HIRING BULL-WHACKERS. 143 



cumstance, are sometimes called "prairie schooners; " 

 and, in truth, when a train of them is winding its 

 way over the plains, the white covers flecking its sur- 

 face like sails, the sight is not unlike a fleet coming 

 into port. Oxen and mules are both used. When 

 the former, the drivers rejoice in the title of " bull- 

 whackers/' and the crack of their whips, as loud as 

 the report of a rifle, is something tremendous. 



On the day of our arrival at Hays City, one of 

 these festive individuals noticed Dobeen gazing, with 

 open mouth, and back towards him, at some object 

 across the street, and took the opportunity to crack 

 his lash within an inch of the Irishman's spine. The 

 effect was ludicrous ; Shamus came in on the run to 

 have a ball extracted from his back ! 



These Mexicans who come through with the ox- 

 trains are a very degraded race, dark, dirty, and dis- 

 mal. In appearance, they much resemble animated 

 bundles of rags, walking off with heads of charcoal. 

 Personal bravery is not one of their striking charac- 

 teristics ; indeed, they often run away when to stand 

 still would seem to an American the only safe course 

 possible. We were desirous of sending back to Hays 

 City some of the proceeds of our excursion for ship- 

 ment to friends at St. Louis and Chicago, and there- 

 fore hired two of the Mexican teamsters to go as far 

 as the Saline, and return with the fruits of our prow- 

 ess. For this service, which would occupy about 

 four days, they were to receive twenty-five dollars 

 each. 



The morrow was Sunday, and came to us, as nine- 

 tenths of the mornings on the plains did afterward, 



