BUFFALO CHASE 27 



CHAPTER IT. 



Buffalo chase — sweet water creek — comanche camps — prevailing winds — ■ 

 indians seen — method of encamping — wonderful powers of the dela- 

 wares— beaver dams — kioway creek. 



June 7. — Taking two of the Indians this morning, I went out for the 

 purpose of making an examination of the surrounding country and 

 ascertaining whether good water could be found upon our route for our 

 next encampment. We had gone about three miles in a westerly direc- 

 tion, when we struck a fresh buffalo track leading north ; thinking we 

 might overtake him, we followed up the trace until we came near the 

 summit of an eminence upon the prairie, when I sent one of the Indians 

 (John Bull) to the top of the hill, which was about one-fourth of .a mile 

 distant, to look for the animal. He had no sooner arrived at the point 

 indicated than we saw him make a signal for. us .to join him, by riding 

 around rapidly several times in a circle and immediately putting off at 

 full speed over the hills. We set out at the same instant upon a smart 

 gallop, and on reaching tbe crest of the hill discovered the terrified 

 animal fleeing at a most furious pace, with John Bull in hot pursuit 

 about five' hundred yards behind him. As we followed on down the 

 prairie we had a fine view of the chase. The Delaware was mounted 

 upon one of our most fractious and spirited horses, that had never seen 

 a buffalo before, and on coming near the animal he seemed perfectly , 

 frantic with fear, making several desperate surges to the right and left,- 

 any one of which must have inevitably unseated his rider had he not been 

 a most expert and skilful horseman. During the time the horse was 

 plunging and making such efforts to escape, John, while he controlled 

 him with masterly adroitness, seized an opportunity and gave the buffalo ' 

 the contents of bis rifle, breaking one of his fore-legs, and somewhat 

 retarding his speed : be still kept on, however, making good running, 

 and it required all the strength of our horses to bring us alongside of 

 him. Before we came up our most excellent hunter, John Bull, had 

 recharged his rifle and placed another ball directly back of the shoulder ; 

 but so tenacious of his life is this animal, that it was not until the other 

 Delaware and myself arrived and gave him four additional shots, that 

 we brought him to the ground. Packing the best pieces of the meat 

 upon our horses, we went on, and in a few miles found a spring-brook, 



