ucation or
special training he demonstrated his ability to lead and to fight
when justice demanded. He outgeneraled the best and most experienced
commanders in the army of the United States, although their troops were
well provisioned, well armed, and above all unencumbered. He was great
finally, because he never boasted of his remarkable feat. I am proud of
him, because he was a true American.

LITTLE WOLF

If any people ever fought for liberty and justice, it was the Cheyennes.
If any ever demonstrated their physical and moral courage beyond cavil,
it was this race of purely American heroes, among whom Little Wolf was a
leader.

I knew the chief personally very well. As a young doctor, I was sent to
the Pine Ridge agency in 1890, as government physician to the Sioux and
the Northern Cheyennes. While I heard from his own lips of that gallant
dash of his people from their southern exile to their northern home, I
prefer that Americans should read of it in Doctor George Bird Grinnell's
book, "The Fighting Cheyennes." No account could be clearer or simpler;
and then too, the author cannot be charged with a bias in favor of his
own race.

At the time that I knew him, Little Wolf was a handsome man, with the
native dignity and gentleness, musical voice, and pleasant address of so
many brave leaders of his people. One day when he was dining with us at
our home on the reservation, I asked him, as I had a habit of doing, for
some reminiscences of his early life. He was rather reluctant to speak,
but a friend who was present contributed the following:

"Perhaps I can tell you why it is that he has been a lucky man all his
life. When quite a small boy, the tribe was one winter in want of food,
and his good mother had saved a small piece of buffalo meat, which she
solemnly brought forth and placed before him with the remark: 'My son
must be patient, for when he grows up he will know even harder times
than this.'

"He had eaten nothing all day and was pretty hungry, but before he could
lay hands on the meat a starving dog snatched it and bolted from
the teepee. The mother ran after the dog and brought him back for
punishment. She tied him to a post and was about to whip him when the
boy interfered. 'Don't hurt him, mother!' he cried; 'he took the meat
because he was hungrier than I am!'"

I was told of another kind act of his under trying circumstances. While
still a youth, he was caught out with a party of buffalo