guard had several brief skirmishes with the warriors protecting the flight of their village. They lasted until dark, when the soldiers finally gave up the chase and went into camp on the North Fork of the Solomon. Throughout the following day the closest Codyâs scouts got to the warriors was to follow the distant dust cloud raised by the many horses and travois.
During that late morning and into the afternoon, Donegan noticed not only that the cloud was becoming thinner, but that the dust billowing over the fleeing Indians appeared to be widening. That could mean but one thing.
âTheyâre scattering, Bill,â Seamus said, offering his canteen to Cody as they sat atop a low rise in the endless swell and fall of land, allowing their horses to blow.
âNo doubt of it now.â
Behind them in the distance plodded Carrâs cavalry, with Pepoonâs civilians out as flankers to protect the unit from any surprise hit-and-run attacks by the warriors who might double back on the soldier column.
âYou take one trail, I take another?â
âNot yet, we donât,â Cody replied. âTheyâre bound to be heading same place we need to be.â He gave the canteen back. âWater.â
âWhere they going?â
âMy guess is the headwaters of the Beaver.â
âBeen across it meself.â
âWith Forsyth?â
He nodded. âYou want me go back and tell Carr whatâs on your mind?â
Cody shook his head. âNo, not just yet. Weâve got two jobs now, Irishman. Staying with the Indian trailâand being sure these soldiers have water.â
âYou ask me, Iâll tell you how important water is to a sojur!â
They laughed easily as the canteen strap went back over the saddlehorn and Cody led off. Both kept their eyes on the shimmering distance where the dust cloud dispersed across the hazy, shimmering horizon.
Three hours later the pair stopped on another low rise, where they dismounted, loosening the cinches for a few minutes while they waited until the rear column came in sight once more. Four riders loped into sight. Two of the group waved their hats when it appeared the two scouts had spotted them. Cody took his floppy slouch hat and signaled with it.
âCarr and Royall?â Cody asked as they waited for the four riders.
âI doubt Royallâs with him. The old man probably left Royall in charge of the column while he rode up here to have a chat with us, Bill.â
They waited, Cody more irritated than impatient for the delay caused by the soldiers.
âGlad to see you boys held up,â Carr said as he reined up with three junior officers, each of them sweating in their wool tunics although it was a cool autumn day on the high plains.
âWe figure weâll have to split up soon, Major,â Cody announced.
âThe village breaking up?â Carr asked, his face showing that he already knew the answer. âStay with the biggest trail, Cody.â
âWeâll do the best we can.â
Carr inched closer, his voice softer. âCody, one of Pepoonâs scouts says he figures todayâs march to water is a lot longer than the twenty-five miles you told me it would be when we broke camp this morning.â
Cody glared at the major. âOne of Pepoonâs boys want to be your chief of scouts, eh?â
âDonât go getting testy on me, Cody.â
âYouâre right, Major. No right of me doing thatââ
âWhat Billâs trying to say isâwe got a choice of trails right now,â Donegan interrupted. âBut the Injins are going to water just like us.â
âThatâs another thing Pepoonâs men tell me. They say we wonât find any water where youâre leading us, Cody.â
The young scout squinted his eyes and shifted the hat on his head, grinding his teeth angrily. âWho the hell you want guiding you, Major? Me? Or this other
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