The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-02
CHAPTER NIX.

d
courier had managed to slip through
in either direction. Alarmed for the
safety of the little garrison, the COM
handing 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 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
Crow name for Tongue river-but not
IN Indian did they see. They marched
in among the welcoming officers and
men at the busting post to find them
selves hailed as heroes. "We've been
cut off from the world for at 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 ir every direction. Our wood
choppers only work under heavy guard.
The co1trac; ors, frCighters and work.
men threaten to strike unless they get
their money. The sutler refuses them
further credit. The quartermaster has
paid out every cent and says his requi-
sition for $1,000 was ordered filled, and
the moary ought TO have been here
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 cant finish The barracks in time
for winter at this rate"
A stout-hnarted soldier was the COM
mandins officer at Warrior Gap. He
had with him now four strong COM
Fanies ef infantry and a troop of horse.
Nc 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
tod, were burdened with their wives
ami 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-l:ad-
ers. "Is's only question of time!"
said he. Sooner or later the interior
department will be fool enough to nrm
the red skins all over the land with
magazine rifles. and then there will be
lively work for HE war office. Any
da7," said he, further, 1--WE may ex-
pect the coming of whole regiment
fro m tie Platte posts and then Mr. Lo
will haze to light out. Meantime, =! we
hadn't this trouble about the worl, men
it1 of NJ
children. we'd be all right"
So back to the Big Horn rode the
squadron to report all safe at Wa rior
Gfp, barring the blockade and III most
or the same date out there started
fr,m Laramie. on the long march up
the Platte and over across the rage-
covered deserts, strong force of foot
ard Dungeons; and up from the Sweet
w:ter, far to the southwest, came this
veutursome little party of ten,
bringing the ch-demanded money,
and AL the while, with his far-ricing.
fa'-seeing scouts in every direction,
Machlealota, perchcd in the noun
ta'ns back of the building post, verify
watched the dispositions and daily
work, and laid his plans accordingly.
Not warrior was permitted to show
himsel If near the stockade, but In a
sl-epless Gordon. five miles out, .hey
surrounded the Gap. Not messenger
h"d managed to elude their vigilance
b.! day, not one had succeeded in slip
ping into the little camp by right.
Yet with every succeeding morn the
choppers and fatigue parties p,,shcd
fartl er out from the stockade, in grow
ing sense of security, and the In';ians
lie. tnem come.
Full week before the Laramie COL
u1nn could possibly reach the noun
OF their coming, their numbers and
omposition-so many horse soldiers,
SO lnany heap walks" Unmolfstcd.
the squadron from Fort C. T. Smith,
the Big Horn River post, was permit
ted to retracc its steps. In faocied
sofety, born Of confidence in that won
dersul new brccchloader, the little
command at the Gap was lulled 70 in
difference to their surroundings. Then
sending large numbers of his young
men to round up buffalo toward the
P.atte. but keeping still his stern and
vengeful eye upon the prey almozt at
his feet, the red chief made his final
and fatal plans.
There came 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 Sc
much as a 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 nplanc
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 rccen,
freedom from alarm of any kind
There to the south, full thirty milel
away, the land was overlaid by a dull
heavy, dun-colored cloud. and trav
ersed by black streaks or blotches thai
were recognized at once as running
buffalo. Red Cloud and his braves
then were drawn away in search O.
other game, and, light of heart ant
foot, the troopers trotted back to tn
waiting stockade, to meet there lat
that evening, as the weird tattoo of tn
= r.