Major Brown proposed that we should call him Kit Carson, and it was finally settled that that should be his name.
During the summer we made one or two more scouts and had a few skirmishes with the Indians: but nothing of any great importance transpired.

In the fall of 1870, while I was a witness in a court martial at Fort D.A.Russell I woke up one morning and found that I was dead broke;--this is not an unusual occurrence to a frontiersman, or an author I may add, especially when he is endeavoring to kill time--to raise necessary funds I sold my race horse Tall Bull to Lieutenant Mason, who had long wanted him.
In the winter of 1870 and 1871 I first met George Watts Garland, an English gentleman, and a great hunter, whom I had the pleasure of guiding on several hunts and with whom I spent some weeks.

During the winter I also took several parties out on the Loupe River country, hunting and trapping.

Although I was still chief of scouts I did not have much to do, as the Indians were comparatively quiet, thus giving me plenty of time for sporting.
In the spring of 1871 several short scouting expeditions were sent out from Fort McPherson, but all with minor results.
About this time General Emory was considerably annoyed by petty offenses committed in the vicinity of the post, and as there was no justice of the peace in the neighborhood, he was anxious to have such an officer there to attend to the civilians; one day he remarked to me that I would make an excellent justice.
"General, you compliment me rather too highly, for I don't know any more about law than a government mule does about book-keeping," said I.
"That doesn't make any difference," said he, "for I know that you will make a good 'Squire." He accordingly had the county commissioners appoint me to the office of justice of the peace, and I soon received my commission.
One morning a man came rushing up to my house and stated that he wanted to get out a writ of replevin, to recover possession of a horse which a stranger was taking out of the country.

I had no blank forms, and had not yet received the statutes of Nebraska to copy from, so I asked the man: "Where is the fellow who has got your horse ?" "He is going up the road, and is about two miles away," replied he.
"Very well," said I, "I will get the writ ready in a minute or two." I saddled up my horse, and then taking my old reliable gun, "Lucretia," I said to the man: "That's the best writ of replevin that I can think of; come along, and we'll get that horse, or know the reason why." We soon overtook the stranger who was driving a herd of horses, and as we came up to him, I said: "Hello, sir; I am an officer, and have an attachment for that horse," and at the same time I pointed out the animal.
"Well, sir, what are you going to do about it ?" he inquired.
"I propose to take you and the horse back to the post," said I.
"You can take the horse," said he, "but I haven't the time to return with you." "You'll have to take the time, or pay the costs here and now," said I.
"How much are the costs ?" "Twenty dollars." "Here's your money," said he, as he handed me the greenbacks.
I then gave him a little friendly advice, and told him that he was released from custody.