34 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



retires to them to spend in abundance the winter of life ; 

 while the graceful deer, the timid hare, and the sagacious 

 beaver here pass their lives in peaceful, happy contentment, 

 except some adventurous white man or snake-visioned red- 

 skin should pay it a visit, destroying, as man ever does, the 

 serenity that reigned around previous to his advent. 



But* come, the morning has broken clear and invigor- 

 ating, breakfast has already been discussed, and the horses 

 have got a rough rub over. The neighborhood is well suit- 

 ed for a gallop ; for, from the slight shower of the previous 

 evening, the soil is springy, and fewer of the indefatigable 

 little burro wers the prairie-dogs have undermined our 

 vicinity. Meat is wanted, and as we start our minds are 

 made up that, unless successful, the sun must dip the west- 

 ern horizon ere we return. Each attending to his own 

 nag, and giving an extra pull upon the girths ere getting 

 into the saddle, at a sober, steady pace we start. An old 

 practiced buffalo-runner (for so the Western man terms his 

 favorite and experienced horse) will quietly settle to his 

 master's will, for from experience well he knows that prob- 

 ably a hard day's work is before him, and all his strength 

 will be required; while the youngster or griffin at this 

 work frets and prances, almost pulling his rider from the 

 pig-skin. Forbear, rider; curb your annoyance; give and 

 take a pull upon your snaffle ; soon the youngster will set- 

 tle down, and this day's work will probably teach him a 

 lesson that will act advantageously on his future conduct. 



Discussing subjects suitable for such occasions, miles are 

 passed; so far, with the exception of numerous bleached 

 bones or an occasional deer or antelope track, no indication 

 of game has been seen. From a knoll a survey is made ; a 

 fresh hole or two is taken up in the girths, and the scarcity 

 of animal life commented upon. To the Indian, of course, 

 the blame is laid ; war-parties or moving villages of redskins 



I 



