_I've been thar!_" said Buffalo Bill; and we got along well together from the first.
He encouraged the idea that in my present state of mind I would make a magnificent addition to his chosen band; but I have since had some reason to believe that he was leading me on for the sole purpose of making a scarecrow of me--setting me up in some spot frequented by the redskins, to become their target, while he and his comrades scooped down from some ambush and wiped out a score or two of them after I had perished at my post.

I _suspect_ this was his plan.

He probably considered that so stupid a blunderer as I deserved no better fate than to be used as a decoy.

I think so myself.

I have nothing like the extravagant opinion of my own merits that I had when I first launched out into the sea of human conflict.
At all events, Buffalo Bill was very kind to me all the way out to the plains; he protected me as if I had been a timid young lady--took charge of my tickets, escorted me to and fro from the station eating-houses, almost cut up my food and eating it for me; and if a woman did but glance in my direction, he scowled ferociously.