Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-10-25
red and had a ceremonial smoke.
Hunt Before NightfaII

cred and had a ceremonial smoke,
Hunt Before NightfaIl
Meanwhile the interchangeable Four
Bears was directing where the tepees
were to stand, and seeing everything was
done expeditiously n in an orderly
manner. The day was not too far ad
vanced for hunting. He therefore di-
rected that the buffalo horses should be
tied up, and after the hunters had taken
a light lunch, they would go after buff
falo. Not any old cayuse could be used
in this kind of hunting. 1t required
could set up the tepees, and make every
While the hunters were gone, the women
could set up the tepees. and make evry-
thing ready for the night. They also
turned out the horses to Craze after their
tiresome journey, and gathered fuel to
Dol the anticipated feast.
Their meager lunch over, the hunters
were up and away. But not before the
law had been laid own to them by Four
Bears. There was to be no rushing ahead
to see h could have the first shot,
and soaring the herd SO others would find
it hard to make a killing-none could
shoot until every man was ready.
Soon they came in sight of the buff
faloes, hundreds and hundreds of them
peacefully grazing In total ignorance of
the Indians approach, it was so skill
fully managed. The enticing spectacle
proved too much for one excitabie war
rior to withstand. Forgetting Four
Bears command, forward he charged INTO
the midst of the herd, which at once
took to its heels.
And then what happened? Well, quite
enough to satisfy the one who a broken
the rules, and his companions. AT once
the other Crazy Dogs gave chase, and
quickly overhauled the criminal. Once
caught, his captors literally took the
law into their own hands. They did not
kill him, but they made his life ex-
tremely interesting for a few brief mo-
ments. They took from him all his
weapons, his gun. his knife, his bow and
arrows, not to appropriate them to their
own use. but to destroy them.
Horses Tail Cut OF
After these were broken, they cut off
the tail of his horse; not to render 1t
the more valuable hunter as among So
called civilized people, but to cause 1t
to be al object of scorn. The saddle was
taken off and reduced to fragments; his
rope and whip cut to pieces. Then they
turned their attention to the man. His
clothes-what few he wore were
stripped from him, and after his robe
had been SO slashed that 1t woul be
useless as a covering, the culprit was
turned loose to make his way back to the
village, where he would be laughing
stock for the women and children. No,
there was no delay in the execution of
tribal law. The man was fortunate in
escaping with his life.
This act of justice toe some time In
the carrying out. Meanwhile the buff
faloes, not being further molested had
resumed their grazing. All was now in
readiness for the chase, and together the
hunters raced towards the unsuspecting
herd. Not all of the Indians carried
guns, and those they owned were of the
hintlock variety, in this instance prob
ably furnished them by the Hudson's
Bay company, the American Fur COM
pany having not yet invaded this region.
All the hunters had bows n arrows.
These they priced highly, some preferring
them to guns when killing buffaloes, and
they were very skillful in their use. They
shot them in such a manner that the
animal In falling, would not break them.
II they saw the arrows were endangered,
they tried to rescue them before the
buffalo fell.
Everything being In readiness, Four
Bears said in Piegan that the hunt was
on, and the whole troop OF warriors sped
over the ground towards the herd, which
did not at once scent the approaching
enemy. When they did, they lost no time
in getting into action. The buffalo is
q clumsy LOOKING beast, with the well
earned reputation Of being stupid. 1t is
astonishing to witness their speed in at
tack or flight. 1t is said to equal that
of a race horse, and the one who said 1t
was none other than Joe Meek, who has
given a good description OF a buffalo
hunt In which he % part with the
Nez Perez Indians.
Horses Feel Excitement
According to his account, they rode
slowly at first, not to alarm the herd, but
the nearer they were to the buffaloes the
more excited they became.
The horses seem to feel 1t too as
serts Meek, land are worrying to be off
When we come SO near that the band
starts, then the word Is given, ouI
horses mettle Is up, and away we go.
Thar may be ten thousand in a band. >
One writer states that q medium sized
herd numbered from two to three thou.
sap6. Again Meek: Directly we CROWD
tb en- SO close that nothing can be seer
q Or anything heard but the roar Of theil
trampling apd believing. The hunters
now keep close on their heels to escape