There was a gradual speeding up of the teams, in spite of the efforts of the cavalry to hold them down. By the time they reached the vicinity of Chadron they were going at a swift trot. In the meantime the drivers, who had been clad in overalls or jeans for the first time had become uncomfortable from the heat, and they had cut out the seats of their pantaloons to add to their comfort.

When within twenty-five or thirty miles of the agency, the horses were warming up also, and to make it easier on them, the Indians began to throw out sacks of flour, and slabs of bacon. They reached Red Cloud agency in a whirlwind of dust and going at top speed, and the road for miles back was lined with the pro-

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

visions that were intended for regular distribution. There were no serious losses except for time, for the provender was gathered up, and the tough little horses of the range stood the race fairly well.

Another route to the Black Hills was by Cheyenne, where the trail had been well broken to the North Platte river, and fairly well defined as far as Red Cloud, on White river.

The third route was more of importance to western Nebraska. It was from Sidney, north, and was known as the Sidney trail. Its disadvantages were that during the early part of the season, the North Platte river was high and dangerous to cross. Fort Laramie had a cantilever bridge, which is still in use (1919), and which had been hauled by wagons from Fort Leavenworth more than a decade earlier, in 1867, and erected at a cost of about $70,- 000.00 by the government.