rds:

"It was during the winter following that summer in which General Sibley
pursued many of our people across the Muddy River (1863), that
we Hunkpatees, friendly Sioux, were camping at a place called
'Hunt-the-Deer,' about two miles from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory.

"The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one day upon the leading
chiefs of our band. To each one he said: 'Lend me your bravest warrior!'
Each chief called his principal warriors together and laid the matter
before them.

"'The Chief Soldier at this place,' they explained, 'wants to send a
message to Fort Berthold, where the Rees and Mandans live, to another
Chief Soldier there. The soldiers of the Great Father do not know the
way, neither could any of them get through the lines. He asks for a
brave man to carry his message.'

"The Mandans and the Rees were our hereditary enemies, but this was not
the principal reason for our hesitation. We had declared allegiance
to the Great Father at Washington; we had taken our stand against the
fighting men of our own nation, and the hostile Sioux were worse than
enemies to us at this time!

"Each chief had only called on his leading warriors, and each in turn
reported his failure to secure a volunteer.

"Then the Chief Soldier sent again and said: 'Is there not a young
man among you who dares to face death? If he reaches the fort with my
message, he will need to be quick-witted as well as brave, and the Great
Father will not forget him!'

"Now all the chiefs together called all the young men in a great
council, and submitted to them the demand of the Great Father's servant.
We knew well that the country between us and Fort Berthold, about one
hundred and fifty miles distant, was alive with hostile Sioux, and that
if any of us should be caught and recognized by them, he would surely
be put to death. It would not be easy to deceive them by professing
hostility to the Government, for the record of each individual Indian
is well known. The warriors were still unwilling to go, for they argued
thus: 'This is a white man's errand, and will not be recorded as a
brave deed upon the honor roll of our people.' I think many would have
volunteered but for that belief. At that time we had not a high opinion
of the white man.

"Since all the rest were silent, it came into my mind to offer my
services. The warriors looked at me in astonishment, for I was a very
young man and had no experience.

"Our chief, Two Bears,