BILL RETURNS FROM HIS SCOUT 



an' let on as though I wasn't seeking for informa- 

 tion; but I made myself solid with the women by 

 making them presents of a lot of little trinkets, 

 an* I knew if I went about it in an offhand way 

 they'd tell me all they knew, for, you know, I can 

 talk their language just like a Kiowa. 



" It pleases them women for a white man to take 

 notice of 'em an' talk to 'em an' be sociable like, 

 for their own men don't pay 'em much atten- 

 tion. 



"I soon found out about all the women knew, 

 which wasn't much, however; but from what I 

 picked up amongst 'em, an' from the general 

 signs, the head men ain't a-feeling very friendly 

 toward the whites, an' as soon as grass comes in 

 the spring I suspect we'll have trouble with 'em." 



"Do you think they'll go on the war-path, 

 Bill? "I asked. 



"No, I don't think they'll go to war openly or 

 in a body, but they'll probably scout around in 

 little bands, watchin' their chances an' doing a 

 little mischief here an' there on the sly, whenever 

 they see a good chance to dodge in, hit a lick, an' 

 dodge out again without making an open rupture. 

 But they promised to come down to Fort Larned, 

 as soon as the grass begins to come in the spring, 

 to have a powwow with the officers an' Injun 

 agent, 'cause there's a chance of some presents in 

 that, an' they're always ready to take all they can 

 get an' more, too." 



209 



