urn to their
respective ranches, as it was the busy season, accordingly our outfit
began to make preparations to return to Arizona.

[Illustration: Indian Fight in Yellow Horse Canyon]

In the meantime news had reached us of the Custer massacre, and the
indignation and sorrow was universal, as General Custer was personally
known to a large number of the cattle men of the West. But we could do
nothing now, as the Indians were out in such strong force. There was
nothing to do but let Uncle Sam revenge the loss of the General and his
brave command, but it is safe to say not one of us would have hesitated
a moment in taking the trail in pursuit of the blood thirsty red skins
had the opportunity offered.

[Illustration: Crippled But Not Conquered--The Fight with Yellow Dog's
Tribe]

Everything now being in readiness with us we took the trail homeward
bound, and left Deadwood in a blaze of glory. On our way home we visited
the Custer battle field in the Little Big Horn Basin.

There was ample evidence of the desperate and bloody fight that had
taken place a few days before. We arrived home in Arizona in a short
time without further incident, except that on the way back we met and
talked with many of the famous Government scouts of that region, among
them Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody), Yellow Stone Kelley, and many
others of that day, some of whom are now living, while others lost their
lives in the line of duty, and a finer or braver body of men never
lived than these scouts of the West. It was my pleasure to meet Buffalo
Bill often in the early 70s, and he was as fine a man as one could wish
to meet, kind, generous, true and brave.

[Illustration: The Roping Contest at Deadwood, S. D.]

Buffalo Bill got his name from the fact that in the early days he was
engaged in hunting buffalo for their hides and furnishing U. P. Railroad
graders with meat, hence the name Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Bill,
Yellowstone Kelley, with many others were at this time serving under
Gen. C. C. Miles.

The name of Deadwood Dick was given to me by the people of Deadwood,
South Dakota, July 4, 1876, after I had proven myself worthy to carry
it, and after I had defeated all comers in riding, roping, and shooting,
and I have always carried the name with honor since that time.

We arrived at the home ranch again on our return from the trip to
Deadwood about the middle of September, it taking us a little over two
months to make the return journey,