A COMRADE AND FRESH SPORTS. 25 



up there, Peregrine. Must go the buffalo, bear, deer, and 

 sheep, instead, now, boy. Buffalo thick on the plains." 



" Let's join, Joe. I'm getting a little tired of the moun- 

 tains, and like yourself have been driven away from the 

 Yellow Stone beaver. Let us camp to night, and in the 

 morning strike across the prairies," said I, and my ser- 

 vices were immediately given to aid Joe in preparing to 

 encamp. 



He had three fine young mules ; his traps were in the 

 best order, and he had abundance of ammunition. The 

 hunter was about forty years of age. His face was sharp 

 and gaunt. His head was always bent forward, giving 

 him the appearance of being hump-backed ; but in stature 

 he was rather above the ordinary height. His twinkling 

 eyes seemed to look on all sides of him at once, so restless 

 were they. His voice was at all times loud, sharp, and 

 ringing. His costume was very much like my own, but 

 rather the worse for wear. It consisted of an old felt 

 hat, hunting-shirt, and leggings of leather, shining with 

 grease mocassins, and heavy Mexican spurs. In the 

 shoulder-belt which sustained his bullet-pouch and, powder- 

 horn, were fastened an awl, with deer-horn handle, a worm 

 for cleaning his rifle, a squat-looking bullet mould, and a 

 little bottle, made from antelope horn, which contained 

 the " medicine," used in baiting the beaver-traps. His 

 rifle looked like one of the best quality and although I 



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