a bright, clear fire was burning, in front of which, toward the railroad,
a long pole was wedged in between some saplings, over which had been hung
the coats and blankets of the band. The front part of a shirt was found,
stained with blood. One wristband was wanting, but that found at the camp
discovered on the previous Sunday, exactly corresponded with it. The shirt
was of good quality and had evidently never been laundried. Bob Younger
afterwards told the writer that the garment belonged to him. A
blood-stained handkerchief (new) with border torn from two sides was
found, with a large blue weather-proof coat, a brown linen duster, nearly
new, a piece of drugget about two yards square and two bridles. One of the
bridles had a very severe Mexican bit, and was afterwards recognized by a
Mankato man as being one that he had exchanged at St. Peter for a milder
one. Near the fire were two fowls and a chicken skillfully dressed and
jointed ready for broiling, and several cobs of corn, some of it partially
roasted, and some of it showing marks of teeth, as though some of the men
were too hungry to wait till breakfast was ready. At the back of the camp
fire the hill ascended precipitously, and in the dead leaves were
distinctly seen the trail of the disturbed bandits. Reaching the summit of
Pigeon Hill, they crossed the Garden City road and entered the heavy
timber and dense underbrush leading down to the Blue Earth river. The
whole of this wood was filled with men, a party of about two hundred men
forming a skirmish line about three paces apart and marching completely
through it down to Jones’ ford. It was now about mid-day, and it was
thought the outlaws had doubled on their track and were concealed
somewhere in the thick coverts of