208 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



and gravelly, and covered with the same loose grass al- 

 ready mentioned ; great quantities of it had been recently 

 burned by the Indians in hunting the deer, the stubble 

 of which annoyed my feet very much. I had turned into 

 a northerly course, where, late in the evening, [ observed, 

 about a mile distant, two horsemen galloping in an easterly 

 direction. From their dresses I knew they belonged to 

 our party. I instantly ran to a hillock, and called out 

 in a voice, to which hunger had imparted a supernatural 

 shrillness ; but they galloped on. I then took off my 

 shirt, which I waved in a conspicuous manner over my 

 head, accompanied by the most frantic cries : still they 

 continued on. I ran towards the direction they were 

 galloping, despair adding wings to my flight. Rocks, 

 stubble, and brushwood were passed with the speed of a 

 hunted antelope ; but to no purpose ; for arriving at the 

 place where I imagined a pathway would have brought me 

 into their track, I was completely at fault. It was now 

 nearly dark. I had eaten nothing since the noon of the 

 preceding day : and, faint with hunger and fatigue, threw 

 myself on the grass, when I heard a small rustling noise 

 behind me. I turned round, and, with horror, beheld a 

 large rattlesnake cooling himself in the evening shade. 

 I instantly retreated, on observing which he coiled him- 

 self. Having obtained a large stone, I advanced slowly 

 on him, and taking a proper aim, dashed it with all my 

 force on the reptile's head, which I buried in the ground 

 beneath the stone. 



The late race had completely worn out the thin soles 

 cf my moccasins, and my- feet in consequence became 

 much swollen. As night advanced, I was obliged to look 



