But Curtis
was persistent. He said:
"I wish you were not so tired, Bill. You know the country better than
the rest of us. I'm certain you could go through."
"As far as the ride is concerned," I said, "that would not matter. But
this is risky business just now, with the country full of hostile
Indians. Still, if no other man will volunteer I will chance it,
provided I am supplied with a good horse. I am tired of dodging Indians
on a Government mule."
At this, Captain Nolan, who had been listening, said:
"Bill, you can have the best horse in my company."
I picked the horse ridden by Captain Nolan's first sergeant. To the
captain's inquiry as to whether I was sure I could find my way, I
replied:
"I have hunted on every acre of ground between here and Fort Hays. I
can almost keep my route by the bones of the dead buffaloes."
"Never fear about Cody, captain," Curtis added; "he is as good in the
dark as he is in the daylight."
By ten o'clock that night I was on my way to Fort Hays, sixty-five
miles distant across the country.
It was pitch-dark, but this I liked, as it lessened the probability of
the Indians' seeing me unless I stumbled on them by accident. My
greatest danger was that my horse might run into a hole and fall, and
in this way get away from me. To avoid any such accident I tied one end
of my rawhide lariat to my belt and the other to the bridle.
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