THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 541 



called back to get the skin, and while it was coming I took a complete 

 series of measurements and sketches of him as he lay. 



Although we removed the skin very quickly, and lost no time in again 

 starting the wagon to our permanent camp, the delay occasioned by the 

 death of our twentieth buffalo, — which occurred on November 20, pre- 

 cisely two months from the date of our leaving* Washington to collect 

 twenty buffalo, if possible, — caused us all to be caught in a snow-storm, 

 which burst upon us from the northwest. The wagon had to be aban- 

 doned about 12 miles from camp in the bad lands. Mr. Brown packed 

 the bedding on one of the horses and rode the other, he and Boyd 

 reaching camp about 9 o'clock that night in a blinding snow-storm. Of 

 course the skins in the wagon were treated with preservatives and cov- 

 ered up. It proved to be over a week that the wagon and its load had 

 to remain thus abandoned before it was possible to get to it and bring 

 it to camp, and even then the task was one of great difficulty. In this 

 connection I can not refrain from recording the fact that the services 

 rendered by Mr. W. Harvey Brown on all such trying occasions as the 

 above were invaluable. He displayed the utmost zeal and intelligence, 

 not only in the more agreeable kinds of work and sport incident to the 

 hunt, but also in the disagreeable drudgery, such as team-driving and 

 working on half-frozen specimens in bitter cold weather. 



The storm which set in on the 20th soon developed into a regular bliz- 

 zard. A fierce and bitter cold wind swept down from the northwest, 

 driving the snow before it in blinding gusts. Had our camp been poorly 

 sheltered we would have suffered, but at it was we were fairly comfort- 

 able. 



Having thus completed our task (of getting twenty buffaloes), we 

 were anxious to get out of that fearful country before we should get 

 caught in serious difficulties with the weather, and it was arranged that 

 Private 0. S. West should ride to Fort Keogh as soon as possible, with 

 a request for transportation. By the third day, November 23, the storm 

 had abated sufficiently that" Private West declared his willingness to 

 start. It was a little risky, but as he was to make only 10 miles the 

 first day and stop at the N-bar camp on Sand Creek, it was thought safe 

 to let him go. He dressed himself warmly, took my revolver, in order 

 not to be hampered with a rifle, and set out. 



The next day was clear and fine, and we remarked it as an assurance 

 of Mr. West's safety during his ride from Sand Creek to the LU-bar 

 ranch, his second stopping-place. The distance was about 25 miles, 

 through bad lands all the way, and it was the only portion of the route 

 which caused me anxiety for our courier's safety. The Snow on the 

 levels was less than 6 inches deep, the most of it having been blown 

 into drifts and hollows ; but although the coulees were all filled level to 

 the top, our courier was a man of experience and would know how to 

 avoid them. 



The 25th day of November was the most severe day of the storm, the 



