noon
We had an easy night with the cattle . Lovell insisted on standing a guard , so he took Rod Wheat 's horse and stood the first watch , and after returning to the wagon , he and McNulta , to our great interest , argued the merits of the different trails until near midnight . McNulta had two herds coming in on the Chisholm trail , while Lovell had two herds on the Western and only one on the Chisholm . The next morning Forrest , who was again in charge , received orders to cross the Arkansaw River shortly after noon , and then let half the outfit come into town . The old trail crossed the river about a mile above the present town of Dodge City , Kansas , so when we changed horses at noon , the first and second guards caught up their top horses , ransacked their war bags , and donned their best toggery . We crossed the river about one o'clock in order to give the boys a good holiday , the stage of water making the river easily fordable . McCann , after dinner was over , drove down on the south side for the benefit of a bridge which spanned the river opposite the town .