noon
`` I want to see Pawnee Brown . '' It was Dan Gilbert , who was making his way through the crowd to the great scout 's side . Gilbert held a message from Arkansas City . It was to the effect that Pawnee Brown should telegraph to Washington at once and wait until noon at Arkansas City for a reply . Five minutes later Pawnee Brown was on the trail over which the wagon train had journeyed the night before . He had told Gilbert , Clemmer and the others of the nearness of the Government cavalrymen and had advised a halt until further orders from himself . Clemmer had promised to wait , although ready `` ter swoop down on 'em , b ' gosh , an ' take wot belongs ter us , '' as he expressed himself .