But when this uncouth person came to transact his business with the General, he turned out to be a man of no ordinary abilities.

His description of a route he took as guide and trailer for the Ogallalas in bringing them from the Platte to this place was minute, and to me exceedingly interesting.

Every war party that for the season had crossed his trail, he described with minuteness as to their number, the kinds of arms they had, and stated the tribes they belonged to.

In these strange revelations that he made there was neither imposition nor supposition, for he gave satisfactory reasons for every assertion he made.
"I have rode several hundred miles with an experienced guide and trailer, Hack, whom I interrogated upon many points in the practice of this art.

Nearly all tracks I saw, either old or new, as a novice in the art, I questioned him about.