LOS FAVORITE VICTIM. 125 



look down to get a view of his immense body, with 

 the back curving up gradually from the tail into an 

 uncouth hump over the fore shoulders. 



These two solitary old fellows were the only buffalo 

 we saw from the train, the herds at large having 

 not yet commenced their southern journey. At cer- 

 tain seasons, however, they cover the plains on each 

 side of the road for fifty or sixty miles in countless 

 multitudes. These wild cattle of Uncle Samuel's, if 

 called upon, could supply the whole Yankee nation 

 with meat for an indefinite period. 



About noon we arrived at Hays City, two hundred 

 and eighty miles from the eastern border of the State, 

 and eighty miles out upon the plains. A stream tol- 

 erably well timbered, known as Big Creek, runs 

 along the southern edge of the town, and just across 

 it lies Fort Hays, town and fort being less than a 

 mile apart. 



The post possessed considerable military impor- 

 tance, being the base of operations for the Indian 

 country. We found Sheridan there, an officer who 

 won his fame gallantly and on the gallop. During 

 the summer our red brethren had been gathering a 

 harvest of scalps, and, in return, our army was now 

 preparing to gather in the gentle savage. 



We had read accounts in the newspapers, some 

 time before, of the capture of Fort Wallace and of at- 

 tacks on military posts. Such stories were not only 

 untrue, but exceedingly ridiculous as well. Lo is not 

 sound on the assault question. His chivalrous soul 

 warms, however, when some forlorn Fenian, with 

 spade on shoulder and thoughts far off with Biddy 

 7 



