you both to hear
this. It's so like Terry. D---- those outrageous Bridgets down there!
Did you ever hear anything like the row they raised? And all for
nothing."

"Has there been no fight at all?" asked Dr. Bayard.

"Yes,--a pretty lively one, too. McLean is shot and otherwise hurt, but
can't be dangerously so, for he wanted to go on in the pursuit. Three
horses killed and two troopers wounded; that's about the size of it,
but there's more to come. Doctor, I want two ambulances to go down at
once; and will send half a dozen men as guard. They can ride in them.
We have no more available troopers. Will you go or send your assistant?
You cannot get there much before ten or eleven o'clock, even if you
trot all the way. Better let Dr. Weeks go, don't you think so?"

"Whichever you prefer, major. Weeks has been devoting himself to Blunt,
though of course I could relieve him there. When could we get back?"

"Not before noon to-morrow. The wounded are 'way down at Royal's Ford,
where Terry had left them with two or three men, and pushed on after
the Indians with the rest. They tricked him, I fancy, and he isn't in
good humor."

By this time the quartet had entered the office, and there, handing the
despatch to his adjutant, and bidding the orderly close the door, the
major seated himself at his desk; invited the others to draw up their
chairs; produced a map of the Platte country and the trails to the
Sioux Reservation over along the White River, and bade the adjutant
read aloud. This the young officer proceeded to do:

"ON THE TRAIL, NEAR NIOBRARA, 10.30 A.M.

"POST ADJUTANT, FORT LARAMIE:

"SIR,--Reaching Royal's Ford before daybreak, we posted lookouts
and headed off the Indians, who appeared at dawn. In the fight
Lieutenant McLean, Sergeant Pierce, and Trooper Murray were
wounded; two Indians killed and left on the field; others wounded,
but carried off. After skirmishing some time at long range, they
drew off, and were next seen far down the Platte below the ford. I
started at once in pursuit, but had gone only four miles when we
discovered it was only a small band, and that the main body, with
considerable plunder, had got down to and were crossing the ford.
This led us to hasten back, and we have kept up hot pursuit to
this point. Now, however, the horses are exhausted, and we have
not even gained upon their fresh ponies, although they were forced
to