l66 HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



breed chief of the scouts as he eagerly and somewhat excited- 

 ly makes his report. The door of the quarters next to ours 

 opens, and a young officer, booted and in field -dress, great- 

 coat over his arm, revolver swinging in its leather holster at 

 his side, comes forth and hurries across the parade, calling out 

 to us, in answer to our hail, " The scouts have corralled the 

 thieves up on the Birdtail, and we're going to fetch them in." 



Over by the barracks the men detailed for the duty are 

 busily engaged preparing for the march, rolling up their great 

 gray blankets, slinging on haversacks and canteens, and buck- 

 ling the canvas prairie belts filled with brass -sphered, leaden- 

 headed cartridges. One by one they emerge from the door- 

 ways of their quarters, and " falling in," rifle in hand, answer to 

 their names as the roll is called by the sergeants. Rattling up 

 from the corral come the wagons that are to convey the sol- 

 diers across the prairie to the place to which the bandits have 

 been traced. The scouts mount their jaded horses and ride 

 off again, while the young lieutenant raises his hand to cap- 

 peak as he receives his final instructions. " Fours right, aarch ! 

 Forrud, guide left !" and the soldiers move with measured step 

 across the parade-ground to the waiting wagons. "Fours left, 

 'aarch! halt, right dvQSS, krrzait T the little detachment stands 

 in line, while the senior sergeant, saluting, turns it over to the 

 command of the officer. Sturdy, hardy fellows this little com- 

 pany of American infantrymen, from that veteran weather- 

 beaten soldier on the right there to the blond -haired, red- 

 cheeked lad, who has but recently joined with the last batch 

 of recruits from the east, looking in their easy-fitting, service- 

 able blue uniforms ready for anything that may turn up from a 

 game of base -ball to a fight with the savages, for the nonce 

 their allies ; for the Agency people are stirring too, and a wild 

 and motley procession of Indians, mounted and dismounted, 



