I found the boss, riding a big gray horse ahead of the herd.

I ordered him to round up the herd.
"By what authority!" he demanded.

"Are you a constable ?" I said I was not only a constable, but the whole court, and one of his men at the same time whispered to him: "Be careful, that is Buffalo Bill!" At this time, as well as for years past, I had been chief United States detective for the army as well as scout and guide.

I felt that with the offices of justice and constable added to these titles I had all the power necessary to take one horse.
The herd boss evidently thought so, too.

After asking if my name were Cody, and being told that it was, he said: "Well, there is no need of having a fuss over one horse." "No," said I, "a horse doesn't mean much to you, but it amounts to a good deal to this poor immigrant." "Well," said the herd boss, "how do you propose to settle it ?" "I am going to take you and your whole outfit to Fort McPherson.