BISON HUNTING. 321 



between the Yellow Stone and the Missouri rivers, with meat 

 enough to load you home. My watch on yonder bluff has 

 just told us by his signals, that there are cattle a plenty on 

 that spot, and we are going there as fast as possible." 



We all crossed the river, and galloped away a couple of 

 miles or so, when we mounted the bluff; and to be sure, as 

 was said, there was in full view of us a fine herd of some four 

 or five hundred buffaloes, perfectly at rest, and in their own 

 estimation (probably) perfectly secure. Some were grazing, 

 and others were lying down sleeping ; we advanced within a 

 mile or so of them in full view, and came to a halt. Mons. 

 Chardon "tossed the feather" (a custom always observed, to 

 try the course of the wind,) and we commenced "stripping" 

 as it is termed (i. e. every man strips himself and his horse 

 of every extraneous and unnecessary appendage of dress, &c., 

 that might be an incumbrance in running ;) hats are laid off, 

 and coats, and bullet pouches ; sleeves rolled up, a handker- 

 chief tied tightly round the head, and another around the 

 waist cartridges are prepared and placed in the waistcoat 

 pocket, or a half a dozen bullets "thrown into the mouth," 

 &c., all of which takes up some ten or fifteen minutes, and is 

 not, in appearance or in effect, unlike a council of war. Our 

 leader lays the whole plan of the chase, and preliminaries all 

 fixed, guns charged and ramrods in our hands, we mount and 

 start off. The horses are all trained for this business, and 

 seem to enter into it with as much enthusiasm, and with as 

 restless a spirit as the riders themselves. While "stripping" 

 and mounting, they exhibit the most restless impatience ; and 

 when "approaching" (which is, all of us abreast, upon a 

 slow walk, and in a straight line towards the herd, until they 

 discover us and run) they all seem to have caught entirely 

 the spirit of the chase, for the laziest nag among them prances 

 with an elasticity in his step champing his bit his ears 

 erec t his eyes strained out of his head, and fixed upon the 

 game before him, whilst he trembles under the saddle of his 



