In the fore part of the month of December the officers put the men to work cleaning and straightening things up in general about the fort.  We were all confident there was something up, but just what was not known.  After everything was in proper shape it was whispered around that the paymaster would be in in a few days.  On hearing this I asked Lieut.  Jackson if it was true, and he said it was, and he also informed me that from this on we would have a regular pay day; and this was not all either, but that we were to have two more companies of cavalry and one of infantry, and said he:  “The General is talking of sending you and me to California to buy horses, but that will not be decided upon until the paymaster comes.”

It was the twentieth of December when the paymaster came, and also the three companies of recruits spoken of by the Lieutenant.  This was the first pay day the soldiers had had for over a year, and the boys all had plenty of money, but a-poor show to spend it, as there were no saloons or gambling houses there, so they amused themselves by gambling among themselves, and one could go all around the fort and see all kinds of games running, and there was money flying in the air.

CHAPTER XXXI.

To California for horses.—­My beautiful mare, black Bess.—­We get sixty-six scalps and seventy-eight horses.—­A clean Sweep.

It was about the first of January when Gen. Crook ordered Lieut.  Jackson and I to go to California to buy fifty head of cavalry horses.  With an escort of twelve men we headed for Los Angeles, expecting to be able to procure the horses there, which we did, and were back at Yuma in a little more than a month preparing to give Apaches more of our warm social attention.  In this campaign Lieut.  Jackson was to take the lead with two companies of cavalry and one of infantry, and take the same route as the season before.  Gen. Crook was to follow in a month, taking no wagons, but a pack-train of one hundred animals.  Only Mexicans were employed this time as packers, and the captain of our train was named Angel, but he didn’t look it.

It was arranged between Gen. Crook and I that I was to have twelve scouts and select them myself.  The General sent a sergeant with me to take the names of the men I wished to secure, and then he gave me permission to go into the corrall and select two horses for each of my men, taking anything that did not belong to a commissioned officer.  In the afternoon of the same day Lieut.  Jackson came to me and said:  “Captain, I have a present for you if you will accept it.  I want to give you Black Bess.”

This was the beautiful mare that he rode the year before and of which I spoke previously.

It was a very acceptable present indeed, and I was surprised to learn that he would part with her, but he walked down to the stable and turned her over to me.  He had never ridden her when going into a fight except the time of which I made mention when out on the scouting tour.  He said to me:  “She is too fine an animal for me, and if you will train her a little she will be a perfect companion to you.”