The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-18

and taking advantage of that, march
their forces toward the herd, keeping at a
great distance away, SO as not to excite
alarm.
At intervals of mile or so. band of Is
or 30 men will be posted, until the game
L. entirely surrounded. These squads
again deploy TO right and left, as the
movements of the herd or the nature of
the ground require. When the circle has
been completed, another signal is given,
and the ring is contracted as much as il
as possible to do without alarming the
herd.
AS soon as the wild horses scent the
hunters the chase begins. Off go the
animals. in the vain hope of escaping the
enemy which they suppose to be an
preaching only from one side; but no
sooner do they approach the circle than
several hunters show themselves and
turn the frightened herd back again: and
thus they are kept galloping across and
around the sac formed for their reception
for hours, and until they are SO wearied
that they are readily taken by the con-
tracing and closing up of the circle
Occasionally these horses, over fright
ened, make a desperate charge upon some
single spot in the line by which they are
surrounded, and thus make their escape;
but this is not usual And even then. all
do not escape, for some of them are sure
70 be lasSoed in the melee
Our chase was a moderately successful
one. We encIrcled herd. and worried
the horses till they were nearly ex-
hausted, and then succeeded in obtaining
a number. As soon as we had a moose on
one of the animals it was tied and
hoppled, and then let loose, in order To
create greater confusion in the herd.
After securing all the best stock. they
were driven home, and turned over TO the
women ana boys, whose duty il is to train
them for the saddle, and otherwise render
them servlceable To the warriors.
AGAINST THE KIcKAPoos.
Col. Johnston, who had returned to his
command, now undertook another ex-
petition against the Kickapoos. and after
marching about 200 miles through the
county and exhausting a large number
OF horses we succeeded in running them
out Of the country; and though we mad no
fight with them, we effectually prevented
further depredations on that part of the
frontier Tor some time. The only parties
who lost their lives by the expedifion
were two white men, who were living in a
iIttIe CABIN on the Big Washta River
They doubtless believed US hostile In
dams and fed; and mistaking them. we
charged after and killed both
On learning who our victims were deem
regret pervaded the entire regiment: but il
was unaValIIng, and we could only perform
oecehiiy the iast rites due 10 the departed.
The unfortunate victims of a mistake
were doubtless hunters or trappers. and
perfectly innocent of connivine with the
Indians In their depredations upon the
fonners. Ihey were, Judging from APP
pearances, but recent settlers in the
vicinity.
Alter our return to Radziminsh the
men were allowed TO recruit their horses
and rest themselves. During the months
OF July and August scouting parties were
sent up each OF the forks of Red River.
the oouth and North Canadian, and even
TO the Colorado and the Brazos. We had
In these scouts numerous adventures
and some exceedingly hard times. as well
as a fair degree Of sport.
Inc country over which we Travelled is
generally barren and almost destitute of
water and timber. The few sprinps and
streams are filled with bitter or salt water.
winch is almost unpalatable. Every
where rock salt is abundant: the river
banks are full of il, and the waters of the
streams are so impregEated by contact
with 1t that man will hardly sink in
them. As the streams are dry during a
portion OF the year, thousands of barrels O
pure crystalIized salt is left in the beds
only awaiting the hand of man to gathe
and use it,
On the head-waters OF the Colorado W,
surprised and burned small village, blu
TOOK no prisoners. Our horses we're Jade,
and we could not follow up our successes
or we coul have annihilated the savage
who inhabited it. AS ii was, six or sever
men and one woman were killed.
IN THE WICHITA MOUNTAINS
The Wichita Mountains are located be
tween the Red River on the south and tn
Canadian on the north. They are no
extraordinarily high-the elevation bein