A BUFFALO CHASE. 55 



leaving their teams to take care of themselves, 



seized their guns and joined the race afoot 



Here went one with his rifle or yager — there 



another with his double-barrelled shot-gun 



a third with his holster-pistols — a. Mexican 



perhaps with his lance^ — ^another with his bow 



and arrows — and numbers joined witliout any 



arms whatever, merely for the ' pleasures of 



tlie chase' — all helter-skelter — a regular John 



Gilpin race, truly 'neck or naught* The 



fleetest of the pursuers were soon in the midst 



of the game, which scattered ui all directions, 



like a flock of birds upon the descent of a 

 hawk. 



A few 'beeves' were killed during the chase, 

 and as soon as our camp was pitched, the 

 bustle of kindling fires and preparing for sup- 

 per commenced. The new adventurers were 

 curious to taste this prairie luxury ; while we 

 all had been so long upon salt provisions — > 

 now nearly a month — that our appetites were 

 in exquisite condition to rehsh iiresh meat 

 The fires had scarcely been kindled when the 

 Aumes of broiling meat pervaded the surround- 

 ing atmosphere; while all huddled about, 

 anxiously watching their cookeries, and regal- 

 ing their senses in anticipation upon the sa- 

 vory odors which issued from them. 



For the edification of the reader, who has 

 no doubt some curiosity on the subject, I will 

 briefly mention, that the ' kitchen and table 

 ware' of the traders usually consists of a skillet, 

 a fr}*iiig-pan, a sheet-iron carap-kettle, a cofiee- 

 pot, and each man with his tin cup aad a 



