Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-19

way. The surroundings plainly show
ed that buffalo in large, quantities mao
been there earlier in the season. There
was plenty of pony tracks but Whether
they were wild rovers or the bearers OF
band Of Indians we had no means to
tell Our advance guard had plenty ol
fresh antelope meat on hand when we
arrived at camp and it did not take us
long to pot some of the juicy little
prairie dog and with good black army
coffee we squatted about on the ground
with a menu that would do credit to
the table, OF a king.
Here for the first time since leaving
the Arkansas river we found the SKUNK.
He seemed to be attending to his own
business and from past experiences !
was willing to concede the right or way
at all times. About mile to the north
WIS a small range Of hills coming to an
abrupt termination on the south ana
there forming huge cliff Of fine stone.
Little did / dream or think at that time
that in later years this mountain OF
stone would be utilized+in bridge con-
struction on the A. Z. & Santa Fee rail-
road.
The lake was situated in a sort OF a
basin, the surrounding country being
OF a much higher elevation and had the
appearance Of having been great, In
land lake fed by springs or perhaps the
crater Of defunct volcano whose erup-
lions had caused the upheaval In the
surrounding vicinity.
About mile to the southwest was
an extensive flat tract Of land while
each side was lined by hills varying in
size and altitude and in this depression
though higher than the lake we found
first class buffalo grass and also small
stream Of water which had It's source
far away in the uplift. To this spot |
moved the stock after supper with a
double set Of herders and a covered
wagon and tent and lanterns in order
that the men might sleep and play
cards when not on duty. The pasture
showed that the buffalo had not graz
ed since midsummer as the grass was
well seeded out and made good feed for
our hungry stock
The pasture was so good that ! con-
cuded to remain the next day at the
lake and do some scouting ahead. 1t
was bright moonlight night and about
blanket time the shrill howl of wolf
sounded close by and we were soon on
our feet for the bark OF a wolf the cry
of crow. the chirp Of lizard or the
whistle, Of night hawk are all signs
used bv the Indians when out on mis-
chief When the wolf yelped the boys
began chiding Irish Mike about getting
his lariat ready and Mike in turn began
joking Ellis. the Englishman, and he in
turn dared Mike to 90 with him to re-
connoiter for the wolf. The ystarted off
together fully determined to return
with the scalp Of the lwolf but in this
they were disappointed. When short
distance from camp they became sep
arated for moment and this was the
moment that spelled dire trouble for
the Englishman for In his gust for the
wolf he had disturbed the rest of a
skunk and the little animal opened it's
batteries OF perfumed shrapnel, the
man from London receiving the full
shock Of the impact The Engishman
with an oath started straight for Irish
Mike who struck head straight for
camp and the Englishman. having drop
ped his gun was yelling to Mike to stop
and Mike was yelling for him to keep
away They soon reached the camp and
the wolf still retained his scalp
In my last note ! promised you more
about the human skeleton which we
found suspended to the limb of the
giant sycamore but as there Is a legend
OF the Shoshone tribe connected with
1t I will defer 1t until the next letter.
L