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Show 66 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. At noon the sky was clear, and we set out, trailing through mud and slime six inches deep. That night we were spared the customary infliction of the shower-bath. On the next afternoon we were moving slow 1 y along, not far from a patch of woods which lay on the right. Jack C-rode a little in advance ; 'The livelong day he had not spoke;' when suddenly he faced about, pointed to the woods, and roared out to his brother : 'Oh, Bill ! here's a cow!' The Captain instantly galloped forward, and he and Jack made a vain attempt to capture the prize ; but the cow, with a well-grounded distrust of their intentions, took refuge among the trees. R joined them, and they soon drove her out. We watched their evolutions as they galloped around her, trying in vain to noose her with their trail-ropes, which they had converted into lariettes for the occasion. At length they resorted to milder measures, and the cow was driven along with the party. Soon after, the usual thunder-storm came up, the wind blowing with such fury that the streams of rain flew almost horizontally along the prairie, roaring like a cataract. The hors~s. turned tail to the storm, and stood hanging their heads, beanng the inflictI' on W·lt h an a·u of meekness and resi.g natiO. n· while we drew our he a ds be tween our shoulders and crouched' forward ' so as' to ma 1re our ba cks serve as a pen' t-house for the rest of our persons · Me anw h1'l e, the cow, taking advantage of the tumult ran off. t th . ' ' 0 e great discomfiture of the Captain who seemed to consider her h' ' . · as Is own especial prize, since she had been d1scovered by J k I ac · n defiance of the storm, he pulled THE ' BIG BLUE.' 67 his cap tight over his brows, jerked a huge buffalo-pistol from his holster, and set out at full speed after her. This was the last we saw of them for some time, the mist and rain making an impenetrable veil ; but at length we heard the Captain's shout, and saw him looming through the tempest, the picture of a Hibernian cavalier, with his cocked pistol held aloft fo safety's sake, and a countenance of anxiety and excitement. The cow trotted before him, but exhibited evident siD"ns of an 0 intention to run off again, and the Captain was roaring to us to head her. But the rain had got in behind our coat collars, and 'Was travelling over our necks in numerous little streamlets, and being afraid to move our heads, for fear of admitting more, we sat stiff and immovable, looking at the Captain askance, and laughing at his frantic movements. At last, the cow made a sudden plunge and ran off; the Captain grasped his pistol firmly, spurred his horse, and galloped after, with evident designs of mischief. In a moment we heard the faint report, deadened by the rain, and then the conqueror and his victim reappeared, the latter shot through the body, and quite helpless. Not long after, the storm moderated, and we advanced again. The cow wall{ed painfully along under the charge of Jack, to whom the Captain had committed her, while he hirnself rode forward in his old capacity of vidette. We were approaching a long line of trees, that followed a stream stretching across our path, far in front, when we beheld the vidette galloping toward us, apparently much excited, but with a broad grin on his face. ' Let that cow drop behind.!' he shouted to us ; ' here's her owners!' And in fact, as we approached the line of trees, a large white object, like a tent, was visible behind them. On approaching, |