Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-03-15
CHAPTER IIL-CoNTINUED.

Reno was some 30 miles away, and
not until late the next evening did the
grays reach the lonely post. Not a
eign 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 a scouting par
", 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-
tllaps there'd be a courier in tomorrow.
Better get a 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 to
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, a 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, "on 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. 1t
will take every mothers son they've
got to whip the Sioux when once
they're leagued together"
'sBut our men have the new breech-
leaders now, Mr.. Folsom" said the
officers. 1.-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
fng the looxouts 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
a little party, mounted on their fleet
est 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
hare. met the troops dispatched to
Warrior Gap.
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
frumpeter, who had come trotting out
after the troop commander, and was
now halted and afoot some 90 yards
down the slope. $50 back, Bryan" he
ordered. Halt the ambulances. Noti-
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.
sThey can't have seen US, can they,
lieutenant?" muttered the trooper
nearest him.
But Deans young face was grave
and clouded- Certainly the Indians