Hunting at High Altitudes 



troubled by illness since leaving Fargo and this 

 grew worse daily, so that I was feeling quite badly 

 and was in no condition to move about much. 



The garrison of the little fort was much alarmed 

 about hostile Indians reported in the neighbor- 

 hood, and indeed the smoke of a camp was visible 

 in the southwest, a few miles distant. The day 

 before a Hunkpapa Sioux reported from the hostile 

 camp on Tongue River, riding a gray horse 

 branded "C Company, yth Cavalry." He told 

 Major Mitchell that he had reached the hostile 

 camp after the fight was over, and that he had 

 traded for the horse, but to others he said that 

 he was in the fight, and this no doubt was true. On 

 being offered some flour he refused to take it unless 

 sugar also was given him. He asked for clothing, 

 and this also was given him, for Major Mitchell 

 wished to conciliate the Indians, as perhaps there 

 might be hostiles in the neighborhood. 



Early in August I was still quite ill. A general 

 feeling of uneasiness pervaded the fort and there 

 were occasional reports that hostile bands were 

 approaching to attack it. On the second of the 

 month, twelve more Hunkpapa arrived from the 

 hostile camp, and two of them were riding horses 

 branded "E Company, yth Cavalry." One had a 

 Colt's revolver and a part of a surgeon's case 



22 



