ADVENTURE WITH A BUFFALO. 51 



melliferous employ, and fill the dark chambers of her oaken palaces year 

 by year with honeyed stores. The air was almost vocal with the mii.>i'c of 

 her wings, and the flowerets were enlivened by the gentle touclics of her 

 embrace. The odor of honey filled the breeze, which, wafting th j mingled 

 melody of birds and insects with the incense of flowers, o'er the smiling 

 prairie till lost in space, seemed more like the breath of Eden than the 

 exhalations of earth. 



As might be supposed, we were not slow in levying upon the delicious 

 stores, which the industrious insects, claiming this as their dominion, had 

 laid away for themselves. During our stay no less than four bce-irees 

 were levelled, and every pan, kettle, pail, keg, or empty dish in the whole 

 camp was filled to overflowing, and every stomach to repletion, v.'ith honey 

 of almost crystalline transparency. The great abundance of deer, turkey, 

 and other game in the vicinity, also contributed their share of amusement, 

 and enlivened the interval of detention. 



At length, by a partial subsidence of the water, we were enabled to eflact 

 a crossing and renew our journey. Pursuing a course VV. N. W., on the 

 27th we met a small party of whites on their return from the mountains, 

 and, yielding to the temptation presented by a luxuriant and well-w onded 

 valley, with a pretty streamlet, the two ]>arties made common camp. Uur 

 new acquaintances were taking a large drove of horses, and several do- 

 mesticated buffalo, with them to the States, Their horses had been mostly 

 obtained from Upper California, the year previous, by a band of mountain- 

 eers, under the lead of one Thompson. This band, numbering twenty -two 

 in all, had made a descent upon the Mexican ranckos and captured bet\veen 

 two and three thousand head of horses and mules. ' A corps of some sixty 

 Mexican cavalry pursued and attacked them, but were defeated and pursued 

 in turn, with the loss of several mules and their entire camp equij age : 

 after which the adventurers were permitted to regain their mountain homes, 

 without further molestation ; but, in passing the cheerless desert, between 

 the Sierra Nevada and Colorado, tiie heat, dust, and thirst were so in- 

 tolerably oppressive, that full ono half of their animals died. The remain- 

 der, however, vv'ere brought to rendezvous, and variously disposed of, to suit 

 the ^vants and wishes of their capt(^rs. 



The buflalo, in possession of our wayfaring friends, had been caught 

 while calves, and reared by domestic cows. They appeared as tame and 

 easily managed as other cattle. One of them, a two-year-old heifer, vras 

 rather vicious in its habits, having been spoiled, while a calf, by the too 

 great familiarity of its keeper. After listening to a full exposition of its 

 bad qualities, our commandant offered to bet he could handle, or even ride, 

 the unruly beast at pleasure. 



•' Can you ?" said the owner. " Do it, and my best horse is yours !" 



" I take all such ofters !" returned the commandant. • " A horse could 

 not be easier earned !" he continued, stepping towards the :ll-tatorcd ani- 

 mal. " Come, boss ! — Poor boss! — bossy, bossy !" addressing the buflltlo, 

 which commenced advancing, — at first slowly, then, with a sudden bound, 

 ran full tilt against the admirer, leaving him prostrate upon the ground, as 

 it turned away, dancing and throwing its heels exultingly at the exploit. 



"Bless my stars !" he exclaimed, on recovering himself; '-Pd no idea 

 'twould serve me so I" 



