endurance, only to find that I was ready for
still further effort if the need should arise. The fact that I
continued in rugged health during all the time I was on the Plains, and
have had little illness throughout my life, seems to prove that living
and working outdoors, despite its hardships, is far better for a man
than any sedentary occupation can possibly be.

I started back to overhaul General Terry, and on the third day out I
found him at the head of Deer Creek. He was on his way to Colonel
Rice's camp. He was headed in the right direction, but bearing too far
east. He asked me to guide his command in the right course, which I
did. On arriving at Glendive I bade good-by to the general and his
officers and took passage on the _Far West_, which was on her way down
the Missouri. At Bismarck I left the steamer, and proceeded by rail to
Rochester, New York.

It has been a great pleasure to me to meet and know and serve with such
men as Crook and Miles. I had served long enough on the Plains to know
Indian fighters when I saw them, and I cannot close this chapter
without a tribute to both of these men.

Miles had come to the West as a young man with a brilliant war record,
having risen to a major-general of volunteers at the age, I think, of
26 or 27.

He took naturally to Indian fighting. He quickly divested himself of
all the tactics that were useless in this particular kind of warfare,
and learned as much about the Indians as any man ever knew.

Years later, when I was giving my Wild West Show in Madison Square
Garden, General Miles visited it as my guest.

The Indians came crowding around him, and followed him wherever he
went, although other army officers of high reputation accompanied him
on the visit.

This Indian escort at last proved to be almost embarrassing, for the
general could not go to any part of the Garden without four or five of
the braves silently dogging his footsteps and drinking in his every
word.

When this was called to my attention I called one of the old men aside
and asked him why he and his brothers followed Miles so eagerly.

"Heap big chief!" was the reply. "Him lickum Injun chiefs. Him biggest
White Chief. Heap likum." Which was really a very high tribute, as
Indians are not given to extravagant praise.

When we have met from time to time General Miles has been kind enough
to speak well of me and the work I have done on the Plains. I am very
glad to have this opportunity of r