234 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



to fall dead after a long chase; and to be knocked up for life 

 is quite a common occurrence. 



If the animals are driven towards a canyon, a person may 

 tumble over half a dozen as they emerge on the opposite 

 side; but the most effective means of making a large bag is 

 to bound suddenly into the midst of a herd and open a rapid 

 lire at once. This demoralizes them so much that they jump 

 wildly about or stare stupidly at their foe, yet do not attempt 

 to flee; but when once they get it into their heads that 

 something is wrong they wheel about and soon disappear in 

 the horizon. This interval is sufficient, however, to enable a 

 good shot to kill from four to a dozen of them, and if he is 

 well mounted he may claim as many more in a run of seven 

 or eight miles. This chase is most exciting, and he who has 

 once taken part in it will say that few sports can eqiial it, as 

 it brings into action both equestrian power and surety of aim. 

 Having stalked the animal, pursued it with hounds, and run it 

 down on horse-back, I prefer the latter to any other method of 

 hunting it, as it gives both the hunter and the hunted an 

 opportunity of displaying their best qualities. 



The most stirring gallop that I have had after it was in 

 the Wind River country, in Wyoming. There were at the 

 time to which I refer no settlers in the region where the 

 chase came off, and I doubt if there are any now, as it was 

 occupied three or four years ago only by wild animals and 

 wilder Indians. I entered it with a party of miners who were 

 going there on a " prospecting" expedition, it being reported 

 that some of the hills there contained large deposits of gold 

 and silver, and several small lakes of soda, besides other valu- 

 able mineral treasures. The leader of our party was a veteran 

 scout and Indian fighter who had lived in the country for 

 many years, and when he was the only white man to be 

 found there, if I except an occasional visit from a few trappers 

 employed by the fur companies. He had had so many contests 

 with the Indians that he was known by name or person to 

 every tribe in the Territory, and great was his fame among 

 them; so great in fact that few of them would care to meet 

 him in combat, or attack any bodies of men led by 



