Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-11-22
My First Buffalo Hunt.

Like most Americans, | had been at
tempting too much. A close attention to
business, and endless balls and ''parties," 4"
had nearly wound me up. So the ques-
ton was, how shonld recuperate.
why don't you take take trip to
the Plains and crack at the bufalo?"
asked friend ''it would be just the.
thing for you"
This was a pleasure | had long had in
view, and the very idea made my blood tin
gle and chest expand. "Y ou've cut the knot,
old boy /; and as I'll not have time to say
goodbye to everybody, act as proxy,
will you?"
Two days were spent in gathering traps
together and putting business matters 10
trim. An army friends sent two carbines
lone Remington, the other Spencer) and a
brace of revolyers, with Introductory let
ters to the different posts.
Adicux said, luggage checked, and rifles
in hand, stepped into the western train,
light of heart and on mighty deeds intent.
Bring ME scalp!" shouts friend
from the platform; "Don't lose your
ownl" cries another; Send me a squaw :.
third-and we're off.
As this is not intended for an excur-
sion guide, it matters not by what route
or where / went Suffice it to say that
after several days travel by rail and road
| reached the Mecca Of my hopes.
found the officers at this, as at every
other post which | visited gentlemen in
the true sense of the word, for they were
wiling to inconvenience themselves to
please Others 1t was agreed that after
a rest of two days We would make up a
party for hunt. So imagine us on the
morning of the.third day as we trot out
of the garrison prepared for the chase.
The Major, W., and rode in front
behind US comes the cavalry escort, to
guard against supposihous Indians and
after them large six-mule wagon for the
game. We three are armed alike-a
brace of revolvers strapped to the waist
and our short carbines slung across the
shoulders; the only difference being that
the Major carries a Winchester, w. a
Sharpe, and ! Remington. The sun is
well up by the time we get under way,
and everything, ourselves inclusive, is
bright and full of life. After riding about
ten miles we get into the heart of Bison
dom, and stop on the top ola long slope
to reconnoitre For miles and miles
around stretches the broad prarie, swell
ing here and there into miniature hills,
and then sweeping out into wide savan.
nabs. the bright spring sparkling with
the last nights rain, and dotted with
rich-hued fowerets peeping from the grass
In many places the flowers grow stronger
than their sister green, and form brilliant
parterres, which glow in the early morn.
ing sun like youthful hopes.
Occasional groups Of bison are scatter.
ed around, azily grazing orr ''chewing the
the cud Of refection;" while far out to.
wards the horizon is seen huge herd
numbering thousands, moving steadily on.
ward, little needing that dark speck te
the right of them, SO Insignificant in ap.
pearance and still arbiters of their fate
The decision is soon made.
"Never mind the small patches" sale
the Major; slet's go for the lump. Take
it easy, look out for dog holes, and spare
your horses
Off we start, first on a trot and ther
| quickening to an easy canter, Beauty
and deceit are said to go hand in hand
and SO it proves withthe seemingly smooth
sward. Every few yards we find it pierre
ed, as il were, by dry artesian wells
| These are the prairie-dog holes, and every
minute some inquisitive rascal pops bis
head out, gives US glance, and drops
like shot iuto his house again, to tell o.
the strange menagerie that has just passed
..Hallol Look at that fellow p AS
speak. out hollow fifty yards in front O
us rolls an old bull. He stops an instane
| gives us glance, and off he starts at .
numbering gallop. This is more than
can stand SO after him go with whoop