302 LOST REVOLVER. 



advisable for several reasons, the most cogent of which was 

 money. I had already far exceeded the contemplated 

 cost of the expedition, and I desired as soon as possible 

 the purpose of my sporting mission having been achieved 

 to regain a mart for the sale of my equipment, with all 

 my fine horses and mules, in safe and good condition. 

 From the experience I had had of my hired men, it was 

 perfectly evident that, in presence of an enemy, they could 

 not have been trusted ; neither their habits nor their arms 

 rendered them efficient for any vigilant or defensive pur 

 pose ; so, taking all things into consideration, as well as 

 the lateness of the season, I resolved, their leave being up, 

 to accompany my friends Major Martin and Mr Bayard 

 back to Fort Biley, and from Fort Riley to take a new 

 line across the plains and reach the frontier town of St 

 Joseph, and there discharge my men and attempt to dis 

 pose of my animals and waggons. 



In one of my previous chapters relating to a day on 

 which Mr Canterall had wounded a calf, that ingenious 

 individual came to me after the first run at the bisons, if 

 I remember rightly, and asked me to permit George 

 Bromfield to lend him his revolver. It was one lent to 

 me by my friend Capt. Bathurst, of the Grenadier Guards, 

 and which, for that reason, I valued very much. Per 

 mission being granted, as I chanced to be in a very good 

 humour, he stuck the weapon in his belt, and then we 

 hunted again. At the end of the sport Mr Canterall 

 informed me that he was very sorry to say that in the chase 

 he had lost my pistol. Had I known as much of him 

 then as I know now, revolver in hand I would have 

 searched every pocket he had; but, at the moment, I 

 passed the fact by, and am perfectly certain that I made 

 an immense mistake in believing a word he said, 



