eneral Sully's troops had wintered; but, as they contributed nothing of moment to the narrative which we are following, they must be passed by. The fleet reached Kansas

rrived at Fort Sully and here the long steamboat journey came to an end so far as the General and his staff were concerned, as here they left the boat to march with the column of troops up the eastern side of the Missouri. Though he expected to see them frequently again during the Summer, Al regretted leaving the officers and pilots of the Island City, especiall

nted a very animated appearance. Here were assembled about half of the troops which were to make up the expedition into the hostile country: the Sixth Iowa Cavalry under Colonel Pollock; three companies of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry unde

ry and flanked by two bastions, one on the northeastern and one on the southwestern corner, containing cannon to sweep the faces of the stockade. It had been built by General Sully's troops, many of whom were still there, at the close of the campaign in 1863. A short distance out from the fort were several hundred lodges of Indians, recently hostile, but who, wearying of the struggle, had come in to tender their submission to General Sully. Al, through interpreters,

repairing harness, and loading supplies for immediate use into the train of nearly one hundred wagons w

a cloud of dust which, rising from the feet of the hundreds of trampling animals, was visible for many miles through the clear air of that high plateau country. They knew that Indian scouts were all about them, closely observing their progress, but the red men seldom showed themselves, and one unfamiliar with their ways might easily have believed that there were no enemies near. Game, such as buffalo and antelope, could often be seen in the distance and it was a sore temptation to many of the men to see them and not give pursuit. Indeed, sometimes a party would sally out after a buffalo; but unless the party was

s to perform it. Lieutenant Bacon, whom General Sully had appointed acting assistant quartermaster, was an officer of the Dakota Cavalry; and as his assistant Al soon found himself on terms of easy familiarity with the entire gallant command. This was especially true after he had on

ers. One of the troopers, a tall, slim young fellow wearing the chevrons of a corporal, who rode his long-legged black horse like an Indian, gradually drew ahead of the rest as they came nearer and nearer to the game, until finally he brought himself abreast of the herd. Handling his horse with the greatest skill, he worked in alongside of the largest buffalo bull. Then, drawing his short Sharp's carbine

weariness, kept on until about fifty yards from the flank and rear of the herd when, not wishing to exhaust his horse, he decided to take his chance on a long shot. He accordingly pulled up and, taking hasty aim with the long Spencer rifle he was carrying, fired at the nearest

it her! Keep going;

cow, which, as he approached, stopped and turned upon him with lowered head, frothing mouth and angry eyes. He drew his revolver, the one that had belonged to his father and that he had used at Fort Ridgely, and cautiously urged his frightened horse toward the cow. As he came within twenty-five or thirty feet, she charged at him, but

d at him a

hink you would make a hit. And you finished her in good shap

lied Al. "I never

her, drawing out his knife, "s

es to the Captain, who tied them to his own and Al's saddles. "You

estly. "It isn't much of a trick when you know how. My name i

he column they were soundly berated by General Sully for their temerity in venturing so far; for if a party of Indians of any size had cut in between them and the main body they might easily have all been kil

ndians within one hundred miles to endanger t

for you, Briscoe," he continued, addressing Al, "if you want to die young, just keep on following those Coyotes wherever they lead." With a grim smile, he jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the dusty squadron just behind them, who at the moment w

lly meant it to be. That night at supper in the bivouac the staff and the Coyotes, at least, fared

rode a short distance in advance. Their commander, Captain Nelson Miner, was that day acting field officer of the day, having charge of the guard details. As the day wore on it became hot and sultry and the dust suffocating. Every one was suffering with thirst and finally, as they approached within

e Cheyenne to get a drink.

lled back, "but I'm busy

ere are three of us. I guess we can force a

e staff around General Sully. They had been riding along in leisurely fashion for some time, their weary horses walking with drooping heads, the riders lolling in their saddles, when Al's glance, wandering aimlessly over the desolate landscape ahead, was arrested by two small dots which sudden

nting ahead. "Look there

the direction indicated. His exp

s, "something's happened over there; there are only tw

hem. They were the two soldiers who had ridden ahead with the Captain, hatless and without arms, their horses panting with th

lner is kill

sses back into their case and clenc

l redskins!" It must be admitted that at such moments General Sully did not hes

the Cheyenne, sir. H

id it

ting under a little tree. While we were down by the creek we heard a rifle shot and looked up and saw three Injuns riding up toward our horses. There is good grass in the bottom and we'd picketed them, but they got scared and pulled the picke

nd they rode north?" quest

s,

iftly toward the head of the approaching colu

le Cheyenne, just ahead of us here. They rode north, across the creek. Take Company A and f

aimed Captain Miner. "

shed back along the column of Company A until he rea

listening man in the company could hear, "Captain Feilner

head of the column and, ris

Company, trot! Gall

accoutrements flashed in the sunshine, the cavalry swept over the hill in front and away. The General rode hotly afte

of sheep! They'll kill their horses before they catch the

rage over the cruel fate of his good friend, Captain Feilner, caught the Genera

al!" he cried, and ro

ried the Gener

d not wan

chuckled as he saw Al put his horse over a gully at the bottom of the hill and tear up