ll did not wait to saddle his horse, but the Pawnees were as quick as
he, and both of them rather surprised the Sioux, who did not expect
such a swift response. Especially were they surprised to find themselves
confronted by their tribal foe, the Pawnee, and they fell back hastily,
closely pressed by Will and his red allies. A running fight was kept up
for fifteen miles, and when many of the Sioux had been stretched upon
the plain and the others scattered, the pursuing party returned to camp.

Will himself, on a fine horse, had been somewhat chagrined at being
passed in the chase by a Pawnee on an inferior-looking steed. Upon
inquiring of Major North, he found that the swifter horse was, like his
own, government property. The Pawnee was much attached to his mount,
but he was also fond of tobacco, and a few pieces of that commodity,
supplemented by some other articles, induced him to exchange horses.
Will named his new charge "Buckskin Joe," and rode him for four years.
Joe proved a worthy successor to Brigham for speed, endurance, and
intelligence.

This was the first adventure that Will and the Pawnees had pursued
together, and they emerged with an increased esteem for each other. Not
long afterward, Will's skill as a buffalo-hunter raised the admiration
of the Indians to enthusiasm.

Twenty Pawnees that circled around one herd of buffaloes killed only
twenty-two, and when the next herd came in view Will asked Major North
to keep the Indians in the background while he showed them a thing
or two. Buckskin Joe was a capital buffalo-hunter, and so well did he
perform his part that Will brought down thirty-six, about one at every
shot.

The Pawnees were delighted. They held it considerable of an achievement
to kill two or three of the monarchs of the plains at a single run, and
Will's feat dazzled them. He was at once pronounced a great chief, and
ever after occupied a high place in their regard.

Moving up the Republican River, the troops went into camp on Black Tail
Deer Fork. Scarcely were the tents pitched when a band of Indians were
seen sweeping toward them at full speed, singing, yelling, and waving
lances. The camp was alive in an instant, but the Pawnees, instead
of preparing for defense, began to sing and yell in unison with the
advancing braves. "Those are some of our own Indians," said Major North;
"they've had a fight, and are bringing in the scalps."

And so it proved. The Pawnees reported a skirmish wi