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e front。 As ours left the stream； Bob's cattle were coming in over a mile above； and in anticipation of a dry camp that night； Parent had been advised to fill his kegs and supply himself with wood。
Detailing the third and fourth guard to wrangle the remuda； I sent Levering up the creek with my brother's horses and to recover our loaned saddle stock； even Bob Quirk was just thoughtless enough to construe a neighborly act into a horse trade。 About two miles out from the creek and an equal distance from the trail； I found the best bed…ground of the trip。 It sloped to the northwest； was covered with old dry grass； and would catch any vagrant breeze except an eastern one。 The wagon was ordered into camp； and the first and second guards were relieved just long enough to secure their night…horses。 Nearly all of these two watches had been with me during the day； and on the return of Levering with the horses； we borrowed a number of empty flour…sacks for beef； and cantered away； leaving behind only the cook and the first two guards。
What an evening and night that was！ As we passed up the creek； we sighted in the gathering twilight the camp…fires of Sponsilier and my brother； several miles apart and south of the stream。 When we reached Forrest's wagon the clans were gathering； The Rebel and his crowd being the last to come in from above。 Groups of saddle horses were tied among the trees； while around two fires were circles of men broiling beef over live coals。 The red…headed cook had anticipated forty guests outside of his own outfit； and was pouring coffee into tin cups and shying biscuit right and left on request。 The supper was a success； not on account of the spread or our superior table manners； but we graced the occasion with appetites which required the staples of life to satisfy。 Then we smoked； falling into groups when the yarning began。 All the fresh…beef stories of our lives； and they were legion； were told； no one group paying any attention to another。
Every time I run afoul of fresh beef；〃 said The Rebel； as he settled back comfortably between the roots of a cottonwood； with his back to its trunk； 〃it reminds me of the time I was a prisoner among the Yankees。 It was the last year of the war； and I had got over my first desire to personally whip the whole North。 There were about five thousand of us held as prisoners of war for eleven months on a peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay。 The fighting spirit of the soldier was broken in the majority of us； especially among the older men and those who had families。 But we youngsters accepted the fortunes of war and were glad that we were alive； even if we were prisoners。 In my mess in prison there were fifteen； all having been captured at the same time； and many of us comrades of three years' standing。
〃I remember the day we were taken off the train and marched through the town for the prison； a Yankee band in our front playing national airs and favorites of their army； and the people along the route jeering us and asking how we liked the music。 Our mess held together during the march； and some of the boys answered them back as well as they could。 Once inside the prison stockade； we went into quarters and our mess still held together。 Before we had been there long； one day there was a call among the prisoners for volunteers to form a roustabout crew。 Well； I enlisted as a roustabout。 We had to report to an officer twice a day； and then were put under guard and set to work。 The kind of labor I liked best was unloading the supplies for the prison； which were landed on a near…by wharf。 This roustabout crew had all the unloading to do； and the reason I liked it was it gave us some chance to steal。 Whenever there was anything extra； intended for the officers； to be unloaded； look out for accidents。 Broken crates were common； and some of the contents was certain to reach our pockets or stomachs； in spite of the guard。
〃I was a willing worker and stood well with the guards。 They never searched me； and when they took us outside the stockade； the captain of the guard gave me permission； after our work was over； to patronize the sutler's store and buy knick…knacks from the booths。 There was always some little money amongst soldiers； even in prison； and I was occasionally furnished money by my messmates to buy bread from a baker's wagon which was outside the walls。 Well； after I had traded a few times with the baker's boy； I succeeded in corrupting him。 Yes； had him stealing from his employer and selling to me at a discount。 I was a good customer； and being a prisoner； there was no danger of my meeting his employer。 You see the loaves were counted out to him； and he had to return the equivalent or the bread。 At first the bread cost me ten cents for a small loaf； but when I got my scheme working； it didn't cost me five cents for the largest loaves the boy could steal from the bakery。 I worked that racket for several months； and if we hadn't been exchanged； I'd have broke that baker； sure。
〃But the most successful scheme I worked was stealing the kidneys out of beef while we were handling it。 It was some distance from the wharf to the warehouse； and when I'd get a hind quarter of beef on my shoulder； it was an easy trick to burrow my hand through the tallow and get a good grip on the kidney。 Then when I'd throw the quarter down in the warehouse； it would be minus a kidney； which secretly found lodgment in a large pocket in the inside of my shirt。 I was satisfied with one or two kidneys a day when I first worked the trick； but my mess caught on； and then I had to steal by wholesale to satisfy them。 Some days； when the guards were too watchful； I couldn't get very many； and then again when things were lax； 'Elijah's Raven' would get a kidney for each man in our mess。 With the regular allowance of rations and what I could steal； when the Texas troops were exchanged； our mess was ragged enough； but pig…fat； and slick as weasels。 Lord love you； but we were a great mess of thieves。〃
Nearly all of Flood's old men were with him again； several of whom were then in Forrest's camp。 A fight occurred among a group of saddle horses tied to the front wheel of the wagon； among them being the mount of John Officer。 After the belligerents had been quieted； and Officer had removed and tied his horse to a convenient tree； he came over and joined our group； among which were the six trail bosses。 Throwing himself down among us； and using Sponsilier for a pillow and myself for footstool； he observed：
〃All you foremen who have been over the Chisholm Trail remember the stage…stand called Bull Foot； but possibly some of the boys haven't。 Well； no matter； it's just about midway between Little Turkey Creek and Buffalo Springs on that trail； where it runs through the Cherokee Strip。 I worked one year in that northern countrylots of Texas boys there too。 It was just about the time they began to stock that country with Texas steers； and we rode lines to keep our cattle on their range。 You bet； there was riding to do in that country then。 The first few months that these Southern steers are turned loose on a new range； Lord！ but they do love to drift against a breeze。 In any kind of a rain…storm； they'll travel