EARLY DAY STORIES. 137 



near camp, and on this hang a grain sack, or an old coat 

 as a signal. The sand hill country all looked very much 

 alike, and this helped sometimes to bring in a straggler, 

 especially if the day was cloudy. If the camp was on a 

 stream of water, such a precaution was not necessary, the 

 stream being a guide to the camp. 



As to the best kind of gun to be used in hunting, there 

 is a chance for a great diversity of opinion. Before our 

 modern breech loading guns came into use I had hunted 

 some with the old style muzzle loading rifles, and also with 

 a double barrel muzzle loading shot gun. With the old muz- 

 zle loading percussion lock rifles I killed two antelope and 

 seven deer, and helped to kill one buffalo. With the old 

 style shot gun I killed one antelope, two elk, and about 

 twelve deer, having forgotten exactly how many. Since 

 December, 1870, I have used breech loading guns only, hav- 

 ing hunted more or less with the Maynard, Smith & Wesson, 

 Ballard, Sharps, Remington, four styles of the Winchester 

 rifle, and also the army Springfield rifled musket. I had the 

 best luck with the Springfield rifled musket, or needle gun 

 as it was called, the Sharps carbine, both of which carried 

 a caliber 50 bullet weighing 450 grains and taking 70 grains 

 of powder, and the Winchester repeater caliber 45-75, my 

 preference above all being for the Winchester. I have had 

 no experience with the modern small bore high power rifles, 

 they having come into use since my hunting days were 

 passed. I think the only reason why I had better luck with 

 the three guns last named than with any of the others was 

 because they carried a heavier bullet than the others not 

 because they were more accurate shooters. A heavy bullet 

 will bring down a deer or an elk, when a light one will only 

 wound the animal, and unless there is a tracking snow, even 

 if the wound is finally fatal, the game is liable to be lost. 

 Any rifle without regard to caliber, that is sure fire, and 

 that will shoot true, will answer to hunt deer with, but if 



