66 THE SPORTSMAN’S AND TOURIST’S GUIDE. 
days and then hung on a scaffold with 
smoke under them to cure them prepar- 
atory to starting for home. Of the 
forequarters we used what we wanted 
for camp meat, fed our five dogs what 
they could eat, and then gave away 
two fair wagon loads of them to some 
hunters from our section of country who 
were new hands at the business and did 
not know how to capture game as we did. 
We were within two days travel of the 
buffalo, but did not want any. Buffalo 
hunting is tame when compared with 
antelope hunting. There is more honor 
and glory in getting one antelope from 
the herd on the high prairies than kill- 
ing a dozen old buffalo bulls from behind 
a musquit bush.’ Chicago Field. 
AFTER A CHRISTMAS DINNER. 
“ Venator” gives a glowing account 
of a party that left Fort Griffin, Texas, 
to hunt game for a Christmas dinner. 
The party left camp (Fort Griffin) on 
the morning of the 15th of December, 
and consisted of the commanding and 
three other officers, together with the 
necessary transportation and rations for 
ten days, with the intention of first visit- 
ing a place called Mountain Pass, about 
eighty miles distant, near which bear 
had been reported abundant, and after- 
ward to return slowly home, stopping 
on the way to shoot a sufficient number 
of wild turkeys to furnish a Christmas 
dinner for the fort. The party did not 
expect to see much game before they 
reached Mountain Pass, and therefore 
traveled all day along the road, and did 
not stop at all for the purpose of hunt- 
ing, killing only enough as they went to 
supply the table. 
Many buffaloes were passed, feeding 
in sight, and many carcasses seen from 
which the hide had been stripped and 
the rest of the animal left to waste, 
killed by the hunters who infest this 
region alone for that detestable purpose. 
On the afternoon of the third day out 
the hunters arrived at and passed through 
Mountain Pass, and pitched their camp 
upon Rock Creek, in a most delightful 
spot, abounding in pure and sweet water 
(which is considered a great luxury in a 
country where there are no wells) and 
excellent grass for the animals. At this 
point the party expected to find bear, 
but whether Mr. Bruin had received 
notice of their intended coming, or from 
the want of proper dogs, they failed to 
find him, although numerous signs were 
visible. Remaining in this camp until the 
19th instant, the party started to return 
to the grand object of the hunt—turkeys. 
After leaving the Pass, they retraced 
their steps about twenty-five miles to 
Ellen Creek. Here many turkeys and 
some deer were found, although so much 
shooting made the latter to wild to be 
easily killed. Near where the camp was 
pitched was a small open wood of black- 
jack or scrub oak, with an abundant 
crop of mast, and upon this the turkeys 
fed. In this wood sixteen turkeys were 
killed. The party remained in the 
neighborhood one day, and then moved 
over to the clear fork of the Brazos 
River, and within thirty miles of Fort 
Griffin, where they expected to kill the 
greatest number of their turkeys, as 
they were very plentiful; and the first 
day’s hunt, notwithstanding a slight 
rain, resulted in the death of thirty; but, 
unfortunately, the rain increased, and 
carriers having arrived with intelligence 
which required the commanding officer 
to return to the post, the party re- 
luctantly gave up the remainder of the 
hunt and struck tents for home. Had 
they been able to remain out forty-eight 
