The fourth morning after this I was saddling my horse to ride out on the trail and see if I could see anything of the Government train when Col.  Bent asked me where I was going.  I told him I was going to see if the train was in sight, “and what is more important to me, I want to find out whether I am going to escort the train through the Comanche country or not.”

Col.  Bent said, “I thought that was understood.  If I thought you were not going to be the escort, I certainly would not trust my freight with the train.”

I said, “Col.  Bent, I have not made any positive bargain with Col.  Chivington, and after Capt.  McKee tells him what I said about the price I intend to charge him for my services this trip, he may decide not to employ me.”

Col.  Bent said, “Would you be offended if I asked you how much money Col.  Chivington paid you for that work, Will?”

I said I would not, and I then told Col.  Bent the whole transaction, and I also told him what I would charge to escort the train back through the Comanche country, and that I would take the whole responsibility myself without any helpers.  Col.  Bent said, “Col.  Chivington was not fair to you in offering you so small a sum for what you done to protect the Government property, not speaking of the lives you probably saved from the savages’ arrows or tomahawks, and I think you charge a very reasonable price if you undertake the job over again and you don’t want any one to help you, for they might upset all of your plans by doing something to anger the Indians.”

I answered, “Well, Col.  I will soon settle the matter if I meet the train.”

I then struck out and had ridden perhaps ten miles when I met Capt.  McKee and the wagon master coming just ahead of the train.

Capt.  McKee said, “Why, Mr. Drannan, I thought you were at the Indian villages trading for Buffalo robes.”

I told him that I had been to the Indian village and bought all the robes we could pack back to Bent’s Fort and had been waiting for the train to come four days.

Capt.  McKee said, “And I expected to have to wait for you four days.”  I said, “Now tell me what Col.  Chivington had to say about my escorting the train.”

The Capt. laughed and said, “After the Col. had studied the matter over for about twenty-four hours, he came to the conclusion that he could do no better than employ you.  So the job is yours, and Mr. Drannan, can you tell me just about how long you will be gone so I can lay my plans to meet you here at Bent’s Fort?”

I said, “Capt., I want about twenty-five days to complete the trip, and as soon as I return, Capt, I will be ready to join you in the expedition to Texas, and Capt., I would like for you to bring my pay here so I shall not have to go to Santa Fe after it when I come back from escorting the train.”

He answered, “I will arrange the matter so Col.  Bent will settle with you here.”