out noon, Quince summoned
his men together, and they rode out of town. Looking up a map of Ford
County, I was delighted to find that my camp on Saw Log was but a few
miles below the north line.

Among the boys the day passed in riotousness. The carousing was a
necessary stimulant after the long, monotonous drive and exposure to the
elements. Near the middle of the forenoon, Flood and The Rebel rounded
up their outfits and started south for the Mulberry, while Bob Quirk
gathered his own and my lads preparatory to leaving for the Saw Log. I
had agreed to remain on guard for that night, for with the erratic turn
on Tolleston's part, we were doubly cautious. But when my outfit was
ready to start, Runt Pickett, the feisty little rascal, had about twenty
dollars in his possession which he insisted on gambling away before
leaving town. Runt was comfortably drunk, and as Bob urged humoring him,
I gave my consent, provided he would place it all at one bet, to which
Pickett agreed. Leaving the greater part of the boys holding the horses,
some half-dozen of us entered the nearest gambling-house, and Runt bet
nineteen dollars "Alce" on the first card which fell in a monte lay-out.
To my chagrin, he won. My brother was delighted over the little rascal's
luck, and urged him to double his bet, but Pickett refused and invited
us all to have a drink. Leaving this place, we entered the next
gaming-hall, when our man again bet nineteen dollars alce on the first
card. Again he won, and we went the length of the street, Runt wagering
nineteen dollars alce on the first card for ten consecutive times
without losing a bet. In his groggy condition, the prospect of losing
Pickett's money was hopeless, and my brother and I promised him that he
might come back the next morning and try to get rid of his winnings.

Two whole days passed with no report from either Seay or the buyers.
Meanwhile Flood and The Rebel threaded their way through the other
herds, crossing the Arkansaw above town, their wagons touching at Dodge
for new supplies, never halting except temporarily until they reached
the creek on which Forrest was encamped. The absence of Siringo and the
buyers, to my thinking, was favorable, for no doubt when they came in,
a deal would have been effected on the last of the Buford herds. They
returned some time during the night of the third day out, and I failed
to see the detective before sunrise the next morning. When I did meet
him, everythi