m, and war with the Sioux would have
ended right there. Instead of this, he fell back upon Fort Meade, eating
his horses on the way, in a country swarming with game, for fear of
Crazy Horse and his braves!

The Indians now crossed the divide between the Tongue and the Little Big
Horn, where they felt safe from immediate pursuit. Here, with all their
precautions, they were caught unawares by General Custer, in the midst
of their midday games and festivities, while many were out upon the
daily hunt.

On this twenty-fifth of June, 1876, the great camp was scattered for
three miles or more along the level river bottom, back of the thin line
of cottonwoods--five circular rows of teepees, ranging from half a mile
to a mile and a half in circumference. Here and there stood out a large,
white, solitary teepee; these were the lodges or "clubs" of the young
men. Crazy Horse was a member of the "Strong Hearts" and the "Tokala"
or Fox lodge. He was watching a game of ring-toss when the warning came
from the southern end of the camp of the approach of troops.

The Sioux and the Cheyennes were "minute men", and although taken by
surprise, they instantly responded. Meanwhile, the women and children
were thrown into confusion. Dogs were howling, ponies running hither and
thither, pursued by their owners, while many of the old men were singing
their lodge songs to encourage the warriors, or praising the "strong
heart" of Crazy Horse.

That leader had quickly saddled his favorite war pony and was starting
with his young men for the south end of the camp, when a fresh alarm
came from the opposite direction, and looking up, he saw Custer's force
upon the top of the bluff directly across the river. As quick as a
flash, he took in the situation--the enemy had planned to attack the
camp at both ends at once; and knowing that Custer could not ford the
river at that point, he instantly led his men northward to the ford to
cut him off. The Cheyennes followed closely. Custer must have seen
that wonderful dash up the sage-bush plain, and one wonders whether he
realized its meaning. In a very few minutes, this wild general of the
plains had outwitted one of the most brilliant leaders of the Civil War
and ended at once his military career and his life.

In this dashing charge, Crazy Horse snatched his most famous victory out
of what seemed frightful peril, for the Sioux could not know how many
were behind Custer. He was caught in his own trap.