60 AUDUBON 



quarters, and from places where a minute before there was 

 not a sign of one. We had not proceeded three hundred 

 yards at the utmost, before eight Wolves were about the 

 spot, and others approaching. On our way, both going 

 and returning, we saw a cactus of a conical shape, having 

 a light straw-colored, double flower, differing materially 

 from the flower of the flat cactus, which is quite com- 

 mon; had I had any means of bringing one in, I would 

 most gladly have done so, but I could not depend on 

 the carts, and as they are rather unpleasant companions, 

 I preferred awaiting another opportunity, which I hope 

 may come in a few days. We shot a young of Town- 

 send's Hare, about seven or eight steps from us, with 

 about a dozen shot ; I took good care of it until I left 

 the cart on my return to the fort, but when the carts ar- 

 rived it had carelessly been lost. This I regretted very 

 much, as Mr. Audubon wanted it. It was nearly sun- 

 set when Bonaventure discovered a Buffalo bull, so we 

 concluded to encamp for the night, and run the Buffaloes 

 in the morning. We accordingly selected a spot near a 

 pond of water, which in spring and fall is quite a large 

 lake, and near which there was abundance of good pasture ; 

 our horses were soon unsaddled and hoppled, a good fire 

 blazing, and some of the Antelope meat roasting on sticks 

 before it. As soon as a bit was done, we commenced 

 operations, and it was soon gone ' the way of all flesh.' 

 I never before ate meat without salt or pepper, and until 

 then never fully appreciated these two luxuries, as they 

 now seemed, nor can any one, until deprived of them, and 

 seated on a prairie as we were, or in some similar situation. 

 On the opposite side of the lake we saw a Grizzly Bear, 

 but he was unapproachable. After smoking our pipes we 

 rolled ourselves in our robes, with our saddles for pillows, 

 and were soon lost in a sound, sweet sleep. During the 

 night I was awakened by a crunching sound ; the fire had 

 died down, and I sat up and looking about perceived a 



