HUNTER'S TENTS. 



41 



tunity, I would be as a parent to him, clothe 

 him, and feed him, and teach him what I knew 

 would be for his happiness, with the Indian 

 boys I had already under my care. We pro- 

 ceeded, and after we had travelled about three 

 hours, the whole scene around us was animated 

 with buffaloes ; so numerous, that there could 

 not be less, I apprehend, than ten thousand, in 

 different bands, at one time in our view. It 

 took us nearly the whole day to cross the plain, 

 before we came to anv wood for the night. We 

 resumed our journey at the dawn of the fol- 

 lowing morning, and after travelling about 

 three hours we stopped at a small creek to 

 breakfast : as soon as we had kindled the fire, 

 two Indians made their appearance, and point- 

 ing to the willows, shewed me a buffaloe that 

 they had just shot. They were very expert in 

 cutting up the animal, and ate some of the fat, 

 I observed, with a few choice pieces, in a raw 

 state. Soon afterwards I saw another Indian 

 peeping over an eminence, whose head-dress at 

 first gave him the appearance of a wolf : and, 

 fearing some treachery, we hurried our break- 

 fast and started. 



Feb. 2. — The night was so intensely cold 

 that I had but little sleep, and we hurried from 

 our encampment at break of day. The air was 



