Part 9 (1/2)
”I used to come over here with Charley Bath, the Indian trader,” I said
”Where are ?” asked Shers They are due south”
”Due south! And we are traveling due west!”
”Yes, sir,” I replied, ”but if Mr Curtis had not turned in a fewto tell you”
So for twelve miles I rode with Sherman, and we became fast friends He asked me all manner of questions on the way, and I found that he knew ic death in Salt Creek Valley
He asked what had become of the rest of the family and all about my career By the end of the ride I had told hiether, with the outfit following on, I noticed pony tracks fros Presently I said:
”General, we are going to find Indians at the Springs e reach there”
”How do you know?”
”We have been riding where ponies have been grazing for the last mile”
”I haven't seen any tracks,” said the General in surprise ”Showthe buffalo grass aside, I pointed out e,” I told hie, and thousands of ponies and Indian lodges”
In a very few minutes this prophecy came true Curtis and the other scouts with the officers rode up quickly behind us, and we all had a fine view of this wonderful sight of the desert--a great Indian careat excite on their horses and riding toward us, till at least a thousand of the line”
”It looks to me as if we had better fall into position,” said Sheriven us the peace sign They are co toward us without arms”
So Sherman, with General Harney, General Sanborn, and the other officers rode slowly forward tobraves
”This is where you need Curtis,” I told the General as he advanced ”He is the best Kiowa and Comanche interpreter on the Plains and he knows every one of these Indians personally”
Curtis was accordingly suned to ree of the scouts
As the Indians drew near with signs of friendliness, Curtis introduced the chiefs, Satanta, Lone Wolf, Kicking Bird, and others to General Sherman as the head of the Peace Co been notified in advance of the co for our ca To this feast, which was spread in the center of the village, the Commissioners were conducted, while the scouts and the escort went into careat canopy of tanned buffalo skins on tepee poles Underneath were robes for seats for the General and his staff, and thither they were led with great cerereat fire on which, buffalo, antelope, and other aniar had been provided, and the feast was served with tin plates for the meat and tin cups for the coffee Another tribute to the custouests was a complete outfit of knives and forks
Napkins, however, appeared to be lacking
Indian girls, dressed in elaborate costu the food Looking on, it seeht I had ever seen--the grienerals, who for the last four and a half years had been fighting a great war sitting serenely and contentedly down to meat and drink with the chiefs of a wild, and, till lately, a hostile race
After all had eaten, the great chief, Satanta, loaded the big peace-pipe, whose boas hewn frohteen inches long The pipe was passed from mouth to mouth around the circle After the s bulk above the banqueters He drew his red blanket around his broad shoulders, leaving his naked right arht ar signs to illustrate his every sentence, he spoke:
”My great white brothers, I welcome you to my camp and to ht of fear, because our hearts are now good to you--because we hope that the words you are going to speak to us will lad that you have co way to see us We feel that you are going to give us or send us presents which will gladden the hearts of all my people