BIG JIM'S THIRD ATTEMPT AS HUNTER. 



the ridden slowly liiiipiiig beliindj-^presenting a marked contrast between 

 the opening and t.osinjjf scene. 



The ill-fated horse was too tnucii disabieJ lor furilier bei-vice during tlie 

 journey. 



As Dur hero joined tiie company, tiie joke-iovnig wags again broke 

 oose: 



" Well, Jim. 1 say, — ahem ! did you <iatch liie larnal critter ?" 



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

 fingers in that way i" 



" Why, man ! You wasn't spry enough, wuen you juuijied oif your horg« 

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



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

 ♦Dtelope wasn't there !" 



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

 antelope." 



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

 fortli, and soon began to viosh 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. — Extraordhmry 

 eating, and excellence of buffalo meat..— Brady's Island."-The murderer's fate.— 

 Substitute for wood. — A stonn.— Game in camp.— Sti-auge mfatuaiion.—Tenacity 

 of bufElo to life, and how to hunt them. — Cross S. Fork of Platte. — Big Jira'a 

 fourth adventm*. 



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 twn 

 safety in flight. 



V Having started early the next day, our hunter soon brought in tWL line 

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

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

 hilJs 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 tlie powder and lead, set his facu 

 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 off at the breech. With the pieces, one in each hand, 

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



