Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-16
mo. XLVII.

IN perfect torrents. The lightning lii
up the prairie 10 every direction and
the darkness which succeeded each
flash appeared to me of uncommon
blackness. The wind, too, howled
and moaned around US, and struck a
cold chill through my scanty covering.
Never have | seen or rather felt it rain
so hard as on that particular night
For once it really seemed as though
the foodgates of heaven were open
ed, and the water came down in a
body. | was tired and faint, however
from want of food unusual fatigues of
the day, and wet as | was | soon fell
asleep.
The next morning, while drying our
blankets, party went out in search
ofthe buffalo, and with success. They
found him badly wounded and unable
TO run, and single we'll directed ball
completed our work. On taking off
his hide it was found that over thirty
balls had struck him. They were
mostly small, however, and not one of
them had touched mortal part, al
though he must have died during the
day from the wounds. Every pound
ofhis poor and tough flesh was brought
into camp. and after having been even
| ly divided among the different messes
preparations were made for our imme-
date departure.
We had scarcely proceeded mile
before we encountered a narrow but
deep gully running nearly north and
south, the banks of which were filled
to the top with water. With no GER
tainty of finding fording place near
we dashed Immediately in and swan
our horses safely across. The passage
having been made the journey was
again resumed, and briskly we scour-
ed across the smooth but desolate prai-
RE. We hurried rapidly on with the
hope that before nighllall we might
discover eithertrees or bushes Of some
kind to cook our buffalo meat, but the
sun went down and with it all our
prospects.
We gathered few buffalo chips
excellent fuel when dry and universal
| ly used for cooking purposes by all
travellers upon the lone prairies-but
in the present instance they had been
dampened by the heavy night showers
and it was with the greatest difficulty
that we could ignite them at all. We
made out, however, to 1Uaym our meat
a little, | will not say that it was cooked
and voraciousIy did [ swallow several
pounds ofthe tough and unsavory food;
yet poor as it was, at the time | thought
it the most delicious meal | had ever
made.
That night, and for the first time
since we bad struck the grand prairie,
we were sereEaded by pack ofrascal-
ly wolves, who skulked and howled
for hours within a few yards of our
outposts. The "sign'' was consider
ed highly favorable at the time, as these
animals are seldom found far from
woods or settlements. An old back
woodsman remarked that we should
find Indians, white people or an end
to the prairie the next day.
We made an early start in the
morning and still continued the same
course. About nine o'clock drove
numbering some seventy-five borses,
as we then thought, was discovered
some distance to our left. To all APP
pearance they were tame animals, and
many thought they could see human
beings among them.
Our main party Immediately halted
and formed, while three or four of US
went out with the intention Of taking
closer look at our neighbors. We
hoisted flag of truce, and a sorry
looking flag it was. l was the owner
and possessor of a handkerchief which
in its better days had been white. 1t
was now a miserable Witty brown imi-
tation, but al the same time it came
nearer peaceful color than anything
we had, and was accordingly hoisted
upon ramrod and held high aloG.---
As we gradually approached there ap-
peared to be no little commotion
among the strangers. Their actions
were plainly those Of mustangs, and
with the belief they were nothing else
we returned to the main party and the
march was resumed. Among the gang
when we first noticed them were two
or three white spots which we mistook
for fags-a nearer view convinced US
that they were young colts.
About the middle ofthe day, far to
the southwest, the deep blue tops Of
range OF mountains were seen, and
as we jonrneyed on they soon more
plainly developed themselves. This
was joyful sight to all. Wehad now
been seven days upon the prairie, aver
aging at least thirty miles day, and
many began despair of every getting
off the dreary waste. There was now
a prospect Of a change, and any
. change we then thought would be fol-
the better.
We continued on until near three
O'Clock when suddenly beautiful val