138 Expedition^ &fc. 



struck up a hasty acquaintaince with their enslaved fellow- 

 brutes. As it was near daylight we forbore to do any thing 

 to frighten away the intruders, hoping, to have an opportu- 

 nity to prove our skill in the operation of creasing^ as soon as 

 the light should be sufficient. A method sometimes adopted 

 by hunters for taking the wild horse is to shoot the animal 

 through the neck using the requisite care not to injure the 

 spine. A horse may receive a rifle ball through a particular 

 part of the neck without sustaining any permanent injury; the 

 blow is, however, sufficient to occasion a temporary suspen- 

 sion of the powers of life, during which the animal is easily 

 taken. This is called creasing; and requires for its successful 

 performance a very considerable degree of skill and precision 

 in the use of the rifle. A valuable but rather refractory mule, 

 belonging to our party escaped from the cantonment near 

 Council Bluff, a few days before we left that place. He was 

 pursued by two men through the prairies of the Papillon, 

 across the Elkhorn, and finally to the Platte, where, as they 

 saw no prospect of taking him by other means, they resolved 

 upon creasing. The ball however swerved an inch or two 

 from its aim and broke the neck of the animal. 



