With the regimental band playing “The Girl I Left Behind Me” we started out from the Post.  A short march brought us to the head of Fox Creek, where we camped.  Next morning General Duncan sent me word that I was to bring my rifle and shoot at a mark with him.  I did not feel like shooting at anything except myself, for the night before I had been interviewing the sutler’s store, in company with Major Brown.  When I looked for my gun, I found that I had left it behind me.  I got cold consolation from Major Brown when I informed him of my loss.  Then I told him that the general had sent for me to shoot a match with him, and that if the old man discovered my predicament there would be trouble.

“Well, Cody,” said the major, “the best thing you can do is to make some excuse, and then go and borrow a gun from one of the men.  Tell the general you loaned your rifle to someone for a hunt.  While you are gone I will send back to the Post for it.”

I got a gun from John Nelson, and marched to the general’s headquarters, where I shot the match.  It resulted in his favor.

General Duncan, who had never before commanded the Pawnee Scouts, confused them by posting the guards in a manner that was new to them.  Furthermore, he insisted that the guards should call the hours through the night:  “Nine o’clock and all is well,” etc., giving the numbers of their posts.  Few of the scouts understood English.  They were greatly troubled.

Major North explained to them that when the man on the post nearest them called the hour, they must repeat the call as closely as they could.  It was highly amusing to hear them do this.  They would try to remember what the man on the next post had said.  For example, when a white soldier called out “Post Number One, Half-past Nine and all is well!” the Indians would cry out “Poss Number half-pass five cents go to h—­l I don’t care.”  So ridiculous were their efforts to repeat the calls, that the general finally gave it up and countermanded the order.

One day, after an uneventful march, Major North and I went out on Prairie Dog Creek in advance of the command to kill some buffaloes.  Night was approaching, and we looked about for a suitable camping-place for the soldiers.  Major North dismounted and was resting, while I rode down to the creek to see if there was plenty of grass in the vicinity.

I found an excellent camping spot, and told North I would ride over the hill a little way, so that the advance guard might see me.  This I did, and when the advance guard came in sight I dismounted and lay down upon the grass to rest.

Suddenly I heard three or four shots.  In a moment Major North came dashing toward me, pursued by eight or ten Indians.  I at once sprang to the saddle and sent several shots toward the Indians, fifty or more of whom were now in sight.  Then, we turned our horses and ran.

The bullets sang after us.  My whip was shot from my hand, and the daylight was let through the crown of my hat.  We were in close quarters, when Lieutenant Valknar, with several men, came galloping to our relief.  The Indians, discovering them, whirled and fled.