25 8 SrOR TING A D VENTURES 



country 'way north-east, and as I wasn't doing much I con- 

 cluded to go into the buffalo country, and try my hand a hit 

 at shooting, in order to get food for the winter, and a few 

 hides to provide myself with tobacco and powder and shot. 

 While on my way there I met the band of Injuns commanded 

 by this Jem you've seen, but he had some other name then 

 which I don't now recollect. He isn't a real Bannock, and his 

 band was then, and is now, made up of renegades from several 

 tribes, and they never count for much, as they won't stop on 

 the reservation, and they acknowledge no law but their own. 

 Well, when I struck their camp, I was so mighty hungry that 

 I didn't care what I did, and I'd have fought the whole of the 

 tribe for a piece of meat for I tell you a man doesn't care 

 much for bullets when he is starving and food is near. So I 

 entered their camp boldly. They were as surprised as Injuns 

 can be when they saw me riding down between their tepees, 

 but they made no effort to injure me, for Injuns always like 

 sand in a man, even if he is their foe and none of the Injuns 

 were then overfond of the whites. 



" When I saw the chief's tent, which I knew by its size, I 

 jumped off my mule and walked in. I found this Jem and 

 his whole family, wives, children, and dogs inside. The women, 

 children, and dogs wore all eating together, so I knew he hud 

 finished his grub, for the braves never eat with the squaws and 

 youngsters, and the only company these have are their flea- 

 eaten curs. When they saw me they looked kind afraid, but 

 they never said anything, nor did I ; and walking towards a big 

 iron pot which they must have stolen from the whites I 

 I looked into it, and finding it full of meat I helped myself to 

 some, and after I had stuffed myself full for every person can 

 help himself in an Injun camp to any grub he sees there I lit 

 my pipe and offered a smoke to this ere Jem, who was lying down 

 on a buffalo-hide near the fire, and he took it mighty quick I 

 tell you, for I think he was out of tobacco. When he finished 

 he gave it back, and knowing by his looks that he wished he 

 could have a few more puffs, I took out my pouch and gave 

 him half I had, and he grabbed it as quickly as a starving 

 man would a piece of venison. 



