t appeared to be dragging long ropes and pins. The
tracks were following the trail and going in the same direction
that we were traveling. We had a long down grade before us. The
plain was dotted here and there with herds of buffalo. I halted
and with my spyglass took a careful survey of the country. My
efforts were rewarded by the sight of mules feeding among the
buffalo.

We went on until we arrived as close to them as we could go
without leaving the trail. We called a halt, turned our mules
loose, then spread out the oilcloth that I used to feed the mules
on, and scattered a little of the grain we had left on the cloth.
The strange mules saw it, and came running to get a feed of
grain. We got hold of the ropes that were on the necks of four of
the mules and tied them together.

There was a black mare mule that was quite shy, but I finally
caught the rope that was on her neck. The mule at that came at me
with her ears turned back and mouth open. She caught me by the
arm and bit me severely, then turned and ran away. Lieut. Gully
said:

"Let her go, she will kill some of us."

"No, we will not let her go," said I.

Again I caught her, and she made for me again, but I caught the
rope near the end where it was fastened to an iron pin, and
struck her a blow with the pin, which knocked her down. I then
placed my knee on her neck, and caught her by the nose with my
hands. I held her in this way until a bridle was put on her,
after which we were able to manage her easily. I hitched this
wild mule to the wagon by the side of Friendship. We now had
fresh riding animals, and turned our jaded ones loose, and drove
them before us.

At Kane Creek we lost the mule that I got from the soldiers in
Santa Fe. It drank more of the alkali water than was good for it;
we left it on the plains and went our way. We saw so many fresh
Indian signs that we knew we had no time to stay and doctor sick
mules. A few nights later I saw a large body of Indians among the
cedars on a mountain, not far off, but our lucky star was guiding
us, for soon we met three hundred soldiers, with whom we camped
that night. The force was so strong that the Indians did not
attack us. Next day we met soldiers frequently, and every few
hours thereafter we encountered troops until we reached Fort
Leavenworth.

It was storming hard when we got to St. Joseph, Missouri. We put
up at a hotel, but before our animals were in a stable Eagan was
gone. I could not