As  quick  as  I  got  out  of  their  sight,  however,  I
started  back  the  way  the  men  had  gone  as  fast  as  my
horse  could  carry  me.  Overtaking  them,  I  gave  orders
to  travel  rapidly  in  the  direction  they  were  going  until  I
overtook  them  —  not  to  stop  until  then.  I  then  went
back  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  hostiles.  I  saw  there
was  no  show  for  me  to  reach  Powder  river,  so  had  made
up  my  mind  to  go  back  to  Fetterman.  As  soon  as  the
Indians  found  out  that  I  had  discovered  them,  they  turned
back  and  gave  us  a  very  close  chase.  I  remained  behind
long  enough  to  discover  the  intentions  of  the  Indians,
when  I  made  quick  time  in  rejoining  the  party  I  had
sent  on  ahead,  and  pushed  them  toward  Fetterman  as
rapidly  as  the  horses  would  travel.  We  arrived  at  the
fort  after  dark,  but  the  Indians  did  not  give  up  the  chase
until  we  were  so  close  to  the  command  that  they  were
afraid  to  follow  any  further.  I  have  always  considered
that  trip  as  close  a  call  as  I  ever  had,  and  I  have  been
in  positions  where  the  chances  of  escape  were  so  slight
that  I  would  have  played  the  Indians  for  favorites  if  I
had  been  buying  pools  on  the  outcome.
CHAPTER   XXXY.
THROUGH     THE     HOSTILE     COUNTRY.
