r, another fort had been located. It was Fort
Reno--the first out-post of the new trail, at the Powder River, one
hundred and sixty-seven miles along from Laramie.

Red Cloud, and his lieutenant, They-fear-even-his-horses, came in to
talk with the United States, at Fort Laramie. A great throng of
Indians was present, for Fort Laramie was a busy post.

Nothing could be done with the Red Cloud band. The United States was
willing to promise that nobody should be allowed to leave the new road,
or to disturb any game. Red Cloud only shook his head. He well knew
that the white travelers would not obey the law. They would hunt and
camp, as they chose.

"Wah-nee-chee!" he said. "No good! Why do you come here and ask for
what you have already taken? A fort has been built, and the road is
being used. I say again, we will not sell our hunting grounds for a
road."

But the United States had decided. The Government had been assured by
the treaty makers that all the Sioux would finally yield. There was
last fall's treaty, as a starter. The Sioux from every band had
signed. Besides, the Government could not give up the right to open
roads. A railroad had the power to take right-of-way through towns and
lands; and a Government wagon road should have the same license.

So certain was the Government that the road would be opened, that even
while the council with the Red Cloud Oglalas was in session, there
arrived at Fort Laramie Colonel Henry B. Carrington of the Eighteenth
Infantry, with seven hundred soldiers.

Red Cloud saw the camp.

"Where are those soldiers going?"

"They are sent to open the new road and build forts."

"The Americans seek to steal our land whether we say yes or no!"
angrily uttered Red Cloud. "They will have to fight."

He and They-fear-even-his-horses (whom the white men called
"Young-man-afraid-of-his-horses") seized their rifles, and rode away,
and three hundred of their warriors followed them.

"Red Cloud means war," warned the Indians who remained. "The Great
Father makes us presents, to buy the road; but the white soldiers come
to steal it first. In two moons the white war chief will not have a
hoof left."

An express sent after Red Cloud, to ask him to return, was whipped with
bows and ordered to get out and tell the white chiefs that Red Cloud
would not talk about the road.

Colonel Carrington marched on, into the forbidden land. The officers'
wives were with them. Trad