OPINION Y. EXPEEIENCE. 3 



state of the frontier you will be killed;" others: "What 

 is the use of your going? your trip will never pay," and 

 so on. But the majority of our advisers, chiefly young 

 fellows, who, as we subsequently discovered, had been no 

 farther West than we, were quite enthusiastic. Might they 

 join us ? In fact, at one time, there seemed a probability 

 the projected expedition would more resemble an invading 

 column than be the small hunting party intended. But 

 when preparations had to be commenced in earnest, when 

 the time for departure drew near, great was the falling off. 



The number that really did start was but five : ourselves ; 

 our two "hired men," both regular backwoodsmen, "clear 

 grit " and " lively " with axe and rifle, but decidedly babes 

 out of the wood, having never been on the prairies before ; 

 and lastly, but not least in importance, Jack A. Now 

 Jack was a clever, well-educated ne'er-do-weel, who had run 

 away from his good home in the East. He longed for the 

 adventure of the trip, but having no money, knew not how 

 he could equip himself ; so, on the strength of having once, 

 when driven by necessity, served as a cook for saw-mill 

 hands, he offered himself for the post of what he inelegantly 

 called, " chief cook and bottle-washer to the outfit," under- 

 taking to discharge the high and important duties of that 

 exalted position gratuitously and admirably if we would 

 only take him along with us. 



The " outfit " consisted of a light concord waggon, having 

 a tilt or cover, four good Missouri mules, two Delaware 

 ponies both trained buffalo runners, and splendid fellows. 

 We might have been we were green enough, but we 

 mounted ourselves well ; a small tent, a good watch-dog 



B 2 



