CAPTAIN SAUNDERS' FIGHT 



Wilson and party from there, move on down to 

 To hausen's village and try to find out whether 

 his people have been harboring these hostiles; and 

 then to-morrow we'll all move into the fort. I 

 will send a requisition in by the team to bring out 

 some grain for the horses to-morrow and any other 

 suppHes that we may need. It will be best that 

 we stay and see you all safely into Fort Larned." 

 Then turning to Wild Bill, he asked: "Do you 

 think, Bill, that six men will be a sufficient escort 

 to go with the wagon and wounded men — do you 

 think there is any danger of their meeting hostile 

 Kiowas?" 



"None but dead ones," replied Bill. "The team 

 can go through all right now." 



"Well," said Saunders, "I had thought of ask- 

 ing Mr. Vance or Mr. Peck to take charge of the 

 wounded men and see them through." 



"Tom'U be the man for that," suggested Bill, 

 ''for the wounded men may need some help on 

 the way." 



"Well, that's settled," said Tom impatiently, as 

 he started for the wagon without waiting for the 

 captain's decision. "Captain, please detail the 

 escort and start them on after me; they can soon 

 overtake us." And, climbing into the wagon, he 

 took up the whip and lines and started. 



The captain quickly mounted the escort and 

 hurried them after the wagon; and then he him- 

 self mounted the horse of one of the wounded 



275 



