When I rode back to General Sheridan's headquarters, after a visit with old friends at Hays City, I noticed several scouts in a little group engaged in conversation on some important topic.

Upon inquiry I learned that General Sheridan wanted a dispatch sent to Fort Dodge, a distance of ninety-five miles.
The Indians had recently killed two or three men engaged in carrying dispatches over this route.

On this account none of the scouts were at all anxious to volunteer.

A reward of several hundred dollars had failed to secure any takers.
The scouts had heard of what I had done the day before.

They asked me if I did not think the journey to Fort Dodge dangerous.