“Served him right, Billy,” said he, “and what’s more, we’ll go over and clean out the teacher.”

“Oh, no; don’t do that,” said I, for I was afraid that I might fall into the hands of the wounded boy’s friends, who I knew would soon be looking for me.

“Well, Billy, come along with me; I am bound for Fort Kearney; the trip will take me forty days.  I want you for a cavallard driver.”

“All right,” I replied, “but I must go home and tell mother about it, and get some clothes.”

“Well then, to-night after we make our camp, I’ll go back with you.”

The affray broke up the school for the rest of the day as the excitement was too much for the children.  Late in the afternoon, after the train had moved on some considerable distance, I saw Steve’s father, his brother Frank, and one of the neighbors rapidly approaching.

“Mr. Willis, there comes old Gobel, with Frank and somebody else, and they are after me—­what am I going to do?” I asked.

“Let ’em come,” said he, “they can’t take you if I’ve got anything to say about it, and I rather think I have.  Get into one of the wagons—­keep quiet and lay low.  I’ll manage this little job.  Don’t you fret a bit about it.”

I obeyed his orders and felt much easier.

Old Gobel, Frank and the neighbor soon came up and inquired for me.

“He’s around here somewhere,” said Mr. Willis.

“We want him,” said Gobel; “he stabbed my son a little while ago, and I want to arrest him.”

“Well, you can’t get him; that settles it; so you needn’t waste any of your time around here,” said Willis.

Gobel continued to talk for a few minutes, but getting no greater satisfaction, the trio returned home.

When night came, Willis accompanied me on horseback to my home.  Mother, who had anxiously searched for me everywhere—­being afraid that something had befallen me at the hands of the Gobels—­was delighted to see me, notwithstanding the difficulty in which I had become involved.  I at once told her that at present I was afraid to remain at home, and had accordingly made up my mind to absent myself for a few weeks or months—­at least until the excitement should die out.  Mr. Willis said to her that he would take me to Fort Kearney with him, and see that I was properly cared for, and would bring me back safely in forty days.

Mother at first seriously objected to my going on this trip fearing I would fall into the hands of Indians.  Her fears, however, were soon overcome, and she concluded to let me go.  She fixed me up a big bundle of clothing and gave me a quilt.  Kissing her and my sisters a fond farewell, I started off on my first trip across the plains, and with a light heart too, notwithstanding my trouble of a few hours before.

The trip proved a most enjoyable one to me, although no incidents worthy of note occurred on the way.  On my return from Fort Kearney I was paid off the same as the rest of the employees.  The remainder of the summer and fall I spent in herding cattle and working for Russell, Majors & Waddell.