Work in the Dakota Group 13 



his belt, the target of all eyes among the garrison 

 loafers. As I came up this gallant called out, " Well, 

 Sternberg, your boys were pretty well frightened 

 this morning by some buffalo that came down to 

 water." 



" Buffalo! " I said; "that trail was made by our 

 old cows two weeks ago." 



Later the general in command told me that they 

 had prepared for a big hop at the Fort on the night 

 of the fourth, and that Bill did not report the 

 Indian tracks because he did not want to be sent 

 off on a long scout just then. 



In the unsettled state of the country at this time 

 there were other dangers to be guarded against be- 

 side that of Indians, as I learned to my cost. 



As a boy of seventeen, it was my duty on the 

 ranch to haul milk, butter, eggs, and vegetables to 

 Fort Harker for sale. I cared for my pony my- 

 self, and in order to get the milk and other food to 

 the Fort in time for the soldiers' five-o'clock break- 

 fast, I had to go without my own. One day I had 

 a number of bills to collect from the officers, but 

 as I was unusually tired, and the officers were not 

 out of bed when I called, I put the bills in my 

 inside pocket and started home. 



As was my custom, after leaving the garrison I 

 lay down on the wagon-seat and went to sleep, let- 

 ting my faithful horse carry me home of his own 



