Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-11-13
Lost on the Plains.

brown plains. Not house Tor lhouS-
ands uf miles, not Il tree, net a shrub, not
a single thing in sight, except now and
then. dotted here and there, n few great
black spots in the boundless sea of
brown.
This Is the way it vas when my par
euts took me, then only Il lad, across
the plains, more than thirty years ago.
How different now, with the engines
tem ing, smoking, screechi1g and
screaming gcrGss at the rate of five
hundred miles or more day
There are many houses on the plains
now. The pioneers have planted great
forests of trees and there are also vast
corn fields, and the song of happy
haryesterS is heard there. But the
great black spots that dotted the bound
less sea of brown are gone forever.
Those dark spots were herds of count
less bison, or buffalo-as they were
more genially called.
One sultry morning in July, as the
sun rose up aud I'll I'd with uncommon
aldar, "a heid If buff la Mas see graz
inc quietly close 20 oui tIain, aud some
of the younger boys vino had guns and
pistols, anu were dying TO kill buffa-
To-" begged their pmeuts to let them
ride out and take a shot.
AS il was only natural desire, and
seemed a simple thing to do, small
pan ty of boys was soon ready. The
men were obliged to stay withthe train
and drive the oxen ; for the tents had
already been struck, and the long white
line had begun to creep slowly away
over tie level brown sea toward the
next water, little blind stream that
stole through the willows fifteen miles
away to the west.
There were in our train two sons of
a rich and rather important man.
Aud they were now first in the saddle
and ready to take the lead. But as
they were vain and selfish, and had al
ways had a big opinion of themselves,
their father knew they had not learned
much about anything else. There was
also in the train a sad. faced, silent
hoy, bare-footed and all in rags for
bis parents had died with the cholera
the day after we crossed the Missouri
river, and he was left helpless and
alone. He hardly spoke TO any one.
And as for the rich mans boys,
they would sooner haYe thought Of
speaking to their negro cook than to
him.
AS the boys sat on their horses ready
to 60, and the train of wagons rolled
away, the rich man came up to the bare
footed boy, and said
See here, 'Tatters,' go along with
my boys and bring back the game"
''But 1 have no horse, SIR" replied
the sad faced boy.
"Well, take mine," said the anxious
father Il will get in the wagon and
ride there till you get back.
"But have no gun, no pistols nor
knife" added the boy.
Here - cried the rich man. Jump
on my horse Ginger and III fl you
out"
When the barefooted boy had noun
ed the horse, the man buckled his own
belt around the lad, and swung his rifle
over the sadlebCw
How the boys face lit up His
young heart was beating like a drum
with delight as the party bounded away
after the buffalo.
The wagons creaked and crawled
away to the West of the great grassy
plains the herd of buffalo shifted the
young hunters, and lifting their shaggy
heads, shook them angrily, and then
turned away like dark, retreating
tide of the sea, with the boys bounding
after them in hot pursuit.
1t was long and exciting chase.
"Tatters' soon passed the other boys
and pressing hard on the herd, after
nearly an hour of wild and splendid
riding, threw himself from the saddle
aud, taking aim, fired.
The brothers came up soon, and dis
mounting as fast as their less practiced
limbs would let them also fired at the
retreating herd.
When the dust and smoke clear ed
away,a fine fat buffalo lay rolling in the
grass before them. Following the ex-
ample of ''Tatters," they loaded their
guns where they stood, as all cautious
hunters do, and then went up to the
game.
The barefooted boy at once laid his
finger on a bullet hole near the region
of the heart and looked up at the 9th.
efs.
'T aimed about there !" shouted one,
sAnd so did I !" cried the other eager
".
Without saying a word, but with a
very significant look, the barefooted
boy took out his knife, and, unobserved,