gibbon departed and spent some ten days examining 
 the country near the hostiles camp. He was fired upon 
 
 * From U. S. War Dept. records. 
 
280 TOXDA. 
 
 several times, but lost few men, although he inflicted some 
 injury upon the Indians. He returned to Ouster and 
 reported. Colonel Gibbon had more infantry than cavalry 
 under his command. 
 
 " We ll leave your infantry/ said Ouster, " in charge of 
 the two supply depots, and as our column will be more 
 mobile if composed of cavalry, the pack animals can trans 
 port the baggage. 5 
 
 "Well, sir, the cavalrymen may be more mobile but my 
 infantry are seasoned troops and I believe that they are 
 quite as well disciplined as yours." Gibbon and Ouster 
 frequently argued always in a friendly way as to the 
 respective merits of the two branches of the service, and 
 while they were talking, a cavalry scout appeared bring 
 ing news from some of Reno s outposts. Just as he reached 
 Ouster his horse stumbled and fell, throwing the cavalry 
 man clear over his head and sprawling upon the ground. 
 His body had no more touched the earth than he was on 
 his feet and without a trace of emotion gravely saluted 
 and presented the dispatch. Colonel Gibbon looked on in 
 astonishment. The whole thing was so quickly and neatly 
 done that there was no breach of military etiquette. Ous 
 ter noting the surprise in his countenance said: 
 
 " My dear Colonel, I have trained my men to always 
 report that way." * 
 
 After a council had been held between Terry, Reno, 
 Gibbon, and Ouster, a plan of campaign was decided upon 
 in its details, the infantry were left in charge of the supply 
 depot, and the commands marched to give battle to the 
 Sioux. As near as can be learned all of the officers thought 
 the report of the camp greatly exaggerated. Ouster s 
 troops were within three miles of the village when they 
 
 * Following the Guidon, E. A. Custer. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 281 
 
 were first noticed. Keno s troops were a few miles be 
 low, fighting a detachment from the village, whose ob 
 ject was to lure the soldiers farther up the valley so 
 that they might be ambushed. The whole Sioux camp 
 was on the alert, ready for any emergency, nor were they 
 in the least alarmed, so accustomed had they become to 
 the white man s mode of warfare. 
 
282 TONDA. 
 
 XXVI. 
 THE WAR DANCE. 
 
 They were safe in the valley of the Little Big Horn. It 
 was i region rich in all kinds of four-footed game and the 
 streams teemed with trout. The dissatisfied elements 
 among the Cheyennes and not a few squaw-men heard of 
 the village and flocked thither. Unscrupulous traders 
 furnished the natives with large numbers of Winchesters 
 and many boxes of cartridges. Everybody was happy. 
 There was plenty of food. There were no restrictions, and 
 there was sufficient excitement to keep every one on the 
 qui vive. 
 
 "Now, my daughter/ said Omaha, "think how nice 
 it is to be here ! No Billy to give us orders and no soldiers 
 to trouble us. If they will only let us alone." 
 
 " Yes, mother, but Custer is coming/ 
 
 " Well, let him come. Do you know, daughter, that I 
 have lived long and in my day have seen much fighting, 
 but I never saw so many young men as there are here. 
 Why, this village is five miles long and there are three 
 thousand warriors and five thousand women and children. 
 Look about yon. Everybody s heart is singing. We have 
 new lodges and new robes, for the buffalo are thick. 
 You don t seem to like it. Walk about and see your 
 friends." 
 
 So Ton da went out into the warm June air, her mocca 
 sins crushing flowers at every step, for the ground was cov 
 ered with them. Certainly the village presented a scene 
 of gaiety and animation. Everybody was dressed in his 
 best and in good humor. Councils they did not hold, for 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux, 
 
 they iiad come to this far-off Missouri country for action 
 and not to talk. And as Tonda met her husband she 
 walked with him past hundreds and hundreds of lodges 
 and observed the same war-like preparation on all sides 
 and noted the determination of every one to resist Custer s 
 invasion. She became enthusiastic. 
 
 "What are you going to do?" she asked Kunner. He 
 was stripped for action and mounted on a war pony. 
 
 Oh, the Whites have their scouts out and so have we. 
 A dozen young men and I ride to the hills every little 
 while and look for clanger." 
 
 " Is Long Yellow Hair so near? " 
 
 " We don t know where he is, but expect him every day." 
 
 Sitting Bull and Wadaha were in a secluded glen near a 
 fine spring. They remained there for two or three days 
 fasting, praying, and giving themselves up to weird in 
 cantations. Xaturally they had worked themselves into 
 such a frenzy that they were enabled to see visions and 
 dream dreams. The people knew that they were coming 
 back to inaugurate a national scalp and war dance. 
 
 Some days previously the squaws had prepared a level 
 strip of ground, three or four hundred feet in diameter. 
 burned it off and beat it down perfectly level. It was the 
 largest dance-ground any of them had seen. Here toward 
 evening, the dog-soldiers and warriors were assembled and 
 patiently awaited. Multitudes of people crowded about and 
 those who could not see seated themselves upon the sides of 
 the adjacent hills. Sitting Bull and Wadaha and the neo 
 phytes who were to assist came in from their retreat. They 
 bore between them a great buffalo-skin filled with th<"> 
 u medicine." but so tied that no one could see what was in 
 side of it. The people crowded back, and made a narrow 
 passageway through which the medicine-men advanced. 
 The door-soldiers stood close together, forming a compact 
 
284 TOXDA. 
 
 circle. A few in the direct East stepped out, and through 
 this gateway the procession entered, advanced to the center 
 and erected a small framework, built a sacred fire, and each 
 priest hung upon the rack his own sacred medicine sack. 
 Silence reigned, and the scene was quite dramatic. 
 
 Sitting Bull got up, laid aside his medicine robe, and 
 walked round and round the framework, while by the fire 
 crouched Wadaha and the assistants. In his hand he 
 carried a large eagle feather, and he waved it slowly back 
 and forth in the faces of the dog-soldiers and captains. 
 
 " Wadaha and I have not tasted food for fifty hours. 
 The Great Spirit came to us in a vision last night and he 
 said, Dance hard all night meaning to-night. Long 
 Yellow Hair and other men will come and it will be a hard 
 fight. 
 
 " I have made the medicine and the Great Spirit has 
 said it is strong. Put it in your sacks and wear it about 
 your necks; the bullets cannot hurt you, knives cannot 
 cut you. Now I begin the dance and let every one take 
 part and dance and sing." The two shamans struck up a 
 doleful tune, pitching it in a high minor key and repeat 
 ing it over, and over, and over. For two or three hours 
 this same plaintive air was continued by the musicians. 
 The shamans having started it, devoted their attention to 
 other matters. 
 
 To a listener, particularly a white man, the air is ex 
 cessively monotonous, but if he watches the dance intently 
 and hums to himself one or two hours, a something akin 
 to hypnotic effect is produced. The drums kept time with 
 the singers and the whole air seemed to throb with the 
 drum and sway with the notes. 
 
 As the circle of dog-soldiers slowly revolved the medi 
 cine-man carried the buffalo robe over to one side. 
 Each dog-soldier on passing threw down his medicine 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 285 
 
 sack. Wadaha arranged them in order, as they had been 
 received. They spread a small blanket over the robe and 
 an assistant held up one side while the others thrust their 
 hands within and took out small quantities of the medicine. 
 These particles of ingredients were stuffed in the medicine 
 sacks and in one or two hours all were filled and returned 
 to the owners. Each man on receiving his medicine tied it 
 up without looking inside, as to look upon one s medicine 
 destroys its potency. The dog-soldiers fell back and the 
 ordinary warriors advanced. Sitting Bull had prepared a 
 kettle full of paint and as each man paused before him and 
 bared his breast, he dipped the sacred brush of eagle 
 feathers and hastily daubed a certain mystic sign over the 
 heart. Xow the preparations were completed, and the 
 men began to dance in earnest. 
 
 After an hour Sitting Bull and Wadaha left the lire. 
 Soon they returned, bearing a great pole which they set 
 up in the center. It was now quite dark and the squaw?, 
 anxious to do something, brought wood. They heaped it 
 up just without the circle and every few moments warriors 
 caught up sticks and cast them upon the central fire. It 
 shed a bright and ruddy light and illumined the weird 
 night scene. Every one rested, and Sitting Bull told 
 Wadaha to talk. 
 
 See the pole," he cried. " At the top are tied scalps 
 of Whites and Crows. They show what brave men we have 
 been." Then they sat down and sang and prayed while 
 the circle of dog-soldiers and yet a second circle revolved, 
 over moving toward the left. Behind them yet other lines 
 of common warriors circled about and soon nearly every 
 one was dancing and the thunder of the war-song could be 
 heard two or three miles away. Faster and faster they 
 began to dance, louder and wilder grew the cries. Sitting 
 Bull and Wadaha worked themselves into an unnatural 
 
286 TONDA. 
 
 state of mind. They groaned and cried,, their faces became 
 contorted, passionately they besought the gods, their 
 voices were choked by anguish, and great beads of sweat 
 rolled down their faces. 
 
 u Great God, hear us ! Great war spirit, help us," cried 
 Sitting Bull. 
 
 About midnight, when they were becoming tired, Sitting 
 Bull told Wadaha and the neophytes to stop the dance, 
 that he was ready to make known to them his great medi 
 cine. It was some time before the assistants succeeded in 
 quieting the people. More wood was heaped upon the fire ; 
 the floor was flooded with light. The dog-soldiers and 
 prominent warriors formed a great circle and the central 
 space, save for the fire and Sitting Bull, was cleared. The 
 men were panting from their exertions. Sitting Bull came 
 forward slowly, bending almost to the ground and 
 straightening himself; deliberately he advanced. He 
 carried something in his right hand and a medicine pouch 
 made of beaver-skin in his left. 
 
 " I shall teach you a new song," said he. " The war 
 eagle, the great thunder bird, taught it to me last night. 
 It is to be our war-song." And he sang the following 
 notes: 
 
 A more primitive, wild, strange air cannot be imagined. 
 Then he sang loudly the same song; now he asked iho 
 people to sing it and told them the words they were to 
 use. Then he told them to stop, and they obeyed. He got 
 down on all-fours, and moved about slowly. 
 
 " Long Yellow Hair is advancing like this," he said. 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 28; 
 
 lie continued creeping on his hands and feet until across 
 the circle. " Now," he shouted as he leaped to his feet. 
 and threw the beaver medicine sack back into the crowd, 
 " this is the way we are to charge on Long Yellow Haiiv" 
 and he gave the war cry, not very loud because he was 
 weak and exhausted, but what it lacked in volume ho 
 made up in the hideousness and fiendishness of his facial 
 expressions. Out of the medicine sack lie had drawn a 
 new scalping knife. Across the floor he ran brandishing 
 tin s. The people gave a tremendous shout and drowned 
 his cries. When they were still he said: 
 
 " Behold ! " Ana raising his left hand above his head 
 he held three white men s scalps. " These we took at the 
 Fetterman fight. One is that of Fetterman himself! 
 This knife will take more when Long Yellow Hair comes. 
 Xow give the Sioux war whoop/ and the united roar 
 penetrated far and near. 
 
 " Listen to the new war song," and he sang it again. 
 Xow everybody sing it. It will make your hearts 
 strong." The circle revolved again. They took up the 
 new song, repeating it for hours. 
 
 Back of the dancers women, children, and old men 
 formed circles and sang. There was a continuous volume of 
 sound . 
 
 * & :-i $ # $ $ $ 
 
 Ten miles away lay Ouster s force well-guarded by 
 sentinels, resting as only tired men can rest. They were 
 near the village, they knew, and to-morrow they would 
 attack they slept peacefully and soundly, for it was 
 their last sleep on earth. 
 
 # # * * * * * -: 
 
 In sharp contrast to Ouster s quiet camp was this inferno 
 of mad Indians. Xothing to compare with this savage 
 dance has been seen before or since in America. Made 
 
288 TONDA. 
 
 fanatical and desperate by their wrongs, the warriors 
 needed no urging. On and on about the fire they whirled, 
 beseeching the gods to help, crying to the spirits of dead 
 relatives to assure them victor} 7 . 
 
 The scene baffled description the red fire, the fringe 
 of timber darkly outlined by fire flashes, the mass of be 
 holders looking on and praying in their hearts for victory. 
 Earth trembled as hundreds of feet beat furiously in uni 
 son upon the hard-packed ground. Not savages simply 
 thirsting for blood more than that. They were abo 
 rigines deadly, strenuously in earnest praying and danc 
 ing even as their fathers and mothers had taught them 
 to do. 
 
 As the night wore on the better known men became 
 wearied and were replaced by fresher if less prominent 
 warriors, and so there was no cessation. From pure ex 
 haustion the priests and neophytes withdrew and went 
 to bed. Daylight broke, and with one accord they began a 
 last mad whirl. Then everybody went home, and until 
 eleven o clock there were no people about save some women 
 and the guards. But before the men lay down they put 
 their guns, cartridge-belts, and knives alongside the 
 couches, confident that Ouster could not render their medi 
 cine impotent. 
 
A STOKY OF THE Sioux. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF CUSTER.* 
 
 The spot selected by the Sioux for their village was 
 admirably adapted for defense, and also to serve as am 
 buscade, or as a cover for retreat in case of defeat. It 
 was flanked by large ravines, had almost impenetrable 
 underbrush bordering on each of these gullies and was 
 naturally a wild and romantic spot, unequaled perhaps 
 by any country outside of Yellowstone park. It was so 
 isolated, that white men, having never visited it. knew 
 naught of its appearance, and were ignorant of the topog 
 raphy of the surrounding country. 
 
 Sometime before noon several squaws were out some 
 distance from the camp for the purpose of gathering wild 
 turnips, a favorite food with the Indians. Seeing a heavy 
 cloud of dust moving toward them in the distance, they 
 ran quickly back to camp with the intelligence that horse 
 men must be coming. They said that as buffalo always 
 travel in the valleys so as to cross the large streams at 
 right angles, it was not possible that this cloud could 
 arise from a herd of those animals. Runner was mounted 
 and riding his horse slowly through camp ready for ac 
 tion in case anything should happen. He saw the women 
 coming, heard them crying the news, and rushed over. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " Soldiers are coming." He brought his quirt down 
 
 * Compiled from interviews with the Sioux, at Pine Ridge 
 agency. November-December. 1890. 
 19 
 
290 TONDA. 
 
 hard upon his war pony s flank and raced the animal across 
 the hills. Yes, it was true. Under the shelter of a friendly 
 ravine, he approached near them and plainly saw Long Yel 
 low Hair and the cavalry. They were three or four miles 
 from the village and had stopped to rest. Some of the 
 scouts were in advance and Runner recognized California 
 Joe and could he believe his eyes ? Yes, there was Le 
 Moyne. He estimated the troops at three hundred, noted 
 some Crow scouts, and then turning, ran up the gully, 
 mounted his horse and rushed back to the village. Those 
 in the tipis and about the fires became excited as a sad- 
 dleless pony, with a bit of rawhide about its lower jaw 
 for a bridle, dashed in and out among the lodges for five 
 long miles. 
 
 " Long Yellow Hair is coming and the Crows are guid 
 ing him/ 7 And when Runner saw any of his own band he 
 added: " Le Moyne is with them and so is Long Yellow 
 Hair s b rother." 
 
 The hornet s nest was stirred, the warriors broke forth. 
 There was no delay in seizing ponies, for they were near at 
 hand. 
 
 "Tell everybody," cried Rain-in-the-Face; "take Le 
 Moyne and Long Yellow Hair s brother alive if possible." 
 War-whoops echoed and echoed throughout the valley and 
 never ceased until late that night. The women cried and 
 moaned. Tonda, overcome by emotion, attempted to re 
 strain Strong Heart, but he, as leader of the dog-soldiers, 
 must show no weakness. 
 
 " Don t talk to me," he said, " I can t stop. I won t 
 be hurt. Don t you worry. Help the other women move 
 to safety." Richards ran up. 
 
 " Tonda, I ll help you. I ain t a goin ter fight against 
 the Whites, but I kin help move." 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 291 
 
 " That s right/" cried her husband. i% You see that they 
 get away. AVe don t ask you to fight. 
 
 Eichards was greatly relieved. He did not wish Cali 
 fornia Joe to find him in arms against his own people. 
 Eichards superintended while the squaws took charge of 
 the children, old men, and cripples, and retreated into the 
 high hills a mile or two away, taking the greater part of the 
 stock with them, where they were to remain until the re 
 sult of the battle should be known. AVarriors did not 
 pause except to equip themselves and mount, for it had 
 all been talked over before. Eain-in-the-Face issued the 
 orders and took command of the right: Gall and Spotted 
 Tail were to advance to the front, and the brave Cheyennes, 
 although few in number, were such desperate fighters that 
 they were given the center. 
 
 Just at this moment Chief Crazy Horse and a number 
 of warriors dashed into camp, saying that they had forced 
 Reno to throw up an intrenchment upon one of the bluffs, 
 and that leaving the men surrounded by most of the war 
 riors, so that, he could not escape, they returned to 
 the village for further orders from Eain-in-the-Face. 
 Word was sent back by a messenger for the warriors to 
 keep Eeno shut up until Custer had been whipped. This 
 they could easily do, for there were hundreds of armed men 
 everywhere. Crazy Horse and his men, together with four 
 or five hundred others, were placed in the bushes some 
 distance below the center of the village. Eiders were 
 galloping incessantly from the upper end of the village 
 bringing the news. Custer halted, rested his men, and 
 then cautiously advanced. As they came in sight, Sitting 
 Bull and AA^adaha went to the opposite side of the river 
 from Custer s position and beat upon the sacred drum, 
 sang and shouted until the battle was half over. Strenu- 
 ouslv did thev shout ; thev threw their whole souls into the 
 
292 TONDA. 
 
 action. Above the song-prayers rang sounds of strife, 
 but Sitting Bull s cry never wavered. His favorite verses 
 were : 
 
 " Make my medicine sure, good God. Let my 
 charms turn the bullets. 
 
 " evil God, make Long Yellow Hair s horses stumble. 
 
 " Make them to rear and plunge when my youths wave 
 blankets." 
 
 And that weird song, pitched in a high minor key, was 
 heard by many a young man. It nerved him to action. 
 He believed in the power of Sitting Bull s charms, and 
 fearlessly charged the soldiers. Truly it was Sitting 
 Bull s medicine that defeated Ouster. 
 
 The cavalry advanced in good order. They saw the 
 ponies and travois and the long train of women and chil 
 dren passing over the western hills. The upper end of 
 the village was almost deserted, and the tipis were far 
 apart; so Ouster formed company front, the buglers blew 
 Garryowen, and on came the fated Seventh. California 
 Joe rode up alongside. 
 
 " They is sartinly ruimin , GinYl. The bucks is gath- 
 orin somewhar, but the ole Seventh will shorely lick Hell 
 out of em." 
 
 " And I get old Sitting Bull s scalp, sure," chuckled 
 Brown. A Crow scout had raced his pony ahead. Pres 
 ently he came tearing back and shouted to his comrades. 
 They fell back in the rear. 
 
 " Them Crows ain t got no belly fer nghtin ," com 
 mented Joe. 
 
 " They must have seen Sioux," said Tom. 
 
 " Wall, they can t git away now. They got ter stay by 
 us." 
 
 Now a few warriors began to shoot from ra-vines and 
 lodges. The fighting was still desultory, but as the troops 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 293 
 
 advanced they encountered thickly clustered lodges and 
 somewhat broken ground, many of the horses became un 
 manageable at the sight of meat, buffalo carcasses and 
 untanned skins, which strewed the ground in places, 
 emitting a strong odor. 
 
 On flew the cavalry, passing deserted lodges, until that 
 portion of the village was reached best prepared by the 
 Indians for the ambuscade. The horses here, in order to 
 avoid the lodges, swerved to the right or left, and thus the 
 column became more or less broken. Half-naked men 
 leaped out oi" tipis, screeched and waved blankets. This, 
 together with the sight of so much meat, caused the steeds 
 to rear and plunge, and confusion ensued. 
 
 " Hold the horses," roared Custer. 
 
 " Steady, boys," yelled Brown, and Tom and other offi 
 cers endeavored to pacify men and animals. Just as the 
 blanket waving began, as if by common impulse, the war- 
 whoop in all its stunning din pealed from hundreds of 
 lips. 
 
 Half the fighting men in the Sioux nation were there, 
 and they rushed upon the field, pouring out of the ravines, 
 gullies, thickets, and brush heaps. Custer saw his fatal 
 mistake. Spurring his horse forward he rode alongside of 
 the buglers and issued orders to his officers to notify his 
 men to keep in squads, and under no circumstance to 
 separate. He did not know positively as to Reno s loca 
 tion, but sent three of his most trusty scouts down the 
 stream to find that officer. They were not out of sight 
 before Custer, with his own eyes, saw them fall. He sent 
 three more, watched them anxiously, saw one man go 
 down and then a second, and because of a depression he 
 could not see the third, but presently a riderless horse 
 galloped over the distant hill and Custer knew that it 
 was impossible to procure help. 
 
TONDA. 
 
 " Let me try, GinYl," said Joe. " I believe all the In 
 juns in Ameriky is here. Ef we kin cut through, I kin 
 outrun 7 em." The buglers blew and the troopers rushed 
 to the hills, made an opening and California Joe, spurring 
 his great bay, dashed through the line. But there were 
 Indians even back in the hills and California Joe never 
 reached Reno. 
 
 Ouster should have remained in the broken country, but 
 instead he charged clown the valley, skirting the base of 
 the hills and forded the river, hoping to escape on the 
 other side. Multitudes of Indians crossed after him. Sol 
 diers were dropping every few minutes. The Crows 
 hearts sank within them and they fled the field but were 
 seen, pursued, and overtaken. Le Moyne s face blanched 
 as he heard exultant shouts, " Le Moyne, we ve got you 
 now!" Desperately he lashed his pony, but his horse 
 stumbled and threw him, and before he could recover 
 eager hands seized him and tied him. That night he was 
 killed. 
 
 " My God, this is awful," said Brown. " We got to get 
 out of it." Custer said little, but on his face was an 
 anxious, worried look. The troopers fought magnificently, 
 but for every Indian that went down, a dozen seemed to 
 leap up in his place. Tom s face was white, but with Ser 
 geant O Brien beside him he rode here and there, a six- 
 shooter in each hand. They could not save themselves. 
 There had been more fighting than riding. Custer saw 
 that he still had a hundred men. Again the bugles 
 sounded and the Seventh raced down the stream for half 
 a mile. 
 
 " General," said Tom, " ford the river arid intrench." 
 
 Custer glanced across the stream. The ground looked 
 favorable", and the troopers swung to the left and crossed. 
 But the Sioux sweeping down on either side of the stream 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 297 
 
 soon surrounded them. The buglers blew. " Halt ! Dis 
 mount ! " Now the famous fighting Seventh was battling 
 not to win a victory but to preserve itself. Furiously they 
 fought, crouching behind dead horses, using revolvers and 
 carbines, calling encouragingly to each other. The lines 
 of naked, screaming warriors advanced and retreated. 
 About the bluffs they circled like flocks of birds, now 
 swooping down to the attack, now retreating, hanging 
 low against the sides of the ponies away from the foe. 
 
 Strong Heart was a demon that day, and he bore a 
 charmed life. " Long Yellow Hair, your time has come,* 
 he shouted in English as he dashed up. Ouster shot 
 quickly, but the Indian was ready, and as Custer raised 
 the pistol, with one foot inside a rope purposely tied 
 loosely about the animal s body and his left hand firmly 
 grasping the mane, Strong Heart threw himself down and 
 the protecting side of his war pony saved him. 
 
 " Kill that fellow," cried Tom. " He s the worst of 
 all/ They shot at the daring warrior, but he dodged and 
 lay along the body of his pony. He seemed to know when 
 to drop, rather by intuition than by sight. 
 
 "Damn him!* exclaimed Custer. "He s a leader." 
 He was indeed, for when he charged, the bravest dog- 
 soldiers also came. There was a moment s lull in the 
 fight. The Indians fell back and bunched as if by com 
 mon impulse and rushed straight up to the troops. There 
 never was such a fight between Indians and Whites on the 
 American Continent. It was not a massacre as the public 
 erroneously has called it. 
 
 " Here they come/ cried Tom, and the cavalrymen 
 shot so fast that a bluish-white cloud of smoke settled 
 upon them. Up swept Strong Heart, Rain-in-the-Face, 
 and innumerable others. Then a new war cry rang out 
 and Custer looked at his officers when he heard it, for 
 
21)8 TONDA. 
 
 every Indian who could speak English was shouting: 
 " Remember the Wichita ! Remember the Wichita ! " 
 They shot Strong Heart s pony, but he was remounted in 
 an instant. Down went Tom, shot by Rain-in-the-Face, 
 for the chief had sworn to kill him. A squad of men re 
 mained here and there. The buglers were no more. 
 Through a little opening Sergeant O Brien, bleeding, 
 forced his way to Ouster. He led a horse, and while his 
 comrades rallied and emptied carbines, he cried: 
 
 " General, for God s sake, mount quick ! " Ouster did 
 so and they all turned to flee, but escape was not for them. 
 A hurricane of warriors and a tempest of cries pursued 
 them. Down went the horse, pinning Ouster s left leg to 
 the ground. A bullet tore through his cheek as he 
 propped himself up with his left arm and shot carefully 
 five times. His fifth shot killed a dog-soldier, but even 
 as he fired it, a wounded Indian crawling along shot him 
 with a pistol, and General George Ouster fell back among 
 the dead. And now a sea of warriors poured over the hills 
 and down to death went the last of them all that was 
 left of the Seventh Cavalry. 
 
 The Sioux did not scalp Ouster. He had cut off his 
 hair just before the campaign and wore uniform instead 
 of a buckskin suit. Neither was Brown scalped. Around 
 these two bodies they stuck eagle feathers, denoting that 
 brave men had died, and thereby they paid to them a 
 tribute. Other white men they did scalp, and Rain-in- 
 the-Face with his own hand scalped Lieutenant Tom 
 for had not Tom shut him up in the guard-house? 
 
 A day later when reinforced columns were following 
 the Sioux, Captain Benteen and the troops visited the 
 scene of Ouster s defeat and buried the bodies. When 
 I lie troops reached the field, as if by common impulse 
 they stopped and every man stood at attention with un- 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 
 
 covered head. Right here, within sight of the dance- 
 ground, where the weird war song had been sung by hun 
 dreds of voices, a quite different melody floated out upon 
 the evening air. Captain Benteen glanced about him and 
 said quietly and solemnly: Buglers, sound taps;" and 
 the three musicians sounded this sweet and sad requiem 
 for the dead. 
 
;300 TOXDA. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 A year passed, during which the hostiles were split up 
 in bands and driven, from place to place by the United 
 States forces. Sometimes they whipped, but more often 
 the troops vanquished them, and in the end all were re 
 turned to the agencies and compelled to make peace. 
 
 Sitting Bull and his band, fifty of the dog-soldiers, 
 Strong Heart and Tonda went to Canada. They lived 
 there in peace and contentment for some years, when a 
 commission was sent to Canada to induce the irreconcil- 
 ables to return to the United States. Just why the Wash 
 ington authorities wanted them back no man may know. 
 
 The Sioux did not even hold a council, when the com 
 mittee came, but met at the British headquarters infor 
 mally. There was no bitterness; they simply talked 
 " straight from the heart/ as Tonda said. She and her 
 husband were present, and Strong Heart, Jr., a fine boy 
 born in the winter of 76, was also there, reposing in a 
 profusely beaded cradle, and gazing with wondering eyes 
 upon the great, bearded white men. 
 
 General Terry stated his mission, concluding with: 
 
 " The President invites you to come to ihe boundary 
 of his and your country, and there give up your arms and 
 ammunition, and thence go to the agencies to which he 
 will assign you, and there give up your horses, excepting 
 those which are required for peace purposes. Your arms 
 will then be sold, and with all the money obtained for 
 them cows will be bought and sent to you." * 
 
 * Century of Dishonor ; Mrs. Jackson. 
 
STRONG HEART. JR. 
 
A STORY OF THE Siocx. 303 
 
 Sitting Bull spoke: 
 
 " For sixty-four years you have kept my people and 
 treated us bad. It is the people on your side that have 
 started us to do these depredations. We could no* go any 
 where else and so we took refuge in this country. I would 
 like to know why you came here. You have got ears and 
 you have got eyes: you see that I live peacefully with 
 these people in my Great Mother s house (shakes hands 
 with the British officers). I wish you to go back." 
 
 Then* Omaha had her say. " I was long ii> your coun 
 try. I wanted to raise children there, but you did not 
 give me time. 1 came to this country to have peace/ 
 (shakes hands with British officers). 
 
 The Indians were about to leave the room when the 
 commissioners inquired : 
 
 " Shall we say to the President that you refuse the 
 offers that he has made to you? " 
 
 Strong Heart arose: 
 
 " Since we shook hands with your soldiers sixty-four 
 years ago we have had nothing but trouble. My band of 
 Ogalalas you have moved eight times in twenty years. 
 My squaw and I were glad to take your road, but since 
 you have killed so many of us we will stay here with these 
 good men of the Great Mother." 
 
 In the official report, with a naive lack of comprehen 
 sion of the true situation of the case the commissioners 
 say, We are convinced that Sitting Bull and the bands 
 under him will not seek to return to this country at 
 present." * 
 
 Tonda and Strong Heart lived for years among the 
 Canadians. Happy years were these. But evil days fell 
 upon them after Sitting Bull was persuaded to return to 
 the United States. 
 
 * Centurv of Dishonor . 
 
304 TONDA. 
 
 Bed Cloud s words to the writer in 1890 were prophetic: 
 " They (the Whites) have it all four great States we 
 used to own. And some day they will take even the little 
 that remains our reservation. I want to sleep with my 
 fathers,, for there is nothing for me here." And even as 
 these lines are written the Bosebud reservation is being 
 divided up among settlers, and land agents are clamoring 
 for Congress to give them Pine Bidge and Standing Bock. 
 
 EPILOGUE. 
 
 Years later Mr. O Donnell sat in his gaudy parlor over 
 looking the boulevard in St. Louis. Charlie and Henry, 
 also prosperous, had run in from Kansas City, and were 
 calling upon him. 
 
 " Here s the paper," said his buxom wife as she passed 
 through the room. " It has something about your old 
 Indian friends in it." 
 
 O Donnell read: 
 
 " The Pine Bidge Sioux are starving." 
 
 Well, boys," quoth he, when Mrs. O Donnell had with 
 drawn, " spose them Injuns is starvin ? We is now livin 
 aisy an comfortable-loike, on the money we made off em. 
 Let em go ter the divil an take keer o thimsilves. What 
 the Hell do we care ? " 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 305 
 
 APPEXDIX. 
 
 In a work of this nature an appendix seems out of place. 
 It may be named as Mark Twain called a preface 
 " that part of a book which nobody reads." 
 
 However, a few persons may wish to see what Reno was 
 doing during Ouster s defeat. The author, therefore, 
 presents a portion of his official military report, made at 
 the time. 
 
 Why Major Reno did not support General Custer in the 
 charge or try to rescue him in his retreat, are questions 
 which Indian logic cannot answer. He certainly heard 
 the firing from his position and the yells of the exultant 
 savages. The author is inclined to believe with the Sioux, 
 that Reno was much safer intrenched upon the bluffs than 
 in the valley attempting a rescue of his fellow-officer. 
 The Sioux claim that they could have killed many more 
 soldiers. If he had gone down he might have saved Cus 
 ter. On the other hand, he too might have lost his entire 
 command. 
 
 (Extract from a report ly Major ECHO, to Captain E. W. 
 
 Smith.} 
 
 ** The command moved down the creek toward the 
 Little Big Horn valley, and Custer with five companies 
 on the left bank, myself with three companies farther to 
 the left and out of sight. As we approached a deserted 
 village in which was standing one tipi, about 11 A. M., 
 Custer motioned me to cross to him, which I did, and 
 moved near to his column until about 12 :30 p. M., when 
 Lieutenant Cook came to me and said the village was only 
 two miles above and running away : to move forward at as 
 20 
 
306 TONDA. 
 
 rapid a gait as prudent and to charge forward, and that 
 the whole outfit would support me. I think those were 
 his exact words. 1 at once took a fast trot and moved 
 down about two miles, when I came to a ford in the river. 
 I crossed immediately, and halted about ten minutes or 
 less to gather the battalion, sent word to Ouster that I 
 had everything in front of me, and that they were strong. 
 I deployed, and with the Ree scouts charged down the 
 valley on my left, driving the Indians with great ease for 
 about two and one-half miles. I, however, soon saw that 
 I was being drawn into a trap, as they would certainly 
 fight harder, and especially as we were nearing their vil 
 lage, which was still standing; besides, I could not see 
 Ouster or any other support, and at the same time the 
 very earth seemed to grow Indians, and they were run 
 ning toward me in swarms and from all directions. I saw 
 I must defend myself and give up the attack mounted. 
 This I did. Taking possession of the front of woods, and 
 which furnished near its edge a shelter for the horses, we 
 dismounted and fought on foot, making headway through 
 the woods. I soon found myself in the near vicinity of 
 the village, saw that I was fighting odds of at least five 
 to one, and that my only hope was to get out of the woods, 
 where I soon would have been surrounded, and gain high 
 ground. I accomplished this by mounting and charging 
 the Indians between me and the bluffs on the north side 
 of the river. In this charge, First Lieutenant Donald Mc- 
 Intosh, Second Lieutenant Ben II. Hodgeson, and acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon J. M. DeWolf were killed. 
 
 " Succeeding in reaching the top of the bluff with the 
 loss of three officers and twenty-nine enlisted men killed 
 and seven men wounded, I had the men dig rifle pits, 
 barricade with dead horses and mules, and boxes of hard 
 bread the opening of the depression toward the Indians 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 307 
 
 (in which the animals were herded), and made ready for 
 what I saw would be a terrific assault the next day. 
 
 " All night the men were busy, and the Indians hold 
 ing a scalp dance underneath us in the bottom and in our 
 hearing. On the morning of the 26th I felt confident that 
 I could hold my own, and was ready as far as I could be, 
 when at daylight, about 2 :30 A. M., I heard the crack of 
 two rifles. This was a signal for beginning a fire that 1 
 never saw equaled. Every rifle was handled by an expert 
 and skilled marksman, and at a range that exceeded our 
 carbines, and it was simply impossible to show any part 
 of the body but it was struck. We could see, as the day 
 brightened, countless hordes of them pouring up the val 
 ley from the village and scampering over the high points 
 of the place designated them by their chiefs, and which 
 entirely surrounded our position. They had sufficient 
 numbers to completely encircle us, and the men were 
 struck from opposite sides of the lines. I think we were 
 fighting all of the Sioux Xation, and also all the despera 
 does, renegades, and squaw-men between the Arkansas 
 and east of the Eocky Mountains. They must have num 
 bered at least twenty-five hundred warriors. 
 
 "The fire did not slacken until about 9:30, and then 
 we found they were making the last desperate effort, 
 which was directed against the lines held by Companies 
 H and M. In this charge they came close enough to us 
 to use their bows and arrows, and one man lying dead 
 within our lines was touched with one of the coup-sticks. 
 When I say the stick was only twelve or fifteen feet long, 
 some idea of the determined and desperate fighting of 
 these people may be understood. This charge of theirs 
 was gallantly repulsed by the men on that line, led by Col 
 onel Benteen. They also came close enough to send their 
 arrows into the line held by Companies D and K, but 
 
308 TONDA. 
 
 were driven away by the light charge of the line, which 
 I accompanied. We now had many wounded, and the 
 question of water was vital, as from 6 p. M., of the pre 
 vious evening, until now, 10 A. M., about sixteen hours, 
 we had been without it. A skirmish line was formed under 
 Colonel Benteen, to protect the descent of volunteers 
 down the hill in front of his position to reach the water. 
 We succeeded in filling some canteens, although many 
 men were hit in doing so. The fury of the attack was 
 now over, and to our astonishment the Indians were 
 seen going toward the village. But two solutions oc 
 curred to us for this movement: that they were going for 
 something to eat, more ammunition, or that Ouster was 
 coming. We took advantage of this lull to fill our vessels 
 with water, and soon had our camp kettles full. They 
 continued to withdraw and all firing ceased, save occa 
 sional shots from sharpshooters, sent to annoy us about 
 the water. About 2 p. M. the grass in the bottom was 
 set on fire and followed up by the Indians, who encour 
 aged its burning, and it was evident to me it was done 
 for a purpose, and which purpose I discovered later on to 
 be the creation of clouds of smoke, behind which they 
 were packing and preparing to move forward. It was be 
 tween 6 and 7 P. M. that the village came out from 
 behind the dense clouds of smoke and dust. We had a 
 good view as they filed away in the direction of the Big 
 Horn Mountains, moving in perfect military order. The 
 length of the column was fully equal to that of a large 
 division of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac 
 such as I have seen in its march. 
 
 "We now thought of Ouster (of whom nothing had 
 been seen, and nothing heard since the firing in his direc 
 tion about 6 p. M., on the evening of the 25th), and we 
 concluded that the Indians had got between him and us 
 
A STORY OF THE Sioux. 309 
 
 and driven him toward the boat at the mouth of the 
 
 Little Big Horn river. The awful fate that did befall 
 
 him never occurred to us within the limits of possibility." 
 
 * * * ***** 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 MAJ. M. A. REXO, 
 
 Seventh Cavalrv. 
 
RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 
 TO*- 202 Main Library 642-3403 
 
 LOAN PERIOD 1 2 ; 
 
 3 
 
 4 5 
 
 5 
 
 LIBRARY USE 
 
 This book is due before closing time on the last date stamped below 
 
 DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^.^ 
 
 
 
 RK. CIR. JAN 1 3 < 
 
 >- ^ ^ 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 UfifiAfflH 
 
 
 
 
 L **- *"?":> * 
 
 
 1 E - 
 
 ^ NOV 25 8 1979 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 
 FORM NO. DD6A, 7m, 3/78 BERKELEY, CA 94720 
 
959526 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY