"Bill," said General Sheridan, "you've had a pretty lively ride. I suppose you're tired after your long journey."
"Not very," I said.
"Come in and have breakfast with me."
"No, thank you. Hays City is only a mile from here. I know every one there and want to go over and have a time."
"Very well, do as you please, but come back this afternoon, for I want to see you."
I got little rest at Hays City, and yet I was soon to set out on another hard ninety-five-mile journey.
CHAPTER V
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.