XI. WE REACH FORT LARNED 111 XII. OUR CAMP ON WALNUT CREEK 122 XIII. KILLED BY THE INDIANS 150 XIV. SATANTA'S STORY 159 XV. WILD BILL VISITS US 171 XVI. TOM LOCKS THE STABLE DOOR 184 XVII. VOLUNTEER TROOPS AT LARNED 195 XVIII. BILL RETURNS FROM HIS SCOUT 206 XIX. A NIGHT IN THE KIOWA CAMP 216 XX. WE TRADE WITH INDIANS 226 XXI. JACK'S CLOSE CALL 235 XXII. SATANK ARRIVES 243 XXIII. SURROUNDED BY KIOWAS 255 XXIV. CAPTAIN SAUNDERS' FIGHT 266 XXV. WE PART FROM FRIENDS 277 XXVI. BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY 297 ILLUSTRATIONS "Then come a puff of smoke and the prairie was afire" _Frontispiece_ Facing page "Five minutes to get out of range! Now, git!" 60 "It must have been the work of Injuns" 154 "Go to Tom" 250 THE WOLF HUNTERS CHAPTER I TOM'S PLAN "Well, men, what will we do?" said Jack Flanagan. "We can re-enlist or go back to the States and each hunt his job, or we can try to get something to do where we can all three stick together." "Let's stick together if we can," said I. "Now, hold on, men," advised Tom Vance, "until you hear what I have got to say. I have been thinking a lot about what we'd best do, and last night I think it come to me." "Tell us what it is, Tom," said Jack eagerly. "'Tis yourself has the wise head on his shoulders, and I'd like to hear your plan." We were three soldiers of Company K, First Cavalry, whose terms of service were about to expire, and we looked forward with much eagerness to the time when we should again be our own masters instead of being subject to military discipline. Of course, we could re-enlist for another five years, and the government offered inducements to do this. A soldier who re-enlisted within three months before the expiration of his term received a discharge three months in advance of its expiration, with furlough for that length of time and three months' extra pay. At the expiration of that time he was expected to report to his company or, if unable to do that, at the nearest military post. Failing to report for duty on time, he was regarded as a deserter. Tom Vance had served for three enlistments and Jack Flanagan for two. I was at the end of my first five years. We were at Fort Wise,[A] Colorado Territory, and it was the summer of 1861. The Civil War was just beginning. "What is your plan, Tom?" Jack repeated.