The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-04-19

emissaries would give to the lattsrsa.rs,;
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 e. 5. 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 0gallallas 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-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
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 appellative 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 chances
between the young braves. ''Twig
that?" whispered Trooper Blaine, in
low, emphatic tone. ''Those fellows
know 'Scotty' just as well 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, 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,
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, bareback"
and Bruce illustrated as he spoke
"Thats ALL" he finished abruptly,
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 COM
radcs 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 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 were they so few in number? |
Where were the rest? Why were they |
hiding here in the ravine, instead of |
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
ance of ten or twelve soldiers in the
southern foothills, and Machpealota
would expect of his scouts full in
hence the instant move
nent on part of one of the two braves
TO follow.
Impressively, Bruce turned again
and waved him back $50, get buff
'alo tongue" said he, cor no trade.
Keep away from our tepees," and he
REV with his spnrred boot-heel a
Jagged line across the turf. "Your
tide" said he, indicating the slope to
he southeast of the line. "This--
,urs. That's ALI" And this time the
indian knew he must come no nearer.
tive got 'em talking trade lieu
u Lo
'eached Deans side. eve don't need
he tongues. but we've got more cof-
ZEE and sugar than we are apt to
want, and at least we can keep them
until dark, when we can
lip away. OF course, they've sent
word to their main body that we're
'ver here, but / believe they can't
ONE in force before night
'They knew you, sergeant, and they
NEW it is probably our troop" said
Ie "There must be only small par
Y near us. Make your trade, but
While you're doing it we'll saddle.
mean to get out of this and into the
hick of the timber before they can
urround us Stand 'em off now, while
Fe get ready"
Promises must be kept when made
0 an Indian, even If they are otherwise
ometimes broken. In ten minutes,
nth coffee. sugar and bareback in their
ands, the sergeant and his comrades
7ere back at the front. One brave
vas still there, the other had vanished.
i've minutes, neither party saying a
1ord, the troopers waited; then Bruce
urned to Conroy. II knew they had ,
o4hion. a. traJa VsaLa tlic eaalr with /