The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-21
A WESTERN EXPERIENCE.


snow-storm in the Big Horn mountains. l was
stopping for short time with George Rea,
forty miner, who hay failed to strike 1t rich III
the Sierras, had come back to the Big Horn
range, where he lived alone and became one of
the most successful hunters in the great North
west. 1t was day early in October and had
been out during the afternoon, on the lookout
for young moose whose track had noticed in
the sand along the Madison river, swift mount
ain stream, near by, sparkling in its course
over rocks and through pretty lodges of lava
By o'clock in the afternoon l was far from
camp, and still with no sign that was likely to
come up to the colt, as the young moose are
called, before the sun would go down. Taking
a view of the surroundings, so L could continue
the trail the next day, l piled few stones
together to indicate the last sign, and then
FASTENED back toward camp, for there is danger
from the wolves when one is out alone
after dark AS 1 looked down the river
1 saw flock of swans feeding on water cress,
and with suspicion that an enemy was near.
These fowls are quick to scent danger and to
get shot at one requires fine skill. Dropping
on my hands and knees, 1 began to crawl with
in shooting range Of them, which was anything
but pleasant, as the ground was covered with
lava gravel, as sharp almost as glass, aud much
like the sharp scales about an anvil block. My
Winchester too was heavy and cumbersome to
carry in that wSy, and after crawling, perhaps,
100 yards, 1 raised little too high above the
willows and sage brush, and the swan on watch
seeing me, gave a croak of alarm, and the entire
flock were soon flying far down the river. / was
quite disappointed at my i'll luck, and as 1 stood
up threw my gun on my shoulder with real
vehemence much like pouting boy would
throw back bis hand to strike you. The
action was fortunate, for the movement
was such as to cause rustic in the grass back
of me- and turning quickly around saw three
black wolves a few yards in my rear quietly
skulking away, They had been stealing upon
me as I was crawling in the grass after the
swans. Taking an empty shell from my pocket
blew long, shrill whistle, and the wolf in the
lead stopped and looked back. His head and
breast were above the sage brush, and, taking
aim at his chest, fred. The bullet went a
little high and took effect just between the eyes,
going out back of the ears. 1t was q splendid
shot at lib yards and to prove what a good
marksman 1 was I took the carcass on to camp.
Rea's. The cabin built of round pine poles
daubed tight to keep out the cold, the roof of
pine boughs and willow thatch, the floor
dry, hard earth, and fireplace Of
mud dried hard and wide enough for a six-foot
back log and forestick much longer, there was
a cheer and comfort in this single room prince
might enjoy. The cabin stood at the base of the
foothills, covered with thick growth of pines,
the abode of elk, black deer and bear, and on the
bank of the river that furnished water for every
need. George Rea was fine specimen of the
mountaineer and plainsman He was past fifty,
and though his life had been one Of hardship he
was still active and capable of much endurance.
Dressed in a buckskin suit of his own make and
not a little soled from long USE his hair and
beard long and fast turning gray, his stature
full SIX feet he stopped little as he came to the
cabin door to quiet the believing of the hounds
at my coming. told him how l had left the
trail of the moose and of my shot at the wolf,
and as we sat at the rude table, eating a supper
of elk, hominy, corn bread and coffee, before
cracking fire of pine boughs, he never seemed
so glad that was with him.
Tomorrow" he said, 1--WE will git that moose
if we have to cross the range for him. There is
herd of EN- that uses up thar in the bend of
the Madison, and if you says SO we'll put out
for thar early in the morning"
was only too glad to assent to what was evi-
IDENTIFY his earnest wish, a. l, supper over, we
lit our pipes and sat before the glowing embers
and told stories of days gone by, and later the
guns were cleaned, new cartridges filed and
then the cot of bear robes was made on the floor
and we rested for the night. 1t was early sun
rise when 1 was awakened by Rea opening the
door, which squeaked little, and as he stood in
the doorway a few minutes he turned to me and
said
ZEE George Rea hasn't lost his smeller, Tiers
going to be some weather before night that's
sure"
why, what's the matter, George9' I asked
with interest 'What's your 'smeller got to do
with your representations I'd like to know"
"Wall, you see, somehow the pines are
smellin little too much this morning, which
is dead sure sign thars snow a COMM"
20, we'll, what if it isl" said. 'It will be easier
to catch the moose if there is snow to track him
in
''Wall we'll start out then if you say SO, and
for fear of blow, we'll take the pack of Sho-
shones down at the bayou along for they can
keep the trails in any storm that ever come this
way"
mile down the river, at a little bayou Of
the stream was camped party of Shoshone
Indians, consisting of five men and three young
braves about my own age. This tribe is the fin
/ est type of the North American aborigines
They are tall straight and muscular, their skin a
fine copper color, their faces long, with strong
chins wide mouths, high cheek bones, small
black eyes, and their hair is long, straight and
glossy black. The party was hunting for their
winters meat, and gladly agreed to go on tho
| chase with us. l understood little of their
language and on this account felt at ease with
| the young bucks whom L selected as my com
nonions while Rea went on n different route