t was well understood that neither of the men sought to escape,
and they were given much freedom. It was fine schooling for Spotted
Tail, that tireless observer of the ways of the white man! It is a fact
that his engaging personal qualities won for him kindness and sympathy
at the fort before the time came for his release.

One day some Indian horse thieves of another tribe stampeded the horses
and mules belonging to the garrison. Spotted Tail asked permission of
the commanding officer to accompany the pursuers. That officer, trusting
in the honor of a Sioux brave, gave him a fast horse and a good carbine,
and said to him: "I depend upon you to guide my soldiers so that they
may overtake the thieves and recapture the horses!"

The soldiers recaptured the horses without any loss, but Spotted Tail
still followed the Indians. When they returned to the fort without him,
everybody agreed that he would never turn up. However, next day he did
"turn up", with the scalp of one of the marauders!

Soon after this he was returned to his own people, who honored him by
making him the successor of the old chief, Conquering Bear, whose
blood he had avenged, for which act he had taken upon himself the full
responsibility. He had made good use of his two years at the fort, and
completed his studies of civilization to his own satisfaction. From this
time on he was desirous of reconciling the Indian and the white
man, thoroughly understanding the uselessness of opposition. He was
accordingly in constant communication with the military; but the other
chiefs did not understand his views and seem to have been suspicious of
his motives.

In 1860-1864 the Southern Cheyennes and Comanches were at war with the
whites, and some of the Brules and Ogallalas, who were their neighbors
and intimates, were suspected of complicity with the hostiles. Doubtless
a few of their young men may have been involved; at any rate, Thunder
Bear and Two Face, together with a few others who were roving with the
warring tribes, purchased two captive white women and brought them to
Fort Laramie. It was, however, reported at the post that these two men
had maltreated the women while under their care.

Of course, the commander demanded of Spotted Tail, then head chief, that
he give up the guilty ones, and accordingly he had the two men arrested
and delivered at the fort. At this there was an outcry among his own
people; but he argued that if the charges were true, the