During this chase I was mounted on an excellent horse, which Colonel Royal had picked out for me, and for the first mile or two I was in advance of the Pawnees.

Presently a Pawnee shot by me like an arrow and I could not help admiring the horse that he was riding.

Seeing that he possessed rare running qualities, I determined if possible to get possession of the animal in some way.

It was a large buckskin or yellow horse, and I took a careful view of him so that I would know him when I returned to camp.
After the chase was over I rode up to Major North and inquired about the buckskin horse.
"Oh yes," said the Major, "that is one of our favorite steeds." "What chance is there to trade for him ?" I asked.
"It is a government horse," said he, "and the Indian who is riding him is very much attached to the animal." "I have fallen in love with the horse myself," said I, "and I would like to know if you have any objections to my trading for him if I can arrange it satisfactorily with the Indian ?" He said: "None whatever, and I will help you to do it; you can give the Indian another horse in his place." A few days after this, I persuaded the Indian, by making him several presents, to trade horses with me, and in this way I became the owner of the buckskin steed, not as my own property, however, but as a government horse that I could ride.

I gave him the name of "Buckskin Joe" and he proved to be a second Brigham.