unt of freedom to the boys and was
taken advantage of at every opportunity. It seems that on approaching
Beaver Creek, Owen Ubery and Runt Pickett had ridden across to it for
the purpose of trout-fishing. They were gone all day, having struck the
creek some ten or twelve miles west of the cattle, expecting to fish
down it and overtake the herds during the evening. But about noon they
discovered where a wagon had been burned, years before, and near by were
five human skeletons, evidently a family. It was possibly the work of
Indians, or a blizzard, and to prove the discovery, Pickett had brought
in one of the skulls and proposed taking it home with him as a memento
of the drive. Parent objected to having the reminder in the wagon, and a
row resulted between them, till Splann interfered and threw the gruesome
relic away.

The next morning a dozen of us from the three herds rode into the post.
Fort Buford was not only a military headquarters, but a supply depot
for other posts farther west on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers.
The nearest railroad connection was Glendive, seventy-six miles up the
latter stream, though steamboats took advantage of freshets in the river
to transport immense supplies from lower points on the Missouri where
there were rail connections. From Buford westward, transportation was
effected by boats of lighter draft and the regulation wagon train. It
was recognized as one of the most important supply posts in the West; as
early as five years previous to this date, it had received in a single
summer as many as ten thousand beeves. Its provision for cavalry was
one of its boasted features, immense stacks of forage flanking those
quarters, while the infantry barracks and officers' quarters were large
and comfortable. A stirring little town had sprung up on the outside,
affording the citizens employment in wood and hay contracts, and
becoming the home of a large number of civilian employees, the post
being the mainstay of the village.

After settling our quarantine bills, Sponsilier and I each had money
left. Our employer refused even to look at our expense bills until
after the delivery, but urged us to use freely any remaining funds in
cultivating the good will of the citizens and soldiery alike. Forrest
was accordingly supplied with funds, with the understanding that he was
to hunt up Sanders and his outfit and show them a good time. The beef
foreman was soon located in the quartermaster's office,