e
hunted from place to place; then the government resorted to peace
negotiations, but always with an army at hand to coerce. Once disarmed
and helpless, they were to be taken under military guard to the Indian
Territory.

A few resisted, and declared they would fight to the death rather than
go. Among these were the Sioux, but nearly all the smaller tribes were
deported against their wishes. Of course those Indians who came from
a mountainous and cold country suffered severely. The moist heat and
malaria decimated the exiles. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces and Chief
Standing Bear of the Poncas appealed to the people of the United States,
and finally succeeded in having their bands or the remnant of them
returned to their own part of the country. Dull Knife was not successful
in his plea, and the story of his flight is one of poignant interest.

He was regarded by the authorities as a dangerous man, and with his
depleted band was taken to the Indian Territory without his consent in
1876. When he realized that his people were dying like sheep, he was
deeply moved. He called them together. Every man and woman declared that
they would rather die in their own country than stay there longer, and
they resolved to flee to their northern homes.

Here again was displayed the genius of these people. From the Indian
Territory to Dakota is no short dash for freedom. They knew what they
were facing. Their line of flight lay through a settled country and they
would be closely pursued by the army. No sooner had they started than
the telegraph wires sang one song: "The panther of the Cheyennes is at
large. Not a child or a woman in Kansas or Nebraska is safe." Yet they
evaded all the pursuing and intercepting troops and reached their native
soil. The strain was terrible, the hardship great, and Dull Knife, like
Joseph, was remarkable for his self-restraint in sparing those who came
within his power on the way.

But fate was against him, for there were those looking for blood money
who betrayed him when he thought he was among friends. His people were
tired out and famished when they were surrounded and taken to Fort
Robinson. There the men were put in prison, and their wives guarded in
camp. They were allowed to visit their men on certain days. Many of them
had lost everything; there were but a few who had even one child left.
They were heartbroken.

These despairing women appealed to their husbands to die fighting: their
liberty