CHAPTER XV. 



LIFE ON THE PLAINS. 



COURTESIES OF RAILROAD AND MILITARY OFFICERS LIVING ON THE FAT 

 OF THE LAND THE CUISINE OF THE PALMER HOUSE ECLIPSED 

 SPORT THAT IS SPORT A PET FAWN A SIGHT FOR LANDSEER 

 LIEUTENANT M'COY SPIKE-TAILED REPUBLICANS A BANQUET IN 

 THE WILDERNESS BUZZING A SENTINEL A YARN OF INDIAN SCOUTS 

 "SOLDIER HEAP DAMN LAZY!" BACK TO MY VIRTUOUS COUCH. 



TWELVE miles west of Houston we halted at Lord, 

 Fogarty & Go's camp and were there joined by Mr. John 

 Fogarty, Mr. S. J. Hill, and their driver, John Kelly. This 

 increased our number to seven men all told, and completed 

 our party. 



We reached the Little Missouri river Sunday evening at 

 six o'clock, and were warmly welcomed by Colonel Clough, 

 chief engineer of the Missouri division of the Northern 

 Pacific, S. M. Keith, resident engineer, R. C. Sattleyand C. 

 H. Hurley, his assistants, and by Major Comba, Lieutenant 

 Roberts, Lieutenant McCoy, Surgeon Miller, Post Trader 

 Moore, and other officers of Major Comba's command who 

 are stationed here. 



These railroad and military officers render life on the 

 plains much more agreeable than we in the States might 

 imagine it could be made. The railroad people, even those 

 who live in tents and move frequently to keep up with their 

 work, provide themselves with nearly every luxury that the 

 Eastern markets afford. Even ripe fruit, fresh oysters and 

 new vegetables find their way out here within ten days after 

 theii appearance in the Eastern markets. Cows are kept with 



