ADVENTURE WITH A SHEEP. 291 



minj^linfij their shrill notes with the music of birds, hail the approacliing 

 SDring. I was delighted to find in my rambles a cluster of wild-flowers 

 in full bloom, shedding their fragrance to the breeze from a sweet, sunny 

 spot among the hills, and I sat for a time to admire its new-born loveli- 

 ness. 



One of my horses, having been for some time wasting under the effects 

 of a disease peculiar to those animals, died this afternoon, — a loss which 

 subjects me to no little inconvenience. It was a noble beast, and cost me 

 sixty dollars only four months since. 



Feb. 28lh. A light snow which fell yesterday night prevented me from 

 leaving camp, but having shouldered my rifle early this morning, I ranged 

 along the valley. The snow had entirely disappeared. Three buffalo 

 bulls, alarmed at my approach, rushed down a steep hill-side, quartering 

 towards me, at the height of their speed. Running to intercept them, 1 

 shot as they passed, prostrating one at the instant. So great was the im- 

 petuosity of his headway, the carcase was thrown to the very base of tiie 

 descent, a distance of about three hundred yards ! 



The interest awakened by the picture of loveliness that greeted me two 

 days previous, led again to the sweet spot among the rough hill-sides, — but, 

 how changed ! The cruel frost had done his death- work — the " flowers 

 had withered and the beauty thereof had fallen away." A tear to their 

 memory, despite my efforts to restrain it, stole its way to the ground. 

 Such was the fate of the first flower of spring ! What a prolific theme 

 for a melancholy fancy to brood upon, and, in its musings, catch the inspi- 

 rations of poesy ! 



March Ath. The dull monotony of four days past has afforded nothing 

 worthy of note. Spring is making rapid advances. To-day, however, an 

 incident occurred, which, with suitable forethought, might have been turned 

 to good account. Soon after leaving camp I encountered a band of sheep, 

 and, despairing of a near approach, shot one of its number at a distance 

 of nearly three hundred and fifty yards. The animal immediately fell, 

 having been stunned by a neck wound, (" creased,''^) but recovered as I 

 reached it, barely affording me time to grasp one of its legs. 



Here commenced a struggle, — the sheep to get free, and I to retain my 

 hold. In the energy of its efforts 1 was dragged over the rocks for some 

 two hundred yards, when, having caught its fore-leg, I succeeded in 

 throwing it, and unthinkingly despatched it with my butcher-kni fe. I might 

 have preserved it alive, as a rare and valuable addition to some zoological 

 collection. My not having done so, I regretted the more, as it was a 

 female and would have soon produced another of its species. 



March lih. Having discovered a large band of deer in the prairie 

 towards the Platte, early this morning I started to approach them. Being 

 within the required distance, I was preparing to shoot, when, on glancing 

 to the left, a party of horsemen met my view, advancing at full gallop. 

 Their bare heads and fluttering robes at once announced them Indians. 



Here was a dilemma ! My first thought was to retire to the creek and 

 tliere await them, under cover of the trees, — but this would convey an im- 



2.')* 



