AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 217 



important requisite. The corral (the frontier livery 

 stable) was first visited, and spirited bidding was 

 indulged in for the choicest animals. The stock 

 here was soon exhausted, and the demand was not 

 yet supplied. Then all the horses and ponies stand- 

 ing tied to the railing around the public square 

 were inspected, and any that were for sale were 

 tested. Word having been circulated that a hunting 

 party was outfitting, a large number of ponies were 

 brought in from neighboring camps and ranches. 

 The party was soon creditably mounted, though the 

 number had increased to double that originally 

 planned. 



Next, teams must be employed. A number of 

 these were also found, and five were engaged, their 

 owners agreeing to work for seven dollars a day 

 '" and found." 



Guns and ammunition were also in demand, and 

 enough were offered to arm a regiment. A number 

 of hunters had recently come in from the front and 

 were selling off their outfits. Every store and hotel 

 had from one to half a dozen guns in pawn, and one 

 dealer had a number of new ones. Anything in the 

 shape of a rifle could be had. Old Kentucky muzzle- 

 loaders, ' five feet long in the barrel ;' ' condemned 

 army carbines of Spencer, Sharps, and other pat- 

 terns; Springfield muskets; Henry and Winchester 

 rifles; and a few of the old reliable Sharps "buffalo- 

 guns" of 45 and 50 calibre, and using 100 to 120 

 grains of powder. These latter were taken at good 

 figures by the more knowing ones, and the best of 

 the others selected by the less intelligent buyers 

 until all were fairly well armed. 



