THE FIRST SCOUT.



   Custer then tells how they arrived at the bank of the
river, and were met by their old friend Pawnee Killer and
his chiefs, taking matters very coolly. His presence was one
more lesson for Custer on Indian treachery, and he soon had
another. On the pretext of coming over to say "How," several
other Indians waded the river, and finally it appeared as if an
attempt at murder was to take place, could the white man's sus-
picions be allayed. Custer then broke off the conference, which
had served no purpose except to inform them who their enemy
had been. The close of the conference was characteristic; Paw-
nee Killer, who seems to have imbibed a great contempt for
the youth and inexperience of Custer, had the impudence to
beg for coffee, sugar and ammunition. It is needless to say
that he did not get them. Custer returned to his regiment, and
pursued the Sioux for some hours, but was unable to catch the
fleet Indian ponies with the coarse heavy troop horses of his
command. He finally returned to camp.
   Soon after returning, more Indians, a very small party, were
seen in the opposite direction, and Captain Hamilton's troop
was sent after them. The Indians divided their party, hired
Hamilton on for several miles, and finally turned on him, as
scron as he had divided his own party to pursue them. They
fought Hamilton two to one for about an hour, but he kept
them off and returned to camp unharmed, having shot two
Indians dead, and wounded two others. The Indians fought in
the peculiar manner known as " circling,," which will be fully
described in the next chapter.
   Hamnilton's affair occurred in the direction of Fort Sedg-
wick, whereas Pawnee Killer had retired toward Fort Wallace.
It became clear therefore, that the country was full of Indians,
and it became a matter of doubt where they were thickest on
the route taken by Major Elliot, or that pursued by Robbins
and Cook with the wagon train. The party that attacked
Hamilton numbered forty-three, whereas Pawnee Killer had
several hundred, but the greatest anxiety was felt for Major
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