"Glory! kin I b'lieve my eyes? A hull army o' 'em, az I'm a sinner. Ther report I heerd must be true then. My yallar-haired chief air on the war-trail, and when Custer gits on ther rampage thar's blood on ther moon."
[CHAPTER II.]
SITTING BULL'S GANG OF RED MARAUDERS.
The slanting rays of the rising sun fell upon an immense Indian encampment that stretched for several miles along the left bank of the Little Horn, and could hardly have been less than a mile in width.
Doubtless such a gathering of redmen had not taken place for many years.
In addition to the several lodges composing the village proper, scores and even hundreds of temporary brush-wood shelters had been hastily constructed, which significant fact went to show that this immense assemblage of warriors, numbering very nearly three thousand, was a gathering from different tribes.
That mischief was intended by these warlike Sioux could be presumed from the fact of their being painted as for battle.
The sun had been shining for some time when two mounted Indians, coming from the plains away beyond the distant range of hills, appeared almost simultaneously on the high bluffs that lined the right bank of the river.
Dashing down the steep inclined plane they forded the Little Horn and rode directly into the village.