The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1962-01-18
"MlsAt @ Month"
A Continued Novel by Wilbur G. Renshaw


and well versed in the methods
of Indian warfare. Almost to a
man, they could each speak one
or more Indian tongues, and
every man knew the sign Ian
guage. All things considered no
better equipped group of men
ever rode forth on any mission.
According to his own interpre-
tation, Grover figured that they
were more or less on a peaceable
mission. Their number was not
great enough TO accomplish any
thing from a hostile standpoint,
and we'll the scout knew that.
On the other hand Colonel For
dice said the first damned In
dian who blocked them would
be shot out of the way. That in
itself was proof that the colonel
was not qualified to 60 forth on
such an undertaking.
The scouts were very proud OF
each other and this included
every individual of the group. II
was generally understood that
they would be able to slow the
colonel down, once they were in
the field and away from any one
before whom he might display
his authority.
The troops advanced across the
Saline and the South Fork OF
Solomon, then moved up Beaver
Creek toward Fort Wallace. While
camping at the fort for a few
days, word came in from Sheri-
dan, a little town which was the
terminus of the Kansas Pacific
Railroad, that several times of
late freighting outfits had been
raided, men had been murdered
and on one occasion three WON
en- had been carried off by the
marauders.
At once, the colonel had boots
and saddles sounded and away
they went headed for Sheridan
and the sites of the crimes. Ar.
irving there, they were able to
pick up trails enough to convince
the scouts that the Indians were
headed north and west. Plenty of
signs of Indian were found at
the Arikaree Fork of the Repub-
lican River. II was plain to Grow
er that they were close to a large
Indian encampment. Scouts were
sent out in all directions and il
was decided to make camp there
until some scouting reports were
in.
Their camping spot was not
ten miles from Bender's Island,
where ten years before had &C.
Cured the fight between the red
and white man which has never
been excelled in thrills. Late that
night, Scout William II. Harper
came in and reported locating
twenty lodges up the Arikaree
about twenty miles, and that they
had recently come in from the
southwest.
In the early morning Scout Big
Bill Lee arrived and reported a
camp of some fifty lodges on a
small creek west of the Arikaree
and up about twenty to twenty
two miles. They had evidently
been there for some time. Follow.
ing a long pow-wow il was de-
cided TO send a messenger to the
larger camp, to learn IL they
were hostile or even IL possible
to enter the camp on some pre-
text and talk to the chiefs. Judg-
ing from the signs Lee was able
10 distinguish, II was believed
that these were either Cheyennes
or BRULE-SIOUX.
Volunteers were sought for the
mission, but none seemed overly
interested in receiving the as
signment. Finally Grover said
that he would 60 as he could
speak both Cheyenne and Sioux,
also he had spent much time
among them. To this arrange
ment, however, the scouts at first
objected, but did finally concede
to the idea and Grover was to
leave Immediately. When il was
known that Grover was really
going, every member to a man,
offered to 60 with him. and
meant what he said. Grover set
tied that question when he in