"I wish to God there was a gulch (ravine) between here and the fort! I'd
upset this crowd into it d---d quick!"
That evening I took leave of Brigham. I drank healths with him in
whisky, and shook hands, and said--
"I did a very foolish and reckless thing to-day, Brigham, when I shot at
you, and I am sorry for it, and I beg your pardon. Here is a dagger
which I have had for twenty-five years. I carried it all over Europe. I
have nothing better to give you; please take it. And when you stick a
Greaser (Mexican) with it, as I expect you will do some day, then think
of me."
The tears rose to his eyes, and he departed. I never met him again, but
"well I wot" he ever had kindly remembrance of me. We were to be guests
of General Custer at the fort, and I was rather shy of meeting the
castellan after firing at his driver! But he greeted me with a hearty
burst of laughter, and said--
"Mr. Leland, you have the most original way of ringing a bell when you
want to call a carriage that I ever heard of."