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magnetism into this last effort at conciliation。
〃'Hay； hay； hay！ Alas； alas！' Thus speaks the old man； when he
knows that his former vigor and freedom is gone from him forever。 So
we may exclaim to…day； Alas！ There is a time appointed to all things。
Think for a moment how many multitudes of the animal tribes we
ourselves have destroyed！ Look upon the snow that appears to…day to…
morrow it is water！ Listen to the dirge of the dry leaves； that were green
and vigorous but a few moons before！ We are a part of this life and it
seems that our time is come。
〃Yet note how the decay of one nation invigorates another。 This
strange white man consider him； his gifts are manifold！ His tireless
brain； his busy hand do wonders for his race。 Those things which we
despise he holds as treasures； yet he is so great and so flourishing that
there must be some virtue and truth in his philosophy。 I wish to say to
you； my friends： Be not moved alone by heated arguments and thoughts of
revenge！ These are for the young。 We are young no longer； let us think
well； and give counsel as old men！〃 These words were greeted with an
ominous silence。 Not even the customary 〃How！〃 of assent followed the
speech； and Sitting Bull immediately got up and replied in the celebrated
harangue which will be introduced under his own name in another chapter。
The situation was critical for Spotted Tail the only man present to
advocate submission to the stronger race whose ultimate supremacy he
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recognized as certain。 The decision to attack Fort Phil Kearny was
unanimous without him； and in order to hold his position among his
tribesmen he joined in the charge。 Several bullets passed through his war
bonnet； and he was slightly wounded。
When the commission of 1867…1868 was sent out to negotiate with the
Sioux； Spotted Tail was ready to meet them； and eager to obtain for his
people the very best terms that he could。 He often puzzled and
embarrassed them by his remarkable speeches； the pointed questions that
he put； and his telling allusions to former negotiations。 Meanwhile Red
Cloud would not come into the council until after several deputations of
Indians had been sent to him； and Sitting Bull did not come at all。
The famous treaty was signed； and from this time on Spotted Tail
never again took up arms against the whites。 On the contrary； it was
mainly attributed to his influence that the hostiles were subdued much
sooner than might have been expected。 He came into the reservation
with his band； urged his young men to enlist as government scouts； and
assisted materially in all negotiations。 The hostile chiefs no longer
influenced his action； and as soon as they had all been brought under
military control； General Crook named Spotted Tail head chief of the
Sioux； thus humiliating Red Cloud and arousing jealousy and ill…feeling
among the Ogallalas。 In order to avoid trouble； he prudently separated
himself from the other bands； and moved to the new agency on Beaver
Creek （Fort Sheridan； Nebraska）； which was called 〃Spotted Tail Agency。〃
Just before the daring war leader； Crazy Horse； surrendered to the
military； he went down to the agency and roundly rebuked Spotted Tail for
signing away the freedom of his people。 From the point of view of the
irreconcilables； the diplomatic chief was a 〃trimmer〃 and a traitor； and
many of the Sioux have tried to implicate him in the conspiracy against
Crazy Horse which led to his assassination； but I hold that the facts do not
bear out this charge。
The name of Spotted Tail was prominently before the people during
the rest of his life。 An obscure orphan； he had achieved distinction by his
bravery and sagacity； but he copied the white politician too closely after
he entered the reservation。 He became a good manipulator； and was
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made conceited and overbearing by the attentions of the military and of
the general public。 Furthermore； there was an old feud in his immediate
band which affected him closely。 Against him for many years were the
followers of Big Mouth； whom he had killed in a duel； and also a party led
by a son and a nephew of the old chief； Conquering Bear； whom Spotted
Tail had succeeded at his death。 These two men had hoped that one or
the other of them might obtain the succession。
Crow Dog； the nephew of Conquering Bear； more than once taunted
Spotted Tail with the fact that he was chief not by the will of the tribe； but
by the help of the white soldiers； and told him that he would 〃keep a bullet
for him〃 in case he ever disgraced his high position。 Thus retribution lay
in wait for him while at the height of his fame。 Several high…handed
actions of his at this time； including his elopement with another man's wife；
increased his unpopularity with a large element of his own tribe。 On the
eve of the chief's departure for Washington； to negotiate （or so they
suspected） for the sale of more of their land； Crow Dog took up his gun
and fulfilled his threat； regarding himself； and regarded by his supporters；
not as a murderer； but as an executioner。
Such was the end of the man who may justly be called the Pontiac of
the west。 He possessed a remarkable mind and extraordinary foresight
for an untutored savage； and yet he is the only one of our great men to be
remembered with more honor by the white man； perhaps； than by his own
people。
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LITTLE CROW
Chief Little Crow was the eldest son of Cetanwakuwa （Charging
Hawk）。 It was on account of his father's name； mistranslated Crow； that
he was called b