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excitement。 Every adult Indian； female as well as male； was bent upon
invading the camp of the bois brules； to destroy the mur… derer。 The
confusion was made yet more intol… erable by the wailing of the women
and the sing… ing of death…songs。
Our number was now ten to one of the half… breeds。 Within the circle
formed by their carts they prepared for a desperate resistance。 The hills
about their little encampment were covered with warriors； ready to pounce
upon them at the sig… nal of their chief。
The older men； however； were discussing in council what should be
demanded of the half… breeds。 It was determined that the murderer must be
given up to us； to be punished accord… ing to the laws of the plains。 If；
however； they should refuse to give him up； the mode of attack decided
upon was to build a fire around the offen… ders and thus stampede their
horses； or at the least divide their attention。 Meanwhile； the braves were
to make a sudden onset。
Just then a piece of white； newly…tanned deer… skin was hoisted up in
the center of the bois brule encampment。 It was a flag of truce。 One of
their number approached the council lodge； un… armed and making the
sign for a peaceful com… munication。 He was admitted to the council；
which was still in session； and offered to give up the murderer。 It was
also proposed； as an alter… native； that he be compelled to give everything
he had to the parents of the murdered man。
The parents were allowed no voice whatever in the discussion which
followed； for they were re… garded as incompetent judges； under the
circum… stances。 It was finally decreed by the council that the man's life
should be spared； but that he must be exposed to the indignity of a public
whip… ping； and resign all his earthly possessions to the parents of his
victim。 This sentence was carried into effect。
In our nomadic life there were a few unwritten laws by which our
people were governed。 There was a council； a police force； and an
executive offi… cer； who was not always the chief； but a member of the
tribe appointed to this position for a given number of days。 There were
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also the wise old men who were constantly in attendance at the council
lodge； and acted as judges in the rare event of the commission of a crime。
This simple government of ours was supported by the issue of little
sticks about five inches long。 There were a hundred or so of these； and
they were distributed every few days by the police or soldiers； who kept
account of them。 Whoever received one of these sticks must return it
within five or ten days； with a load of provisions。 If one was held
beyond the stipulated time the police would call the delinquent warrior to
account。 In case he did not respond； they could come and de… stroy his tent
or take away his weapons。 When all the sticks had been returned； they
were re… issued to other men； and so the council lodge was supported。
It was the custom that no man who had not distinguished himself upon
the war…path could destroy the home of another。 This was a neces… sary
qualification for the office of an Indian police… man。 These policemen
must also oversee the hunt； lest some individuals should be well provided
with food while others were in want。 No man might hunt independently。
The game must be carefully watched by the game scouts； and the dis…
covery of a herd reported at once to the council； after which the time and
manner of the hunt were publicly announced。
I well recall how the herald announced the near approach of buffaloes。
It was supposed that if the little boys could trip up the old man while
going his rounds； the success of the hunt was assured。 The oftener he
was tripped； the more successful it would be！ The signal or call for
buffaloes was a peculiar whistle。 As soon as the herald appeared； all the
boys would give the whistle and follow in crowds after the poor old man。
Of course he tried to avoid them； but they were generally too quick for
him。
There were two kinds of scouts； for hunting and for war。 In one sense
every Indian was a scout； but there were some especially appointed to
serve for a certain length of time。 An Indian might hunt every day；
besides the regularly organized hunt； but he was liable to punishment at
any time。 If he could kill a solitary buffalo or deer without disturbing the
herd； it was allowed。 He might also hunt small game。
In the movable town under such a government as this； there was apt to
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be inconvenience and ac… tual suffering； since a great body of people were
supported only by the daily hunt。 Hence there was a constant disposition
to break up into smaller parties； in order to obtain food more easily and
freely。 Yet the wise men of the Dakotas would occasionally form large
bands of from two to five thousand people； who camped and moved about
together for a period of some months。 It is ap… parent that so large a body
could not be easily sup… plied with the necessaries of life； but； on the other
hand； our enemies respected such a gathering！ Of course the nomadic
government would do its ut… most to hold together as long as possible。 The
police did all they could to keep in check those parties who were intent
upon stealing away。
There were many times； however； when individ… ual bands and even
families were justified in seek… ing to separate themselves from the rest； in
order to gain a better support。 It was chiefly by reason of this food
question that the Indians never estab… lished permanent towns or organized
themselves into a more formidable nation。
There was a sad misfortune which； although it happened many
generations ago； was familiarly quoted among us。 A certain band became
very independent and unruly； they went so far as to wilfully disobey the
orders of the general govern… ment。 The police were directed to punish
the leader severely； whereupon the rest defended him and resisted the
police。 But the latter were competent to enforce their authority； and as a
re… sult the entire band was annihilated。
One day； as we were following along the bank of the Upper Missouri；
there appeared to be a great disturbance at the head of the cavalcadeso
much so that we thought our people had been attacked by a war…party of
the Crows or some of the hostile tribes of that region。 In spite of the
danger； even the women and children hurried for… ward to join the men
that is to say； as many as were not upon the hunt。 Most of the warriors
were out； as usual； and only the large boys and the old men were travelling
with the women and their domestic effects and little ones。
As we approached the scene of action； we heard loud shouts and the
report of fire…arms； but our party was scattere