It was while examining the old curios, guns, and mining equipment of Deadwood discovery days, in the log cabin which Custer built at Custer City - in 1875, that our notice was directed to a buffalo skull, with the horns still attached. It was lying in the corner on the cabin floor, and being of extraordinary size, the old caretaker was asked where it came from. Mr. Raver, then past eighty, was glad to tell the story of where he had picked it up while with the overland freighting outfit on his first trip into the Black Hills, in 1877. He had taken care of it ever since, - to the time when he was appointed guardian of the Custer cabin and museum; then he placed it with other oldtime relics of mining days, in the historic building.

When told that we were the one in charge of buying and shipping buffalo bones in the old days, and would highly appreciate this fine specimen to add to the collection at the Wigwam, provided he would part with it and name a price for it. It would be doubly valued as coming from the original bone-picker of old Dakota Territory, and more so, because it had the original horns still on it, -a fine example of the thousands of tons of hornless skulls handled by the writer from that country nearly a half century before, part of the vast volume of bone traffic totalling more than forty million dollars.

We were on the way north through the Black Hills, and when so informed, Raver volunteered to be guide and drive us in his own car as far as Rapid City for train connections east.

On leaving the Custer cabin, Raver said: "If you will pay the freight on the skull, I'll send it to you" - but would not receive any compensation for it. Wanted it to be some place where it was appreciated and would be cared for, he said.

A most delightful companion; no one knew the Black Hills so well and could tell of his experiences during gold hunting with more detail and natural charm, - days of Indian troubles, stage robbery and of his acquaintances with famous characters. He told of an attack of pneumonia he once had; he lay sick craving pickles denied him by the doctor, but when he appealed to Calamity Jane, who was one of his regular callers during his illness, she brought him some pickles, in defiance of the doctor's orders, and kept him supplied, until he got well. He knew Wild Bill, with little respect.

During the drive Raver related the story of the first trip by "bull" train from St. Pierre; the first day out they made camp at Willow Creek. Next morning as they got underway, they came to three dead white men alongside the road; they had just been killed by Indians, their bodies still limp. They stopped the train, placed guards and dug shallow pits for each and covered them as best they could, with dirt and stones to protect against wolves and coyotes. They had but one small size train, and few men in the party. Fearing an attack from Indians known to be nearby, no time was lost in getting forward; they did not make search of the dead men's clothing to try to identify them, - but hurried away.

Dates were jotted down in the writer's notebook, - with the idea in mind, that some day he might learn from his Indian friends, all about the mystery, if not the party's name or identity, then possibly what Indians did the killing.

The Secretaries of State of the various states were holding the annual convention in the new hotel at Rapid City when we arrived. When registered from the Keystone State, it was found that no representative was present, and the writer was adopted as one from Pennsylvania.