The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-18

four or five miles I came to small
creek, splendid place to camp, and
dismounted and waited for the out
fit to come up. They were all well
pleased with our camping ground. Al
ter shutdown we ate a splendid sup
per and our cook had every thing In
good shape for an early breakfast.
We had q splendid nights sleep. Any
person not having travelled on horse
back In that climate will never know
how one enjoys his nights sleep.
We were up early, breakfast over,
and in the saddle by sunrise, taking
our course north so as to strike the
table land as soon as possible. Some
time before noon we made the table
land and shaped our course northwest
50 as to strike the head waters OF
the Snake river This day was with
out special interest save abundance
Of game. We did not have to hunt,
Just shoot the game out OF our way,
50 to speah
We came to a very small stream
which we knew was the head waters
of Snake river, where We went into
ca mp for the night. It was early. but
that gave our horses ample time to
eat grass.
On thi, night IN camp our CONVEX
sation was about our last fight with
the Sioux es It could not be but
few miles from this camp where we
made the charge on them. This
night was like all the others enjoyed
by all the outfit.
Negro Sold,ers Ge9 Nervous.
Anxious for the march the next
day, when morning came and break
fast over We were on the march
again. This day We shaped our
course northwest SO as to strike the
Running Water river for our next
camp Always the first thing done
each day was to fill our smoke house
with meat. We found no change
In game. II anything there was
g-ea,er assortment OF fowls and as
We went west the country changed
some. We arrived at Running Water
river quite early. and went into camp
Rad seen On the trip and u this river
, campmen. of Indians. This night our
negro soldiers remained very close
70 camp. They did Tot take well TO
Indians We breakfasted very early
, and went on the march again by the
! time the sun was up. taking our
course almost west to strike the
! Cheyenne river as soon as possible.
| We all enjoyed this days ride very
much as we could see ahead for nfty
miles and seq the different shaped
mountain tops n the Black Hills
Some time the scene was most BEAU
tiful. $, II the afternoon we came to
a creek that emptled into the Chey-
enne river. The major called a halt
and sent two of Us ahead to see about
getting down to the river from the
high ground. After awhile we sue.
ceeded in finding way that would
let us down to the river. The bluffs
] we're very high and very steep down
20 the river bottom. After getting
safely down we went down the river
three or four miles and went into
camp at the mouth of the creek tina,
comes down from Buffalo Gap from
the Cheyenne river. II looked to be
ten or twelve miles up to the tim
Der line Of the Black Hills with the
foothills extending down 10 the river
| which made the country very rough
ON each side of>t1Ie river.
A LaughsbIe Incident.
! After camping night in our new
surroundings we took up our march
down the Cheyenne river On this
day one Of those funny things occur.
red that makes a man laugh and
grow fat, but 1t did not work SO with
me. ] laughed SO hard think ! lost
ten or twelve pounds. AS It was along
| in the afternoon the major thought
| he would go into camp quite early
as one of our mules had became quite
lame. Knowing he would go into
camp IN a mite or SO, Pawnee Pete
and myself thought we would take a
circle around among the hills and
see If We could not kill an elk as there
were plenty of signs along the river
bottom. Pete said he would take his
shotgun and ] would take my breech
I loading rifle aud then we would be
prepared for any Kind of game. We
went leisurely along and as we come
In sight Of our wagon.
Looking around over the country
we discovered what We thought was
Elk lying down in the ravine, a shor'
way off. In that country there Is q
wild sunflower that grows very thicl
In the bottom of the revines and they
viii grow five or six feet tall. Al
we were sitting there We saw the
sunflowers shaking as IL some large
animal was fighting flies and of cours,
VIC got very wise all at once anC
knew 1t was an elk lying down. Sc
Pete was to go along the edge of the
sunflowers on one side and I was tt
go on the other side and when Pets
drove him out / was to shoot him
As We came up to the place Pet,
gave yell and jumped into the edg.
of the sunflowers.
When Pete gave his yell a yer.
large elk sprang out Of the sunflov
ers, ten or twelve rods ahead and
made a quick shot at him and as
shot ] heard Pete's gun go. When
looked that way ] saw Pete Jumpin,
this way and that way and tellin,
me to shoot, shoot" ! took in tn,
situation at a glance Pete had sho
him in the face and put out boil
eyes. He was the most beautiful
specimen OF mountain lion I had eve
seen. Well, Pete was jumping zig
gag and the lion was doing the sam,
thing but as often in the wrong di
rection and Pete was ca ling me al
the pet names there we're in tn.
Epriisb Ian