34 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



later McCaul's body was swinging from a cottonwood tree 

 and his soul had passed over the great divide." 



We rode into camp, where the story of the eleven dead 

 Indians was not referred to, for we well knew that there 

 were several persons who would go no further if the truth 

 was told. Red Water Crossing was twenty miles away and 

 we knew that it would be necessary to rest, procure some- 

 thing to eat and have our wounds dressed before doing any- 

 thing else. I cut my boot from my foot, washed and dressed 

 the wound, replacing the boot with a Sioux moccasin. 



After supper we secured twenty recruits and started at 

 twelve o'clock for Red Water. This was a hard ride and 

 several times I fell asleep in the saddle. But we pressed on 

 and at last found ourselves in the breaks of the river. The 

 red hills of this country resemble those of the limestone hills 

 found in the East and Southwest. We were now on danger- 

 ous ground, as our camp was at the Crossing and Indians 

 were on every side, therefore no time was to be lost. The 

 birds were chirping for the dawn and the wooded fringe of 

 the creek began to become discernible as we passed on in 

 silence. Coyotes were prowling around and their chorus 

 was almost as blood-curdling as the song of the Sioux 

 scalp-dancers. 



W"e beheld at this point a blue smoke curling upward, 

 close to the valley through which we were riding, and we felt 

 sure that this must indicate the presence of the party we 

 were to meet. By peering closely I could see Nickelson in 

 the uncertain light, eating what later proved to be buffalo 

 steak. We approached the fire and were heartily welcomed. 

 Nickelson came forward with a blessing and assured us that 

 we were none too soon. Our horses, not being needed for the 

 present, were put with the rest of the animals and a strong 

 guard set around them. We were soon eating, and I shall 



