SUCCESSFUL HUNTING. 115 



Dyche now started back for the horse, and on the 

 way down killed a gobbler. With the three turkeys, 

 a deer, and a wolf on the horse he made his way to- 

 wards the ranch ; but before reaching it secured two 

 more of the beautiful birds. As old Weazel had 

 about as much of a load as he could well carry, Dyche 

 walked the seven miles to the ranch, leading the 

 horse. 



Three more days in the woods added four turkeys 

 and a wildcat to the total. The results of the hunt 

 with his baggage were taken to Fort Cantonment in 

 one of the ranch wagons, and just as he reached 

 there a big freight wagon passed along from the ap- 

 ple ranch, going to Caldwell for supplies. The driver 

 was lonesome and was glad of Dyche 's company, so 

 a bargain was soon struck and the luggage piled in 

 the wagon. 



Ten days of uncomfortable travelling, during which 

 the whole outfit came near being lost by attempting 

 to cross the Cimarron on the ice, brought them to 

 their journey's end. While camped on the banks of 

 the Cimarron, two cowboys undertook to have fun 

 with the "tenderfoot," as they termed Dyche, and 

 invited him to take a deer-hunt with them. Tak- 

 ing him to a bunch of jack-oaks they told him he 

 would be sure to find deer in there, and advised him 

 to crawl through and scare out the animals, while 

 they would remain on the outside and shoot them as 

 they ran out. Dyche noticed sundry smiles and 

 winks, and fully understood the part he was to play 

 in the little comedy. Crawling into the bushes he 

 made his way carefully along one of the little trails. 



