Fresh tracks of horses and oxen, wagon-wheel ruts, dead
camp-fires, and scattered brush that had been used for wind-breaks--
all these things attested to the growing impetus of that movement;
soon it was to become extraordinary.
All this was Indian country. Neale and his companion had no idea
whether or not the Sioux had left their winter quarters for the war-
path. But it was a vast region, and the Indians could not be
everywhere. Neale and King took chances, as had all these travelers,
though perhaps the risk was not so great, because they rode fleet
horses. They discovered no signs of Indians, and it appeared as if
they were alone in a wilderness.
They covered sixty miles from early dawn to dark, with a short rest
at noon, and reached Fort Fetterman safely without incident or
accident. Troops were there, but none of the U. P. engineering
staff. Neale did not meet any soldiers with whom he was acquainted.
Orders were there for him, however, to report to North Platte as
soon as it was possible to reach there. Troops were to be moving
soon, so Neale learned, and the long journey could be made in
comparative safety.
Here Neale received the tidings that forty miles of railroad had
been built during the last summer, and trains had been run that
distance west from Omaha.
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