CHAPTER XVIII 



BILL RETURNS FROM HIS SCOUT 



TOURING the time I Had been at work on 

 ^^ Lieutenant Lang's papers there had been an- 

 other heavy snow, but it had soon passed oiF. 

 Tom had come over to the fort once or twice, re- 

 porting all serene at Camp Coyotelope; and about 

 the time I had finished my job and was preparing 

 to return to wolf skinning, Wild Bill and John 

 Adkins came into the post, returning from the 

 main Kiowa camp by way of old To hausen's vil- 

 lage on Walnut Creek. 



"When are you going over to Camp Coyote- 

 lope?" asked Bill after first greetings. 



"To-morrow morning," I replied. 



"Well, I've got to make my report to the com- 

 manding officer an' turn in my pack-mule," said 

 the scout, "an' if there's nothing special for me 

 to do here right away I reckon I'll ride over with 

 you an' take a few square meals with the boys." 



"All right," I replied. "I'll be glad to have you 

 go along with me. Will Adkins come, too?" 



"No. He says he's got to go back to Rath's 

 ranch in the morning, soon as he can get his 



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