The general said:
"I have been fighting the Apaches in Arizona, but I find these Sioux
are an entirely different crowd. I know little about them and I will
follow your suggestions. You start now and I will have the command
following you in an hour and a half."
I told White to get our horses at once and also to tell Texas Jack to
report to me. When the latter reported I told him the general wanted
him to guide the command to the course of the Dismal. When he got
there, if he didn't hear from me in the meantime, he was to select a
good camp.
White and I set out, riding carefully and looking for the trail. We had
traveled about ten miles when I found it. The Indians were headed
toward the Dismal. Presently another trail joined the first one, and
then we had to begin extremely careful scouting.
I didn't follow the Indian trail, but bordered the left and struck the
river about five miles above the Fork. There we turned down-stream.
Soon on the opposite side we saw a party of Indians surrounding a herd
of elk. I didn't approach them closely, neither did I follow down the
stream any further. We kept parallel with the course of the river, and
soon stopped at the foot of a high sandhill. From here I knew I could
get a view of the whole country.
I told White to remain there until I came back, and, jumping off old
Joe, I cautiously climbed the hill.
Pages:
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256