The Princeton union., 1900-11-01
plobably had launched his whole force
on the trail Of the luckless troopers.
CHAPTER XIX.

ueW StOCkiue. FOrFO over week not q
courier had managed to slip through
in either direction. Alarmed for the
safety of the little garrison, the COM
manding officer Of the post 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 state of affairs at Warrior Cap.
They found countless fresh pony
tracks all along the foothills east Of
the Greasy Grass and in the valleys OF
the many forks of the Deje Agie-the
Crow name for Tongue river-but not
an Indian did they see. They marched
in among the welcoming officers and
men at the bustling post to find them
selves hailed as heroes. We've been
cut off from the world for ut 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 Red Clouds people cover the
land in every direction. Our wood
choppers only work under heavy guard.
The contractors, freighters and work
men threaten to strike unless they get
their money. The sutler refuses them
further credit. The quartermaste has
paid out every cent and says his requi-
sition for $4,000 was ordered filled, and
the money ought to have been here a
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 winter at this rate"
A stout-hearted soldier was the COM
manding officer at Warrior Gap. He
had with him now four strong COM
panies of infantry and a 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 under 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 breech-load-
ers. ''It's only a question of time!"
said he. Sooner or later the interior
department will be fool enough to arm
the redskins all over the land with
magazine rifles, and then there will be
lively work for the war office. Any
day." said he, further, 1--WE may ex-
pect the coming of whole regiment
from the Platte posts, and then 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
children, we'd be all right"
So back to the Big Horn rode the
squadron to report all. safe at Warrior
Gap, barring the blockade, and almost
on the same date out there started
from Laramie, on the long march up
the Platte and over across the sage
covered deserts, a strong force of foot
and dragoons; and up from the Sweet
water. far to the southwest, came this
venturesome little party of ten,
bringing the much demanded money,
and all the while. with his far-riding.
far-seeing scouts in every direction,
Machpealota, M perched in the noun
tains back of the building post, warily
watched the dispositions and daily
work, and laid his plans accordingly.
Not warrior was permitted to show
himself near the stockade, but in a
sleepless Gordon, five miles out. they
surrounded the Gap. Not messenger
had managed to elude their vigilance
by day. not one had succeeded in Slip
ping into the little camp by night.
Yet with every succeeding morn the
choppers and fatigue parties pushed
farther out from the stockade, in grow
ing sense of security. and the Indians
let them come.
Full week before the Laramie COL
umn could possibly reach the noun
tains, however. Red Cloud was warned
of their coming. their numbers, and
composition-so many horse soldiers,
50 many "heap walks" Unmolested.
the. squadron from Fort C. F. Smith,
the Big Horn River post. was permit
ted to retrace it's steps.> In fancied
safety. born of confidence in that won-
derful new breechloader, the little
command at the Gap was lulled to in
difference to their surroundings. Then
sending large numbers of his young
men to round up buffalo toward the
Platte, but keeping still his stern and
vengeful 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 indica-
tions of recent Indian occupancy, but
not redskin barred their way. With
out opposition 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 heav-
ing ocean suddenly turned to earth.
east 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 to the south. fl11l thirtv r,;1oc