The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-10
FRONTIER sKBTOHES.---EO. /.

HY S. o. =. EEDSA.
Knowing that a bountiful repast gen
eraIlv conduces to cheerfulness and To-
quacity, / attempted another assault
i.s,n f.s imperiurbable Freucb1 ans
breastwork uf reticence, after seeing
him retire in perfect composure from
full feast Of delicious buffalo hump, but
found il iuvulnerable' as before. But
after quoting an old French maxim for
my delectation that might be rendered,
cone fool can ask more questions than
"a score OF wise men eau answer" as
IL 20 illustrate its truth, he turned
querist himself, aud never was diil-
dent pumpkin forced TO pass a more
trying ordeal AT the hands Of a self-con-
ceited pettifogger than was while un-
dergoiug his searching examination.
And since, for reasons that will be ap-
parent 10. the reader, | would just then
much rather ask than answer questions,
was at times sorely puzzled how 20 an
swer. He propounded his interroga-
tions in French, aud Immediately trans
lated my answers-when ! gave any
% his swarthy comrades in language
that elected frequent grunts of satisfac-
tion or astonishment from them. Dur
ing the evening he drew out OF me that
was fugitive from village Of In-
diaus; that ! was lost upon the prairie,
without chart or compass, and that
felt the urgent need OF sympathy aud
aid; aud, although / waXed eloquent iu
my appeals TO him, "a an Influential
representative of my own people aud
race, who could succor me 90 my des-
perate situation, he sat as impas-ive as
stone, eviucing less interest in me
and my condition. than the uututored
savages by bis side.
Late at night, however. retired TO
robe he had coolly handed me for bed,
beset by the same vague feeling Of uu-
rest that had been SO long the compau-
ion Of my every waking hour. How
ever, awoke early next morning much
refreshed.
After hearty breakfast I was shown
a lame and ancient horse, which / was
informed ! would have the honor Of rid
las aaile 7 remained with them. II, as
sou.e say, we may judge Of "a hor-s OBJ
stinacy by the shape of his ears, the
animal before me was certainly endowed
with portion far exceeding any Of the
species it had ever been my fortune TO
meet. But I mounted my charger with
the rest, aud was soon on my way in
quest of buffalo. As ] have said, my
horse was lame of one leg, and be took
a mincing, shufliing, hobbling gait with
the other three. In addition 10 this, he
had a way OF stumbling and tumbliug
down peculiarly his own-a habit be
INDUCED in to great excess. To offset
these rare qualities, however, he proved
as hardy as a grizzly bear, and as untir-
ing as "a staghound. The latter quality
might not have been constitutional, but
the result Of the rigid system Of econ-
omy practiced in disbursing his strength
and speed regardless alike Of blows
kicks, and emphatic words.
After travelling rather leisurely over q
prairie for three days, the cheering cry
Of "buhalo" was heard along the line
Directly ahead, on the right and on th,
left, small black objects could be seen
more resembling stumps than augh
else. As we slowly approached then
they became more distinct, gave signs
OF life, aud could be seen slowly movini
about on the interminable plain. W.
continued slowly toward them, "in tn,
teeth Of the wind" =" until within dozeI
rods Of the nearest, when, with deafen
ing yell, the cavalcade dashed up {,
them, using their long lances with tell
ing effect upon the immense animals
Never before had / beheld a scene 81
. fail OF excitement. We had not ad
, vauced a mile after reaching their out
posts before we were in their midst, see
ing the uncouth animals speeding alonl
, ia wild confusion in every direction
while in the distance, and far away a
the eye could reach, large numbers wer
quietly feeding, all unconscious Of III
|. wild riot that stirred their fellows s.
. near at hand. Mounted as was, m
{ chances for winning laurels as a might
} Nimrod were not particularly hatter
= ing, but from my rickety perch coul
r plainly see aud greatly enjoy the ami
4 mated scene. At times could discer
} nude savage totally hemmed on al
e sides by the frightened aud infuriate
e beasts, apparently in imminent DANCE
} of being gored or trampled to death
anon the blade Of a savage lance woul
, glitter in the bright sunlight, the victir
{ would be seen TO totter, his tail lashin
. the air in furious circles, and then {
e tumble headlong to the earth. At an
T. other time one Of the lordly animal
J., rendered furious by pain, would rus
D blindly at his pursuer as though detel
D mined to sell his life as dearly as poss
?, bic. But must taste the sweets Of tn
s ennobling pastime myself; so redoubHn
e my kicks and cuffs, finally induce
e my charger to make some show tow art
i a gallop with his fore legs, when dow
II he went, throwing me over his hea