of our number. My horse
was hit with an arrow, and I jumped off, and while I was running I was
shot through the ankle with an arrow. The enemy surrounded me; my own
friends had gone on. I crossed my wounded ankle over the other foot and
defended myself as best I could. I looked at the ground and the sky, and
made up my mind that this was my last day. Just at this moment, while I
was surrounded by my enemies, one of my friends was brave enough to come
back; he rode into the midst of our foes and put me on the back of his
horse, and we rode away in safety. Let me tell you about the other wound
that I received. In one of the late battles that we had with the tribe of
Black Rees, in 1874, I was shot through the thigh, a ball also going
through the forearm, and breaking the bone."

[Scouting Party on the Plains]

Scouting Party on the Plains

"Let me tell you about my connection with the battle of the Little
Rosebud. With my war party I joined the Sioux camp on the Rosebud River.
We camped first at Lame Deer. When I arrived at the Sioux camp at Lame
Deer we were near the Cheyenne camp, and the Cheyennes had built a big
bonfire. They were singing and dancing around the fire. I was told that
there were some Cheyennes that had reached camp that day or the day before
from the Black Hills, and they brought the news that the soldiers were
coming. The reason for the campfire and the dancing was to pick out the
bravest of the Cheyennes and send them back to find out the location of
the troops and bring back word. The campfire was so big and so bright and
the dancing and shooting so boisterous that I went over to the Cheyenne
camp to see for myself. And I saw them choosing the braves for this
scouting duty. The scouts must have numbered ten. They started right off
on their mission. The next morning we broke camp and came over the hills.
We camped about half a day's journey from the Custer battlefield. That
night, after we camped, there was no news, and I went to bed and went to
sleep. The next morning I was awakened by firing, and the report came to
me that there was going to be trouble, for the troops were coming. Almost
at once everybody who could ride a horse or hold a gun mounted his horse
and rode away to meet the troops. The Cheyenne scouts led the way. It
was not very long until I heard the report of rifles, over in the gully.
After the report of the guns we