Here is
the oath:
"We, the undersigned wagon-masters, assistants, teamsters and all
other employees of the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell, do hereby
sign that we will not swear, drink whisky, play cards or be cruel
to dumb beasts in any way, shape or form.
his
(Signed) "WILLIAM FREDERICK X CODY."
mark
I signed it with my mark, for I could not write then. After
administering this ironclad oath Mr. Majors gave each man a Testament.
My first job was that of accompanying a herd of cattle destined for
beef for the troops that had gone on ahead. Bill McCarthy, boss of the
outfit, was a typical Westerner, rough but courageous, and with plenty
of experience on the frontier.
We progressed peacefully enough till we made Plum Creek, thirty-six
miles west of Fort Kearney, on the South Platte. The trip had been full
of excitement for me. The camp life was rough, the bacon often rusty
and the flour moldy, but the hard work gave us big appetites. Plainsmen
learn not to be particular.
I remember that on some of our trips we obtained such "luxuries" as
dried apples and beans as part of our supplies. We could only have
these once every two or three days, and their presence in the mess was
always a glad occasion.
We were nooning at Plum Creek, the cattle spread out over the prairie
to graze in charge of two herders.
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