THE OMNIVOKOUS HORSE. 115 



CHAPTER IX. 



Find a Sioux camp-ground. The omnivorous horse. A Rocky-Mountain 

 moose. A large turkey-roost. A deserted settlement. Fox thinks he 

 is going to die. Crossing the river under difficulties. A fast buffalo- 

 calf, Adventure with a buffalo. Camp deserted. Another made. Row 

 with the men. Brown discharged. Remove to old camp. More buffalo- 

 hunting. Surprised by Indians. Cut off from camp. Plan of getting 

 through. Its success and safety. Neighbourhood getting too warm. 

 Fox declines going near a sheriff. Return eastwards. 



As we found a great deal of Indian sign about, and came one 

 morning on the big Sioux camp-ground, which was so close to 

 us and which had evidently been lately occupied, we thought 

 it wise to move some miles up the Solomon River, where 

 we camped on a small stream which ran into it, and found 

 capital grass and a spring of ice-cold water. 



Here the horse whose peculiarity it was to eat his reins gave 



us a specimen of his skill. M , to whom he belonged, had 



been out for a ride, and on coming home had taken off the 

 saddle and bridle, and had tied him to the waggon-wheel by 

 his picket-rope, meaning to put him out later ; but this he 

 forgot to do, and there he remained all night. In the morn- 

 ing we found he had torn off all he could reach of the waggou- 



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