74 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



to find again. It was only a few miles distant, although 

 I thought it must be at least half a day's journey behind 

 us. On arriving at the camp, we each mounted on horse- 

 back, and rode off at a quick trot to the place where our 

 game lay, which we found without difficulty, the Indian 

 having marked several trees with his tomahawk as we 

 returned. The last prize we came to was my buck, and 

 on him we saw a wild-cat preparing to enjoy itself. The 

 Indian rushed forward, and the cat, which did not per- 

 ceive him till too late, flew up a tree, whence an arrow 

 from the sure hand of my companion soon brought it to 

 the ground. It was of a gray color, and larger than the 

 domestic cat. When these animals are irritated they 

 will attack men : my comrade carried off the skin. 



We rode back with our booty to the camp, and were 

 received with cheers. The party all returned one after 

 the other, most of them with game, one with an immense 

 bear that he had killed, the largest I had yet seen. 



While cooking was going on, the young men danced 

 and sang, the women taking no part in their amuse- 

 ments, but quietly continuing their occupations. 



On the following morning the chief said that he had 

 set a wolf-trap, and we went to see if anything had been 

 caught. As there was plenty of food in the camp, we 

 all went together, except three, who, having killed no- 

 thing yesterday, set off to try their luck again to-day. 

 We took four large strong dogs with us, and followed the 

 chief. With a triumphant smile, he showed me where 

 be had set the trap, and near it a trace of blood ; it was 

 shown to the dogs, and they followed it up in full cry. 



After running about a mile, they barked louder and 



