round and held him fast
for a minute, then released him and stood erect, panting, a master
youth. Shout after shout went up on the Sioux side of the camp. The
mother of Roman Nose came forward and threw a superbly worked buffalo
robe over Gall, whose mother returned the compliment by covering the
young Cheyenne with a handsome blanket.

Undoubtedly these early contests had their influence upon our hero's
career. It was his habit to appear most opportunely in a crisis, and
in a striking and dramatic manner to take command of the situation. The
best known example of this is his entrance on the scene of confusion
when Reno surprised the Sioux on the Little Big Horn. Many of the
excitable youths, almost unarmed, rushed madly and blindly to meet the
intruder, and the scene might have unnerved even an experienced warrior.
It was Gall, with not a garment upon his superb body, who on his black
charger dashed ahead of the boys and faced them. He stopped them on the
dry creek, while the bullets of Reno's men whistled about their ears.

"Hold hard, men! Steady, we are not ready yet! Wait for more guns, more
horses, and the day is yours!"

They obeyed, and in a few minutes the signal to charge was given, and
Reno retreated pell mell before the onset of the Sioux.

Sitting Bull had confidence in his men so long as Gall planned and
directed the attack, whether against United States soldiers or the
warriors of another tribe. He was a strategist, and able in a twinkling
to note and seize upon an advantage. He was really the mainstay of
Sitting Bull's effective last stand. He consistently upheld his people's
right to their buffalo plains and believed that they should hold the
government strictly to its agreements with them. When the treaty of 1868
was disregarded, he agreed with Sitting Bull in defending the last of
their once vast domain, and after the Custer battle entered Canada
with his chief. They hoped to bring their lost cause before the English
government and were much disappointed when they were asked to return to
the United States.

Gall finally reported at Fort Peck, Montana, in 1881, and brought half
of the Hunkpapa band with him, whereupon he was soon followed by Sitting
Bull himself. Although they had been promised by the United States
commission who went to Canada to treat with them that they would not be
punished if they returned, no sooner had Gall come down than a part of
his people were attacked, and in the sprin