HISTORIC INDIAN COUNCILS 275 



which nearly two hundred armed Indians from 

 several tribes were present, and less than half 

 that number of unarmed whites. Commissioner 

 Smith spoke sharply to the Indians, exciting 

 them greatly, and replies, mostly denouncing the 

 Government for its bad faith, were made by 

 Lone Wolf, Kicking Bird, Asatowyet, Buffalo 

 Good, Quirtz Quip, Satanta's father, Warluka, 

 and others. Commissioner Smith replied by 

 definitely demanding that five alleged Comanche 

 raiders be given up and refusing until that was 

 done to release Satanta and Big Tree. The 

 feeling among the Indians when the council 

 closed was so intense that it was obvious that a 

 spark would have started a terrible conflagra- 

 tion. The feeling of the officers of the Post was 

 voiced to me by one of the captains : 



"If the Government stands by the Commis- 

 sioner an Indian war is going to begin right 

 here." 



The officers were a loyal lot and in the pres- 

 ence of soldiers or citizens kept mum on all mat- 

 ters connected with Government policy, but I 



