EETURN TO ST. JOE. 



125 



obliged to remain in or near camp was very slow work, and we 

 made up our minds to return to St. Joe, being confirmed in 

 our intention by the arrival of two Pawnee scouts from Fort 

 Kearney, who reported that the country was full of small bands 

 of Sioux. They had been travelling at night, and during the 

 previous one had passed several camp-fires. 



Fox left us at Sibley, not caring to go any nearer to the 

 sheriff; and our only incident on the return journey was my 

 winning my fifty dollars back, with twenty-five added to them, 

 from the man who had cheated me going out. Our animals 

 were so thin that he was deceived, and my mare won very 

 easily. 



On reaching St. Joe I went east with M , giving up my 



intention of wintering in the mountains, and I sold off the 

 outfit except Polly, whom I left to be taken care of for me 

 till the spring. 



