Transcriber's Note: The Index (Contents) and the List of Illustrations have been moved from the end of the text to beginning of the text. Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. [Illustration: _The Fight at Adobe Walls._ (From an Oil Painting by Miss Gwynfred Jones, Hansford, Texas.--Copyrighted.)] LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF "BILLY" DIXON OF ADOBE WALLS, TEXAS PANHANDLE A Narrative in Which Is Described Many Things Relating to the Early Southwest, with an Account of the Fight Between Indians and Buffalo Hunters at Adobe Walls, and the Desperate Engagement at Buffalo Wallow, for which Congress voted the Medal of Honor to the Survivors. COMPILED BY FREDERICK S. BARDE GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA COPYRIGHT, 1914 BY MRS. OLIVE DIXON PRINTED BY THE Co-Operative Publishing Co. GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA INDEX Page. CHAPTER I. Preface--Introductory--What "Bat" Masterson Said of "Billy" Dixon--How the Story of His Life Was Written--Mrs. Dixon's Devoted Industry in Setting Down the Facts of Her Husband's Life--Fascination of the Plains Country 10 CHAPTER II. Dixon's Birth and Boyhood--Death of His Parents--From West Virginia to Home of Uncle in Missouri--Lured by Romance of Plains, the Boy Starts in Search of Adventure--Reaches Leavenworth, Kas., and Becomes a Bull-Whacker--Across the Plains--Hires to Farmer McCall 17 CHAPTER III. To Fort Harker with a Drove of "Shave-tails"--Kills His First Buffalo--The Medicine Lodge Treaty--Approaching Indians--Stirring Scenes--General Harney--Satanta and His Horse--Back to Fort Harker--Prairie Fires 46 CHAPTER IV. To Baxter Springs, Kas., in 1868--Hauling Munitions of War to Camp Supply for the Custer Expedition--All the Mules Stampede in Harness--Now Eighteen Years Old and as Hard as Nails--Begins Hunting Buffaloes for their Hides--Establishes a Road Ranch South of Hays City--Lost at Night 76 CHAPTER V. Dodge City in 1872--Dixon Never Danced or Gambled--"Cranky" McCabe--Dangerous Country South of the Arkansas--Indian Scare--Name at Boiling Spring on the South Pawnee--Sham Duel--On the Cimarron in 1873--Prowling Cheyennes--Company M and the Al Frio--History of Buffalo Spring 104 CHAPTER VI. Down in the Texas Panhandle--Ruins of Original Adobe Walls --Back to Dodge City--Fitting Out of Big Expedition to Hunt Buffaloes--The Tempestuous and Spectacular Fairchild --Night Camp in the Plains Country--Dancing on a Dry Buffalo Hide--Floods and Quicksands--Meets Jim and Bob Cator--Fun with Fairchild 142 CHAPTER VII.