But their trail was easily followed by the tepee poles, camp-kettles, robes, and all the paraphernalia which proved too heavy to carry for long, and which were dropped in the flight.

It was useless to try to follow them after nightfall, and at dark we went into camp.
Next morning we were again on the trail, which led north and back toward Beaver Creek.

The trail crossed this stream a few miles from where we had first discovered the Indians.

They had made almost a complete circle in the hope of misleading us.
Late in the afternoon we again saw them going over a hill far ahead.
Toward evening the main body of warriors once more came back and fought us, but we continued to drive them till dusk, when we encamped for the night.
Soon the Indians, finding they could not hold out against us, scattered in every direction.

We followed the main trail to the Republican River, where we made a cut-off and proceeded north toward the Platte.
Here we found that the Indians, traveling day and night, had got a long start.