THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 



87 



witnessing the agility and extreme strength of a year-old 

 Buffalo bull belonging to the fort. Our cook, who is an 

 old Spaniard, threw his lasso over the Buffalo's horns, and 

 all the men in the fort at the time, hauled and pulled the 

 beast about, trying to get him close to a post. He kicked, 

 pulled, leaped sideways, and up and down, snorting and 

 pawing until he broke loose, and ran, as if 'itc wild, about 

 the enclosure. He was tied again and again, without any 

 success, and at last got out of the fort, but was soon re- 

 taken, the rope being thrown round his horns, and he was 

 brought to the main post of the Buffalo-robe press. There 

 he was brought to a standstill, at the risk of breaking his 

 neck, cind the last remnant of his winter coat was removed 

 by main strength, which was the object for which the poor 

 animal had undergone all this trouble. After Harris 

 returned to the fort he saw six Sharp-tailed Grouse. At 

 this season this species have no particular spot where you 

 may rely upon finding them, and at times they fly through 

 the woods, and for a great distance, too, where they alight 

 on trees ; when, unless you accidentally see them, you pass 

 by without their moving. After we passed Fort Mortimer 

 on our return we saw coming from the banks of the river 

 no less than eighteen Wolves, which altogether did not 

 cover a space of more than three or four yards, they 

 were so crowded. Among them were two Prairie Wolves. 

 Had we had a good running horse some could have been 

 shot; but old Peter is long past his running days. The 

 Wolves had evidently been feeding on some carcass along 

 the banks, and all moved very slowly. Mr. Culbertson 

 gave me a grand pair of leather breeches and a very 

 handsome knife-case, all manufactured by the Blackfcet 

 Indians. 



July 1^, Friday. Thermometer 70°-95°. Young 

 McKenzie went oflf after Antelopes across the river alone, 

 but saw only one, which he could not get near. After 

 breakfast Harris, Squires, and I started after birds of all 



