Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-01-09
Two of them initiate the negro voice almost

OH Tue evening OF the 9TH OF october we
tied up three miles above ''old Fort Union,' y
for many years che head of navigation on
the Missouri. 1t stood IN the left bank OF
the river nearly opposite the mouth If the
Yellowstone, and like Fort Peck, was for
many a day a depot of supplies for Indians
and Red river half-breeds, who came here
to trade their peInican and the furs caught
III the great woods of the Hudson bay re-
glon. These furs could not be found on the
plains, and were very highly valued by the
plains Indians.
The next day we passed the Yellowstone,
which at the mouth, is just as muddy as
the big Muddy" himself. We reached
Fort Buford at 8 o'clock a. m. Itlooks from
the river bank like a thriving, populous vil-
lage. l was officer Of the day, and could
not leave the boat. As usual, sentinels
were posted ashore, one on each side Of the
eang-plank, to prevent any of the men go
ing ashore without permission. A lady, (?)
followed by a gentleman in a clay-colored
shirt, carrying q black leather bag that
seemed ready TO 'bust," came on the boat
and demanded a state-room. Captain Mar
rata old her she must 60 to the Command
ing officer. Away she went att, and meet
ing the c. o. near the dining tables, made
known her wants. He informed her that
she could not nave a state-room, as they
were all occupied.
!" Well, but the officer in command at Blu
ford says | must leave ON this boat,' she
answered.
"Oh no, did he? Then you must 20 to
that gentleman there" pointing to me. HE
Is officer of the day and will see that you
are taken care Of"
She FASTENED oward me, but as she came
near, the Colonel beckoned to me. | start
ed to obey the motion as she spoke.
Il want-'
Excuse me, please" I said, II will be
here again in q moment. / see the Colonel
wants me, to tell me, no doubt, what to do
for your comfort"
She smiled benignly OF me as / passed,
and | noticed that she had one black eye.
The Colonel was waiting for me.
Put her of" was all he said.
"Whoop la" | thought, Here's work
for a derrick. (She don't weigh less than
two hundred.) I'll have to tell them to Ego
ahead on the Niger" | approached her
no " as warily as one does a bucking bron-
cho, and putting on my sweetest smile, said,
1.-The Colonel wants to see the order Civ
ing you permission to come on the boat.
IL haint got no order," she answered.
"They didn't say nothing to me about any
ORDER"
You will probably find it in the Adju-
tant's office at the FORT" / said. 1.-THE Ad-
jutant must have forgotten to give it to you.'
"Here, Tom,'' to her follower, " you git
up there and git the order"
"They won't give it to him. you know
| said. beginning to be alarmed. .It is &
sealed document and can only be given to
the person to whom it is addressed. You
leave your satchel here and hurry up to get
the order. Tom can stay and look after
your baggage. Don't lose any time, for the
boat won't stay more than two hours.n
"All right" she answered, and away she
went. followed her to the companion-way
and saw her pass the two sentinels, then the
false smile that had been lowering around
my lips faded away. The pangs of remorse
for the many whoppers that had escaped
my tongue began to gnaw at my heart, and
| thought, Good heavens! if this thing
continues I'm a goner. / must stop it, or
in half a century or so, the weight of the
lies have told will bear me down more
than the years." | called the sergeant of
the guard.
Sergeant, go ashore and stand near those
sentinelS. If q woman with one hlno