Two soldiers and two scouts were awakened by the sentinel to get breakfast, and the others were allowed to sleep on until it was ready. The meal disposed of, the horses were saddled, and, mounting, away they started on another mad ride. Buffalo Bill was leading the command as guide and scout, and constantly by his side kept Sergeant Fallon, while Lieutenant Worth and Doctor Denmead were not far in the rear. The halt was made at noon, but not for two hours, as a consultation and look at the horses showed that they were not yet used up, save two, that were left behind. “They will get a rest when we reach the river to-night, so push them for all they are worth, Bill,” said the lieutenant. “Yes, sir; and we must reach the river while it is daylight to find that trail, and so wait there, for he may come up in the night and go across,” answered Buffalo Bill. The halt was, therefore, made at noon for an hour only, and yet the horses were stripped and rubbed down while they fed. Then the party mounted again and pushed on, the scout setting even a faster pace than before. He was determined to strike the river above the upper ford, and from there up look for the trail coming out where the outlaw crossed. To do this, hard riding must be made. Another horse dropped out during the afternoon, and a second soon after. They were left by the trail side. Buffalo Bill glanced back to see if he was pushing too hard, but the lieutenant waved him on, and the sergeant’s face brightened, as he said, in a low tone: “God bless that noble young man.” “Oh, he’s got the nerve to push to the end,” answered Buffalo Bill, and as he spoke, Lieutenant Worth called out: “Your horses can stand the strain, Bill, so you and the sergeant push on ahead, and I’ll send what men after you I can pick out with the best animals. The rest of us can follow, but you go on and try and pick up the trail.” The splendid animals ridden by Buffalo Bill and the sergeant were yet capable of hard work, as was also the one ridden by Lieutenant Worth, but he felt that he had better remain with the men. So he picked out several of the scouts whose horses seemed less distressed, and told them to push on with their chief. So on went Buffalo Bill, the sergeant and four scouts following, the rest bringing up the rear at a slower pace. Buffalo Bill looked back and saw that they were dropping the command fast enough for the good of the animals, and so held at the reserved pace he had set. On, on they went, halting at a brook for a few swallows of water, again a few mouthfuls of grass, and then on once more. The river at last came in sight as they descended a ridge. They had crossed the trail leading back from the upper ford half an hour before. Riding down from the ridge, they reached the river just three miles above the ford. Here they halted for a moment, two of the scouts’ horses having failed them.