were delighted with the prospect of
a great fight! Our scouts had discovered piles of oats for horses and
other supplies near the Missouri River. They had been brought by the
white man's fire-boats. Presently they reported a great army about a
day's travel to the south, with Shoshone and Crow scouts.

"There was excitement among the people, and a great council was held.
Many spoke. I was asked the condition of those Indians who had gone upon
the reservation, and I told them truly that they were nothing more than
prisoners. It was decided to go out and meet Three Stars [General Crook]
at a safe distance from our camp.

"We met him on the Little Rosebud. I believe that if we had waited
and allowed him to make the attack, he would have fared no better than
Custer. He was too strongly fortified where he was, and I think, too,
that he was saved partly by his Indian allies, for the scouts discovered
us first and fought us first, thus giving him time to make his
preparations. I think he was more wise than brave! After we had left
that neighborhood he might have pushed on and connected with the
Long-Haired Chief. That would have saved Custer and perhaps won the day.

"When we crossed from Tongue River to the Little Big Horn, on account
of the scarcity of game, we did not anticipate any more trouble. Our
runners had discovered that Crook had retraced his trail to Goose
Creek, and we did not suppose that the white men would care to follow us
farther into the rough country.

"Suddenly the Long-Haired Chief appeared with his men! It was a
surprise."

"What part of the camp were you in when the soldiers attacked the lower
end?" I asked.

"I had been invited to a feast at one of the young men's lodges [a sort
of club]. There was a certain warrior who was making preparations to go
against the Crows, and I had decided to go also," he said.

"While I was eating my meat we heard the war cry! We all rushed out,
and saw a warrior riding at top speed from the lower camp, giving the
warning as he came. Then we heard the reports of the soldiers' guns,
which sounded differently from the guns fired by our people in battle.

"I ran to my teepee and seized my gun, a bow, and a quiver full of
arrows. I already had my stone war club, for you know we usually carry
those by way of ornament. Just as I was about to set out to meet Reno, a
body of soldiers appeared nearly opposite us, at the edge of a long line
of cliffs across the river.

"A