THE BISON 193 



side and expired. I have never been more provoked 

 or disheartened in my life. Tears came to my eyes. 

 Riding into camp I at once reported the misconduct 

 of the soldier, but when I urged an immediate court- 

 martial, and that the trooper be sent off to jail for the 

 rest of his life, the captain only laughed at me and said 

 he was glad his man acted as he did, since all the 

 mules would certainly have been stampeded had the 

 bull made his appearance in camp, and he might have 

 done some damage to his guests, who were sitting 

 about before the tents. This was my last buffalo chase 

 and the old bull was the last wild buffalo I ever saw. 

 I have always regretted his untimely death. 



To the Indians the buffalo was " a staff of life." They 

 subsisted largely on the flesh and made houses, robes 

 and clothing out of the skins. I have seen the Indians 

 crossing a river with their women and children in 

 "bull boats," as they are called, made from the buffalo 

 hide. Grinnell says a green hide was used also as a 

 kettle and to make shields that would turn an arrow. 

 The bones were used for implements and sled-run- 

 ners. 



It was a picturesque sight to see the Indians chase 

 the buffalo. I never saw this but once and then at 

 some distance. The Indians did not belong to our 

 party and we did not make our presence known. In 

 fact we stole away silently " like the Arabs." It was 

 a fine sight to see the wild Sioux riding hard after the 

 great throng of animals. They left a cloud of yellow 

 dust, which overhung the plain for miles. 



The weapons used in running buffaloes were the rifle, 

 the carbine and large revolvers. The carbine and re- 



