Among those who held the same views as the old bachelor officer, as to the Indians, but not to women, was Kit Carey.
He seemed to dread trouble, and he kept a watch upon every movement of the savages.
He wished to discover who was in the tent with the medicine man of Big Foot's band, for he felt sure that it was Red Hatchet.
But this fact he could not discover, and he went to the tent, where he was quartered during his stay with the command, determined to be up bright and early in the morning, and see if Red Hatchet could be found in the camps.
The day dawned and found the soldiers in camp, and position as well.
Colonel Forsythe had arrived, and noting the able placing of the troops by Major Whiteside, made little changes in the plans of that officer.
There was a silence resting upon the Indian camp that seemed ominous.
None of the soldiers knew just what their colonel intended to do, but all felt certain that the Indians were to be disarmed.
Major Whiteside had distributed rations among them the day before, and received full assurance from the chiefs that no further resistance was intended, that they were, in truth, glad to be captured.
But, then, to take an Indian's weapons is like making a demand upon his heart's blood.