The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-19


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they camped in bunch of cottonwoods on
the old Casper trail and silent the sleeD of
the just and the weary. Early next day they
fastened on, reaching the usually shallow
stream, with Devils Gate only q few miles
away, before the setting of a second sun.
Here they Toasted and rested well, and be-
fore the dawn was fairly red on the third
day out from Emory they were breasting the
turbid waters and by neon had left the valley
T T5 to the south and were well out toward the
Big Horn country, where it behooved them
to look warily ahead. for from every ridge,
though far to the west of their probable
raiding ground, Dean and his men could ex-
pect to encounter scouting parties of the In
dams at any moment and one false step meant
death.
The third night passed without alarm.
though every eye and ear was strained The
morning of the fourth day dawned and the
sun soon tinged the misty mountain tops to
the far north, and Dean saw before him an
open rolling country, over which 1t would
be impossible to march without attracting
in twenty miles. And with proper caution
he ordered his men to keep in concealment
horses grazing under guard in a deep de-
preston near stream, men doing soundly
by turns until twilight came, and then the
stars-their night lights for a long, long
march Dawn of the fifth day found them
huddled in a deep raylne of the southern
foothills. with Warrior Gap not thirty miles
away, and now, indeed, was prudence neces-
sary, for the fain light showed the fresh
prints of innumerable pony hoofs on every
side. They were close on Machpealota's Turk
ing braves. Which would see the other
first?
1t must have been somewhere toward 5
O'Clock in the afternoon that Dean, search
ing with his fieldglass the sunlit slopes far
out to the east, heard the voice of his ser
geant close at hand and turned TO answer.
Up to this moment beyond the pony tracks,
not sign had they seen Of hostile Indians
10 nd In +
tered herds along their line of march were
shy and scary, and old hands said that meant
they had recently been hunted hard. More
over, this was not a section favored of the
buffalo. There was much alkali and sage
brush along their track, and only here and
there in scanty patches any of the rich, nu-
tritious bunchgrass which the rowing ami
mails so eagerly sought. The day had been
heat along the lazy roll of the land to the
south had often baffled their blinking eyes.
But now the sun was well to the west, and
the refraction seemed diminishing and away
over to the northeast a dull-colored cloud
seemed slowly rising beyond the ridge. It
was this that Sergeant Bruce was studying
when he murmured to his young commander.
Il think that means a big herd on the run,
sir, and if so Indians started them"
One or two troopers, doing close at hand,
sprawled full length upon the ground, with
their faces buried in, or hidden by their blue
sleeyed arms, slowly rolled over and came
crouching up alongside. Dean dropped his
glasses and peered in the direction indicated
by his comrade of humber rank Dust cloud
1t was beyond a doubt, and a long peep
through the binocular proved that it was
slowly sailing across the horizon in a north
erly direction. Did that mean that the red
hunters were driving the great quarry to-
ward the village of the Sioux, or that the
young men were out in force, and with the
full complement of squaws and ponies were
Strengthening the run. If the former, then
Dean and his party would be wise to turn
fIn AroiJ rp he f4ha
If the latter they would stand better chance
of slipping through the Gap by pushing north
ward deeper in among the pine-crested
heights
vine the horses were p'acidly nibbling at the
scant heritage or laZily spraWling in the
sun, each animal securely hoppled and all
carefully guarded by the single trooper, whose
own mount. ready saddled, circled within the
limits of the stout lariat, oCped about his
masters wrist. All spoke OF caution, OF I'VE
~ sense of danger and responsibility. for
thew of the little detachment were picked
men who had ridden the warpath tcO long
not to realize that there was no much thing
as trusting to luck in the heart Of the IN
dian country, especially when Alachpeaota,
with his Ogallalla braves was out for bust
ress The cautious movements Of the group
along the bank had quickly been noted b.
the wakefuI ones among the troopers. and
presently the entire party. excepting only the
herd guard had crouched up alongside, and,
with the comradeship born Of such periious
service were now discussing the situation in
low. confidential tones.
For half an hour they lay there. studying
the signs to the northeast The dun-colored
cloud hung low over the earth Tor dlstapce
Of several miles. The herd was evidently
one Of unusual size even for those days when
the buffalo swarmed in countless thousands
and finally the sergeant spoke again.
Its big hunt lieutenant. Whatever may
be going en- about the Gap they've found
time to send out young men enough to round
~ IrVefa 10 rprFG Of no at
drive them in toward the mountains. It's
combining pleasure with business. They
dent feel strong enough in number, per-
hans to make another attempt on troops
armed with breechloaders, so while they're
waiting until their reinforcements come, or
their own breechloaders, they are herding the
buffalo where they can get them Wne4 tney
want them later on. We are in big luck tnat
no stragglers are anywhere around US; Il
they were it wouldn't take such fellows long
to spy US out" -
No sign Of life nearer than that PARKWAY.
betraying dust cloud. No symptom OF Danger
anywhere within their ken. He was thinking
at the moment of that precious package IN MS
saddIeIbags and the colOnels words impress
ing him with the sense OF reSpcnSlDillty the
night they parted at Fort Emory, tomorrow;
by sunrise if fortune favored MN, ne couid
turn il over to the commanding officer at
the new stockade and then II the indians
were not gathered in force about the post
and actually hostile, ne could sllp qut Sgain
and the homeward way, and then within the
week rejoin his sister at Fort Emory-his
sister and ''Pappoose." Never before had
the indian pet name carried such signif-
canoe as now Night and day those soft,
dark eyes-that beautiful face haunted his
thoughts and filed his young heart with
nav and passionate longing 1t was hard 20
have to feaYe the spot her presence made
enchanted ground. Nothing but the spur OF
duty. the thrill Of soliier achievement and
stirring venture could have reconciied MIN 10
tto order.
In one week now. If fortune favored and
heaven spared, he could hope to look again
into the eyes thai Sad enchanted him,
but hut if there should \.Nerpose the sterner lot
of the frontier, II the Sioux should learn OF
his presence, he who had thwarted Burning
Star and the brothers OF the poor Lizette in
their schemes of vengeance. he at whose door
the ogallallas must by this time have iaid