The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-26
CHAPTER XVIII.


would have been a violation of their
rules of order. Obedient to the lieu
tenants instructions. Sergeant Bruce,
with evident reluctance, lowered his
hand. Whoever these Indians were
they we'll understood the principles that
governed civilized warfare. They well
knew that the white soldiers would
respect flag of truce, though In their
own vernacular they referred to the
sacred emblem only as q foo flag,
and sometimes used it, as did the Mo
does five years later, to lure officers
into ambush ana deliberately murder
them. They knew the white soldiers
would take no advantage Of f0remen
gathered for conference or parley,
and thus far the Sioux themselves had
observed the custom which the Modocs
baseiy violated when in cold blood they
slaughtered Gen. Candy and the peace
commissioners sent tc treat with them.
Confidently. therefore, came the two
young warriors. but as Dean raised
himself from the ground and was about
to step forward, the sergeant spoke:
Beg pardon, sir but these fellows
know all our officers. They would
recognize you al once. The word would
go to Red Cloud faster than any pony
could gallop. Let me meet them, or let
one of the men"
The ponies were coming at the lope
now. and not an instant was to be lost.
The safety of his command might pos
sibly depend on their not being recog-
nized as of the troop before whose car
bines Chaska, brother to Lizette, had
met his death.
perhaps you're right" said Dean.
Halt them again. Corroy, you go with
Sergeant Bruce"
Eagerly a young trooper, carbtne In
hand sprang up and stood by the
scrgenat's side as the latter repeated
his warning signal. Obediently, yet not
too promptly, showing evident desire to
get where they could peer over into
the ravine and count the number Of
the white men and horses, the Indians
again drew rein, this time barely 100
yards away. Then Bruce and Conroy,
holding up their emptied hands, strobe
forward along the grassy slope, max
ing the further sign, "DismOunt."
In those days few of our cavalry
wore, when on Indian campaign, the
forage-cap with it's crossed sabres and
distinguished letters. Nothing in the
dress or accoutrements Of the two men
thus advancing to meet the Indian
emissaries would give to the latter any
clew as to the troop or regiment to
which they belonged. Could they see
the horses, however, the matter would
be settled at once. The U. S. brand,
with that of the number of the reg1-
ment and letter of the troop showed
on every cavalry mount in the service,
and the Ogallallas knew the ear-marks
of two. ct least, of our cavalry regl-
ments in '6S as well as they did the cut
of their own hair. But in the modesty
of the non commissioned officer Bruce
had moderated his own prominence In
Indian eyes. Not only did these keen
observers know every officer by sight,
and have for him some distinguishing
name of their own, but many trooper,
easily singled out from his fellows be-
cause of his stature, or the color OF
his hear, or some other physical pecu-
liarity, and Bruce, eX-trooper of the
Scots Greys, and now a model ser
geant Of Yankee cavalry, was already
a marked man in the eyes of the south
ern Sioux. Brule, Minneconjou and
Ogallalla knew him well-his aqu1line
beak to which the men would some
times slyly allude, having won him the
Indian appellative of POsh Kopee or
Big Nose.
Before the two parties came within
fifty yards of each other, therefore,
watchers along the ravine saw the
quick exchange of significant glances
between the young braves. '"Twig
that?" whispered Trooper Blaine, in
low, emphatic tone. '"Those fellows
know 'Scotty' just as we'll as we do:
All the same, leaving their trained
ponies to nibble at the scanty bunch
grass, the two came straight forward
with extended hands and cordial How,
colahr' on their lips, one Of them add
ing, in agency English, Want talk
chief Indian poor. Heap sick" (And
here he clasped his stomach with both
hands0 Want coffee, sugar, bread"
"An right" said Bruce promptly,
noting the while how the rowing black
eyes searched the edge of the ravine.
stay here Don't come nearer. You
got DuHdlO meat!
A grunt was the reply of one a gut
tural buffalo, yes" the answer of the
other.
Bring tongues, then" and Bruce
touched his own. Five" and he
threw forward the outspread right
hand rapidly touching in succession
the thumb and four fingers. 1--WE give
both hands full-coffee, sugar, hard
tack" and Bruce Illustrated as he
spoke That's all!' he finished abrupt
Iy. with the well-known Indian sign
that plainly tells II have spoken
there is nothing more to say" then
calmly turned his back and, bidding
Conroy follow, started to return to his
comrades at the ravine.
But Indian diplomacy was unsatis-
fed The Sioux had found big Nose"
to be one of the soldiers in the field.
He. at least was of the hated troop
that fought and chased Burning Star
and killed Chaska. The trail told them
there were nearly a dozen in the party,
all on shod horses, with two in lead
spare mounts or pack-horses, doubtless
so they had extra rations and had
come far; but why were they going
this way, so far west of the usual road
to the Big Horn posts? Why were
they so few in number? Where were
the rest? Why were they hiding here
in the ravine, instead of marching?
Answer to this last question was easy
enough. 1t was to keep out of sight
of Indian eyes and needed no excuse.
There was something behind this mys-
FERROUS presence of ten or twelve SOL
diers in the southern foothills. and
Machpealoto would expect of his
scouts full information, hence the in
slant movement on the part of one of
the two braves to follow.
Impressively, Bruce turned again
and waved him back. Go, get buff