to go with her when she requested me to do so.  After I had been at the Fort about two weeks Mrs. Elliott said she was going to give another party, but I told her I had a lawful excuse this time for not dancing, as the surgeon would not allow me to dance on account of my shoulder.  Among the balance of Mrs. Elliott’s lady friends was Lieut.  Jackson’s wife, who, by the way, was one of the loveliest and best women I have ever met.  Her husband had been ordered the past summer out to Arizona, and was at that time establishing a new fort, which was known afterwards as Fort Yuma.

Mrs. Jackson was expecting to go soon to join her husband at Fort Yuma, and as I was going on to the waters of the Gila, trapping, she insisted on my waiting and going in company with them.  Finally, after stopping around the Fort three weeks, the surgeon told me by a certain time, which was nearly a week, I might start out, and if I was careful I would be perfectly safe.

I went down to the city, and Jim Beckwith and I agreed on the time to start, after which I returned to the Fort.

The evening before I was to start, every army officer at the Fort, there being twenty-eight in number, and every lady, married and single, came to Mrs. Elliott’s house.  When I asked her what all this meant, she said:  “I suppose they have come to bid you good-bye.”  But it was not long until I knew the object of the meeting, for some one in the crowd sang out:  “Choose partners for a quadrille!” and in a jiffy there was a double set on the floor, and the floor manager said:  “All ready.”

The musicians took their seats, and the same prompter stood there that prompted for them the time I attended that other party of Mrs. Elliott’s.

The music started up, and I commenced to realize that I was attending a party, or the party was attending me, one of the two.  They danced nearly all night, and had what they called a nice time, while I sat back in one corner scared half to death for fear they would call “ladies’ choice;” and I knew Mrs. Elliott or some other lady was sure to come for me, and as my shoulder was getting most well, I was afraid that I could not get clear on the plea of being a cripple.

When the party broke up, Mrs. Jackson insisted on my paying them a visit at Fort Yuma, as it would not be a great ways from where I was going to trap the coming winter.

The next morning when I rode off, and different ones were waving me adieu, Mrs. Elliott told me to be sure and pay them a visit when I came to the city.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Trapping on the Gila.—­The Pimas impart A Secret.—­Rescue of A white girl.—­A young Indian agent.—­Visit to Taos.—­Uncle Kit Fails to recognize me

The same day that I left the Fort, Jim Beckwith came down to the boat bringing my horses, twelve in number, and after buying our outfit for camping, provisions, and so on, we bought quite a lot of beads, blankets, cheap rings and such goods as we could trade to the Indians for furs.