guard for that night, for with the erratic turn on Tolleston's
part, we were doubly cautious. But when my outfit was ready to
start, Runt Pickett, the feisty little rascal, had about twenty
dollars in his possession which he insisted on gambling away
before leaving town. Runt was comfortably drunk, and as Bob urged
humoring him, I gave my consent, provided he would place it all
at one bet, to which Pickett agreed. Leaving the greater part of
the boys holding the horses, some half-dozen of us entered the
nearest gambling-house, and Runt bet nineteen dollars "Alce" on
the first card which fell in a monte lay-out. To my chagrin, he
won. My brother was delighted over the little rascal's luck, and
urged him to double his bet, but Pickett refused and invited us
all to have a drink. Leaving this place, we entered the next
gaming-hall, when our man again bet nineteen dollars alce on the
first card. Again he won, and we went the length of the street,
Runt wagering nineteen dollars alce on the first card for ten
consecutive times without losing a bet. In his groggy condition,
the prospect of losing Pickett's money was hopeless, and my
brother and I promised him that he might come back the next
morning and try to get rid of his winnings.

Two whole days passed with no report from either Seay or the
buyers. Meanwhile Flood and The Rebel threaded their way through
the other herds, crossing the Arkansaw above town, their wagons
touching at Dodge for new supplies, never halting except
temporarily until they reached the creek on which Forrest was
encamped. The absence of Siringo and the buyers, to my thinking,
was favorable, for no doubt when they came in, a deal would have
been effected on the last of the Buford herds. They returned some
time during the night of the third day out, and I failed to see