tending to leave at once, but mother pleaded with me so hard to stay
home, that I finally consented to remain one more month, but at the end
of that time she pleaded for one more and I could not refuse her. During
this time my uncle came to live with us and I asked him to take my place
at home. This he consented to do gladly. Things were going on fairly
well at home now. The farm was yielding a fair living and the children
having grown much larger they were a source of help instead of an
hindrance and now that my uncle and my brother Jordan were home to look
after mother, I felt I could better leave them now, because I was not
really needed at home. After gathering what few things I wanted to take
with me and providing myself with some needed clothes, I bade mother and
the old home farewell, and started out for the first time alone in a
world I knew very little about.

CHAPTER VI.

THE WORLD IS BEFORE ME. I JOIN THE TEXAS COWBOYS. RED RIVER DICK. MY
FIRST OUTFIT. MY FIRST INDIAN FIGHT. I LEARN TO USE MY GUN.

It was on the tenth day of February, 1869, that I left the old home,
near Nashville, Tennessee. I was at that time about fifteen years old,
and though while young in years the hard work and farm life had made me
strong and hearty, much beyond my years, and I had full confidence in
myself as being able to take care of myself and making my way.

I at once struck out for Kansas of which I had heard something. And
believing it was a good place in which to seek employment. It was in the
west, and it was the great west I wanted to see, and so by walking and
occasional lifts from farmers going my way and taking advantage of every
thing that promised to assist me on my way, I eventually brought up at
Dodge City, Kansas, which at that time was a typical frontier city, with
a great many saloons, dance halls, and gambling houses, and very little
of anything else. When I arrived the town was full of cow boys from the
surrounding ranches, and from Texas and other parts of the west. As
Kansas was a great cattle center and market, the wild cow boy, prancing
horses of which I was very fond, and the wild life generally, all had
their attractions for me, and I decided to try for a place with them.
Although it seemed to me I had met with a bad outfit, at least some of
them, going around among them I watched my chances to get to speak with
them, as I wanted to find some one whom I thought would give me a civil
answer to the