WILD BILL VISITS US 



everything I say to him an' will do just what I 

 tell him to." 



"Bill," I asked, **do the officers at the garrison 

 seem to think there's any danger of the Indians 

 going on the war-path?" 



"Well, no, I don't think they really expect any 

 outbreak," replied the scout, "but Injuns, you 

 know, are the most uncertain varmints on earth; 

 an' on account of taking away the regulars an' 

 putting green volunteers to garrisoning the posts 

 on the plains, it's more'n likely that the Injuns'U 

 soon discover the difference an' take advantage 

 of the chance to raise a ruction. I've got to look 

 up the Kiowas first, 'cause they're the most likely 

 ones to make trouble; an' when I find their winter 

 camp I'll stay with 'em a few days, to kinder feel 

 of 'em an' see what sort of a humor they're in, 

 an' then I'll hunt up the Cheyennes an' Arapa- 

 hoes next an' feel of their pulses, too. An' while 

 I'm a-doing that job French Dave an' the other 

 fellows'll be looking up the Comanches an' Prairie 

 Apaches — they generally range between the Cimar- 

 ron an' Red River, an' ain't likely to come up this 

 way before grass comes, anyway, but the Kiowas 

 an' Cheyennes'll need watchin'." 



"Well, when you get back you must call around 

 here and let us know what you think of the pros- 

 pect for peace or war — that is, if you find out any- 

 thing," I said. 



"How many of you will go on this trip.f"' asked 

 Tom. 



179 



