I seemed to have the qualifications necessary, but for a man who had lived my kind of life it proved a tame employment.

I found myself sighing once more for the freedom of the Plains.

Incidentally I felt sure I could make money as a plainsman, and, now that I had a wife to support, money had become a very important consideration.
I sold out the Golden-Rule House and set out alone for Saline, Kansas, which was then at the end of construction of the Kansas Pacific Railway.

On my way I stopped at Junction City, were I again met my old friend, Wild Bill, who was scouting for the Government, with headquarters at Fort Ellsworth, afterward called Fort Harker.

He told me more scouts were needed at the Post, and I accompanied him to the fort, where I had no difficulty in securing employment.
During the winter of 1866-67 I scouted between Fort Ellsworth and Fort Fletcher.