"I would no sooner trust an Indian's pledge than I would a woman's. They may mean what they say at the time, but let the opportunity offer and the promise is cast to the winds." 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. Would they yield up their weapons peacefully was the question all asked, and no one answered satisfactorily. Yes, there was one who felt that they would not, that there would be trouble; but this trouble the troops were able to subdue, for the redskins were surrounded, and, it seemed, almost at the mercy of the Boys in Blue. When the sun rose a cordon of cavalry began to form in three parts of a square before the Indian camp, while the Hotchkiss guns, Light Battery, under Captain Allyn Capson, were ordered to an advantageous position by Colonel Forsythe. In the open space before the tepees of the redskins and the camps of the soldiers, and near their line, the Indians were moving about in a sullen and uneasy manner, watching their foes with angry glances. Nearest to them stood an officer calmly surveying the situation, and he was accompanied by two of the Indian police, mounted, one of whom held the horse of the lieutenant, who was Kit Carey. He was watching the face of each Indian as he appeared, for he was on the watch for Red Hatchet, whom he still feared meant mischief of some kind. Soon Colonel Forsythe left his quarters and moved down toward the open space, where he was joined by Major Whiteside, and with both officers were their adjutants. Then the Indians were called upon to approach the soldiers' tent, in which was Big Foot, their chief, lying ill. As they came up they were counted by Lieutenant Nicholason, and then came the demand that sunk deep into their hearts: