244 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



tains he took from his pocket a derringer, say- 

 ing: 



"You needn't mention this, but I guess most 

 of us carry them." 



Several officers applied for leave to accom- 

 pany us on a buffalo hunt with Quirtz Quip, chief 

 of the Yamparico Comanches, and his band. 

 We were ready to start the next morning when a 

 blow fell upon me in the shape of a telegram 

 which the stage brought in calling me back to 

 meet a messenger who had important papers for 

 me to sign. 



I hated that two hundred miles by stage but 

 when at the end of it I found my messenger and 

 signed the papers that it was thought were 

 needed I rejoiced at the prospect of taking the 

 trip for the third time. Throughout this jour- 

 ney the drivers and I had the stage to ourselves. 

 One afternoon between Smith Paul Valley and 

 Elm Springs we saw a balloon slowly settling 

 and sinking down beyond a roll in the prairie 

 about three miles south of us. The driver was 

 obdurate when I begged him to drive across the 



