The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-12-28
CHAPTER XVIII.

Remonstrance on part of his men
would have been violation of their
rules of order. Obedient to the lieuten
ant 5 instructions, Sergt Bruce, with
evident reluctance, lowered his hand.
Whoever these Indians were they well
understood the principles that gov
erned civilized warfare. They well
knew that the white soldiers would re-
spect a flag of truce, tn ough in their
own vernacular they referred to the
sacred emblem only as fool flag"
and sometimes used it, as did the Mo
docs five years later, to lure officers
into ambush and deliberately murder
them. They knew the white soldiers
would take no advantage OF foemen
gathered for conference or parley, and
thus far the Sioux themselves had OBJ
served the custom which the Modocs
basely violated when in cold blood they
slaughtered Gen. Candy and the peace
commissioners sent to 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 rec
ognize you at 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 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 troops before whose
carbines Chaska, brother to Lizette,
had met his death.
Perhaps you're right" said Dean.
Halt them again. Conroy, you go
with Sergt. Bruce"
Eagerly a young trooper, carbine in
hand. sprang up and stood by the ser
geant's side as the latter repeated his
warning signal. obediently, yet not
too promptly, showing evident desire
10 get where they could peer over the
ravine and count the number OF white
men and horses. the Indians again
drew rein. this time barely lc0 yards
away. Then Bruce and Conroy, hold
ing up their emptied hands. strobe for
ward along the grassy slope, making
the further sign: "Dsmount.'
In those days few of our cavalry
wore, when on Indian campaign, the
forage-cap with its crossed sabers
and distinguishing letters. Nothing in
the dress or accoutrements of the 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 L. s. brand,
with that Of the number of the regi-
ment and letter Of the troop, showed on
every cavalry mount in the service,
and the Ogallallas knew the ear-marks
of two. at least, of our cavalry regi-
ments in 'Gs 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 u trooper,
easily singled out from his fellows be-
cause of his stature, or the color of his
hair, or some physical popularity. was
as well known as his captain or lieuten-
ant, and Bruce, eX-trooper of the
Scots crews. and now Il model sergeant
of Yankee cavalry, was already a
marked man in the eyes of the south
ern Sioux. Brule, Minneconjou and
= OgaIalla knew him well - his aquiline
4 beak, to which the men would some
times slyly allude. having won him the
Indian appellative of Posh Kopee OF
Big Nose.
Before the two parties came with
in fifty yards of each other, therefore
watchers along the ravine saw the
; quick exchange OF significant glances
c between the young braves. "Twie
= that?" whispered Trooper Blaine. in
low, emphatic tone. "Those fellows
know 'Scotty' just as well as We
do"
II All the same. leaving their trained
d ponies to nihble at the scanty bunch
: grass, the two came straight forward
u with extended hands and cordia
/ "How, colah!" on their lips, one OF
g them adding in agency English;
1t want tabs chief, Indian poor HeaI
y sick" (And here he clasped his stom
l. ach with both hands.) "Want coffee
II sugar. bread"
:. IAN right" said Bruce promptly
,. noting the while how the rowing
- black eyes searched the edge of thu
ravine. Stay here. Don't come
%. nearer, You got buffalo meat?"
d A grunt was the reply of one, 1
m cultural Buffalo, yea" the answer o
~ the other,
~ 10 be Continued