I had ridden perhaps three miles when I saw a large band of Indians just going into camp.  They were about a half a mile from our trail right on the bank of the Arkansas river.  I knew that they were a hunting party because their squaws and papooses were with them, which is never the case if the warriors are on the war path.

I rode down among them, and as soon as the squaws saw me they commenced to cry, “Hi-yar-hi-yar,” and ran to me with extended hands, and they all asked together if I had come to trade rings and beads.  When I told them that I would come again in four months and trade with them, they laughed and said in their own language that they would have many Buffalo robes ready to trade with me.  As I was talking with the squaws, an Indian came to me, one that I had known for quite a while, and invited me to his wigwam to take supper with him and stay all night.  I explained to him that I could not accept his invitation that time and told him what I was doing, and where I was going, but that I would return in four months and would bring a plenty of knives and rings and beads to trade for Buffalo robes.

This seemed to please him very much.

I bid them all good bye and went back to camp.  It was rather late and supper was over, but the cook had saved some for me.  While I was eating, Capt.  McKee and the wagon master came to see me.  The Capt. asked what I had seen while I was gone.  I said, “Capt., I saw enough Indian squaws to keep me shaking hands for twenty minutes, and besides the squaws I saw four or five hundred warriors and shook hands with a good many of them and was invited to eat supper and pass the night with one of the Chiefs, but I declined to do either, although I would have been more than welcome.”

The Capt. asked where the Indians were, and I told him.  He asked how far from our trail their village was.  I told him between half and a quarter of a mile.  He said, “Have we got to pass in full view of that Indian village?” I answered, “Yes, sir, that is the only road that leads from here to Santa Fe.”  “And do you believe that we can pass them in the morning without being attacked by them?” he asked.  I said, “Capt., if the men will obey my instructions, there will be no danger when we strike out in the morning.  We will all travel in the same order as we did today, except that I shall not ride so far in advance of the train, and if the Indians start to come towards the train, I will ride out and meet them, and the train must keep right on, as if nothing had occurred, and I will hold the Indians until the train is out of sight, and then I will leave them and overtake you.”

The Capt. said, “All right, Mr. Drannan, we will do as you have directed, and if you succeed in this venture, I shall know that you have the control over the Indians that you thought you had.”