A HERD OF ELK AHEAD. 409 



the handle of a broom. This, being woman's favorite 

 weapon, was handled so skillfully that the savages 

 imagined it another rifle. In our log-book she was 

 chronicled at once as fully the equal of that revolu- 

 tionary hero, who one evening made prisoner of a 

 British officer, by crooking an American sausage 

 into the semblance of a pistol, and presenting it at 

 the Englishman's breast. 



There were two of our party who did not rejoice as 

 they should have done, after rendering such timely 

 aid to the Burns family. How romantic had the res- 

 cued party only proved to be the one which was at 

 first suspected ! 



Where this little scene occurred, there are home- 

 steads now, which will soon develop into thrifty 

 farms. The blessing of a railroad can not be long 

 deferred. A year, a month, even a week sometimes, 

 makes wonderful changes in Buffalo Land, when the 

 tide of immigration is rolling forward upon it. Be- 

 fore the present year is ended, the beautiful valley of 

 Limestone Creek will be teeming with civilized life, 

 and the savage red man, there is good reason to be- 

 lieve, has departed from it forever. 



After bidding the Burns family good-bye, we 

 traveled without further adventure until near noon, 

 when the guide rode back, and directed our attention 

 to some elk, which he pointed out, some distance 

 ahead. The bodies of the herd were hidden by a 

 ridge, but above its brown line we could plainly 

 see their great antlers, looking like the branches of 

 trees, moving slowly along. There was but one 

 method of getting near the game, and that was im- 



