The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-01-31
CHAPTER w.
On the Naked Plain.

1t was 218 miles, as the crow flies,
between old Fort Bethune and the
rock ford crossing the Bear Water,
every foot of that dreary, treeless
distance Indian-haunted. the favorite
skulking place and hunting ground of
the restless Sioux. Winter and sum-
mer this wide expanse had to be sus-
piciously patroled by numerous mill
tary scouting parties, anxious to learn
regarding the uncertain where
abouts of wandering bands and the
purposes of malcontents.
One such company, composed of a
dozen mounted infantrymen, accom-
panied by three Cree trailers, rode
slowly and YEARLY across the brown
exposed uplands down into the longer,
greener grass of the wide valley bot
tom, until they emerged upon a barely
perceptible trail which wound away in
snake-like twistings. toward those
high, barren hills whose blue masses
were darkly silhouetted against the
western sky. The animals moved
steadily forward, reluctant and weary,
their heads dropping dejectedly, their
%distended nostrils red and %quivering,
the oily p%erspiration s%treaking their
busted sides. The tired men. half
blinded by the glare, lolled heavily in
their deep cavalry saddles, with en-
crusted eyes staring modify ahead.
Riding alone, and slightly in ad-
vance Of the main body, his mount q
rangy, b~road-chested roam, streaked
with alkali dust. the dropping head
telling plainly of wearied muscles. was
the officer in command. He was a
pleasant-faced, stalwart young. fellow,
with the trim figure, of a trained ath-
lete, possessing a square chin smooth
ly shaven, his intelligent blue eyes
half concealed beneath his hat brim,
which had been drawn low to shade
them from the glare, one hand press
ing upon his saddle holster as he
leaned over to rest. No insignia Of
rank served to distinguish him from
those equally dusty fellows plodding
| gloomily behind, but a broad stripe of
yellow running down the seams of his
trousers, together with his high boots.
bespoke the cavalry service, while the
front of his battered campaign hat
bore the decorations of two crossed
sabers. with a gilded ~" prominent
between. His attire was completed by
a coarse blue shirt, unbottoned at the
throat, about which had beer loosely
knotted a darker colored silk handker.
chief, and across the back Of the sad.
die was fastened a uniform jacket, the
single shoulder strap revealed pre-.
senting the plain yellow of a second
lieutenant.
Attaining to the summit of a slight
knoll, whence a somewhat wider vista
lay outspreaG. he partially turned his
face toward the men struggling along
in the rear, while his hand swept
across the dreary scene.
III that line Of trees over yondel
indicates the course OF the Bear Wa
ter, Carson" he questioned quietly
where are WI expected to hit the trail
leading down to the ford?"
The sergeant, thus addressed, q lit
tie stocky fellow wearing a closely
clipped gray moustache, spurred his
exhausted horse into a brief trot, ant
drew up short by the officers side, his
heavy eyes scanning the vague dis
lance, even while his right hand wal
up!ifted In pe~rfunctory salute.
There's no trail / know about along
this bank, sir" ne replied respectfully
but the big cottonwurd with the dead