24 THE ADVENTURES OF 



As we were going into camp one day I saw 

 three buffalo lying down, and, having only live 

 cartridges, slipped up as close as I could get 

 and killed two and wounded the other. One 

 cartridge failed to fire, and I w^ent back to the 

 w^agon to take the cap off, but wiiile I was 

 picking it out it exploded, nearly tearing my 

 hand off. This laid me up for nearly two 

 weeks. 



One day while my hand was sore and 1 

 could not use my gun, I was strolling along a 

 branch, I heard an unusual noise, and looking 

 up saw the ''tips" of some Indians, I could 

 not tell how many, just as they passed over a 

 ridge. As soon as I saw them I lav 

 flat down, and they passed on without 

 seeing me, and it was well for me 

 that they did not, for they were hostile 

 and, as I did not have my gun, would have 

 made short work of me. I met them often 

 after that, but was generally better prepared 

 for them, as I always had my "old poison 

 slinger" with me. 



"Old poison slinger" is the name that the 

 men gave my gun. It was a Sharp's rifle, 50 



