s from Fort Hayes
to Fort Dodge. Ninety-five miles of country lay between, and every mile
of it was dangerous ground. Fort Dodge was surrounded by Indians, and
three scouts had lately been killed while trying to get dispatches
through, but Will's confidence in himself or his destiny was unshakable,
and he volunteered to take the dispatches, as far, at least, as the
Indians would let him.

"It is a dangerous undertaking," said General Sheridan, "but it is most
important that the dispatches should go through; so, if you are willing
to risk it, take the best horse you can find, and the sooner you start
the better."

Within an hour the scout was in the saddle. At the outset Will permitted
his horse to set his own pace, for in case of pursuit he should want
the animal fresh enough to at least hold his own. But no pursuit
materialized, and when the dawn came up he had covered seventy miles,
and reached a station on Coon Creek, manned by colored troops. Here
he delivered a letter to Major Cox, the officer in command, and after
eating breakfast, took a fresh horse, and resumed his journey before the
sun was above the plain.

Fort Dodge was reached, the dispatches delivered by nine o'clock, and
Will turned in for a needed sleep. When he awoke, he was assured by John
Austin, chief of the scouts at Dodge, that his coming through unharmed
from Fort Hayes was little short of a miracle. He was also assured
that a journey to his own headquarters, Fort Larned, would be even more
ticklish than his late ride, as the hostiles were especially thick in
that direction. But the officer in command at Dodge desired to send
dispatches to Larned, and as none of the other scouts were willing to
take them, Will volunteered his services.

"Larned's my headquarters," said he, "and I must go there anyway; so if
you'll give me a good horse, I'll take your dispatches."

"We haven't a decent horse left," said the officer; "but you can take
your pick of some fine government mules."

Will made a gesture of despair. Another race on mule-back with Indians
was not an inviting prospect. There were very few mules like unto his
quondam mouse-colored mount. But he succumbed to the inevitable, picked
out the most enterprising looking mule in the bunch, and set forth. And
neither he nor the mule guessed what was in store for each of them.

At Coon Creek Will dismounted for a drink of water, and the mule
embraced the opportunity to pull away, and start alone