TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 37 



to keep secret, and, as far as possible, was to be concealed 

 from the entire train, for we well knew that the women 

 would all refuse to proceed if the worst were known. From 

 now on the utmost secrecy was to be practiced and all of our 

 night rides were to be attributed to the prospecting for gold 

 and mining fields. 



We returned to camp, partook of a splendid breakfast 

 and immediately set out for Spearfish, where we met our 

 friends and were given a warm welcome. The remainder 

 of the day was spent in organizing for the trip to the Big 

 Horn country. Two hundred and fifty people were gathered 

 by the time our party returned. But the memory of those 

 who had been killed gave an unfortunate aspect to affairs, 

 for when we mustered all who would go, we numbered only 

 one hundred and fifty persons, with only fifty-six wagons. 

 Enough for a good company, if all would stand together. 



