The second day that we had been following these Indians we came upon an old squaw, whom they had left on the prairie to die.  Her people had built for her a little shade or lodge, and had given her some provisions, sufficient to last her on her trip to the happy hunting-grounds.  This the Indians often do when pursued by an enemy and one of their number becomes too old to travel any longer.  This squaw was recognized by John Nelson, who said she was a relative of his wife.  From her we learned that the flying Indians were known as Pawnee-Killer’s band, and that they had lately killed Buck’s surveying party, consisting of eight or nine men, the massacre having occurred a few days before on Beaver Creek.  We knew that they had had a fight with the surveyors, as we found quite a number of surveying instruments, which had been left in the abandoned camp.  We drove these Indians across the Platte River and then returned to Fort McPherson, bringing the old squaw with us; from there she was sent to the Spotted Tail agency.

Fort McPherson was in the centre of a fine game country, in which buffalo were particularly plentiful, and though fairly surrounded by hostile Indians, it offered so many attractions for sportsmen that several hunting-parties braved the dangers for the pleasures of buffalo-chasing.  In September, 1871, General Sheridan brought a number of friends out to the post for a grand hunt, coming by way of North Platte in a special car, and thence by government wagons to the fort, which was only eighteen miles from that station.

Soon after the departure of General Sheridan’s party, General Carr started out on a twenty days’ scout, not so much for the purpose of fighting Indians, but more for the object of taking some friends on a hunt.  His guests were a couple of Englishmen—­whose names I cannot now remember—­and Mr. McCarthy of New York, who was a relative of General Emory.  The command consisted of three companies of the Fifth Cavalry, one company of Pawnee Indians, and twenty-five wagons.  Of course I was called on to accompany the expedition.

One day, after we had been out from the post for some little time, I was hunting on Deer Creek, in company with Mr. McCarthy, about eight miles from the command.  I had been wishing for several days to play a joke on him, and had arranged a plan with Captain Lute North to carry it into execution.  I had informed North at about what time we would be on Deer Creek, and it was agreed that he should appear in the vicinity with some of his Pawnees, who were to throw their blankets around them, and come dashing down upon us, firing and whooping in true Indian style, while he was either to conceal or disguise himself.  This programme was faithfully and completely carried out.  I had been talking about Indians to McCarthy, and he had become considerably excited, when just as we turned a bend of the creek, we saw not half a mile from us about twenty Indians, who instantly started for us on a gallop, firing their guns and yelling at the top of their voices.