ARROW AND PLOW The night attack on the great emigrant encampment was a thing which had been preparing for years.

The increasing number of the white men, the lessening numbers of the buffalo, meant inevitable combat with all the tribes sooner or later.
Now the spring hunt of the northern Plains tribes was on.

Five hundred lodges of the Sioux stood in one village on the north side of the Platte.

The scaffolds were red with meat, everywhere the women were dressing hides and the camp was full of happiness.

For a month the great Sioux nation had prospered, according to its lights.