Year: 1872

confine myself to my own private az


fairs. Since reaching Priors Fork,


where $500 of them jumped our camp
| 600 strong, } they have showed US every
attention, sometimes serenading Us two
or three times q night. We seldom zee


them in the daytime. Once, however,


l did ge. q "glimspe" Of them. Thusly:


Mr.. Ingram and | started out Tor Q
hunt; had not gone far when we came
upon a trail showing single pony track:


We thought it would be fun to find
him and lift his top knot" simply as
an evidence of affection. Following on
several miles, we saw q herd Of buffa-
loes, and concluded to let "Mr. Lo 60
until more convenient season. Away
we went for buffalo. The herd di-
vided, taking after one part and my
friend the other. You know it does not
take long to follow q herd OF buffaloes
several miles. But wait a moment here
is other game. Skirmiahing along the
base OF the hill, l saw eIg ght Indians
coming full tilt. No time to lose. About
four or five miles away was a belt OF
timber. II / could reach that should
be fixed. did not feel like giving bat
tie against such odds. On every
hand saw a vast alkali plain. must
make that timber. All this took but an
instant. My horse was foaming from
the recent chase, but it was run or die,
and l ran. They had the advantage Of
fresh ponies, and were partially between
me and the timber already. OF course
they saw my plan, and kept we'll to the
lett to cut me off My horse flew like
a bird, but the rascals had the inside
track, and their wsr>whoops came
nearer and nearer, until volley told
me that was within range. | threw
nay cid rifle back and sent them my
compliments, which must have passed
near, as they slackened for a moment.
Another volley and 9 whoop was the
answer, and they came rattling on as
fast as ever. Ny spurs fairly plowed
burrows in the poor animals sides as We
flew along. Ny coat dropped from the
saddle, but | did not want it. l was
quite warm enough without a coat.
They were cutting me off from
the timber, sure l must change
nv course. Holding further to the
right, l might reach q point about q
mile further away. This would lessen
their advantage in point OF distance:
But my horse was giving out / dashed
the long Mexican spurs in the poor fell
lows sides, and he only answered with
a groan. Do you know how far q mile
Is under these circumstances? ! was
not scared, but l fully appreciated the
situation. Again fired, but they did
not heed it, My courage almost failed
me as saw them cutting me of from
this last point. Neither spur nor the
iron ramrod of my rife could quicken
the pace OF the poor ioaming and pant
ing brute. My last hope was failing
me now. l think l felt my scalp get
ting little loose about that time. Just
as formed the desperate resolution OF
dismouuting and fighting it out, |
passed the head Of a deep gully, such
as you have seen in alkali dio.rio.e.
For them it would be impossible.
They must make a detour TO the right.
This put me beyond range. and
brought them directly in my
rear. Five minutes more, my
old "Cayus," (ang!iee pony,) and
we shall be out Of harms way.
They are two cowardly to chase me far
into the timber-besides l can give
them a taste Of my quality from behind
one OF those trees while they are in
open field. These were very pleasing
thoughts, but the reality was--they
were gaining on me rapidly. That
war-whoop was very much nearer than
| would wish, and the whistling bullets
informed me that was in range once
more. A moment more and | gained
the timber. Throwing myself from my
horse | took deliberate aim and fired
! could not repress a good, square, def.
ant Sioux war-whoop as ! saw one poHy
wounded. Again and again | gave it
TO them, while they were getting out OF
range. had not been at all excited
before, but the tables we're 30 COM
pletely turned that | could no more
help sending q wsr-whoop after each
shot than | could help firing, TO see
those eight cowardly villains getting ont
Of the way of my old rifle. 1t was
lust beautiful! Seeing them draw off
upon a ridge out of range, as il hold
ing a council, | concluded | had satis-
faction, 30 | folded my tent like an
Arab, and as silently" slid off into the
timber, leading the poor old brute Who
had saved my scalp back to camp. The
old fellow "fsres sumptuously every
day" now, as l told one oi my servants
would relieve him from all other
dutv, 80 that he could take good care
OF the horse.


You will hear before this reaches you


that the Yellowstone Expedition and
Northern Pacific railroad survey is q
failure. They demonstrated the fact
that our force was wholly inadequate to
PASS down the Yellowstone Valley.
Oue morning the red rascsls put four
bullets into my tent and four into my
mess chest which stood in the cook
tent. Our tents are nicely riddled, you
NAV be sure. We held q council Of war
about two weeks ago, and concluded to
abandon the expedition. We then
crossed q spur OF the Bull Mountain,
striking Muscleshell near the Great
Bend, and since that time have been
sIorinp ascending this CITY.