Summary

In Chapter 25, Michael, unable to sleep due to the cold, describes a peace-talk at Fort Laramie between the Sioux and the Army. During the three days of talks, the soldiers were allowed to roam free and passed the time gambling with the Indians, drinking, and visiting the muleskinner’s brothel-wagon. Michael describes the great physical prowess of the Indian Braves and reckons that they must have felt emboldened in seeing the relative ineptitude of the American soldiers. One day Tom and Michael went to the brothel-wagon, where Tom wished to see Sarah. The muleskinner threw out the man she was with at the time, almost causing a fight. Tom paid double the amount requested to spend more time with her, and Michael again reflected how bad times would surely come of their relationship. Once the summit ended, the Army got back on the...