In another ten minutes, they had all left the camp.
When we arrived at Fort Laramie, Crim reported this gang of marauding horse-thieves to the officer in command of that post. Several days on our route beyond the fort, we were overtaken by the Pony Express, and learned that this very band had been captured in its immediate vicinity. Military justice is very prompt. It may make an occasional mistake, although not often. They had all been hung.
CHAPTER IV.
Caught by the Indians—A Pleasant Ride—One Pitying Face—Benefit of being a Mason—The Evil Eye—Indian Beauty and Indian Eating—The Offer of Marriage—Declining it, makes me a Friend—A Second and More Tempting Offer—Declining it, does not make me an Enemy—Pulling up my Stakes with Honor—The Pony Express—Again with the Train.
Previous to our reaching Fort Laramie, we had been able to procure plenty of fresh meat.
The antelope and buffalo had almost seemed waiting for our rifles. Now, however, we met with few or none of either of these, and the scarcity began to be severely felt.
Even Captain Crim grew more peppery with us than he had before been, and Brighton Bill lost his usual ruddy jollity.
Consequently, one morning, I started out with a determination to find fresh meat or die. To tell the truth, it came very near to being the latter.