Part 13 (2/2)

I soon had thirteen down, the last one of which I had driven close to the wagons, where the ladies atching the contest It frightened so at full speed directly toward theot within fifty yards of the wagon This finished my ”run” with a score of sixty-nine buffaloes for the day Comstock had killed forty-six

It was now late in the afternoon Co me The referee declared me the winner of the match, and the champion buffalo hunter of the Plains

On our return to caht with us the best bits of est and best buffalo heads The heads I always turned over to the coood use for them They were mounted in the finest possiblethe road, as well as to the railroad centers of the country Here they were pro hotels and in the stations, where they made an excellent advertisement for the road Today they attract the attention of travelers al the country, I see one of theht down the ani hunt is thus called to my mind

In May, 1868, the Kansas Pacific track was pushed as far as Sheridan

Construction was abandoned for the tier required A general Indian as now raging all along the Western borders General Sheridan had taken up headquarters at Fort Hays, in order to be on the job in person Scouts and guides were once o back to

I did not wish to kill n I had no suitable place to leave hiestion of a number of friends, all of anted hi ten chances at thirty dollars each, which were all quickly taken Ike Bonham, on him, took him to Wyandotte, Kansas, where he soon added fresh laurels to his already shi+ning wreath In the crowning event of a tournament he easily outdistanced all entries in a four- 250 for his owner, who had been laughed at for entering such an unprepossessing animal

I lost track of him after that For several years I did not knohat had become of him But many years after, while in Memphis, I met Mr

Wilcox, who had once been superintendent of construction on the Kansas Pacific He inforhaallant old friend He seemed to remember me, as I put -lost child

When I had received uide and scout I was ordered to report to the coerfield Parker I knew that it would be necessary to take my family, who had been with me at Sheridan, to Leavenworth and leave them there This I did at once

When I arrived at Larned, I found the scouts under command of dick Curtis, an old-time scout of whom I have spoken in these rees of Kiowa and Coes had not yet gone on the warpath, but they were restless and discontented Their leading chief and other warriors were becoarrisoned by only two companies of infantry and one troop of cavalry General Hazen, as at the post, was endeavoring to pacify the Indians; I was appointed as his special scout

Early one ust I accompanied him to Fort Zarrah, from which post he proceeded, without an escort, to Fort Harker

Instructions were left that the escort with one I went to the sergeant in command of the squad and informed him I intended to return that afternoon I saddled ot about halfway between the two posts, when at pawnee Rock I was suddenly ju up, extending their hands and saying, ”How?” ”How?” These redskins had been hanging about Fort Larned thatI saw that they had on their warpaint, and looked for trouble

As they seemed desirous to shake hands, however, I obeyed my first friendly iht grip and jerked rabbed my mule by the bridle In a few minutes I was co at all in my defense, they had taken my revolvers from the holsters and I received a blow on the head froun, which was lying across the saddle, was snatched fro hold of the bridle, started off in the direction of the Arkansas River, leading theafter

The whole crohooping, singing, and yelling as only Indians can

Looking toward the opposite side of the river, I saw the people of a big villagethe bank, and made up my mind that the redmen had left the Post, and were on the warpath in dead earnest

My captors crossed the streah the shalloater they lashed both thebody of Indians, who proved to be the chiefs and principal warriors Anized, old Satanta and others whom I knew I supposed that all was over with me

All at once Satanta asked me where I had been, and I suddenly had an inspiration

I said I had been after a herd of cattle or ”Whoa-haws” as they called them The Indians had been out of e herd of cattle which had been promised them had not arrived

As soon as I said I had been after ”Whoa-haws” old Satanta began questioning me closely When he asked where the cattle were I replied that they were only a few miles distant and that I had been sent by General Hazen to infor, and that they were intended for his people This seemed to please the old rascal He asked if there were any soldiers with the herd I said there were