Clark, captain of the Second Cavalry, followed the work of Major North in training Indians for scouting and police work. North had a number of Pawnees at Summit Springs when Tall Bull's band was annihilated ; and as they were preparing to go into battle, they discarded Uncle Sam's uniforms, and wore only breachclouts. They painted the bodies thick with vermillion, red and black. That was their idea of how to dress for a fight.

In 1876, when gold was discovered in the Black Hills, it made a big rush, and with consequent irritation to the Indians. Captain Clark was established at Red Cloud Agency on White River with three hundred Indian scouts -- • Pawnee, Shoshone, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Crow and Sioux. There were six tribes having six different vocal languages, yet thev managed to converse fluently and with ease. It was by the common sign language, and under such conditions it could not otherwise than impress one with its value and beauty.

On the march, by the camp fires, at early dawn, or just before the battle, one could see the signs, the recognition, and the perfect understanding. The sign language extended to the Assinoboines, Gros Ventres of the Prairie.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

the Bannocks, the Mandans and the Arikaries. It was the universal language of the race.

So impressed was General Sheridan with its importance that he detailed Captain Clark to prepare and submit to him a work on the silent language. This was not completed until 1881 ; too late to be of value in the wars, but of great interest and merit. Old Indian fighters and frontiersmen had, however, absorbed much of it in the earlier years, and it was of much use to them from time to time.