Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-07
CHAPTER XVIII.

evident reluctance, lowered his hand. Whoever these Indians were they well under the principles that gov erned civilized warfare. They well knew that the white soldiers would re- spect flag of truce, though in their own vernacular they referred to tho sacred emblem only as fool flag" and sometimes used it, as did the Mo docs i've 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 barley, and thus far the Sioux themselves had ob- served the custom which the Modocs basely violated when in cold blood they slaughtered Gen. Canby 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 a 1ope 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 Lizettes mad met his death.
 Perhaps you're right said Dean. Halt them again. Conroy, you go with Sergt. Bruce"
 Eagerly 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 to 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 1G0 yards away. Then Bruce and Coproy, hold ing up their emPtied hands, strode for wATd along the grassy slope, making the further sign: "Dismount.'
 h thoss days few of our cavalry wore. when on Indian campaign, the forage-cap with its crossed sabers and distinguishin. letters. Nothing in the dress or accoutrements of the mer 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 regi-s ment and letter of the troop, showed on every cavalry mount in the service. l-L l1,l 1,- 1- +l,a of two, at least, of our cavalry regi ments in 'os as well as they did the cut of their own hair. But in the modesty of the non-commissionedo officer Bruce had underrated his own prominence in Indian eyes. Not only did these keen observers know every officer by sight, and have for him some distin guiShing name of their own, Eut many trooper, easily singled out from his fellows be- cause of his stature, or the color of his hair, or some physical peculiarly, was as well known as his captain or lieuten- ant, and Bruce, ex-trooper of the Scots greys, and now model sergeant of Yankee cavalry, was already a marked man ip the eyes of the south ern Sioux. Brule, Minneconjou and Osallalla knew him we'll - his aquiline beak, to which the men would some times slyly allude, having won him the Indian appellative of Posh Kopee or Big Nose.
 Before tho two parties came with in fifty yards of each other, therefore, watchers along the ravine saw the quick exchange of significant glances between the young braves. ''Twig
  low, emphatic tone. Those fellows know 'Scotty' just as well as. we do.'
 All the same. leaving their trained ponies tc nibble at the scanty bunch grass, the two came straight forward with extenSed hands and cordial How, colah!" on their lips, one of them adding in agency English: Want talk chief. Indian poor. Heap sick" (And here he clasped his ston- ach with both hapds.) Want coffee, sugar, bread"
 All 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 buffalo meat?" A grunt was the reply of one, guttural Buffalo, yes,'' the answer of the other.
 Erin. 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. We give both hands full-coffee, sugar. hardtack," and Bruce illustrated as he spoke. That's all" he finished abruptly, with the well-known Indian sign that plainly tells 'I have spoken-there is nothing more to say.' then calmly turned his back, and, bidding Conroy follow, started to return to his com rades at the ravins.
 But Indian diplomacy was unsatis- fled. 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 dozen in the party, all or shod horses, with two in lead-spare mounts or pack horses. doubtless-So they had extra rationss