“Yes, sir,” I replied, “but if Mr. Curtis had not turned in a few minutes I was going to tell you.”

So for twelve miles I rode with Sherman, and we became fast friends.  He asked me all manner of questions on the way, and I found that he knew my father well, and remembered his tragic death in Salt Creek Valley.  He asked what had become of the rest of the family and all about my career.  By the end of the ride I had told him my life history.

As we were riding along together, with the outfit following on, I noticed pony tracks from time to time, and knew that we were nearing the Springs.  Presently I said: 

“General, we are going to find Indians at the Springs when we reach there.”

“How do you know?”

“We have been riding where ponies have been grazing for the last mile.”

“I haven’t seen any tracks,” said the General in surprise.  “Show me one.”

I jumped off my horse, and, thrusting the buffalo grass aside, I pointed out many tracks of barefooted ponies.  “When we rise that ridge,” I told him, “we shall see the village, and thousands of ponies and Indian lodges.”

In a very few minutes this prophecy came true.  Curtis and the other scouts with the officers rode up quickly behind us, and we all had a fine view of this wonderful sight of the desert—­a great Indian camp.  As we stood gazing at the spectacle we observed great excitement in the village.  Warriors by the dozens were leaping on their horses and riding toward us, till at least a thousand of them were in the “receiving line.”

“It looks to me as if we had better fall into position,” said Sherman.

“It is not necessary,” I said.  “They have given us the peace sign.  They are coming toward us without arms.”

So Sherman, with General Harney, General Sanborn, and the other officers rode slowly forward to meet the oncoming braves.

“This is where you need Curtis,” I told the General as he advanced.  “He is the best Kiowa and Comanche interpreter on the Plains and he knows every one of these Indians personally.”

Curtis was accordingly summoned and made interpreter, while I was assigned to remain about the commander’s tent and given charge of the scouts.

As the Indians drew near with signs of friendliness, Curtis introduced the chiefs, Satanta, Lone Wolf, Kicking Bird, and others to General Sherman as the head of the Peace Commission.

The Indians, having been notified in advance of the coming of the Commission, had already selected a special spring for our camp and had prepared a great feast in honor of the meeting.  To this feast, which was spread in the center of the village, the Commissioners were conducted, while the scouts and the escort went into camp.

The Indians had erected a great canopy of tanned buffalo skins on tepee poles.  Underneath were robes for seats for the General and his staff, and thither they were led with great ceremony.  Near by was a great fire on which, buffalo, antelope, and other animals were roasting.  Even coffee and sugar had been provided, and the feast was served with tin plates for the meat and tin cups for the coffee.  Another tribute to the customs of the guests was a complete outfit of knives and forks.  Napkins, however, appeared to be lacking.