John answered, “I am afraid it would not keep, Boss.  There are too many of us in this crowd that like turkey fried in bear’s grease, and after you have had breakfast in the morning, you won’t say anything more about preserving turkeys for somebody else to eat.”

But notwithstanding this remark John kept two turkeys until we got to Santa Fe the third day after the turkey hunt.  We made the trip from Rocky Ford to Santa Fe in thirteen days.  We met Capt.  McKee coming to meet us about two miles before we reached our journey’s end, and with him was Col.  Chivington, the commander of the Government Post at Santa Fe.  I was riding alone just a little ahead of the train.  When I met them, I saluted the Capt. and after we had shaken hands he introduced me to the Col. whom I had never met before, although I had heard of him, and he had heard of me also.

The Col. said, “Mr. Drannan, I have been acquainted with Capt.  McKee for several years, and have known him to have been a great Indian fighter, but he tells me that you can do more with the Comanches alone than he could do if he had five hundred soldiers to help him.  Now, there must be some secret about this, and I would like to be initiated into it.  The Capt. tells me that you went into the Comanches’ main village alone, and I presume there were several thousand warriors there at that time, and what seems more wonderful to me,” he said, “that you staid and ate dinner with the head Chief.  Now my friend, there must be something in this unusual transaction.  Will you tell me the secret of your influence with the red men?”

I answered, “Col., if you were a member of a secret organization, would you think it right to give away the secret to outsiders?”

At this answer the Capt. laughed and slapped the Col. on the back, and said, “Col., I reckon, you have got your match in Mr. Drannan, for I have never asked him a question that he did not find a way to answer me without giving me the information that I was seeking.”

Col.  Chivington smiled but made no answer to the Capt. or me.

We rode in silence a few minutes, and then turning to me the Col. said, “Mr. Drannan, I want you to come to my quarters tonight.  I have a little business that I would like to talk with you.”

We soon got to headquarters, and as soon as the train was corralled, I saw cook John coming to where the Col. the Capt. and I were standing, and he had a turkey in each of his hands.

As soon as he reached us, he handed Capt.  McKee one of the turkeys, with the remark, “Here is your supper, Capt., and yours also, Col.” and he gave the other turkey to that Col.

They both looked at John in amazement, and the Col. said, “Thank you very much, but where in creation did you get them?”

John answered, “I did not get them.  You must give that honor to Mr. Drannan, and I will say that he has provided every thing good to eat, from turkey to bear feet, since we left Rocky Ford.”