Around the council fire they passed and repassed the pipe of peace, and when the big drum was struck they sang the accompaniment with sad yet pleasant thoughts of the life that is past. Between the songs stories of brave deeds and dangerous exploits were related by the actors in turn, with as much spirit and zest as if they were still living in those days.
“Tum, tum, tum,” the drum was sounded.
“Oow, oow!” they hooted in a joyous chorus at the close of each refrain.
“Ho!” exclaimed finally the master of ceremonies for the evening. “It is Zuyamani’s story of his great ride that we should now hear! It was not far from this place, upon the Missouri River, and within the recollection of many of us that this occurred. Ye young men must hear!”
“Ho, ho!” was the ready response of all present, and the drum was struck once according to custom. The pipe was filled and handed to Zuyamani, who gravely smoked for a few moments in silence. Then he related his contribution to the unwritten history of our frontier in these words:
“It was during the winter following that summer in which General Sibley pursued many of our people across the Muddy River (1863), that we Hunkpatees, friendly Sioux, were camping at a place called ‘Hunt-the-Deer,’ about two miles from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory.
“The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one day upon the leading chiefs of our band. To each one he said: ‘Lend me your bravest warrior!’ Each chief called his principal warriors together and laid the matter before them.
“‘The Chief Soldier at this place,’ they explained, ‘wants to send a message to Fort Berthold, where the Rees and Mandans live, to another Chief Soldier there. The soldiers of the Great Father do not know the way, neither could any of them get through the lines. He asks for a brave man to carry his message.’
“The Mandans and the Rees were our hereditary enemies, but this was not the principal reason for our hesitation. We had declared allegiance to the Great Father at Washington; we had taken our stand against the fighting men of our own nation, and the hostile Sioux were worse than enemies to us at this time!
“Each chief had only called on his leading warriors, and each in turn reported his failure to secure a volunteer.