The weather was very cold and I found my journey by no means a pleasant one as I was obliged to camp out with only my saddle blankets; and besides, there was more or less danger from the Indians themselves; for, although Spotted Tail himself was friendly, I was afraid I might have difficulty in getting into his camp.  I was liable at any moment to run into a party of his young men who might be out hunting, and as I had many enemies among the Sioux, I would be running considerable risk in meeting them.

At the end of the first day I camped on Stinking Water, a tributary of the Frenchman’s Fork, where I built a little fire in the timber; but it was so very cold I was not able to sleep much.  Getting an early start in the morning I followed up the Frenchman’s Fork and late in the afternoon I could see, from the fresh horse tracks and from the dead buffaloes lying here and there, recently killed, that I was nearing Spotted Tail’s camp.  I rode on for a few miles further, and then hiding my horse in a low ravine, I crawled up a high hill, where I obtained a good view of the country.  I could see for four or five miles up the creek, and got sight of a village and of two or three hundred ponies in its vicinity.  I waited until night came and then I succeeded in riding into the Indian camp unobserved.

[Illustration:  SPOTTED TAIL.]

I had seen Spotted Tail’s camp when he came from the north and I knew the kind of lodge he was living in.  As I entered the village I wrapped a blanket around my head so that the Indians could not tell whether I was a white or a red man.  In this way I rode around until I found Spotted Tail’s lodge.  Dismounting from my horse I opened his tent door and looked in and saw the old chief lying on some robes.  I spoke to him and he recognized me at once and invited me to enter.  Inside the lodge I found a white man, an old frontiersman, Todd Randall, who was Spotted Tail’s agent and who had lived a great many years with the Indians.  He understood their language perfectly and did all the interpreting for Spotted Tail.  Through him I readily communicated with the chief and informed him of my errand.  I told him that the warriors and chiefs would greatly please General Sheridan if they would meet him in about ten sleeps at the old Government crossing of the Red Willow.  I further informed him that there was a great chief from across the water who was coming there to visit him.  Spotted Tail replied that he would be very glad to go; that the next morning he would call his people together and select those who would accompany him.  I told Spotted Tail how I had entered his camp.  He replied that I had acted wisely; that although his people were friendly, yet some of his young men had a grudge against me, and I might have had difficulty with them had I met them away from the village.  He directed his squaw to get me something to eat, and ordered that my horse be taken care of, and upon his invitation I spent the remainder of the night in his lodge.