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would indicate that the lesson was well learned。
The future leader was still a very young man when he joined a
war party against the Utes。 Having pushed eagerly forward on the
trail； he found himself far in advance of his companions as night
came on； and at the same time rain began to fall heavily。 Among
the scattered scrub pines； the lone warrior found a natural cave；
and after a hasty examination； he decided to shelter there for the
night。
Scarcely had he rolled himself in his blanket when he heard a
slight rustling at the entrance； as if some creature were preparing
to share his retreat。 It was pitch dark。 He could see nothing； but
judged that it must be either a man or a grizzly。 There was not
room to draw a bow。 It must be between knife and knife； or between
knife and claws； he said to himself。
The intruder made no search but quietly lay down in the
opposite corner of the cave。 Red Cloud remained perfectly still；
scarcely breathing； his hand upon his knife。 Hour after hour he
lay broad awake； while many thoughts passed through his brain。
Suddenly； without warning； he sneezed； and instantly a strong man
sprang to a sitting posture opposite。 The first gray of morning
was creeping into their rocky den； and behold！ a Ute hunter sat
before him。
Desperate as the situation appeared； it was not without a grim
humor。 Neither could afford to take his eyes from the other's； the
tension was great； till at last a smile wavered over the
expressionless face of the Ute。 Red Cloud answered the smile； and
in that instant a treaty of peace was born between them。
〃Put your knife in its sheath。 I shall do so also； and we
will smoke together；〃 signed Red Cloud。 The other assented gladly；
and they ratified thus the truce which assured to each a safe
return to his friends。 Having finished their smoke； they shook
hands and separated。 Neither had given the other any information。
Red Cloud returned to his party and told his story； adding that he
had divulged nothing and had nothing to report。 Some were inclined
to censure him for not fighting； but he was sustained by a majority
of the warriors； who commended his self…restraint。 In a day or two
they discovered the main camp of the enemy and fought a remarkable
battle； in which Red Cloud especially distinguished himself
The Sioux were now entering upon the most stormy period of
their history。 The old things were fast giving place to new。 The
young men； for the first time engaging in serious and destructive
warfare with the neighboring tribes； armed with the deadly weapons
furnished by the white man； began to realize that they must soon
enter upon a desperate struggle for their ancestral hunting
grounds。 The old men had been innocently cultivating the
friendship of the stranger； saying among themselves； 〃Surely there
is land enough for all！〃
Red Cloud was a modest and little known man of about
twenty…eight years； when General Harney called all the western
bands of Sioux together at Fort Laramie； Wyoming； for the purpose
of securing an agreement and right of way through their territory。
The Ogallalas held aloof from this proposal； but Bear Bull； an
Ogallala chief； after having been plied with whisky； undertook to
dictate submission to the rest of the clan。 Enraged by failure； he
fired upon a group of his own tribesmen； and Red Cloud's father and
brother fell dead。 According to Indian custom； it fell to him to
avenge the deed。 Calmly； without uttering a word； he faced old
Bear Bull and his son； who attempted to defend his father； and shot
them both。 He did what he believed to be his duty； and the whole
band sustained him。 Indeed； the tragedy gave the young man at once
a certain standing； as one who not only defended his people against
enemies from without； but against injustice and aggression within
the tribe。 From this time on he was a recognized leader。
Man…Afraid…of…His…Horse； then head chief of the Ogallalas；
took council with Red Cloud in all important matters； and the young
warrior rapidly advanced in authority and influence。 In 1854； when
he was barely thirty…five years old； the various bands were again
encamped near Fort Laramie。 A Mormon emigrant train； moving
westward； left a footsore cow behind； and the young men killed her
for food。 The next day； to their astonishment； an officer with
thirty men appeared at the Indian camp and demanded of old
Conquering Bear that they be given up。 The chief in vain protested
that it was all a mistake and offered to make reparation。 It would
seem that either the officer was under the influence of liquor； or
else had a mind to bully the Indians； for he would accept neither
explanation nor payment； but demanded point…blank that the young
men who had killed the cow be delivered up to summary punishment。
The old chief refused to be intimidated and was shot dead on the
spot。 Not one soldier ever reached the gate of Fort Laramie！ Here
Red Cloud led the young Ogallalas； and so intense was the feeling
that they even killed the half…breed interpreter。
Curiously enough； there was no attempt at retaliation on the
part of the army； and no serious break until 1860； when the Sioux
were involved in troubles with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes。 In
1862； a grave outbreak was precipitated by the eastern Sioux in
Minnesota under Little Crow； in which the western bands took no
part。 Yet this event ushered in a new period for their race。 The
surveyors of the Union Pacific were laying out the proposed road
through the heart of the southern buffalo country； the rendezvous
of Ogallalas； Brules； Arapahoes； Comanches； and Pawnees； who
followed the buffalo as a means of livelihood。 To be sure； most of
these tribes were at war with one another； yet during the summer
months they met often to proclaim a truce and hold joint councils
and festivities； which were now largely turned into discussions of
the common enemy。 It became evident； however； that some of the
smaller and weaker tribes were inclined to welcome the new order of
things； recognizing that it was the policy of the government to put
an end to tribal warfare。
Red Cloud's position was uncompromisingly against submission。
He made some noted speeches in this line； one of which was repeated
to me by an old man who had heard and remembered it with the
remarkable verbal memory of an Indian。
〃Friends；〃 said Red Cloud； 〃it has been our misfortune to
welcome the white man。 We have been deceived。 He brought with him
some shining things that pleased our eyes； he brought weapons more
effective than our own： above all； he brought the spirit water that
makes one forget for a time old age； weakness； and sorrow。 But I
wish to say to you that if you would possess these things for
yourselves； you must begin anew and put away the wisdom of your
fathers。 You must lay up food； and forget the hungry。 When your
house is built； your storeroom