CHAPTER XXXI.
DANGEROUS WORK.
One evening while we were in camp on the Yellowstone at the mouth of Powder river, I was informed that the commanding officers had selected Louis Richard, a half breed, and myself to accompany General Mills on a scouting expedition on the steamer Far West, down the Yellowstone as far as Glendive Creek.

We were to ride on the pilot house and keep a sharp lookout on both sides of the river for Indian trails that might have crossed the stream.

The idea of scouting on a steamboat was indeed a novel one to me, and I anticipated a pleasant trip.
At daylight next morning we reported on board the steamer to General Mills, who had with him four or five companies of his regiment.

We were somewhat surprised when he asked us where our horses were, as we had not supposed that horses would be needed if the scouting was to be done on the steamer.

He said we might need them before we got back, and thereupon we had the animals brought on board.