THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE FELLOWS WHO
RODE THE PONIES THAT MADE THE TRACKS

BY THE AUTHOR

CONTENTS

PAGE
[CHASING A MAJOR-GENERAL]1
[LIEUTENANT CASEY’S LAST SCOUT]22
[THE SIOUX OUTBREAK IN SOUTH DAKOTA]49
[AN OUTPOST OF CIVILIZATION]58
[A RODEO AT LOS OJOS]79
[IN THE SIERRA MADRE WITH THE PUNCHERS]109
[BLACK WATER AND SHALLOWS]131
[COACHING IN CHIHUAHUA]149
[STUBBLE AND SLOUGH IN DAKOTA]162
[POLICING THE YELLOWSTONE]174
[A MODEL SQUADRON]193
[THE AFFAIR OF THE —TH OF JULY]206
[THE COLONEL OF THE FIRST CYCLE INFANTRY]222
[A MERRY CHRISTMAS IN A SIBLEY TEPEE]238
[BEAR-CHASING IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS]244

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
THE LAST STAND[Frontispiece]
GENERAL MILES AND HIS ESCORT[3]
THE SUPPLY TRAIN[9]
UNITED STATES CAVALRY IN WINTER RIG[13]
UNITED STATES INFANTRY IN WINTER RIG[17]
CHIS-CHIS-CHASH SCOUT ON THE FLANKS[25]
“TWO GHOSTS I SAW”[31]
WATCHING THE DUST OF THE HOSTILES[35]
THE HOTCHKISS GUN[39]
A RUN TO THE SCOUT CAMP[45]
IN THE TRENCHES[51]
THE ADVANCE GUARD—A MILITARY SACRIFICE[55]
THE HACIENDA SAN JOSÉ DE BAVICORA[59]
EL PATRON[63]
THE ADMINISTRADOR OF SAN JOSÉ DE BAVICORA[67]
A HAIR-CUT À LA PUNCHER[71]
THE MUSIC AT THE “BAILLE”[75]
COMING TO THE RODEO[81]
WAVING SERAPE TO DRIVE CATTLE[85]
TAILING A BULL[89]
JOHNNIE BELL OF LOS OJOS[93]
WILLIAM IN ACTION[97]
MOUNTING A WILD ONE[101]
A MODERN SANCHO PANZA[105]
MY COMRADE[110]
ON THE MOUNTAINS[111]
THE CASA CAMADRA[115]
SHOOTING IN THE SIERRA MADRE[119]
THE INDIAN’S STORY[123]
THE CLIFF-DWELLINGS[127]
THE PORTAGE[133]
BLACK WATER[137]
THE FAWN[140]
BREAKING A JAM[141]
HUNG UP[145]
A COACHERO[150]
THE START[151]
MORNING TOILET[155]
HARNESSING MULES[159]
A DAKOTA CHICKEN-WAGON[163]
ON THE EDGE OF A SLOUGH[164]
A CONFERENCE IN THE MUD[166]
“DON’T SHOOT!”[168]
“MARK—LEFT”[170]
“MARK!”[171]
TROOPING HOMEWARD IN THE AFTER-GLOW[172]
BURGESS, NEARLY FORTY-FIVE YEARS A SCOUT[176]
THE BELL-MARE OVER A BAD PLACE[178]
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN[181]
GETTING GRUB[183]
WORKING ON THE DIVIDE[185]
BURGESS FINDING A FORD[189]
GENERAL GUY V. HENRY, SEVENTH UNITED STATES CAVALRY[194]
RIDING SITTING ON LEGS[196]
OVER THE HURDLE BACK TO BACK[197]
THROWING A HORSE[199]
OVER THE HURDLES IN LINE[201]
“WE WERE NOW OUT OF THE SMOKE”[215]
OFFICER AND MEN—FIRST CYCLE INFANTRY[225]
AMBULANCE CORPS—FIRST CYCLE INFANTRY[231]
THE TOAST: “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”[239]
WATERING HORSES[245]
“DO YOU THINK THIS PONY IS GOING TO BUCK?”[249]
DAN AND ROCKS[251]
A DANGEROUS PLACE[253]
“GONE AWAY”[257]
TIMBER-TOPPING IN THE ROCKIES[260]
THE BEAR AT BAY[263]
THE FINALE[266]
THE RETURN OF THE HUNTERS[267]