3G8 INDIANS. 



of the hand. The reflection of the sun's rays thrown 

 on the ranks communicates in some mysterious way the 

 wishes of the chief. Once standing on a little knoll over- 

 looking the valley of the South Platte, 1 witnessed almost 

 at my feet a drill of about 100 warriors by a Sioux chief 

 who sat on his horse on a knoll opposite me, and about 200 

 yards from his command in the plain below. For more 

 than half an hour he commanded a drill which for variety 

 and promptness of action could not be equalled by any 

 civilised cavalry of the world. All I could see was an 

 occasional movement of the right arm. He himself after- 

 wards told me that he used a looking-glass. 



The signal drill is most strong and sacred ' medicine,' 

 the secret of which it would be destruction to divulge. 



o 



Even the whites, intermarried and living with them, are 

 not admitted to the mystery. I have questioned several 

 of these and many plains hunters, who could never tell 

 me more than that such system is in common use. In 

 the hope of emulating the fame of our renowned chief 

 signal officer, I have used both persuasion and bribes to 

 the Indians themselves, but could never get at even a hint 

 which I might use as a starting point of a practical system 

 of signalling. They admit the use of the glass, and that 

 is all. 



In communicating at long distances on the plains, 

 their mode of telegraphing is equally remarkable. Indian 

 scouts are frequently employed by the United States Go- 

 vernment, and are invaluable, indeed almost indispensable, 

 to the success of important expeditions. The leader, or 

 interpreter, is kept with the commander of the expedition, 

 while the scouts disappear far in advance or on the flanks. 

 Occasionally one shows himself, sometimes a mere speck 

 on a distant ridge, and the interpreter will say at once 

 what that scout wishes to communicate. I learned many 

 of these signals, which are simple enough : as, for instance, 

 riding rapidly round in a circle means ' danger ; get to- 

 gether as quickly as possible.' 



