WAPITI-RUNNING ON THE PLAINS 55 



on a hunting expedition. I had counted upon one 

 or both of those famous scouts accompanying me, 

 for General Sheridan had with characteristic kind- 

 ness written to the officer commanding at the 

 fort, requesting him to give me any assistance in 

 his power, and if possible to let me have the 

 valuable services of Mr. William Cody, otherwise 

 Buffalo Bill, the government scout at the fort ; 

 and I began to inveigh against the bad luck that 

 had arranged that he should go out hunting the 

 very day I arrived. However, I had to " take it 

 all back," for just as I was stepping into the 

 ambulance wagon that was waiting to take us to 

 the fort, two horsemen appeared in sight, gallop- 

 ing towards us, and the station-master sang out, 

 " Say ! hold on a minute, here are the very men 

 you want, I guess." In another minute or two 

 they cantered up, swung themselves out of the 

 saddle, threw their bridles over a post, caught up 

 their rifles, and stepped on to the platform. I 

 thought I had never seen two finer- looking speci- 

 mens of humanity, or two more picturesque 

 figures. Both were tall, well-built, active-looking 

 men, with singularly handsome features. Bill was 

 dressed in a pair of corduroys tucked into his high 

 boots, and a blue flannel shirt. He wore a broad- 



