Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-09
carbines Chaska, brother to Lizette,
Il Il A. L 4 /.


had 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
too promptly, showing evident desire
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 100 yards
away. Then Bruce and Conroy. hold
ing up their emptied hands, strobe for,
ward along the grassy slope, making
the further sign: "Dismount.'
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 U. 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 '6s as well as they did the cut
| of their own hair. But in the modesty
of the non-oommissioned 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 ont 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 greys, and now model sergeant
| of Yankee cavalry, was already a
marked man in the eyes of the south
ern Sioux. Brule, Minneconjou and
Ogallalla knew him well - his aquiline
beak, to which the men would some
times slyly allude, having won him the
Indian appellatiye of Posh Kopee or
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
between the young braves. "Twig
that?" whispered Trooper Blaine, in
low, emphatic tone. ''Those fellows
know 'Scotty' just as well as we
1 do"
All the same, leaving their trained
ponies to nibble at the scanty bunch
4 grass, the two came straight forward
with extended hands and cordial
Glow, colah!" on their lips, one of
them adding in agency English:
"Want talk chief. Indian poor. Heap
sick" (And here he clasped his stom-
ach with both hands.) "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, a
cultural 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. hardtack,"
and Bruce illustrated as he spoke.
"That's ALI" he finished abruptly,
with the well-known Indian sign that
plainly tells 81 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 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 Chaslla. 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 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 We're they so few in number?
Where were the rest? Why were they
hiding here in the ravine, instead of
marching? Answer to this last ques-
ton was easy enough. 1t was to
keep out of sight Of Indian eyes, and
needed no excuse. There was some
thing behind this mysterious pres
ence of ten or twelve soldiers in the
southern foothills, and Machpealota
would expect of his scouts full in
formation, hence the instant move
ment on part of one of the two braves
to follow
Impressively, Bruce turned again
and waved him back. $50, get buff
falo tongue" said he, "or no trade.
1 Keep away from our tepess,a and he