At Mickey's suggestion, he sent two of his most trustworthy men to the woods to keep watch, while a third was stationed on some elevated ground beyond, where he commanded an extensive view of the surrounding prairie.

As this was to be a permanent arrangement, it would seem that he had taken all reasonable precautions.

Not a suspicious sign was seen through the day.
When night came, the two men were called in, and Mickey O'Rooney, Fred Munson, and a man named Thompson went on duty.

As two was the regular number at night, it will be seen that the boy was an extra.
"We're to come in at one o'clock," he said, in reply to the remonstrance of his friend, "and I'm sure I can keep awake that long.

I believe the Indians will be around to-night, and I won't be able to sleep if I go into the wagon." Mickey had not yet learned how to refuse the boy, and so he took him along.
Thompson was a powerful, stalwart man, who had joined the party in Nebraska, and who was supposed to have considerable knowledge of the frontier and its ways.