Jim thanked the Colonel kindly for the honor, but told him he could not accept the offer as he had another matter he wished to attend to, and told him of the scheme he had on hand.  But, he said, he had a young man with him that he could recommend highly for that position, and he gave me a great send off as a scout.

The Colonel insisted on our going with him to his private quarters for supper, which we did, and after having a pleasant visit with him, we returned to our own camp for the night.

When we were ready to take our departure for the evening, Col.  Elliott said:  “Mr. Drannan, can I see you privately to-morrow morning at nine o’clock?”

I told him that I would call at his quarters at that hour.

After Jim and I had reached our camp I asked him why he had misrepresented me to Col.  Elliott in the way he had, when he knew I had never scouted a day in my life, knew nothing of scouting and had done very little Indian fighting.

Jim said:  “You are a young man and have been among the Indians long enough to be pretty well acquainted with their habits.  There is not a single fellow in Elliott’s outfit knows as much about scouting as my black horse, and if you ever intend starting in, now is your chance.  That is the reason I gave you such a send off to the Colonel.”

After thinking the matter over, I concluded that Jim was right in regard to it, and now was a good time to make a start.

After breakfast the next morning I met Col.  Elliott at his quarters at the time appointed.  He invited me in and set out a bottle of whiskey and a glass.  I thanked him, but declined to drink.

“Where were you raised,” said the Colonel, “that you do not drink whiskey?  I thought you grew up in the Rocky Mountains.”

I told him that I did, but was not raised to drink whiskey.  I also told him that I had been brought up, since a boy fifteen years old, by Kit Carson.

The Colonel asked me many questions about Indians, their habits, my idea of fighting them and so on, after which he asked me if I would like a position as scout.  I told him I would, provided there was enough in it to justify me.

The Colonel made me a proposition of one hundred dollars a month and rations, I to furnish my own horses.  I could also turn my extra horses in with the Government horses and it would cost me nothing to have them herded.  I accepted his proposition, agreeing to start in on the following morning.  I also had an agreement with him that when I did not suit him, he was to pay me off and I would quit.  Also, when he did not suit me, I was to have the privilege of quitting at any time, all of which was satisfactory to him, and I started in on the following morning as per agreement.

That evening about sunset three of Col.  Elliott’s scouts came in, and he gave me an introduction to them, telling them that I was going to be a brother scout.  After supper I had a long talk with one of them, in which he posted me somewhat as to the different watering places, grass, etc.