Page:On the border with Crook - Bourke - 1892.djvu/448

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CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SURRENDER OF "CRAZY HORSE"—SELLING AMMUNITION TO HOSTILE INDIANS—PLUNDERING UNARMED, PEACEABLE INDIANS—SUPPER WITH "CRAZY HORSE"—CHARACTER OF THIS CHIEF—HIS BRAVERY AND GENEROSITY—THE STORY OF THE CUSTER MASSACRE AS TOLD BY "HORNY HORSE"—LIEUTENANT REILLY'S RING—THE DEATH OF "CRAZY HORSE"—"LITTLE BIG MAN'S" STORY ABOUT IT—"CRAZY HORSE" PROBABLY HIS OWN SLAYER—THE EBB OF SIOUX SUPREMACY


On the 6th of May, 1877, shortly after meridian, "Crazy Horse's" band approached the agency, descending the hills in the following order: First, Lieutenant William P. Clarke, with the agency Indians—that is, "Red Cloud" and his Indian soldiers; next, "Crazy Horse," at the head of his warriors, having abreast of him "Little Big Man," "Little Hawk," "He Dog," "Old Hawk," and "Bad Road." Stringing along behind, for a distance of nearly two miles, came the old men with the women and children, lodges, ponies, dogs, and other plunder. Lieutenant Clarke had gone out early in the morning to a point seven or eight miles from the post to meet the incoming party. "Crazy Horse," upon learning who he was, remained silent, but was not at all ungracious or surly. He dismounted from his pony, sat down upon the ground, and said that then was the best time for smoking the pipe of peace. He then held out his left hand to Clarke, telling him: "Cola (friend), I shake with this hand because my heart is on this side; I want this peace to last forever." The principal warriors were then presented, each shaking hands. "Crazy Horse" had given his feather bonnet and all other regalia of the war-path to "Red Cloud," his brother-in-