THE BUFFALO. 221 



lent care not to tell them that we had run away for the 

 same reason they had. 



After a few pulls at their water-jugs, peace was ratified, 

 and we jogged homeward together; but the way was 

 made rather jolly by many lively sallies at their fears and 

 sportsman-like qualities, all of which they took in the most 

 simple earnestness, and answered in such a quaint manner 

 that Hans Breitman, had he heard them, might have, pro- 

 duced a capital work, did he take for a title their oft-re- 

 peated saying, " Mebbe you tink you make lots of f oon of 

 us ; but I call dot tarn fool foon !" 



When I retired to bed that night I was so seriously lac- 

 erated, from hugging the saddle during the bucking and 

 running, that I could hardly move, and, on awaking the 

 next morning, I was so stiff and sore that I could not 

 walk without presenting a ridiculous gait, so I stayed in 

 bed. Notwithstanding the disagreeable condition of af- 

 fairs, I laughed heartily at the scenes of the hunt, and treas- 

 ure to this day my first buffalo-brush, as it recalls incidents 

 I would not willingly forget. None that I have since won 

 in a more glorious manner can approach it in value, in my 

 estimation, and, whenever I see it, memory becomes active, 

 and I am once more playing the part of a novice on the 

 plains of the Far West. 



My next brush was won in better style ; yet I have rea- 

 son to remember it. A large party of us started out for a 

 hunt in the Republican Valley, and, as we intended to be 

 absent some days, we took wagons and camping outfits 

 with us, and a good store of food and ammunition, besides 

 nearly every offensive weapon known on the continent. I 

 was content to carry only a large, self-cocking revolver, and 

 for a steed I secured a small, wiry, short-legged mustang, 

 which was recommended to me as a capital buffalo-runner, 

 he having been used specially for that purpose by a sub- 

 chief of the Pawnees. As I was present when he was pur- 

 chased, and heard the close -bargaining chief recommend 

 him emphatically as tickoree tuchnee, or "very good," I felt 

 satisfied that he was superior to my last mount; and ho 



