In the fall, he and partner David Harrington tried trapping the creeks feeding the Republican River of western Kansas. They were doing quite well, when a bear killed one of their oxen. Then Billy broke his leg when he fell one day. Harrington rode the one oxen left over 100 miles to the nearest settlement. While he was gone, Sioux Indians came and took most of Billy's remaining food. The only reason they didn't kill him was because Billy had known the chief's son back at Fort Laramie. Dave finally returned and the two of them went back to civilization. They made quite a bit of money, most of which Billy turned over to his mother.
Then Billy heard about the Pony Express. This was an adventure tailor made for him. But he had to wait for his leg to heal. As soon as he could, he went to see George Chrisman at the Julesburg, Colorado station. Chrisman didn't want to take on someone as young as Billy, who was only 14 years old. He sent him to a station further east, where it was less dangerous. Billy was hired on a trial basis as the youngest rider. But when the Paiute War broke out in Nevada, the Pony Express was interrupted for several weeks. Riders were balking about going out there. Naturally, that is precisely where Billy wanted to be.
