he gun, I let him have
another shot, and I continued to pour the lead into him until I had him
completely laid out. Like the great majority of government mules, he was
a tough one to kill, and he clung to life with all the tenaciousness of
his obstinate nature. He was, without doubt, the toughest and meanest
mule I ever saw, and he died hard.

The troops, hearing the reports of the gun, came rushing out to see what
was the matter. They found that the mule had passed in his chips, and
when they learned the cause they all agreed that I had served him just
right. Taking the saddle and bridle from the dead body, I proceeded into
the post and delivered the dispatches to Captain Parker. I then went over
to Dick Curtis' house, which was headquarters for the scouts, and there
put in several hours of solid sleep.

During the day General Hazen returned from Fort Harker, and he also had
some important dispatches to send to General Sheridan. I was feeling
quite elated over my big ride; and seeing that I was getting the best of
the other scouts in regard to making a record, I volunteered to carry
General Hazen's dispatches to Fort Hays. The General accepted my
services, although he thought it was unnecessary for me to kill myself. I
told him that I had business at Fort Hays, and wished to go there
anyway, and it would make no difference to the other scouts, for none of
them appeared willing to undertake the trip.

Accordingly, that night I left Fort Larned on an excellent horse, and
next morning at daylight found myself once more in General Sheridan's
headquarters at Fort Hays. The General was surprised to see me, and still
more so when I told him of the time I had made in riding to Fort Dodge,
and that I had taken dispatches from Fort Dodge to Fort Larned; and when,
in addition to this, I mentioned my journey of the night previous,
General Sheridan thought my ride from post to post, taken as a whole, was
a remarkable one, and he said that he did not know of its equal. I can
safely say that I have never heard of its being beaten in a country
infested with hostile Indians.

To recapitulate: I had ridden from Fort Larned to Fort Zarah (a distance
of sixty-five miles) and back in twelve hours, including the time when I
was taken across the Arkansas by the Indians. In the succeeding twelve
hours I had gone from Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five
miles. In the next twenty-four hours I had gone from Fort Hays to Fort
D