our financial resources were of the slenderest, and
should this unjust claim for a thousand dollars be allowed, we would be
homeless.

The result of mother's study of the situation was, "If I had the ready
money, I should fight the claim."

"You fight the claim, and I'll get the money," Will replied.

Mother smiled, but Will continued:

"Russell, Majors & Waddell will give me work. Jim Willis says I am
capable of filling the position of 'extra.' If you'll go with me and ask
Mr. Majors for a job, I'm sure he'll give me one."

Russell, Majors & Waddell were overland freighters and contractors,
with headquarters at Leavenworth. To Will's suggestion mother entered
a demurrer, but finally yielded before his insistence. Mr. Majors had
known father, and was more than willing to aid us, but Will's youth was
an objection not lightly overridden.

"What can a boy of your age do?" he asked, kindly.

"I can ride, shoot, and herd cattle," said Will; "but I'd rather be an
'extra' on one of your trains.'

"But that is a man's work, and is dangerous besides." Mr. Majors
hesitated. "But I'll let you try it one trip, and if you do a man's
work, I'll give you a man's pay."

So Will's name was put on the company roll, and he signed a pledge that
illustrates better than a description the character and disposition of
Mr. Majors.

"I, William F. Cody," it read, "do hereby solemnly swear, before the
great and living God, that during my engagement with, and while I am
in the employ of, Russell, Majors & Waddell, I will, under no
circumstances, use profane language, that I will not quarrel or fight
with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will
conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my
acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God!"

Mr Majors employed many wild and reckless men, but the language of the
pledge penetrated to the better nature of them all. They endeavored,
with varying success, to live up to its conditions, although most of
them held that driving a bull-team constituted extenuating circumstances
for an occasional expletive.

The pledge lightened mother's heart; she knew that Will would keep
his word; she felt, too, that a man that required such a pledge of his
employees was worthy of their confidence and esteem.

The train was to start in a day, and all of us were busy with the
preparations for Will's two months' trip. The moment of parting came,