The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-16

land Of promise being gained, every prepara-
ton had been made the succeeding morning
for regular buffalo hunt la addition 10 my
rifle and pistols carried a long lance, with
the shalt made of thd f0uEh0zt SSH -ttIfT
weapon / found rather unmeldIy aud AWk-
warl, and saw how dilepnt Ia looked la the
hands OF my companions but iiAwkeye in.
sisted that it was indispensable, As could not
attempt the use Of the bow and arrow.
Stripped Of all suPeriluous garments, and
fully equipped for the expedition, my eou-
pauions mounted their horses, With their las
soa uncoiled and trailing upon the ground, as
invariably Is the rule In war or hunting, for
the purpose Of facilitating the recApturo Of
the animal should an unlacky separation take
place between the rider and the saddle. A.
like eager for the sport, both horses aud men
seemed 10 be moved by desire 10 let no "im-
potent delay" stand between them and the
contamination OF their hopes, ahdRa we NOV
cd forward 10 give chase 10 the herds which
-~~1'. kassTa- IL Ia in tho vicinity. / ihonght
that a finer set Of Usage hunters, albeit the
last ofthe race, never, perhaps, drew bow.
string OF couched lance. Indeed, nothing
can be conceived Landowner than they look
ed, as, with their bronzed chests aud finely
developed limbs exposed, they sat upon their
plunging horses like statues Of ihul ltless mould.
A few had decorated their bits aud brides
with blue and scarlet tasscls,and not the least
Of the most gayly decked was my retainer
ilawkcyos, who appeared disposed 10 be O.
qually conspicuous in field, or tent, or lady'a
bower
! IL was now that rucd the ucklcss mishap
which cost me Sunnysidc, and learnod-alas
not for the first timc-thc true value of les
sons taught by experience. For knowing
how much depends upon their horses, in oN-
pedtions Of this kind, the Indians take the
greatest care in running no unnecessary risks
with them, although whom in the arlor the
chase they ride like demons aud reck little
Of danger to life aud limb.
As my wild colt bad successfully given me
I the slip AT the moment of anticipating his SER.
vices in carrying me "to buffalo" was iaiu
to depend still upon Niggcr, who, Iiawkeyc
sworc by the shades Of hs fathers would out
strip the best of the herd, III only drove
my spurs well in and held hcm Mere." Ccrtc,
this was a fair specimen Of Indian treatment
70 the horse moro particularly should his
master bc in possession Of the white mant
instruments Of torture and control. Delight
ed with making an exhibition Of his horse
ihanship, and totally regardless Of the mad
dening effects OF bit aud spurs, the Indian i,
never at rest with them, but keeps both a
work with relentless rigor and perseverance
Among the red mans virtues, humanity {,
the brute creation, or indeed to those of Iii
own kind, cannot bo cIassed with an approach
IN TRUTH
| Without cvincing any emotion of dccI
chagrin, Adonis was lcn behind 10 guar,
such goods chattcls, aud provisions as woul,
have proved useless to have been carried for
ward and as it was expected that we shoul,
bc enabled 20 return to the encampment be
fore nightiiLl, he WAS directed to hold al
things in readiness, and more especially d
Withstand temptation in keeping his mout
from the bung Of my almost exhausted whis
1 key kcg. In an extended line, or by tho IA
, miliar description of Indian file, we bega
this march as usual just at ruddy day break
- and were not far advanced on the great pra
4 rie stretching before us like vast and limi
n less ocean, when Blackwell, who headed tn
A force, reinod in his dark iron-grOy stced wit
A sudden jerk which sent him nearly upo
: his launches. In an instant all was comm,
, tion. Arrows were drawn from their quive
s -bow-strings tried and thrummed, lane,
: poised, aud every eye directed to the spot q
d which the chief fixed his earnest and ilashir
gaze.
f Nottwo miles distant and grazing in far
d ciod security on piece of table land as lev
n as bowhng-green, large herd Of bufia
" was deserted, looking in the distance like
A. many black specks on tho waste. Some
i could perceive were lying down, and Il
i. scene altogether may be compared, witho
violence to the Imagination, to what the tou
n ist may witness by the aid of railways, wit
-, in few hours of the metropolis, in n cant
NJ across Dartmoor or Exmoor, and where
ia dread exists OF Pawnees and Camanches.
:, 1t was decided that we should head &
NJ herd, and endcavor to drive them back
s. ward the encampmcnt, in order 10 save as !
!, tie time and troable ss.Possihle in getting {
e meat and skins to that quarter. In prosecr
,v ing this scheme We had to make a wide cir,
Il. from the direct course, and indeed it wor
or have been impossible to approach them
,d any other way, as VIC were down the VIII
# and their powers Of scent, like those given
ho the denizens OF the wild in general, are
~ the most acute order.
nm "Yon know, major" observed Hawke.
h. as he turned our horses considerably to I
,e lcft, for the purpose of covering our eircu
bv venting man@uyre under the screen of /
r.. Iiaas Of hlnfIa rnnnin1 parallel With each o
l.. or, "Fou know, major" repeated he with