The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-11-02

herds of buffalo crossed the river above and below the young traders block house. and his most profit able method Of hunting was to shoot them from . boat as they swam above his post The dead bodies were hoated down to within few rods of the post stockade and hauled out upon the bank, where they were skinned and the tongues and hump steaks cut from them. Tn this manner buffaloes were killed and brought down from points tw enty, and even thirty, miles distant.
 During the season when the bufTaloes were migrating, half breed scouts employed by Jean secured the hills and the rolling praires above the post, watching for any herds that might be point ing toward the river or feeding in situations whence they could be stampeded toward its waters. While the scouts were out Jesn and his hunters were accustomed to remain at some favorable point on the river, with canoes and ponies at hand If there was time after scout came In to give warn ing, they padded to point just above where the herd was expected to cross, and waited. But If greater haste were necessary they mounted their ponies and rode at flying gallop for the point of crossing, and taking their position the bank, shot the big animals they plunged into the water or swam past.
 During the second autumn of Jean's buffalo hunting there came down from the north the largest herd that he ever saw, except the mighty one that afterwards came into the vicinity of Fort Rice, and is known in a legend among the soldiers scouts and hunters the Eight Mile Square Herd"
 About the 2Oth of September one of his hunters rode to Jeans station with the information that a herd "Ss wide the eye could see' was moving slowly up from the Buttes in direction that would bring them to the river at point twenty miles above the station.
 A young fellow of eighteen years, the son of boat captain who lived in Vicksburg, was staying with Jean at the time, having come up the river for a hunt. He had been out several times after buffAlo, but had not succeeded in killing one. When the news of the big herd came in he was wild with excitement.
 I can get one this time l' shouted he, after Jean had interpreted the Indians report. "Where there's no end to em, there's mighty sure chance"
 "WelI, Louis," said Jean-the lads name Louis Longstreet-"you shall have try, only don't get SO nervous, you won't be able to handle your gun"
 Five minutes later the two hunters were in the saddle. Jean had sent his scout back with instruc- tions to stampede the big herd as soon as he and the other two scouts who were waiting out among the hills, could get in behind 1t.
 Jean and Louis then started, keeping to the hills which skirt the valley at distance of from one to three miles from the river. This route was taken that they might keep a lookout for the herd, and avoid also the danger of being caught by the front of the stampede and forced into the river, which might occur if they kept too near the bank.
 It is not often that the accidents we fear happen to us but in this instance Jeans very precaution served to get himself and his companion entrapped at point where escape from contact with the wide front of the immense herd was impossible.
 Jean and Louis had set out about the middle of the forenoon, and Jean calculated that, If nothing unusual should disturb the buffaloes, the Indians would get them started shortly after midday, and thus the foremost buffalo should reach the river at about three o'clock.
 There were two canoes hidden among some will lows at the mouth of & small creek, about twenty miles above the post, and Jean expected, after finding the bualoes to reach the canoes in time to paddle down to some bar island from which they could advantageously shoot the swimming animals. He dared not trust experienced hunter ss Louis in & boat among swimming buff faloes.
 For about two hours they proceeded on their way. Jean all the time watched for some sign of the big herd. About noon several small bands of buialoes sighted upon some elevations directly snnth of q high aoint nron which the ridera had