Still following the North Platte for some considerable distance, the trail crossed this river at old Richard's Bridge, and followed it up to the celebrated Red Buttes--crossing the Willow creeks to the Sweet Water, passing the great Independence Rock and the Devil's gate, up to the Three Crossings of the Sweet Water, thence past the Cold Springs, where, three feet under the sod, on the hottest day of summer, ice can be found; thence to the Hot Springs and the Rocky Ridge, and through the Rocky Mountains and Echo Canon, and thence on to the Great Salt Lake valley.
We had started on our trip with everything in good shape, following the above described trail.

During the first week or two out, I became well acquainted with most of the train men, and with one in particular, who became a life-long and intimate friend of mine.

His real name was James B.Hickok; he afterwards became famous as "Wild Bill, the Scout of the Plains"-- though why he was so called I never could ascertain--and from this time forward I shall refer to him by his popular nickname.

He was ten years my senior--a tall, handsome, magnificently built and powerful young fellow, who could out-run, out-jump and out-fight any man in the train.

He was generally admitted to be the best man physically, in the employ of Russell, Majors & Waddell; and of his bravery there was not a doubt.