"I can ride as well as a man," I said. "I could drive cavayard,
couldn't I?" Driving cavayard is herding the extra cattle that follow
the wagon train.

Mr. Majors agreed that I could do this, and consented to employ me. I
was to receive a man's wages, forty dollars a month and food, and the
wages were to be paid to my mother while I was gone. With forty dollars
a month she would be able to support her daughters and my baby brother
in comfort. Before I was allowed to go to work Uncle Aleck handed me
the oath which every one of his employees must sign. I did my best to
live up to its provisions, but I am afraid that the profanity clause at
least was occasionally violated by some of the bull-whackers. Here is
the oath:

"We, the undersigned wagon-masters, assistants, teamsters and all
other employees of the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell, do hereby
sign that we will not swear, drink whisky, play cards or be cruel
to dumb beasts in any way, shape or form.

his
(Signed) "WILLIAM FREDERICK X CODY."
mark

I signed it with my mark, for I could not write then. After
administering this ironclad oath Mr. Majors gave each man a Testament.

My first job was that of accompanying a herd of cattle destined for
beef for the troops that had gone on ahead. Bill McCarthy, boss of the
outfit, was a typical Westerner, rough but courageous, and with plenty
of experience on the frontier.