I went to Mr.Majors, whom I always called Uncle Aleck, and asked him for a job.

I told him of our situation, and that I needed it very badly for the support of my mother and family.
"But you're only a boy, Billy," he objected.

"What can you do ?" "I can ride as well as a man," I said.

"I could drive cavayard, couldn't I ?" Driving cavayard is herding the extra cattle that follow the wagon train.
Mr.Majors agreed that I could do this, and consented to employ me.

I was to receive a man's wages, forty dollars a month and food, and the wages were to be paid to my mother while I was gone.