CAPTAIN SAUNDERS' FIGHT 



sure enough, but without sign of life. On a nearer 

 approach I found he was dead and cold probably 

 having bled to death soon after I had shot him. 



On turning the body over to get a good look at 

 his face, I was somewhat astonished to recognize 

 the features of old Broken Nose, the medicine-man 

 from To hausen's camp. 



Leaving the body where it was, I hurried back 

 to the tent to climb up on the derrick with the 

 field-glass, anxious to see what I could of the fight 

 between the Kiowas and soldiers out on the prai- 

 rie. There was not much to see. 



Saunders' party had been delayed too long in 

 making the detour to get in the rear of the enemy. 

 Lieutenant Wilson had made his attack at day- 

 light, according to orders, and the Indians, aban- 

 doning their siege of the wagon, were retreating 

 to the nearest point of the Walnut Creek timber. 



From my stand I could see Saunders' party try- 

 ing to cut off the fleeing Indians from the timber, 

 but they seemed to succeed in intercepting only a 

 few of the hindmost ones. Saunders, Wild Bill, 

 and party went on in pursuit of the fleeing Kiowas 

 until they passed out of sight behind a point of 

 timber. 



Turning my glass toward the wagon, I could 

 see a party of soldiers gathered around it. Soon 

 the wagon started moving toward our camp, ac- 

 companied by the mounted men. The soldiers 

 must have recaptured the mules and harness. 



267 



