While we were talking, his chief of scouts Dick Parr, entered and stated that none of the scouts had yet volunteered.

Upon hearing this I got my "brave" up a little, and said: "General, if there is no one ready to volunteer, I'll carry your dispatches myself." "I had not thought of asking you to do this duty, Cody, as you are already pretty hard worked.

But it is really important that these dispatches should go through," said the General.
"Well, if you don't get a courier by four o'clock this afternoon, I'll be ready for business at that time.

All I want is a fresh horse," said I; "meantime I'll take a little more rest." It was not much of a rest, however, that I got, for I went over to Hays City again and had "a time with the boys." I came back to the post at the appointed hour, and finding that no one had volunteered, I reported to General Sheridan.

He had selected an excellent horse for me, and on handing me the dispatches he said: "You can start as soon as you wish--the sooner the better; and good luck go with you, my boy." In about an hour afterwards I was on the road, and just before dark I crossed Smoky Hill River.