32 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



were the petted warriors under Sitting Bull, Rain-in-the- 

 Face, and Gaul, who were stationed at Red Cloud Agency, 

 and by a lenient government permitted to ride the plains 

 and murder emigrants. 



At Spearfish we were to rejoin our main party, which 

 was there in camp. We started across a country looking beau- 

 tiful with the advent of spring. The rich grass was matted 

 on the earth and pine trees dotted the landscape. Parks were 

 numerous and the antelopes roamed over a thousand hills, 

 while the huge buffaloes in great herds wandered carelessly 

 about, scarcely noticing our presence. We made a hard ride 

 and reached Spearfish about dark, for we had lost the route 

 and had gone out of our way. As we passed up the valley 

 we were surprised to see a white woman riding toward us at 

 full gallop and leading a pack. We suspected that it was 

 "Calamity Jane" and pulled up as she approached. 



"How ! How !" said she, "Where are you fellows go- 

 ing?" "To Spearfish," we answered. "Well, you had better 

 get to Red Water Crossing, because there is a party there 

 corraled by Indians, and there are some women in the 

 bunch. I would go with you, boys, but I have this dispatch 

 to take to Custer City. Take that trail and follow my 

 tracks and you are all right." Nickelson declared that he 

 must go to Spearfish to get a fresh horse, and would follow 

 and meet us at daybreak. John Wustun and Grizzly Bill of- 

 fered to go with him. We arranged our plans to meet at 

 dawn, for we knew that there would be trouble. 



Calamity Jane was a noted female scout of the western 

 frontier from 1870, her daring intrepidity, her rapidity of 

 movement and her deadly skill with firearms,, as well as the 

 qualities she displayed as a rider, causing the Indians to 

 consider her as possessed of supernatural powers. She was 

 given her doleful name in 1872, by Captain Egan, then 



