were capable of a faster gait without tiring,
but we were not sure of the route and were saving them for the finish
after daybreak. Early in the night we were conscious that a frost was
falling, and several times Sponsilier inquired if no one cared for a nip
from his bottle. Bob Quirk started the joke on Dave by declining; old
man Don uncorked the flask, and, after smelling of the contents, handed
it back with his thanks. I caught onto their banter, and not wishing
to spoil a good jest, also declined, leaving Sponsilier to drink alone.
During the night, whenever conversation lagged, some one was certain to
make reference to the remarks which are said to have passed between the
governors of the Carolinas, or if that failed to provoke a rise, ask
direct if no one had something to ward off the chilly air. After being
refused several times, Dave had thrown the bottle away, meeting these
jests with the reply that he had a private flask, but its quality was
such that he was afraid of offending our cultivated tastes by asking us
to join him.

Day broke about five in the morning. We had been in the saddle nearly
ten hours, and were confident that sunrise would reveal some landmark to
identify our location. The atmosphere was frosty and clear, and once the
gray of dawn yielded to the rising sun, the outline of the Yellowstone
was easily traced on our left, while the bluffs in our front shielded
a view of the mother Missouri. In attempting to approach the latter we
encountered some rough country and were compelled to turn towards the
former, crossing it, at O'Brien's roadhouse, some seven miles above the
mouth. The husbanded reserves of our horses were shaken out, and shortly
afterward smoke-clouds from camp-fires, hanging low, attracted our
attention. The herds were soon located as they arose and grazed away
from their bed-grounds. The outfits were encamped on the eastern side of
the Yellowstone; and before leaving the government road, we sighted in
our front a flag ascending to greet the morning, and the location of
Fort Buford was established. Turning towards the cattle, we rode for the
lower wagon and were soon unsaddling at Forrest's camp. The latter
had arrived two days before and visited the post; he told us that
the opposition were there in force, as well as our own attorneys. The
arrival of the cattle under contract for that military division was the
main topic of discussion, and Forrest had even met a number of civilian