The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-08-08
CHAPTER 7.
THE BUFFALO HUNT.
Continuation

glowingOctOber forest, the crimson and
golden plumage of the foliage, burned
by the autumnal sun, reflected its
brilliant colors upon the dark bosom
of the river and the sharp, clear air
was full of vigor and exhilaration.
The first day no game was killed and
they made their supper of green corn,
a small supply of which they had with
them, but from that time the hunting
was pursued in earnest and the woods
teemed with game. Angus and two
Indian boys gathered nuts in the
woods and wild plums along the banks
of the numerous little brooks and
there were plenty of black haws and
paw-paws to be mad for the picking.
The wild berries had disappeared be-
fore the hunt began.
Sometimes Angus was permitted to
carry a gun, being good marksman'
but foi the most part his duties kept
him with the squaws, where his form
er experience in handling furS and
hides made him very useful. The
camp kettle was ALWAYS well supplied
with wild pigeons, squirrels, raccoons,
turkeys, ground hogs, and venison and
not infrequently they had bear. while
every stream contributed good mess
of fish. Now and then bee tree
would be despoiled of its store of honey
and it was considered great joke If
one Of the party should chance to be
stung on such an occasion.
The westerly movement was pur-
sued leisurely, each camp being occC-
pied for at least several days while
the surrounding country was secured
for big game, and the resulting skins
were dried on rough frames made by
setting poles in the ground and tying
them together with strips OF elm or
lynn bark.
One fine afternoon the hunters came
into camp hurriedly and excitedly and
announced that they had come upon
fresh buffalo trail which they suspect
ed led to salt lick not far away.
Straightway the camp was in tur-
MOL of preparation for great buffalo
hunt i'm which all the men and boys
were to participate. Guns and para
phernalia were carefully inspected and
put in order and arrangements were
made to move the camp to the slaugh-
ter ground in case the hunt should
prove successful. They set forth in
the early morning and in due time
reached the vicinity of the buffalo
trail
The location of the herd was not
known, nor the number of which it
was composed, and great precaution
was used to avoid alarming the huge
animals and stampeding them. The
most skillful woodsmen detached
themselves from the party, which re-
manned in close hiding, and warily and
noiselessly made their way through
the brush in search of fresh tracks.
The were not long in finding heav-
ily-beaten path through the timber
and their savage woodcraft told them
that a considerable herd had recently
passed that way.
Stealthily and patiently they track
ed their prey until they were reward
ed by distant view of about twenty
of the animals, bulls, COWS and calves,
unsuspiciously grazing in an opening
or little spot of prairie, one edge OF
which was bordered by silyery creek.
Taking note of the surroundings and
of the direction of the wind the In
dams, except one left to watch, re-
turned for tbe hunters, who soon
came up and were disposed at long
intervals on either side of the trail.
Two men men made a wide detour
and came i'm on the windward side of
the herd, opposite the ambuscade.
Presently an old bull jerked his
head into the air and shifted the wind
suspiciously, then others did the same
and all stopped feeding and moved
slowly into compact bunch, the
COWS and calves inside and the bulls
paving nervously in protective outer
circle. Wishing to start them to-
ward the ptth without alarming them
too much the two Indians crept closer
without disclosing themselves, and
the game, catching the unfamiliar
scent more fully, began to walk in
the desired direction in single file but
providing closely.
They had penetrated the forest but
q little way on their retreat when
single shot rent the air and fat COW
fell with a bullet in her heart. The
entire herd, nov thoroughly Tighten
ed, broke into run, heads down and
tails erect, and fusilade was sound
ed all along the line, the two Indians
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