Camping and Hunting in the Shoshone 



— to start with a hundred and fifty almost 

 naked men and boys, in a helter-skelter 

 race of miles, over ground full of holes, 

 and covered with thundering herds, while 

 hunted and hunters were rolled in clouds 

 of dust — is to have enjoyed something 

 that can never be enjoyed again. Who 

 that once joined in such a chase could 

 ever forget it ? The strange, motley com- 

 pany, — the old chief, armed and mounted 

 as well as any man in the tribe, but tak- 

 ing small part in the charge or slaughter ; 

 the young warrior, stripped almost naked, 

 meaning business, and looking, every inch 

 of him, what he meant, too poor to use 

 the costly ammunition that the Hudson 

 Bay Company could alone supply him 

 with, on buffalo, and so relying on his 

 short bow ; the boy of fourteen, just old 

 enough to bestride "a runner," and bend a 

 bow ; and last, but not least, the motley 

 band of squaws, some still carrying their 

 babies, — though for them this was no 

 mere holiday pastime, — leading and riding 

 ponies behind which the long tepee-poles, 

 fastened securely at the sides, trailed for 

 fifteen feet along the grass ; then the cau- 

 tious approach, the old man leading and 

 signalling each movement of all our band. 

 My heart almost thumps against my ribs 



SI 



