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hour the joyful light of a camp fire gladdened my eyes。 Fred told me he had halted as soon as he was able； not on my account only； but because he； too； had had a severe fall； and was suffering great pain from a bruised knee。'
Here is an ordinary example of buffalo shooting：
'JULY 2ND。 … Fresh meat much wanted。 With Jim the half…breed to the hills。 No sooner on high ground than we sighted game。 As far as eye could reach； right away to the horizon； the plain was black with buffaloes； a truly astonishing sight。 Jim was used to it。 I stopped to spy them with amazement。 The nearest were not more than half a mile off； so we picketed our horses under the sky line； and choosing the hollows； walked on till crawling became expedient。 As is their wont； the outsiders were posted on bluffs or knolls in a commanding position； these were old bulls。 To my inexperience； our chance of getting a shot seemed small； for we had to cross the dipping ground under the brow whereon the sentinels were lying。 Three extra difficulties beset us … the prairie dogs （a marmot； so called from its dog…like bark when disturbed） were all round us； and bolted into their holes like rabbits directly they saw us coming； two big grey wolves； the regular camp followers of a herd； were prowling about in a direct line between us and the bulls； lastly； the cows； though up and feeding； were inconveniently out of reach。 （The meat of the young cow is much preferred to that of the bull。） Jim； however； was confident。 I followed my leader to a wink。 The only instruction I didn't like when we started crawling on the hot sand was 〃Look out for rattlesnakes。〃
'The wolves stopped； examined us suspiciously； then quietly trotted off。 What with this and the alarm of the prairie dogs； an old bull； a patriarch of the tribe； jumped up and walked with majestic paces to the top of the knoll。 We lay flat on our faces； till he； satisfied with the result of his scrutiny； resumed his recumbent posture； but with his head turned straight towards us。 Jim； to my surprise； stealthily crawled on。 In another minute or two we had gained a point whence we could see through the grass without being seen。 Here we rested to recover breath。 Meanwhile； three or four young cows fed to within sixty or seventy yards of us。 Unluckily we both selected the same animal； and both fired at the same moment。 Off went the lot helter skelter； all save the old bull； who roared out his rage and trotted up close to our hiding place。
'〃Look out for a bolt；〃 whispered Jim； 〃but don't show yourself nohow till I tell you。〃
'For a minute or two the suspense was exciting。 One hardly dared to breathe。 But his majesty saw us not； and turned again to his wives。 We instantly reloaded； and the startled herd； which had only moved a few yards； gave us the chance of a second shot。 The first cow had fallen dead almost where she stood。 The second we found at the foot of the hill； also with two bullet wounds behind the shoulder。 The tongues； humps； and tender loins； with some other choice morsels； were soon cut off and packed； and we returned to camp with a grand supply of beef for Jacob's larder。
CHAPTER XXII
AT the risk of being tedious； I will tell of one more day's buffalo hunting； to show the vicissitudes of this kind of sport。 Before doing so we will glance at another important feature of prairie life； a camp of Sioux Indians。
One evening； after halting on the banks of the Platte； we heard distant sounds of tomtoms on the other side of the river。 Jim； the half…breed； and Louis differed as to the tribe； and hence the friendliness or hostility； of our neighbours。 Louis advised saddling up and putting the night between us； he regaled us to boot with a few blood…curdling tales of Indian tortures； and of NOUS AUTRES EN HAUT。 Jim treated these with scorn； and declared he knew by the 'tunes' （！） that the pow…wow was Sioux。 Just now； he asserted； the Sioux were friendly； and this 'village' was on its way to Fort Laramie to barter 'robes' （buffalo skins） for blankets and ammunition。 He was quite willing to go over and talk to them if we had no objection。
Fred； ever ready for adventure； would have joined him in a minute； but the river； which was running strong； was full of nasty currents； and his injured knee disabled him from swimming。 No one else seemed tempted； so； following Jim's example； I stripped to my flannel shirt and moccasins； and crossed the river； which was easier to get into than out of； and soon reached the 'village。' Jim was right； … they were Sioux； and friendly。 They offered us a pipe of kinik （the dried bark of the red willow）； and jabbered away with their kinsman； who seemed almost more at home with them than with us。
Seeing one of their 'braves' with three fresh scalps at his belt； I asked for the history of them。 In Sioux gutturals the story was a long one。 Jim's translation amounted to this： The scalps were 'lifted' from two Crows and a Ponkaw。 The Crows； it appeared； were the Sioux' natural enemies 'anyhow；' for they occasionally hunted on each other's ranges。 But the Ponkaw； whom he would not otherwise have injured； was casually met by him on a horse which the Sioux recognised for a white man's。 Upon being questioned how he came by it； the Ponkaw simply replied that it was his own。 Whereupon the Sioux called him a liar； and proved it by sending an arrow through his body。
I didn't quite see it。 But then； strictly speaking； I am no collector of scalps。 To preserve my own； I kept the hair on it as short as a tooth…brush。
Before we left； our hosts fed us on raw buffalo meat。 This； cut in slices； and dried crisp in the sun； is excellent。 Their lodges were very comfortable； most of them large enough to hold a dozen people。 The ground inside was covered with buffalo robes； and the sewn skins； spread tight upon the converging poles； formed a tent stout enough to defy all weathers。 In winter the lodge can be entirely closed； and when a fire is kindled in the centre； the smoke escaping at a small hole where the poles join； the snugness is complete。
At the entrance of one of these lodges I watched a squaw and her child prepare a meal。 When the fuel was collected； a fat puppy； playing with the child； was seized by the squaw； and knocked on the throat … not head … with a stick。 The puppy was then returned； kicking； to the tender mercies of the infant； who exerted its small might to add to the animal's miseries； while the mother fed the fire and filled a kettle for the stew。 The puppy； much more alive than dead； was held by the hind leg over the flames as long as the squaw's fingers could stand them。 She then let it fall on the embers； where it struggled and squealed horribly； and would have wriggled off； but for the little savage； who took good care to provide for the satisfactory singeing of its playmate。
Considering the length of its lineage； how remarkably hale and well preserved is our own barbarity！
We may now take our last look at the buffaloes； for we shall see them no more。 Again I quote my journal：
'JULY 5TH。