ling to undertake the trip. They
say they are not well enough acquainted with the country to find the
way at night."

As a storm was coming up it was quite dark, and the scouts feared that
they would lose the way; besides it was a dangerous ride, as a large
party of Indians were known to be camped on Walnut Creek, on the direct
road to Fort Hays. It was evident that Curtis was trying to induce me to
volunteer. I made some evasive answer to Curtis, for I did not care to
volunteer after my long day's ride. But Curtis did not let the matter
drop. Said he:

"I wish, Bill, that you were not so tired by your chase of to-day, for
you know the country better than the rest of the boys, and I am certain
that you could go through."

"As far as the ride to Fort Hays is concerned, that alone would matter
but little to me," I said, "but it is a risky piece of work just now, as
the country is full of hostile Indians; still if no other scout is
willing to volunteer, I will chance it. I'll go, provided I am furnished
with a good horse. I am tired of being chased on a government mule by
Indians." At this Captain Nolan, who had been listening to our
conversation, said:

"Bill, you may have the best horse in my company. You can take your
choice if you will carry these dispatches. Although it is against
regulations to dismount an enlisted man, I have no hesitancy in such a
case of urgent necessity as this is, in telling you that you may have any
horse you may wish."

"Captain, your first sergeant has a splendid horse, and that's the one I
want. If he'll let me ride that horse, I'll be ready to start in one
hour, storm or no storm," said I.

"Good enough, Bill; you shall have the horse; but are you sure you can
find your way on such a dark night as this?"

"I have hunted on nearly every acre of ground between here and Fort Hays,
and I can almost keep my route by the bones of the dead buffaloes." I
confidently replied.

"Never fear, Captain, about Cody not finding the way; he is as good in
the dark as he is in the daylight," said Curtis.

An orderly was sent for the horse, and the animal was soon brought up,
although the sergeant "kicked" a little against letting him go. After
eating a lunch and filling a canteen with brandy, I went to
headquarters and put my own saddle and bridle on the horse I was to
ride. I then got the dispatches, and by ten o'clock was on the road to
Fort Hays, which was sixty-five miles distant across the co