The life of Dull Knife, the Cheyenne, is a true hero's tale.  Simple, child-like, yet manful, and devoid of selfish aims or love of gain, he was a pattern for heroes of any race.

Dull Knife was a chief of the old school.  Among all the Native Americans of the plains, nothing counts save proven worth.  A man's caliber is measured by his courage, unselfishness, and intelligence.  

It is said that Dull Knife (as a boy) was resourceful and self-reliant.  He was only nine years old when his family was separated from the rest of the tribe while on a buffalo hunt.  His father was away and his mother busy, and he was playing with his little sister on the banks of a stream, when a large herd of buffalo swept down upon them on a stampede for water.  He led his little sister into an old beaver house whose entrance was above water, and here they remained in shelter until the buffalo passed, and they were found by their distracted parents.

Dull Knife was quite a youth when his tribe was caught one winter in a region devoid of game, and threatened with starvation.  The situation was made worse by heavy storms, but he secured help and led a relief party a hundred and fifty miles, carrying bales of dried buffalo meat on pack horses.

Dull Knife was considered a "dangerous man" by the authorities.  So, he and his tribe were taken (against their will) to the Indian territories in 1876.  When he realized his people were dying like sheep, he called them together in council.  Every man and woman declared that they would rather die in their own country than stay there longer, and they resolved to flee to their northern home.

From the Indian Territory to Dakota is no short dash for freedom.  They knew what they were facing.  Their line of flight lay through a settled country and they would be closely pursued by the army.  Due to his tactical genius, they were able to evade all the pursuing and intercepting troops and reached their native soil.  The strain was terrible, the hardship great, and Dull Knife was remarkable for his self-restraint in sparing those who came within his power on the way.

Unfortunately, he was betrayed by friends.  His people were tired and famished when they were surrounded and taken to Fort Robinson.  There the men were put in prison, and their wives guarded in camp.  Many of them had lost everything; there were but a few who had even one child left.  They were heartbroken.

These despairing women appealed to their husbands to die fighting.  Their liberty was gone, their homes broken up, and only slavery and gradual extinction in sight.  At last Dull Knife listened.  He said:  "I have lived my life.  I am ready."  The others agreed.  "If our women are willing to die with us, who is there to say no?  If we are to do the deeds of men, it rests with you women to bring us our weapons."

As they had been allowed to carry moccasins and other things to the men, so they contrived to take in some guns and knives under this disguise.  The plan was to kill the guards and run to the nearest natural trench, there to make their last stand.  The women and children were to join them.  Not every brave had a gun, but all had agreed to die together.  They fought till their small store of ammunition was exhausted, then exposed their broad chests for a target, and the mothers even held up their little ones to be shot.  Thus died the fighting Cheyenne's and their dauntless leader.