n either direction. Alarmed for
the safety of the little garrison, the commanding officer of the post
away up at the gorge of the Big Horn River had sent two troops of
cavalry to scout the slopes of the mountains and look into the state of
affairs at Warrior Gap. They found countless fresh pony tracks all along
the foothills east of the Greasy Grass and in the valleys of the many
forks of the Deje Agie--the Crow name for Tongue River--but not an
Indian did they see. They marched in among the welcoming officers and
men at the bustling post to find themselves hailed as heroes. "We've
been cut off from the world for at least ten days," said the commandant.
"Our couriers have been killed, captured or driven back. Even our
half-breed scouts refuse to make further trial. They say Red Cloud's
people cover the land in every direction. Our woodchoppers only work
under heavy guard. The contractors, freighters and workmen threaten to
strike unless they get their money. The sutler refuses them further
credit. The quartermaster has paid out every cent and says his
requisition for ten thousand dollars was ordered filled, and the money
ought to have been here a week ago. All will have to stop if the money
doesn't come. We're safe enough. The Sioux don't dare come within range
of our breech-loaders. But we can't finish the barracks in time for
winter at this rate."

A stout-hearted soldier was the commanding officer at Warrior Gap. He
had with him now four strong companies of infantry and a troop of horse.
He had, he said, but one anxiety, so far as holding the fort was
concerned--some few of the officers and quite a number of the soldiers,
as has been told, were burdened with their wives and children. If these
could only be moved under strong guard to Frayne on the Platte, he could
snap his fingers in the face of Red Cloud and his whole gang until they
too got breech-loaders. "It's only a question of time!" said he. "Sooner
or later the Interior Department will be fool enough to arm the redskins
all over the land with magazine rifles, and then there will be lively
work for the war office. Any day," said he, further, "we may expect the
coming of a whole regiment from the Platte posts, and then Mr. Lo will
have to light out. Meantime, if we hadn't this trouble about the
workmen, and could get rid of the women and children, we'd be all
right."

So back to the Big Horn rode the squadron to report all safe at Warrior
Gap, barring the blo