I said that the warriors and chiefs would greatly please General Sheridan if they would meet him in about ten sleeps at the old Government crossing at the Red Willow.  I said that a great chief from far across the water was coming to visit them, and that he was especially anxious to meet the greatest of the Indian chiefs.

Spotted Tail replied that he would be very glad to go.  He added that on the morrow he would call his men together and select from them those who were to accompany him.  He told me I had acted very wisely in coming first to him, as it was known to him that some of his young men did not like me, and he knew that they had hasty tempers.  He expressed himself as pleased that they had not met me outside the village, and I assured him that I was equally pleased that this was so.

The chief then called his squaw, who got me something to eat, and I passed the remainder of the night in his lodge.  Having informed the old man that this was no ordinary occasion, and that he would be expected to do the job up right, I returned to the Post.

When the day set for the Grand Duke’s arrival came there was a brave array at the station to meet him.  Captain Hays and myself had five or six ambulances to carry his party, Captain Egan was on hand with a company of cavalry and twenty extra saddle-horses, and the whole population of the place was gathered to see the great man from Russia.

The train came in, and from it stepped General Sheridan.  A fine figure of a man was towering above him.  This was the visitor.

I was presented to the Grand Duke as Buffalo Bill, the man who would have charge of the hunt.  I immediately ordered up the saddle-horse I had selected for the nobleman, also a fine horse for General Sheridan.  Both men decided to ride for a few miles before they took seats in the ambulances.

When the whole party was mounted they started south, Texas Jack acting as guide until such time as I could overtake them.  The Grand Duke was very much interested in the whole proceeding, particularly in the Indians.  It was noticed that he cast frequent and admiring glances at a handsome red-skinned maiden who accompanied old Spotted Tail’s daughter.  When we made camp my titled guest plied me with questions about buffaloes and how to kill them.  He wanted to know whether a gun or a pistol was the proper weapon and whether I would be sure to supply him with a horse that was trained in buffalo hunting.

I told him that I would give him Buckskin Joe, the best buffalo horse in the country, and that all he would need to do would be to mount the animal and fire away every time he saw a buffalo.

At nine o’clock in the morning we were all galloping over the prairies in search of big game.  I waited till everyone was ready, and then led the party over a little knoll that hid the herd from view.  In a few minutes we were among the buffaloes.

Alexis first chose to use his pistol.  He sent six shots in rapid succession after one bull, at a distance of only twenty feet, but he fired wildly, and did no damage whatever.  I rode up to his side, and, his pistol having been emptied, gave him mine.  He seized it and fired six more shots, but not a buffalo fell.