6 Hunting the Grisly 



of cash, and all were hardy, vigorous fellows, 

 eager for excitement and adventure. My 

 brother was much the youngest of the party, 

 and the least experienced; but he was well- 

 grown, strong and healthy, and very fond of 

 boxing, wrestling, running, riding, and shoot 

 ing; moreover, he had served an apprentice 

 ship in hunting deer and turkeys. Their mess- 

 kit, ammunition, bedding, and provisions 

 were carried in two prairie-wagons, each 

 drawn by four horses. In addition to the 

 teams they had six saddle-animals all of 

 them shaggy, unkempt mustangs. Three or 

 four dogs, setters and half-bred greyhounds, 

 trotted along behind the wagons. Each man 

 took his turn for two days as teamster and 

 cook; and there were always two with the 

 wagons, or camp, as the case might be, while 

 the other six were off hunting, usually in 

 couples. The expedition was undertaken 

 partly for sport and partly with the hope of 

 profit; for, after purchasing the horses and 

 wagons, none of the party had any money left, 

 and they were forced to rely upon selling skins 

 and hides, and when near the forts, meat. 



They started on January 2d, and shaped 

 their course for the head-waters of the Salt 

 Fork of the Brazos, the centre of abundance 



