Part 32 (1/2)

Just at this tiin was beyond all power to fatho the red men of the north

Fros that a Messiah was to come back to earth to use his miraculous power in the interest of the Indian The whites were to be driven from the land of the red es were to be re-stocked with elk, antelope, deer, and buffalo

Soon a fever of fanaticism had infected every tribe Not alone were the Sioux the victi delusion, but every tribe on the continent shared in it

There was to be a universal brotherhood of red otten Former foes became fast friends The Yaquis in Mexico sent out word that they would be ready for the great Arhost dances and barbaric festivities to celebrate the co restoration of the Indian to the lands of his inheritance

And as the Indians danced, they talked and sang and thought of hile their hatred of the white man broke violently forth

Veryon the War Depart Stop it! You could as easily have stopped the eruption of Mount Lassen! A the Indians was one that all the sick would be healed and be able to go into battle, and that young and old, squaws and braves alike, would be given shi+rts which would turn the soldiers' bullets like armor-plate

Every redskin believed that he could not be injured None of them had any fear of battle, or any suspicions that he could be injured in the course of the great holy war that was to come

CHAPTER XII

In Nove from Europe with my Wild West Co packet of papers That was before the days of wireless, and we had had no tidings of as going on in the world since we had left the other side

As he canizedIndian war started! I guess you'll be needed out there”

I seized the papers and eagerly read the details of the threatened outbreak I was not surprised when, on arriving at Quarantine, I was handed a telegrao as soon as possible, and to telegraph the tiht the first train for the West, and in thirty-six hours reported to General Miles in his headquarters

He briefly described toand went over with etting ready for war He said that it was his understanding that the Bad Lands of North Dakota had been selected as the battle-ground by the Indians, and asked ive him all the information I possessed about that country and its accessibility for troops

Miles was about to leave for the Pine Ridge Agency, and take con to put down the Indians

I was thoroughly familiar with the Bad Lands, and spent an hour or eneral We both agreed that the Indians had selected a particularly good country for their uprising, and an especially good season, as in winter, with the hills covered with snow, and blizzards of almost daily occurrence, it would be far harder to hunt them out than in summer, when the troops could travel easily

Miles said that Sitting Bull had his ca Rock Agency, and was haranguing the Indians thereabout, spreading the Messiah talk and getting theo i Rock and Fort Yates, and thence to Sitting Bull's camp

He knew that I was an old friend of the chief, and he believed that if any one could induce the old fox to abandon his plans for a general war I could If I could not dissuade hiht be able to delay hi it, so that troops could be sent into the country in time to prevent a horrible massacre of the defenseless white settlers, ere already in terror of their lives

I knew that this would be theofBull he would at least listen to me But in the present inflamed state of the Indian et to his camp alive

Nevertheless I was quite ready to take the risk I knehat fearful da of fanatical and infuriated Indians, and any danger tosuch, a thing, if possible

Having no standing as an arent, it was necessary for me to be supplied with some sort of credentials, in order to secure the assistance I should need on my mission When I infor-cards fro on the back of it:

To COMMANDING OFFICERS OF UNITED STATES TROOPS:

Furnish Colonel William F Cody with any assistance or escort that he may ask for