Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-12-27
CHAPTER IIL.-CoSr1NUEp.


not until late the next evening did the
grays reach the lonely post. Not
sign of hostile Indian had been seen
or heard, said the officer in command.
Small bands of hunters were out to-
ward Pumpkin Butte two days before.
Yes, Ogallallas-and scouting par
ty, working down the valley of the
Powder, had met no band at all, though
trails were numerous. They were now
patrolling toward the Big Horn. Per-
haps there'd be courier in tomorrow.
Better get good nights rest mean
time, he said. But all the same he
doubled his guards and ordered extra
vigilance, for all men knew John Fol-
som, and when Folsom was anxious
on the Indian question it was time tc
look alive. Daybreak came without a
sign, but Folsom could not rest. The
grays had no authority to go beyond
Reno, but such was his anxiety that it
was decided to hold the troop at the
cantonment for day or two. Mean
time, despite his years, Folsom decided
to push on for the Gap. All efforts to
dissuade him were in vain. With him
rode Baptiste, half-breed French
man, whose mother was an Ogallalla
squaw, and "Bat" had served him many
a year. Their canteens were filed,
their saddle-pouches packed. They led
along an extra mule, with camp equip
age, and shook hands gravely with the
officers ere they rode away. "All de-
pends," said Folsom, ION whether Red
Cloud is hereabouts in person. If he
is and can get his ear can probably
stave off trouble long enough to get
those people at the Gap back to Kear-
ney, or over here. They're goners if
they attempt to stay there and build
that post. If you don't have word
from US in two days, send for all the
troops the government can raise. It
will take every mothers son they've
got to whip the Sioux when once
they're leagued together"
"But our men have the new breech-
leaders now, Mr.. Folsom" said the
officers. ''The Indians have only old
percussion-cap rifles, and not too many
of them"
"But there are 20 warriors to every
soldier" was the answer, land all are
fighting men,"
They watched the pair until they
disappeared far to the west. All day
long the lookouts searched the horizon.
All that night the sentries listened for
hoofbeats on the Bozeman road, but
only the weird chorus of the coyotes
woke the echoes of the dark prairie.
Dawn of the second day came, and, I'M
able to bear suspense, the major sent
little party, mounted on their fleet
eat horses, to scour the prairie at least
halfway to the foothills of the Big
Horn, and just at nightfall they came
back-three at least-galloping like
mad, their mounts a mass of foam.
Folsom's dread was well founded. Red
Cloud. with heaven only knows how
many warriors, had camped on Crazy
Woman's Fork within the past three
days, and gone on up stream. He
might have met and fought the troops
sent out three days before. He must
have met the troops dispatched 10
Warrior Gap. 49,.
And this last, at least, he had done.
For few seconds after the fall of the
buffalo bull, the watchers on the dis
tant ridge lay still, except that Dean,
turning slightly, called to the orderly
trumpeter, who had come trotting out
after the troop commander, and was
now halted and afoot some 20 yards
down the slope. go back, Bryan he
ordered. "Halt the ambulances. Motif
fy Capt. Brooks that there are lots of
Indians ahead, and have the sergeant
deploy the men at once Then he
turned back and with his field glass
studied the party along the ravine.
"They can't have seen us, can they,
lieutenant" muttered the trooper
nearest him.
But Deans young face was grave
and clouded. Certainly the Indians
acted as though they were totally I'M
aware of the presence of troops, but
the more he thought the more he
knew that no big body of Sioux would
be travelling across country at so crit
ical time Country, too, that was
conquered as this was from their enc
mics, the Crows), without vigilant
scouts afar out on front and flank.
The more he thought the more he
knew that even as early as three
o'clock those keen-eyed fellows must
have sighted his little column, con-
spicuous as it was because of it's wag-
ons. Beyond question: he told him
self, the chief of the band or village
so steadily approaching from the
northeast had full information OF their
presence, and was coming confidently
ahead. What had he to fear? Even
though the blood of settlers and SOL
diers might still be red upon the hands
of his braves, even though fresh scalps
might be dangling at this moment
from their shields, what mattered it?
Did he not know that the safeguard of
the Indian bureau spread like the wing
of protecting angel over him and his
people, forbidding troops to molest or
open fire unless they themselves were
attacked? Did he not laugh in his
ragged shirt sleeve at the policy Of the
white fool who would permit the red
enemy to ride boldly up to his soldiers,
count their numbers, inspect their ar
raw, satisfy himself us to their arma-
ment and readiness, then calculate the
chances, and, if he thought the force
too strong, ride on his way with only
q significant gesture in parting in
suit? If, on the contrary, he found it
weak, then he could turn loose his
braves, surround, massacre and scalp,
and swear before the commissioners