The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-01-23
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horse utter horse slipped aside into
the swift current. bearing his rider
with him into tie Icy water. Comrades
hauled the unfortunate ones forth.
and fires were hastily built under shell
ter Of the south bank. Those who
reached the landing dry shared their
extra clothing with those water.
soaked, and hot coffee was hastily
served to all alike. Eager as the men
were to push forward, more than IN
hour was lost In passage, for the
stream wAs bank full. the current
rapid and Uttered with quantities Of
floating ice. Some Of these Ice cakes
staftlec the struggling horses and in
fiicted painful wounds, and It was only
by q free use of ropes and lariats that
the entire command finally succeeded
In attaining the southern shore. Shiv-
erfng with the cold, the troopers again
found their saddles and pressed grimly
forward on the trail. Hamlin, with
i've others. led the way along q beat
en- track which had been trampled by
the passing herd of Indian ponies and
plainly marked by the trailing poles
Of numerous wicky.ups.
This led straight away into the
south across the valley OF the Canad-
Ian, on to the plains beyond. The
snow here was a foot deep on q level.
and In places the going was heavy.
A. they advanced. the weather mod
Grated somewhat. and the upper crust
became soft. Before them stretched
the dreary level OF the plains. broken
ty occasional ravines and little iso-
lated patches of trees. No sign Of
Indians was seen other than the de-
serted trail, and confident that the
band had had fully t~wenty-four hours
start their pursuers advanced as rapid.
" rs the ground would permit. The
very Clcorness Of the trail was EVIL
Gence that the Indians had no con
cep4ion that they were being followed.
Eonfcent Of safety in their winter re.
treat. they yer making no effort to
protect their rear never dreaming
there were soldiers within hundreds
OF miles. Whatever report Dupont had
made, It had awakened no alarm. Why
should II? So far as he knew there
were but two men pursuing him into
the wilderness, and both Of these he
believed lying dead in the snow.
Steadily, mile after mile. they rode.
and It was after dark when the little
column war finally halted beside .
stream. where they could safely hide
themselves In q patch Of timber. Tiny
| fires were built under protection OF
the steep banks OF the creek, and the
men made coffee. and fed their hun
cry horses. The silence was profound.
Il was q dark night, although the sur.
rounding snow plains yielded a spec
trail light. Major Elliott, drinking cot.
fee and munching bareback with the
troop. captain. sent for Sergeant Ham
lin. The latter advanced within the
glow of the IRE. and saluted.
I'VE have been gaining on those
fellows. Sergeant" the Major began,
and must be dra wing close to the
Washita."
I'VE r travelling faster than they
did, SIR" vas the reply, because they
had to break trail, and there were
some women and children with them,
IL have no knowledge Of this region,
but the creek empties into the Washits
without doubt"
THAT would be my judgment
5sparling and were just talking II
over. / shall walt here until Custer
comes up; my force Is too small to
attack openly. and my orders are not
to bring on az engagement. Custer
has some Usage scouts with him who
viii know this country.
but. Major" ventured Hamlin. III
the General follows our trail It will be
hours yet before he can reach here,
and then his men will be completely
exhausted"
He Will not follow u trail. He
has Corbin and California joe with
him. They are plainsmen who know
their business. He'll cross the Canad.
Ian, and strike out ACROSS the plains
to intercept us. In that way he win
have no farther TO travel than "
have had. In my Judgment We shall
not W&Is 0eS0 1O08 oSO00. nave you
|aaten1"
mo. cir: I have been ~stationing
the guard"
Then ut down here and share what
little ~ have. We can waive fpFs
mality tonight"
II was AFTER nine o'clock when the
sentries challenged the advances 81
Clusters column, - Il stole sllently
ont Of the gloom. Ten minutes later
the man we're lowering shout the
tires. absorbing such small comforts
an were possible, while the General
and Major Elliott discussed the situa.
tien and planned 10 push forward. An
hour Later the hrs were extinguished.
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