"The U. S. government was pledged by treaty to keep white emigrants out of Sioux lands. At the same time, it wanted its citizens to mine the Black Hills gold and get it into circulation. So the U. S. Army sourly went about the task of protecting its former enemies from white "intruders" - and wondered when things would start making sense again. Civilian scout Scott Craig had his own troubles. Army officers didn't trust him because he'd formerly worked for the Indian Agency. Indians didn't like anyone connected with the Pony Soldiers. Gold seekers resented everyone who tried to keep them out of the Black Hills. Even when Craig rescued a party of whites from the lethal attentions of Chief Thunder's hostile band, he got small thanks for it. Especially from Thunder, whose etiquette called for funeral sacrifices to appease the restless spirits of his fallen followers"--,Provided by publisher.