Year: 1870

liant Major informed US we must take at
daylight Our sleep was refreshing, for
we were all fatigued and cared but little
for wolves, for we slept upon our arms
and were safely guarded by the vigilant
sentinels. At FIVE o'clock next morning
the tents were struck, and we were NOV
ing rapidly IN our ambulances towards
the Solomon river, attended by the
large cavalcade Of soldiers, outriders
and led cavalry horses, saddled, equip
ped and set apart for the use of our par
ty in the coming chase. We constantly
passed fresh buffalo carcasses and chips,
thus indicating that the huge game
we had travelled eighteen hundred miles
to encounter was near at hand. Pres
emily we saw three buffaloes quietly graz
ing some two miles away to our right,
but the scouts bore more to the left, as
they felt confident of finding buffalo in
large numbers in a raVine several miles
north of US. We had, however, already
travelled nearly twenty miles that morn
ing, when our chief scout was discover
ed returning towards US on his high
mettled charger at full speed. He gave
US the signal to halt We obeyed or
ders, and in double-qnick time we were
all on our feet. The scout, in almost a
whisper, announced that about


FIFTY BUFFALoEs


were Just over the edge of the ravine,
half a mile north of US, and that doubt
less there were hundreds. more a little
further west The blood tingled to our
finger ends, and several flushed faces
indicated that their owners were in a
glow of excitement. But not so the mill
itary. Coolly and systematically under
the steady but watchfuI eye of Major
Hale, the soldiers went to their duty
with a regularity that previous discipline
only could have secured. Some led for
ward our horses while others brought us
our carbines and revolvers.


Rapidly divesting ourselves of all su-
perhuous clothing, and fastening on our
belts which held our revolvers, we
mounted.


When we were all ready the good ma
| tured Major in few kind words, assur-
ed US that the buffalos instead of being,
as we heard at the East, docile as COWS,
were very wild and shy, and having
! been hunted so much in that particular
quarter, they were somewhat desperate.
Fortunately, he added, they are at
! the windward of US, hence with due eau
/ ton you can approach all the nearer,
/ but when they once discover you they
will show rate Of speed which will tax
that of our fleetest horses to the utmost.
The Maj jor cautioned us to be calm
to aim for the spine or heart, and to
! give our horses rein and spur, the mo-
ment we fired, lest the desperate enemy
receiving only a slight wound, might at
tack US.


Our soldiers will not fire unless they
see you are in immediate danger, for
we wish you to have all the sport and
all the honors to yourselves. Further
more, gentlemen, continued Major
Hale, impressively, remember you are
on boundless plain, and if, by mis-
chance, one Of you should lose sight OF
all the rest, you would be like a lone
man upon the ocean, without chart or
compass. A man not long since was
lost during the excitement of a hunt near
this spot, and at the end of three weeks
was foundin Texas, weak, emaciated and
nearly dead with hunger and exposure.
He had slain his horse and eaten it raw,
so long as it was endurable. shall
therefore, continued the Major, detail
a soldier to accompany each of you as
guard and guide, but I admonish you
not to let the excitement which you are
all sure soon to experience lead you out
of his sight


We bowed respectfully to the Major
admonitions, and quietly walked our
horses some forty rods to the brow oi
the raYine, when we discovered some
fifty or sixty immense bull buffaloes
feeding on the slope, within a quarter ot
a mile of us. quite unconscious of our
presence. Never can we forget thai
novel thrillingly exciting scene. These
mighty monarchs of the prairie scatter.


ed around within a radius of half mile


formed a picture SO grand and unique
that we held our breaths with admira,
ton, perhaps not unmiXed with a feel
ing of awe


NOW FOR THEM, GENTLEMEN.


exclaimed Major Hale, and every mar
put spurs to his experienced hunter, anc
we appeared to fly on the wings of tht


wind. Some of our party lost their caps


but in their wild excitement they did no
miss them, but, rode heedlessly on
Presently a huge buffalo raised hi!
head and took to his heels like a fright
ened deer. The alarm instantly spread


and the whole herd were in ful
: flight. It is really wonderful tc
) witness the extraordinary agility witt
which these huge creatures can scam
per over the plains.


: We all gave a triumphant yell ant
= plunging our spurs into the horses side
: the full length of the rowels, we sooI
began to gain on the noble bovines.-
But we rode nearly half mile before
the sharp crack of carbine announced
5 that we were within firing distance
3 IL
: tention of a huge buffalo, three sue
f cessive charges maddened him, and h
t made a few hasty steps towards one o


our riders, but well-aimed ball hi


his spine and he fell to his knees an,


soon toppled over.


Meanwhile the herd scattered in ev


cry direction, and each man selectin
, his animal put chase to him. The ex


citement was tremendous. Some Of on
party were soon out of sight of the 9th


ers and doubtless within twenty minute
some of us were six or eight miles apar
: Firing was frequently heard at nearl


all points.


About half an hour after the first al
, tack, Major Hale road up to me an
Il asked what success I had met with.


have Stayed one enormous bull an
= helped to slay three others, / replied
,, and I am satisfied, for it seems cru,
u u and wicked to murder large numbers {
i these huge beasts, and make no usefl
II disposition of them


y Several Of our party riding up cor
= current in this sentiment, each ma
= having slain his animal, and some ha,
y ing killed two.


y We'll. gentlemen, said Major Hal,
if you are satisfied, we will return t
= our ambulances as soon as our me
l. have secured for each of you for preset
= vation, the head of an animal that yo
- have killed.


This done we looked for the ambt


lances, and as they had gone into ri
= vine for shelter from a pretty stron


wind then blowing over the prairie,