Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-01-06
ABSOLUTELY PURE

about it,"
All around the silent bivOuac-silent
except for snoring trooper-the herds
of the different companies are clustered
''sidelined" upon the rolling prairie.
Most of the horses, worn out, are lying
down. Out beyond them the sentries are
crouching. for only three nights ago
the Cheyennes charged the camp, hop
ing to stampede u stock, and very
nearly succeeded.
Out beyond the pickets the prairie
wolves are lifting up to the starry skies
their querulous yelp, but suddenly
from the northeast comes the sound of
rapid hoof beats-the challenge of the
sentry, the spirited. CHEEKY hail Of the
coming party. and in another minute
Buffalo Bill la leaped from his
horse before the colonel's party, and the
Pawnee scouts who follow at his horses
heels bend over the necks Of their
painting ponies 10 listen:
I'VE struck the big trail about fif-
teen miles over TO the west. They're
moving. village and all They have
their rear guards out looking for pu'
suit along their track and never dream
ing Of our trying this dodge. Its my
belief they are camped tonight within
a days march Of the Platte. and if
we pull out now we a head 'em of. -
Pull out it is. No trumpet call. no
sound. no excitement. Tumble mp.
men," is the low toned order of the
sergeants, a. they scatter among the
sleeping groups. And i'm twenty min
utes we are away. riding in silent.
shadowy column up the northward
slopes and moving at a steady walk.
Some men have not been sufficiently
aroused To prevent their doing of
again. Ascore of troopers are nodding
over their pommels as we reach the
ridge.
For hours we glide along over the
dew laden sward. The dawn comes
stealing up the eastern skies. The dim
figures of the scouts become slowly re-
vealed-far 10 the front. The night
lamps in the heavens fade slowly away
and a rosy blush spreads like a mantel
e the orient. Lighter and lighter
grows the morning. and along the
column the bearded faces look pinched
and blue. How welcome would one
tin of coffee be!
''COnfound those Indians, anyway!
Why can't they give a fellow a chance
for a breakfastY' growls the captain Of
Wha fawaVnT-N WA,ln LEv-a nTa1anLr Gsw
Seven. And at last the Platte Valley is
in sight. Ten-and we are unsaddled
in the shade of the cottonwood.
Eleven, and the scouts are pack with
stirring news. by the eternal, boys!
we've headed EN-"
Noon, and again in the saddle. The
blue, pinched look is gone from every
face-banished by tidings that stir the
blood. Over TO the southwest. not six
miles away, big herds Of Indian ponies
have been espied, grazing quietly along
the northward slopes. Hidden from
view of pursuers from the south. faith
fully guarded by the vigilant scouts
left back along the trail, dreading no
attack from any other quarter, Tall
Bull has pitched his tepees at the
springs, and there is wild revelry among
his women and children over the re
union with their braves. There must
be over eighty lodges, say the Pawnee
scouts. and no one guards them from
our side. White men never played this
game before.
Look along the column now, as il
steals away under the shelter Of the
bluffs and ridges. Gaunt and weary
a. were the steeds at dawn, hungry
and tired as wa every man, the cry of
Indians ahead," has banished every
sluggard thought. II we can only ap-
proach unseen n we can only reach
the village before they have time 70
mount and meet u. we can rescue
yhose poor women and deal vengeance
70 the m~urierers Of their loved ones.
.'TrOt!' is the word passed down the
column. but the colonel's hand warns
the trunpeters 10 silence. Look 10
your carbines, men, Loosen "a few
cartridges ia tine loops" are the NUT
tered cautions Of the officers as they
move zap and dom along the trotting
ranks We are marching by fours now,
and heading iu-t a little south Of west.
CrouchinG along the ridge line to our
left we can see the Pawnees, and still
further on rides Buffalo Bill, every now
and then peering over the crest, with
his brown curls tossing in the rising
breeze, and still signaling straight
ahead! straight ahead At last we
must be due north Of their position.
The colonel canters away in answer TO
a sign from Cody, and with eager eyes
we watch them pointing southwark
over the divide. Then the ad-
jutant at a suffering gallop.
Troops. Column leftl' is the order.
And the next thing we know half a
dozen little columns moving briskly in
parallel rows are popping up over that