The huntsman's echo. [volume] (Wood River, Buffalo County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1860-1861, 1860-07-26
"some Love to Roam y,

Day warm and clear; went across the
Bottom six miles, passing neal several
herds of buffalo. Boys couldn't sit. so
they shouldered arms and away-shot at,
wounded and followed a buffalo into the
hills, where Jim made a finishing shot,
and Immediately, from a high point n
couple Of miles distant, hailed us. We
turned over the painless hills and was
0 on the spot, were the huge black
monster had passed the last struggle,
Taking a rare chunk of hump-rib, for
roast, broil and fry, three of the boys
and one team, we pursued our way
leaving n team to transport the fallen
game homeward. We passed over an
exceedingly rolling, or, we might say
billy country, covered with short, sweet
grass, with little water and no wood,
and scarce a bush to relieve the monoto-
ny Of the waving ground, until VIC ap.
preached near the Loupe, when We found
some wood and more water. The pros
pect of the Loupe as seen from the hills
is very beautiful broad rich valley in
front, fine groves of waving timber,
through which an occasional glimpse of
the river may be had, relieved by hills
in the back ground.
We camped near the river, upon a de-
lightful spot, and soon q briget camp
fire bla4ed around our black camp kettle.
Supper over and our skin-table removed
for foundations to our sleeping arrange
ments, heavy shower of musketos fell,
which gave US business enough until
sleep overlook us. We dreamed of vast
multitudes Of buffalo, that filed the
prairies and whose heavy tread and
hoarse bellowings filed our ears, and we
awoke to find ourself lying upon our
back upon the prairie, as we dropped of,
with tho loud thunders Of Heaven rafting
around, and the lightnings playing about
us fe~arfully. The boys were aroused
and our grub, arms, ammunition and
blankets half secured under q rude ten
formed by drawing a wagon cover over a
pole laid in forks horizontally. About
the time we got we'll drenched the rain
ceased, and daylight appeared just as We
were again going off into a snooze,
which held US fast until we were aroused
for our bufalo-roast breakfast.
Passing along over the hills parallel
| with the river, we passed up, observing
several herds Of antelope. Passed over
a small tributary 10 the Loupe, whose
banks were literally cased with fruit,
and whose waters we're alive with beav-
er, otter and fish. There, n might
gather plums, grapes, cherries, gooseber-
ries and currants, (most of which are
| ripe) without stirring from the spot, and
many as fine and sweet as we ever saw.
Passing around over an extensive old
Indian cncampment. and some mostde-
lightful bottom and bench lands, and
passing small groves of timber We reach
ed a more sandy region above the juno
ton of the two branches of the Loupe,
and zeal a small lake Or pool, full of
fish, some of which, with a hook and bit
of Irvine, we secured and supped upon.
Here we also found growing and ripen-
ing, a rare and delicious fruit, upon
small bushes, not nyer a foot high, we
named the sand ~cherry-they were of
nearly the size of a tame cherry, and
very abundant. Here we also found
some cedar and other timber.
At night the alarm was given sshorses
lost,'' and q general scramble to find
out whether they had been stolen or had
strayed, but darkness SO e~fectually COW
cred their retreat that we failed, and
gave up to sleep and the results of day
light. The truant nags turned up a few
miles of next morning, and as our lar
der was entirely bare, we scud before
the wind for home.
Passing over the hills towards Wood
River. about ten miles gave us a distant
glimpse of that meandering stream,
marked with verdant groves, and the
broad Platte, beyond. The antelope
skipped away from u tracks, and soon
upen the high, clify points we could dis
cover the sentinel buffalo. The boys
spoke Of carrying the carcass of one
home. and SO started out-and,
"Soon from the uplifted tube
The mimic thunder bursts, the leaden death
O'ertakes him, and, with many a giddy whirL
To earth he falls, and at our feet expires."-
A huge shaggy Buffalo!
The skinning and cuttiDg-up process
lasted a couple of hours, and a thousand
pounds of meat heavier, we again start