Year: 1875

l had been stopping at Fort Brett for
some weeks, and was weary with trying
to subsist upon dry meats and poor
supply of vegetables, varied by the new
er failing article of bacon. sides, when
one day Captain Gregg, of the Second
Cavalry, said if I would join. him he
would try TO get some antelope meat,
just to keep off the scurvy if nothing
else.


! 'You are a good shot, Murray" said
he, "and they give me any amount Of
credit in the same line, so l think with q
couple of good horses, and third to
carry our kit, we can keep off the Indi.
ans, or il they prove to be in too large
numbers, we can at least outmaneuver
them and run away"


"very WE'LL" said /, "anything for a
change" and so our preparations were
duly made, and we carefully got our
Spencer rifles in tip top order, and re
loaded our revolvers all round. The
captain took his own horse for the eX-
cursion, but / was supplied with one be-
longing to the fort. Both were good,
sturdy animals and in fine condition,


We resolved to start out that very
evening and make our way to the Little
Blue, river which lay about nine miles
from the fort. This late start in the day
was designed to carry US to the river
that night, where we would encamp in
the cottonwood, which always skirts the
river beds on the plains, and there be
ready for our search after antelope at the
first dawn of day, when our horses would
also he fresh, and we nearer the feeding.
ground OF the game.


We rode along very quietly, with ou1
lead horse attached to rope and tied to
the captains saddle, without any fear ol
Indians, for the redskins do not choose
the night for attack. rarely starting upon
any enterprise except with daylight tc
favor them. The favorite hour, as all
frontiersmen know, for attacking train
or assailing travellers, is just at dawn o.
day. The Indians also have a dread OF
fighting by moonlight-indeed, they
seem to entertain some superstitious fear
upon the matter, and are rarely found
abroad on their maraudirg parties unit
after daylight breaks in the east.


Being well aware Of this we had no
fears Of annoyance, from this quarter
and SO rode leisurely along to our camp
ing ground at the head-waters Of the
Little Blue. A couple Of hours brough,
US TO our cottonwood shelter, where VIZ
tethered our animals, and with our buf
faly robes and saddle blankets made {
comfortable bed for the night. Having
taken supper before we started we had
no occasion for Ere, but smoked oul
pipes and talked ourselves to sleep.


After capital nights rest we got +,
hot cup of coffee and ate our Clipped
dried beef and crackers with relish, ,ant
were soon packed up for a search aftel
antelope. Just as the day commenced
to dawn small herd was discovered or
rising piece of ground, not far away
and by keeping under cover of the cot
tonwood, we came finally close enough
to get shot at them unperceived. W.
fired our rifles so nearly together tina
both got good shot before the hero
took the alarm. The captain brough
his animal to the earth, while ], having
hit a less vital part, my game, ,thougl
severely wounded, hobble off with th'
herd, stopping every now and then 81
though he would drop We dashed a
once after the flying animals, and got on


more shot each before the swift -footet
creatures were out of range. This time
| it was my luck to bring down flint
buck, and the captains shot had onl.
wounded his game severely. r.


There are few horses feet enough tt
run down antelope, and we soon CAV


over the chase,a as we saw that the woun
ded animals had sunk to .he ground, A


vital thrust of our hunting knives 500
finished these, and placing them on on


horses walked back toward the cetto


belt where we had left our pack horse


We also gathered up the other two an


telopes, ,and felt rather proud of our sue


cess at having secured four fat animal


before nine o'clock in the morning.


We securely packed our game upo


the horse which had been brought for tn


purpose, made all secure, and determine


that we would now start back TO th


fort. So giving our horses nose. ba


each, with a couple of quarts of corr


we boiied another cup of coffee for oul
| selves, and after refreshing man an