The Free State men, myself among them, took it for granted that Missouri was a slave state.

Well, Bill [Bill Hickok] was a pretty good shot. But he could not shoot as quick as half a dozen men we all knew in those days, nor as straight either. But Bill was cool, and the men who he went up against were rattled, I guess. Bill beat them to it. He made up his mind to kill the other man before the other man had finished thinking.

My debut upon the world's stage occurred on February 26th, 1845.

The first presentation of my show was given in May, 1883, at Omaha, which I had then chosen as my home. From there we made our first summer tour, visiting practically every important city in the country.

Major North and myself went out in advance of the command several miles and killed a number of buffaloes.

I felt only as a man can feel who is roaming over the prairies of the far West, well armed, and mounted on a fleet and gallant steed.

After crossing the Smoky Hill River, I felt comparatively safe as this was the last stream I had to cross.