A Good Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

is why I have called you here – to clarify the position adopted by the governments of the Dominion and the United Kingdom in regard to the Sioux.” With emphasis he added, “And to give you instructions on implementing the same.”
    “I am at your service,” said Walsh, unable to stifle a half smile. The old stick’s pompous self-regard was amusing.
    “Indeed you are, sir. Indeed you are.” Scott eased himself back in his chair, began to comb his beard with his fingers. For some time, the secretary scrutinized him with an intense gaze that made him feel he was a bug under a magnifying glass. Finally, Scott said, “You will patrol the border – assiduously patrol it, ceaselessly patrol it. If any party of Sioux, no matter how small, crosses into our territory, it is necessary that I be immediately informed by wire. Be exact and detailed in your transmissions. This is of the utmost importance since I am charged with relaying all information to the head of the British legation in Washington. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    “Exactitude is of the utmost importance because the governments of Great Britain, the United States, and the Dominion of Canada have agreed to cooperate fully in managing the Sioux threat.” His look was stern. “I regret to say our government has got off to a very bad start with the Americans. They have informed me they suspect us of withholding vital intelligence from them. You, it appears, bear some responsibility for their disgruntlement.”
    That was a bewildering accusation. Affronted, he said, “Me? What the hell is it I am supposed to have done?”
    “It is not what you have done, sir, but what you did not do. Isn’t it true that a great gathering of Indians took place in early June in the Cypress Hills, your territory – Peigans, Blackfoot, Bloods, Gros Ventres, Crow, and, most notably, the Sioux? How is it that the newspapers report it and I was left in the dark? The Daily Globe claims that as many as fifteen thousand natives convened there. Why was I not informed of that? Why weren’t the Americans apprised of the situation? Why did you not relay a dispatch to the garrison at Fort Benton?”
    He was determined to give as good as he got. “May I remind you, sir, that at that moment I was on the point of taking sick leave in Arkansas? I had already surrendered my command at Fort Walsh to Assistant Commissioner Irvine.”
    “That is a dodgy answer. You were still in situ . The Cypress Hills is your bailiwick, not Irvine’s. You had local knowledge. You might have shown some initiative and alerted the department of this convention of savages.”
    “I have never been faulted for lack of initiative. No one has ever said I do not take things in hand.”
    Scott waved away his objection. “You did not take this matter in hand, and because you didn’t, the Americans are unhappy. They say it was the Sioux who called this powwow, and that its purpose was to weld all the tribes into an alliance to drive the white men from the plains. Quite rightly, the Americans are angry that they receive do. Isnws of this extraordinary congregation of red men. In their eyes, our oversight was tantamount to wishing them harm. They assert that if they had received notice that the tribes had assembled in such numbers they might have anticipated such a large encampment of Sioux and North Cheyenne on the Little Bighorn. With such intelligence in hand, Custer might have averted disaster.”
    “That’s a big might. If pigs had wings they might fly.”
    “I ask you again to explain yourself. Why, before leaving your post for Arkansas, did you not dispatch a rider to Fort Benton to give the U.S. Army this news?”
    “I have already explained. Assistant Commissioner Irvine was in charge. He is my ranking superior and I did not see it was my place to read him his duty. Your questions about why a messenger wasn’t sent might better be put to him.” The instant the words left his mouth he felt regret for