The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-06-27
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
That night there was rejoicing at the
new stockade. For over week not
courier had managed to alp 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 10 scout the
slopes Of the mountains and look into
the state Of Affairs at Warrior Gap.
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 Dele Agie.-the
Grow 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 ss heroes. "we've been
cut of from the world for at least ten
days." said the commandnnt. Our
couriers have been killed. captured or
driven back. Even our hnlf-brecd
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 quartermastcr has
paid out every cent and says his requi-
sition for SIC, 900 was ordered flied, and
the money ought TO have been here a
week ago. All will have to stop II the
money doesn't come. We're safe
enough. The Sioux don't dare come
within range of our eechlonders.
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 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 a
number Of the soldiers. as has been
told, were burtlened with their wives
and children. II 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.. La
will have TO light out. Meantime. II we
hadn't this trouble about the workmen
and could get rid of the women and
children, we'd he all right"
So back to the Big Horn rode the
squadron to report all safe at Warrior
Gap, barring the blockade, and almos,
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 dragons; and Up from tn. Sweet
water, far to the uthwest, came thi,
venturesome little party Of ten
bringing the uch-demanded money
and all the while, with his far.riding
far-seeing scouts In every direction
Machpealota, perched in the noun
tains back Of the building post, waril,
watched the dispositions and deily
work, and laid his plans accordingly
Not n warrior was permitted to show
himself near the stockade, but In q
sleepless Gordon. five miles out, they
surrounded the Gap. Not messengel
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 thu
choppers and fatigue parties pushe,
farther out from the stockade, In grow
ing sense Of security, and the Indian
let them come.
Full q week before the Laram col
umn could possibly reach the noun
q, tatps, however. Red Cloud was warned
Of their coming, their numbers. ant
composition--so many horse soldiers
so many cheap walks" Unmolested
the squadron from Fort &. +. Smith
the Big Horn River post, was permit
ted to retrace its steps. In fancie'
safety, born of confidence In that won
derful new breechloader. the littl
command ut the Gap was lulled to In
difference to their surroundings. The
sending large numbers of his younl
men to round up buffalo toward tn
Platte, but keeping still his stern an
vengeful eye upon the prey almost n
his feet, the red chief made his fna
and fatal plans.
There came a cloudless mornin
,hnv Irx
young officer up the rocky heights I
the west, finding everywhere indica
tions of recent Indian occupancy. bu
not redslsin barred their way. with
out opposition of any kind, without S
much as glimpse of the foe, were the
permitted to climb to Signal Rock, an
from that point, with powerful glasse,
the officers swept the glorious range o
foothills, the deep valley Of the Tongu,
the banks Of the Piney and the Graz
Woman, the far-sprending uplan
prairie rolling away like some hea,
ing ocean suddenly turned to eartf
east and southeast to the dim horizon
and there they saw. or thought the
saw, full explanation Of their recen
freedom from alarm Of any kint
There to the south, full thirty mile
away, the land was overlaid by dul
heavy, dun.colored cloud, and ira,
ersed by black streaks or blotches tina
were recognized at once as runnin
buffalo. Red Cloud and his brave
then were drawn away In search o
other game, and, light OF heart an
foot, the troopers trotted back to III
waiting stockade, to meet there lst
that evening, as the weird tattoo Of tn