IN THE FAR WEST. 191 



this day my first buffalo brush, as it recalls incidents I 

 would not willingly forget. None that I have since won in a 

 more glorious manner can approach it in value in my estima- 

 tion, and whenever I see it memory becomes active, and I am 

 once more playing the part of a novice on the plains of the 

 Far West. 



My next brush was won in better style ; yet I have reason 

 to remember it. A large party of us started out for a hunt 

 in the Republican Valley, and as we intended to be absent 

 some days we took waggons and camping outfits with us, and 

 a good store of food and ammunition, besides nearly every of- 

 fensive weapon known on the continent. I was content to 

 carry only a large self-cocking revolver, and for a steed I 

 secured a small, wiry, short-legged mustang, which was 

 recommended to me as a capital buffalo-runner, he having 

 been used specially for that purpose by a sub-chief of the 

 Pawnees. As I was present when he was purchased, and heard 

 the close-bargaining chief recommend him emphatically as 

 tickorce tuchnec, or " very good," I felt satisfied that he was 

 superior to my last mount, and he was accordingly bought 

 for the sum of one hundred dollars after much h a <! i no-, and 



o o o * 



with the assumed regret of the high-minded vendor, who did 

 not forget to tell us that he was a htysliaicroo, or chief, and 

 had a straight tongue. I expected to accomplish wonders 

 with him, and I did, but in a manner different to what I 

 anticipated. I received with him as a present an old lasso 

 (ahshitscawree) which looked as if it had seen many years of 

 service; this I was, according to instructions, to tie around the 

 horse's neck in the chase, and coil the remainder in my belt, 

 so that if I got thrown I could catch my steed readily, and pro- 

 bably be dragged out of the way of danger, by clinging to it, 

 as it would uncoil itself if I left the saddle unceremoniously. 



When we reached our camping-ground we found that the 

 buffaloes had moved to the southward of where they had been a 

 few days previously, so we concluded to follow them. Our route 

 led over an undulating prairie, which was richly carpeted with 

 flowersand rich, succulent grasses,until theeveningof thesecond 

 day, when we reached the buffalo-grounds, and then our hearts 



