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Show 388 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. attempt to pass in his sober senses he would jnfallibly break his neck. The method of ' approaching ' being practised on foot, has many advantages over that of 'running;' in the former, one neither breaks down his horse nor endangers his own life; instead of yielding to excitement he must be cool, collected and watchful; he must understand the buffalo, obsetve the features of the country and the course of the "vind, and be well skilled moreover in using the rifle. The buffalo are strange animals; sometimes they are so stupid and infatuated that a man may walk up to them in full sight on the open prairie, and even shoot several of their number before the rest will think it necessary to r etreat. Again at another moment they will be so shy and wary, that in order to approach them the utmost skill, experience and judgment are necessary. Kit Carson, I believe, stands pre-eminent in running buffalo ; in approaching, no man living can bear away the palm from Henry Chatillon. To resume the story. After Tete Rouge had alarmed the camp, no furth er disturbance occurred during the night. The Arapahoes did not attempt mischief, or if they did the wakefulness of the party deterred them from effect ing their purpose. The next day was one of activity and excitement, for about ten o'clock the man in advance shouted tho gladdening cry of buf falo, bu:ffalo! and in the hollow of the prairie just below us, a band of bulls were grazing. The temptation was irresistible, and Shaw and I rode down upon them. We were badly mounted on our tra veiling horses, but by hard lashing we overtook them, and Shaw runninrr alonaside of a bull, shot into him b b both balls of his double-barrelled gun. Looking round as I gallopped past, I saw the bull in his mortal fury rushing again THE CHASE. 389 and again upon his antagonist, whose horse constantly leaped aside, and avoided the onset. My chase was more protracted, but at length I ran close to the bull and killed him with my pistols. Cutting off the tails of our victims by way of trophy, we rejoined the party in about a quarter of an hour after we left it. Again and again that morning rang out the same welcome cry of buffalo, buffalo ! Every few moments in the broad meadows along the river, we would see bands of bulls, who, raising their shaggy heads, would gaze in stupid amazement at the approaching horsemen, and then breaking into a clumsy gallop, would file off in a long line across the trail in front, toward the rising prairie on the left. At noon, the whole plain before us was alive with thousands of buffalo, bulls, cows, and calves, all moving rapidly as we drew near; and far-off beyond the river the swelling prairie was darkened with them to the very horizon. The party was in gayer spirits than ever. We stopped for a nooning near a grove of trees by the river side. 'Tongues and hump-ribs to-morrow,' said Shaw, looking with contempt at the venison steaks which Delorier placed before us. Our meal finished, we lay down under a temporary awning to sleep. A shout from Henry Chatillon aroused us, and we saw him standing on the cart-wheel, stretching his tall figure to its full height while he looked toward the prairie beyond the river. Following the direction of his eyes, we could clearly distinguish a large dark object, like the black shadow of a cloud, passing rapidly over swell after swell of the distant plain; behind it followed another of similar appearance though smaller. Its motion was more rapid, and it drew closer and closer to the first. It was the hunters of the Arapahoe camp pursuing a band of buffalo. Shaw and I hastily caught and |
