THE WOLF HUNTERS 



business. An' that horse of his is all right, too. 

 Ain't a bit afeard of a buffalo an' goes at 'em like 

 he was used to it." 



"Possibly the captain has had more experience 

 of this kind," I suggested inquiringly, "than we 

 have supposed." 



"Not a bit of it," replied Saunders. "This is ac- 

 tually my first glimpse of frontier life; but I have 

 always been interested in such matters and have 

 read everything I could find on the subject and 

 have talked to old plainsmen and in that way 

 have acquired some ideas of such things. I wish 

 I could stay with you a week or two and hunt 

 buffalo and antelope, for it is noble sport; but this 

 isn't what Uncle Sam is paying me for, and I must 

 go back to Fort Larned to-morrow. Still, I con- 

 sider this time well spent, for the experience I am 

 getting out here is certainly valuable to one who 

 expects to do service on the plains." 



"We shall be sorry to lose your company, cap- 

 tain," I replied; "but, if you are going In to-mor- 

 row, why not take your antelope along as a trophy 

 of the trip ? The weight will not be much, and we 

 can fit it behind the cantle of your saddle and tie 

 it on so it will ride nicely." 



"Yes," added Jack, "but that will have to be 

 done to-night, for it'll freeze hard before morning, 

 and then you can't fit It on. I'll fix it now." 



He placed Saunders's saddle upon some sacks of 

 grain, bent the antelope carcass to fit snugly be- 



224 



