"Now, boys, I don't want you to go to any trouble on my account, for I'm used to taking things as they come, an' my horse is, too. I'm afraid it'll be hard on your broncos to turn 'em out in the cold."
"Not a bit of it," replied Jack. "The weather's not bad now, an' they're tough, anyway. You see, we don't have the honor of entertainin' the Honorable William Hickock, Esq., every day, an' we want to treat him so well that he'll come again."
"Well, I'll sure do it," replied the scout; then taking a look at our camp and surrounding grounds, he added: "Boys, you've certainly picked out an' built a good camp an' planned everything handy for your winter's work. I think I can see ol' Tom's handiwork all through this layout."
"You're right," said Jack; "if it wasn't for ol' Tom's brains I don't know what we'd do."
Going into the stable again, Jack brought out Black Prince to show him to Bill.
"This is the horse that we captured from them jayhawkers back t'other side of Council Grove," he said as he led the black out for the scout's inspection.
"He's a fine-lookin' fellow, Jack. Is he any good?"
"You bet. One of the best horses for all-'round service I ever saw," replied the enthusiastic Irishman.
We had a great time that afternoon relating to Bill all the happenings since we parted with him in Leavenworth, and after supper we still had plenty to talk about by candle-light.
"Boys, you seem to have taken good care of Found," said Bill, stroking the dog's head again for the thousandth time, "judging by his looks and the contented way he's stuck to you. Has he been any account to you?"