CHAPTER XIX. 



STALKING THE BISON — BUFFALO AS OXEN EXPENSIVE POWER — A BUFFALO AT .V 



LUNATIC ASYLUM — THE GATEWAY TO THE HERDS — INFERNAL GRAPE-SHOT 



nature's bomb-shells — CRAWLING BEDOUINS " THAR THEY HUMP " THU 



SLAUGHTER BEGUN AN INEFFECTUAL CHARGE " KETCHING THE CRITTER " 



f 



RETURN TO CAMP — OALVES' HEAD ON THE STOMACH — AN UNPLEASANT EPISODE 



BREAKFAST over, the day's work was planned 

 out. We were desirous of loading one of our 

 wagons with game, and sending it back to Hays, from 

 whence the meat could be forwarded by express to 

 distant friends, and serve as tidings from camp, of 

 " all's well." The other wagon we decided to keep 

 with us. Horseback hunting, although fine sport, 

 evidently would not, in our hands, prove sufficiently 

 expeditious in procuring meat. Our guide adduced 

 another argument as follows : " Yer see, gents, if 

 yer want ter ship meat by rail, it won't do ter run it 

 eight or ten miles, like a fox, and git it all heated up. 

 Ther jints must be cool, or they '11 spile." Stalking 

 the bison was to be our day's sport, therefore, and we 

 were speedily oif, taking only the two wagons, the 

 riding animals being all left in camp. Shamus pre- 

 pared a lunch for us, as we did not expect to return for 

 dinner before dusk. 



Following the same route as the day before, we 



(280) 



