Just as I had put the horses in the corral and before I had time to dismount, Col. Elliott's orderly came on the dead run, saying: "Col. Elliott wishes to see you at his quarters at once."
I turned about and rode over to the Colonel's tent, and when I had saluted him, he said: "Sir, whose horses are those you just turned into that corral?"
I said: "Sir, those are my horses, as I understand that any stock captured from the Indians by an independent scout, he is entitled to."
"Mr. Drannan, do you tell me that you captured those horses from an Indian?"
I said: "Col. Elliott, yes, sir; and here is something more I captured with them." At that I threw down the five scalps at his feet.
He looked amazed as he gazed at the scalps, but said nothing for a few moments.
About this time the orderly announced Jim Beckwith at the door.
The Colonel said let him come in, and just as he entered the door,
Col. Elliott said:
"Beckwith, where do you suppose this scout got those scalps?"
Jim picked up the scalps, examined them thoroughly, and said:
"I'll bet my black horse that he took them from the heads of five
Pah-Ute Indians."
The Colonel smiled and said: "Drannan, if you will tell us all about the whole affair, I will treat."