BIG JIM'S THIRD ATTEMPT AS HUNTER. 39 



the ridden slowly limping behind, — presenting a marked contrast between 

 the opening and closing scene. 



Tlie ill-fated horse was too much disabled for further service during the 

 journey. 



As our hero joined the company, the joke-loving wags again broke 

 loose : 



" Well, Jim. I say, — ahem ! did you catch the tarnal critter ?" 



" Pooh ! Why didn't you hold on, and not let her slide through your 

 fingers in that way !" 



'"' Why, man ! You wasn't spry enough, when you jumped off your horse, 

 or you might have caught her — just as easy !" 



" I'd like to know what you was diving arter in that sand-bank ! — the 

 antelope wasn't there !" 



" Oh, Jim ! Shoot him grass, kill horse. Me look next time he run 

 antelope." 



The passive recipient of these sallies had little peace from hence- 

 forth, and soon began to wish he had never seen an antelope or heard of a 

 crane. 



CHAPTER V. 



Deserted camp. — Big Jim's third attempt as a hunter. — Buffalo and other particu- 

 lars. — Big Jim lying guard. — Butchering. — Strange selections. — Extraordinary 

 eating, and excellence of buffalo meat.. — Brady's Island.— Tlie murderer's fate.— 

 Substitute for wood. — A storm.— Game in camp.— Strange infatuation.— Tenacity 

 of buffalo to life, and how to hunt them. — Cross S. Fork of Platte.— Big Jim's 

 fourth adventure. 



Near camp was the site recently occupied by the Pawnee village, 

 whose occupants had evidently deserted it with the utmost precipitancy, 

 leaving lodge-skins, mortars, bowls, pans, and a variety of other articles 

 strown confusedly upon all sides. They had doubtless become alarmed at 

 the approach of some real or supposed enemy, and consulted their own 

 safety in flight. 



Having started early the next day, our hunter soon brought in two fine 

 antelope, the sight of which again raised the ambition of Big Jim, who would 

 fain do deeds of equal wonder ; and he accordingly strolled off* into the 

 hills with that intent. After shooting at several of the wary animals 

 without success, he began to get tired of the sport, and concluding the 

 '• poverty-stricken " creatures not worth the powder and lead, set his face 

 for the caravan. 



Plodding leisurely along, he espied a prairie snake, and, o'erjoyed at 

 the thought of counting a " coup, " gathered his rifle by the small, and 

 brought it down with such force, he not only killed the snake, but broke 

 his gun-stock short otf at the breech. With the pieces, one in each hand, 

 he made his appearance before his comrades, who hailed him : 



