Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-11-24

have cheerfully gone with them.
A few Indians had been encountered,
many alarms had been experienced,
there had been hardship and suffering;
but on the day of which we write there
was nothing to alarm, and the people of
the train were in good spirits at the
knowledge that their long journey was
almost ended.
In the making up of the expedition
numerical strength had been considered
more than character. Any and every
one was taken that could provide him
self with wagon or a horse and rifle.
The first days travel proved that great
mistake had been made. While the
owners of the wagons were mostly men
of steady habits and good character,
looking for homes as well as for gold,
the majority of the horsemen were tur-
bulent and unruly characters, some Of
whom at least were leaving civilized
Nebraska and pushing into the Indian
country from fear of the law. They
carried a plentiful supply of whisky
with them, and they made it plainly I'M
derstood that they would obey the cap
tains orders only when it suited them
to do so. At the first campfire six of
the wagoners, disguised with the out
look, were in favor of turning back,
/ but the captain, who was an old plains
man, encouraged them to go on by say
ing:
These men are like sailors who al
ways start on voyage full of liquor.
After we get beyond civilization they
l, IL.
as you please
But he was false prophet so far as
four of them was concerned. These
four men were well mounted and armed,
ana they had the look and demcanor Of
border rutfans. They had evidently
joined the train to enjoy its protection,
and in return detantly refused to afford
it any of theirs. To compel them to
stand guard and assist in the various
other duties would be to bring on fight,
and this the trainnen wished to avoid.
If the four men We're driven away it
would only be after they killed some
one. and the train would then be so
crippled in strength that it might fall u
prey to the first rowing band of Indians
encountered
For two or three days all hands had
been expecting to meet with force of
redskins VINO would attempt to block
the way, but TO their great surprise the
country seemed entirely clear of them.
They We're gathered. as the reader
knows, to attack the party coming
across from Brule City.
When the train halted for dinner the
four men we have referred to drew off
by themselves and held an earnest con-
versation as they broke their fast.
1T isn't over twenty-five miles to the
Hills from this" said one. land if we
Rre to do anything it must be done to-
night"
How many wagons do we want,
Bob" asked Il second
"Only one We want the best wagon
and the best team
And that's Brown's,' said a third.
Just what was going to say" added
the fourth.
Il had already settled on that" OBJ
served Bob, who was evidently the
leader of the gang. First. because its
the best outfit: and second, because
want revenge ON the whole family"
"Thcy don't like MS any too well,
chucEled one of the men,
Il reckon not. and noW's our chance
to got even. We want 10 hX that wagon
III ABOUT Two hours lioh lhis' IL ABOUT
four hours haul TO the south fork of the
Cheyenne, and thai where the tram
viii camp tonight"
"What about Brown asked one OF
/ the men.
: b b drew his finger across his throat
and the OIL woman;
2 Bob repeated his gesture.
. "And the gal;
q 81 want the gal spared, he replied
( "Mebbe | shall turn her loose after
/ awhile, and lneDbe shall trade her OF
g 70 some Indian chief for dozen ponies
I'm told that the Dlg chiefs are paying
4 fancy prices for White gals tins sum
D mer.
{ At this there was II loud laugh from