Capt.  McKee then told the wagon master what he had seen me do with a band of Comanche warriors, and also told him what I said I could do for the train if I had the control of the men and they would obey me.

The wagon master turned and looked at me a moment as if he was measuring me and then said, “Young man, do you pretend to say that you know all of the Comanche tribe?”

I answered, “No, sir, I do not know them all, but they all know me, and there are hundreds of them that are particular friends of mine, and if you are acquainted with the Indian character, you know that when an Indian professes to be a friend he is a friend indeed, and there is no limit to what he will do for you.”

He then asked how I proposed to handle the train and the men.  I answered, “I want the men to ride beside the wagons, and in the rear of them with a half a dozen just a little ahead of the teams, and I will ride alone from a quarter to a half a mile ahead, and if the men in the rear or those on the side see any Indians advancing on the train, I want them to notify me at once, for I want to talk with the Indians before they get to the train, no matter whether there are a few or many of them.”

The wagon master said, “I don’t see anything to find fault with your plans,” and turning to McKee he asked what he thought of the arrangement.  Capt.  McKee answered, “All that I find fault with is the desperate chances Mr. Drannan will take in going out to meet the savages all by himself.”  I said, “Capt., there is where you make a mistake.  My safety lies in my going out to meet the Indians alone, and I will assure you and the other gentlemen that there will not be a gun fired if I can get to the Indians before they get to the train.”

At this moment the cook said supper was ready, and it did not take long for me at least to get to eating it, for I was very hungry.

The wagon master, the Capt. and I messed together.  The Capt. asked me what I thought about putting out picket guards that night.  I told him that I did not think it necessary tonight, but further on the road it might be advisable.

We had a quiet night’s rest, and everybody seemed cheerful in the morning, and we were on the road quite early.  Before we started, I asked the wagon master how many miles he traveled in a day, and if he stopped at noon.  He answered that he was four or five days behind time now and would like to make twenty miles a day if he could, and he thought it would not be advisable to stop at noon while we were in the Comanche country, but when we got clear of the Indians probably he would lay over a day or two, and let the teams have a rest.

Everything moved on pleasantly all that day.  We did not see an Indian, but towards evening we saw large bands of Buffalo all going south.  That night when we had got settled into camp, I told the Capt. that I would take a ride five or six miles up the valley and see if I could find any Indians’ village or see any Indians and for them not to be uneasy about me or look for me until they saw me.