208 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



and gravelly, and covered with the same loose grass al- 

 ready mentioned ; great quantities of it had been recently 

 burned by the Indians in hunting the deer, the stubble 

 of which annoyed my feet very much. I had turned into 

 a northerly course, where, late in the evening, I observed, 

 about a mile distant, two horsemen galloping in an easterly 

 direction. From their dresses I knew they belonged to 

 our party. I instantly ran to a hillock, and called out 

 in a voice, to which hunger had imparted a supernatural 

 shrillness ; but they galloped on. I then took off my 

 shirt, which I waved in a conspicuous manner over my 

 head, accompanied by the most frantic cries ; still they 

 continued on. I ran towards the direction they were 

 galloping, despair adding wings to my flight. Rocks, 

 'stubble, and brushwood were passed with the speed of a 

 hunted antelope ; but to no purpose ; for arriving at the 

 place where I imagined a pathway would have brought me 

 into their track, I was completely at fault. It was now 

 nearly dark. I had eaten nothing since the noon of the 

 preceding day : and, faint with hunger and fatigue, threw 

 myself on the grass, when I heard a small rustling noise 

 behind me. I turned round, and, with horror, beheld a 

 large rattlesnake cooling himself in the evening shade. 

 I instantly retreated, on observing which he coiled him- 

 self. Having obtained a large stone, I advanced slowly 

 on him, and taking a proper aim, dashed it with all my 

 force on the reptile's head, which I buried in the ground 

 beneath the stone. 



The late race had completely worn out the thin soles 

 of my moccasins, and my feet in consequence became 

 much swollen. As night advanced, I was obliged to look 



