The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-26

away up at the gorge of the Big Horn river
had sent two troops of cavalry to scout the
slopes Of the mountains and look into the
countless fresh pony tracks all along the
foothills east of the Greasy Grass and in the
valleys Of the many forks OF the Dele Agle.
the Crow name nan for Tongue rlvermo but not OF
among he welcoming officers and men at the
bustling post to find themselves hailed as
heroes. We've been cut off from the world
for at least ten days." said the commandant;;
"Our couriers have been killed, captured
or driven back Even our half-breed scouts
refuse to make further trial: They say Reo
Clouds people cover the land in every direc-
ton. Our woodchoppers only work under
heavy guard. The contractors freighters
and workmen threaten to strike unless they
get their money. The sutler refuses them
further credit. The quartermaster has paid
out every cent, and says his reQuisition for
$4,000 was ordered filled, and the money
ought to have been here week ago. All will
have to stop If the money doesn't come
We're safe enough. The Sioux don't dare
come within range of our breechloaders. But
we can't finish the barracks in time for Win
ter ct this rate" .
A stout hearted soldier was the command
ing officer at Warrior Gap. He had with
him now four strong companies of infantry
and troop Of horse He had, he said. but
one anxiety, so far as holding the fort was
concerned-some few Of the officers and
quite number of the soldiers, as has been
told were burdened with their wives and
children. If these could only be moved I'M
der strong guard to Frayne, on the Platte,
he could snap his fingers in the face Of Red
Cloud and his whole gang until they, too,
got breechloaders. Its only a question of
timei" said he. Sooner or later the inte-
rior department will be fool enough to arm
the redskins all over the land with maya
zine rifles, and then there will be lively work
for the war office. Any day." said he, fur
Their, I'VE may expect the coming of a whole
Mr.. Lo will have to light out. Meantime, If
we hadn't this trouble about the workmen
and could get rid Of the women and chill
dren, we'd be all right.
So back to the Big Horn rode the squad
ron to report all safe at Warrior Gap, bar
ring the blockade, and almost on Che same
date out there started from Laramie, on the
long march up the Platte and over across
the sage-covered deserts, strong force OF
foot and dragons; and up from the Sweet
water. far to the southwest, came this VEN
turesome little party of ten, bringing the
much-demanded money, and all the while,
with his far-ridlng far-seeing scouts in every
direction Machpealota, perched in the noun
tains back of the post, warily watched the
plans accordingly. Not a warrior was per-
mitted to show himself near the stockade.
but in sleepless Gordon, five miles out, they
surrounded the Gap. Not a messenger had
managed to elude their vigilance by day,
not one had succeeded in slipping into the
little camp by night. Yet, with every sue
ceeQlHS morn the choppers ana fatigue parties
pushed further out from the stockade, in
growing sense Of security, and the Indians
let them come.
Full a week before the Laramie column
could possibly reach the mountains, however,
Red Cloud was warned of their coming, their
numbers, and compassionate many horse
soldiers, so many heap walks" Unmo-
Tested the squadron from Fort G. F. Smith,
the Big Horn river post, was permitted to
retrace its steps. In fancied safety, born Of
confidence in that wonderful new breech-
loader, the little command at the Gap was
lGlled into Indifference to their surroundings
Then, sending large numbers of his young
men to round up the buffalo toward the
Platte. but keeping still his stern and venge-
ful eye upon the prey almost at his feet
the red chief made his final and fatal plans
There came a cloudless morning when the
cavalry troop escorted a young officer up the
rocky heights to the west, finding everywhere
indications of recent Indian occupancy but
not redskin barred their way Without op-
position of any kind, without so much as
glimpse OF the foe, were they permitted to
climb to Signal Rock, and from that point,
with powerful glasses, the officers swept the
glorious range Of foothills, the deep valley of
the Tongue, the banks of the Piney and the
Crazy Woman, the far-spreading upland
prairie rolling away like some heaving ocean
suddenly turned to earth, st and southeast
to the dim horizon, and there they saw or
thought they saw full explanation of their
recent freedom from alarm Of any kind. There
10 the SOUTH full thirty miles away the land
was overlaid by dull. heavy, dun-colored
cloud, and traversed by black streaks or
biotches that were recognized at once as run
ming buffalo. Red Cloud and his braves then
were drawn away in search of other game
and, light Of heart and foot, the troopers
trotted back to the waiting stockade to meet
there late that evening, as the weird tattoo
OF the drums and flies was echoing back from
the rocky heights the first messenger through
in nearly fifteen days-a half-breed Sioux from
the distant posts along the Platte. bearing a
written off
at Frayne, which the veteran eommandant at
Warrior Gap read with infinite comfort:
Seven companies Of infantry and three
more troops Of cavalry are on the way and
should reach you by Saturday week. The gen.
eral seems thoroughly alive to the situation,
and we, too, are hoping for orders to move
out and help you give that internal old
scoundrel the thrashing he deserves All has
been quiet hereabouts since that one party
made its dash on Hal Folsom's ranch. Of
course you know the story Of Lizette and Of
course Red Cloud must have known that
Burning Star was head devil In the enter.
prise though Chaska was the victim. I take
much comfort In the fact that it was 1 who
sent young Dean and his troop round by way
of the Laramie. Folsom and his Beople would
have been murdered to a man if I hadn't and
yet hear that absurd old ass at Emory put
Dean In arrest for not coming directly home.
Pecksniff should have been retired ten years
ago-for imbecility.
I'VE had tremendous storm in the noun
has just galloped out from Emory inquiring
for news of Dean. 1t seems he was sent with
a big sum in currency for your quartermas-
ter, and ordered to slip through by way of the
Sweetwater, as Red Cloud was known to be
covering the direct road Somehow it leaked
out before he started, and a gang of desper-.
ADDE'S gathered to jump him at Canon Springs
The storm jumped them, for two of their dead
and dozen horses were rolled out on the
flats. Dean must have got through all right,
for Bat saw their trail fifteen miles above u.s.
OF course, he'll have to make night marches
but, unless Red Cloud gets wind Of his COM
ing and corrals him, he should reach you al
most as soon as this. Michel, the bearer, has
your dispatches and orders. Retained copies
are here. Good luck, old man, and may we
meet within the fortnight and wind up Red
Cloud once and for all time
This was all, but more than enough. Riding
night and day in wide detour, Michel had
made his way to the lately beleaguered spot,
and what he brought was joyous news, in
deed Within the coming week the post would
have no more to fear. Within day or two
the contractors, then. would have their money
and that would tap the suffers stores and Joy
would reign supreme. EnvioUsly the soldiers
eyed the artisans. Not for weeks could their
paymaster be looked for, while the funds for
the civilians might reach them on the NOR
row, provided Red Cloud did not interfere He
couldn't and wouldn't, said the commander,
because he and his braves were all off to the
southeast hunting buffalo. He could and
might, SAID Michel that night at 10 o'clock,
after taps had sent the garrison to bed, for
by the time he left Frayne there were other
riders up from Gate City and all that garri-
son had learned that Lieut.. Dean was taking
something like fifty thousand dollars in green
backs up to the Gap. with only ten men to
guard 1t, and Maj. Burleigh was wild with
anxiety lest he shouldn't get through, and had
been nearly crazy since he heard of Deans
narrow escape at Canon Springs. The officer
Of the day who heard this story took It, with
the teller, to the post commander. and that
veteran sat up late and cross-uuestioned long
Michel's English might be broken, but not his
statement. The last arrival at Frayne before