216 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



than shooting cows, and not half so dangerous as an attack 

 on wild cattle; hence it is scarcely worth mentioning; for 

 all that is required to be successful is to seek shelter be- 

 hind a knoll to the leeward of a herd and fire away to the 

 heart's content, or until the animals get beyond range. 



As nearly all buffalo hunts are alike, and differ only in 

 minor details, such as a fall from a horse, or a charge from 

 an angry or wounded bull, and perhaps a severe bruise, I 

 shall tell how I secured my first two buffaloes, as my expe- 

 rience may prove of use to the novice in the chase. While 

 halting for a few days at a little village in Nebraska, word 

 was brought in that the buffaloes were moving toward the 

 Platte River in immense herds, and that the country was 

 black with them. This seemed to cause as much excite- 

 ment among the men as if it were an announcement of an 

 Indian raid; and all those who had horses and rifles or re- 

 volvers made preparations at once to have a dash at the 

 strangers. In the hotel at which I was stopping was a 

 celebrated hunter, Dr. Carver, and at his invitation I joined 

 a party which he was to lead. 



Not having a horse, I was advised to procure a buffalo- 

 runner owned by the keeper of a livery-stable, and to him 

 I accordingly applied, and made a bargain with him that I 

 was to have his steed at the rate of four dollars per day, 

 and be responsible for his value in case he was injured. 

 At five o'clock in the evening he was brought to the hotel, 

 and, when I gazed on him, I must say I was sorely disap- 

 pointed ; for he was small, ungainly in form, weedy, and 

 boasted of very little flesh. He bore an old Mexican sad- 

 dle on his back, and a rusty pair of reins and a curb-bit 

 completed his trappings. After gazing at him for a few 

 moments in silent disgust, I asked his owner if he could 

 run a buffalo; and that individual told me, in the most 

 emphatic terms possible, that he could, and was one of the 

 best horses in the country for such a purpose. 



Assured by his manner that the brute was really excel- 

 lent, I mounted ; and when the remainder of the party, ten 

 in number, rode up, accompanied by a large covered wagon 



