The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-01
CHAPTER VIII.

Being now comparatively reinvigorated,
We again attempted to cross the plain
which had baffled us before. Following
this creek to its source we came to an I'M
mense prairie-dog town. where not leaf
pf grass or growing thing was to be seen,
all having been devoured by the buffalo.
While exploring the creek we discovered
whence arose the varieties of water within
it. The shores were of gypsum, impart-
ing to it a bitter taste near the edge; on
its banks was a salt bluff, which rendered
1t brackiSh as the water washed around
ct; while on4the left bank the sweet spring
poured out swift stream, which, on ac-
count of the peculiar shape OF the bend,
kept out in the middle of the creek.
We were three days crossing the PLAIN,
,and our only subsistence was a Jew rricklG
pears of stunted growth. When one OF
these plants was found the ravenouS APP
spetiteS of the men would not even permit
chem TO scrape off the thornS with which
they are covered, but all was devoured to-
Gether Many of them suffered severely
from this cause; the lips and tongue be,
ing penetrated, causing them to swell
badly and be extremely painful.
After three days weary marching, on
the morning of the fourth we suddenly
came upon the verge of the desert, and
but a short distance was Travelled before
we were in the midst of one OF the most
Grass was high, and as we soon found
ravine in which water was plenty we
hitched our horses to Craze for couple OF
hours. The animals being greatly re-
freShed we pushed on, and had only gone
"a short distance when we came suddenly
upon an immense herd of buffalo.
STILL HUNT.
We at once dismounted, and made all
che necessary preparations for grand
still hunt" Our preliminaries were ar
ranged under cover, the regiment being
divided into two parties, one OF which was
under command of the Colonel himself,
1.-THE direction of the other being left to the
indians who were with us.
The Colonel's party kept in the low
ground. while the other filed down ridge
in full view of the herd, but on the wind
ward side, and in this manner we ad-
yanced till nearly within gunshot of the
animals. Suddenly we wheeled to the
night down into a deep Tavine, and stoop-
ling low crawled 400 or 500 yards, and were
almost in the midst of them when, at
given signal, each man marked his meat
and brought it down.
After the first discharge the herd COM
,menced a precipitate fight, but the men,
determined TO fast no more, drew their re-
ivolyers and continued firing till the herd
had escaped beyond range. Twenty odd
of the buffalo were shot dead IN their
tracks and many more wounded. we
were. however, not after sport, but meat,
and leaving those which were crippled to
do as hest they could we fell 10 cutting
ND the dead and devouring their flesh raw.
Three or four of us rushed upon one cow
and began cutting out pieces of meat from S
many different parts of the body, although
the animal was not yet dead, but struggling
violently. Capt Wood sliced out one hump
steak. Shawnee Jack cutting out the
other while Neighbors ran his knife into
that delicious piece of habitat, half-lean
that lies behind the shoulderolaoe Just
under the back part of the hump.
RELIEF FROM HUNGER.
For my part knew that that meat
-o,,Id require cooking, and / was too
o,s 70 await so slow a process, and
as looked upon buffalo tallow as a
dainty plunged my bowie knife into her