ALONG THE PLATTE TO FORT LARAMIE. 55 



running hither and thither, sometimes with faces turned 

 heavenward in anxious expectation, at others, down on their 

 knees scrambling for the precious morsels that fell around 

 them, all screaming and chattering like so many parrots, was 

 a sight to move the risibles of a stoic ; and laughter long and 

 deep resounded from the bystanders. The lordly " bucks " 

 standing around seemed to enjoy the scene as much as our- 

 selves, although their manifestations of delight were not so 

 open. 



Before we left the camp we had the pleasure of seeing the 

 Indians on a buffalo hunt. While they were lounging around 

 the corral after dinner, a squaw came running up from the 

 village with the information that a buffalo was in sight. The 

 features of the Indians, which a moment before were stolid 

 and vacant, were now full of the liveliest animation, and, 

 springing from the ground, they rushed in a body to where 

 their ponies were picketed ; in an instant they were mounted 

 and coursing over the plain in the direction of their victim, 

 which was plainly visible a half a mile distant. The latter 

 soon took the alarm and made for the bluffs, but his pursuers, 

 on their tough little animals, swiftly gained upon him, and in 

 a short time came up with him, when discharging a volley of 

 bullets and arrows at their noble game, he was soon rolling in 

 the dust. It was but a few minutes from the time the alarm 

 was given until the buffalo was killed, and the hunters were 

 on their way to camp, leaving the meat to be cut up and 

 brought home by the squaws. The latter made their appear- 

 ance at last, each with a heavy load on her back, and they 

 were soon busily engaged in cutting up the flesh preparatory 

 to drying it in the sun for future use. The chase was quite an 

 exciting one, and we watched it with intense interest from 

 first to last. 



Leaving our Indian friends behind us, we moved on and 

 encamped at sundown near the river, after a journey of twelve 



