ges of the Blackfeet, where in that far north
flowers border the snow on the hills. I will send them across the fiery
desert to the lodges of the Apaches in the south. I will send them east
to the lodges of the Sioux, warriors who have met us in many a hard
battle. I will send them to the west, where among the mountains dwell the
Cayuse and the Umatillas. I will have the outliers build smoke signals on
all the high hills, calling the chiefs of all the tribes together, that we
may meet here as brothers and friends in one great last council, that we
may eat our bread and meat together, and smoke the council pipe, and say
farewell as brothers, never to meet again." The storm abated. The urn of
the morning seemed overturned, and the spices of a new spring day,
redolent with the perfume of growing things, bright with sunshine and song
of birds, flowed over the busy Indian camp. Weeks passed on. Runners
came into camp, rushing into the lodge of the great chief, announcing the
approach of a procession of chiefs from the north; other heralds told of a
great company on the hills coming from the east, and from the west, and
warrior chiefs from the south halted outside the camp. Chiefs from all
the great tribes had heard the call, had seen the smoke signal, and now
the plain is full of horses and gayly coloured riders as they dismount
before the council lodge.

A wonderful blaze of colour meets the eye. Excitement and interest fill
the air as these veterans of the plains enter the council lodge. Chief
Plenty Coups then receives the chiefs; they are greeted one by one with a
courtly and graceful dignity. When the council had assembled Chief Plenty
Coups laid his coup stick and pipe sack on the ground, and in the sign
language gave welcome to the chiefs from many lands.

"I am glad at heart to stand here to-day on this Indian ground and give a
hearty welcome to all the chiefs assembled from the various tribes from
all over the United States. It is a day of beauty, and bright sunshine;
it is a glad day for me. I rejoice that on this happy day we can all meet
here as friends, eat our bread and meat in communion, smoke the council
pipe, and the pipe of peace. I am rejoiced to give you all a great heart
of welcome. And then we must say farewell, but we go away as friends,
never to meet again. I am glad to have you here."

Then Chief Two Moons, the leader of the Cheyennes in the Custer fight,
arose and shook hands with