FIRST MOUNT ON SYLPH. 251 



though I had taken the precaution to tread down the long 

 grass within into a sort of carpet round its walls, sundry 

 draughts came up and found their way to my head in 

 spite of my endeavouring to bury it in the pillow. It 

 did not prevent my sleeping, though, and on the next 

 morning, after broiled bones, hot coffee, and some nicely- 

 baked soda rolls, also hot, I felt considerably stronger than 

 I was the day before. 



In the chase of the previous day I had seen enough to 

 know that Bayard was a fine and resolute horseman, as 

 well as a good shot, and that whatever I might succeed in 

 doing there was no beating him ; it would be quite as 

 much as I could expect, on fractious and unsteady horses, 

 to be anywhere by his side. On inspecting his horse, for 

 the second time a terrible ill luck attended his stable; 

 the swollen knee, though slightly better, still offered so 

 severe an impediment to work, that it was resolved to 

 send both his lame horses back to Fort Riley : so our party 

 sustained the loss of a man, and Bayard the use of his two 

 best steeds. My bay horse Kansas, which Mr Canterall had 

 been riding, was then put at the service of Mr Bayard. 



Ere we left camp on Monday, the 10th of October, a 

 considerable flock of wild geese passed over our heads, 

 flying high, although the wind was very strong. On this 

 day I rode my brown mare Sylph, and suspecting, in 

 spite of her beautiful and temperate temper, that she 

 might be afraid of the bisons, I asked Bayard to lend me 

 a heavy, six-barrel, army-revolver, such as the one he 

 used, as I thought that it would be more handy on a 

 terrified horse than a carbine. On this day we desired 

 some men and a waggon with six mules to keep us in 

 sight, in order to bring home such trophies as the sport 

 afforded ; and we were not long in viewing a large herd 



