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on twenty…one milestrail badfreezing night； no water； and wolves
after our fresh meat。 20Made nineteen miles over prairie； again only
mud； no water； freezing hardfrightful thirst。 21stThirty miles to
Clear Fork； fresh water。〃 These entries were hurriedly jotted down at
the time； by a boy who deemed it unmanly to make any especial note of
hardship or suffering； but every plainsman will understand the real
agony implied in working hard for two nights； one day； and portions of
two others； without water； even in cool weather。 During the last few
miles the staggering horses were only just able to drag the lightly
loaded wagon；for they had but one with them at the time；while the
men plodded along in sullen silence； their mouths so parched that they
could hardly utter a word。 My own hunting and ranching were done in
the north where there is more water； so I have never had a similar
experience。 Once I took a team in thirty…six hours across a country
where there was no water； but by good luck it rained heavily in the
night； so that the horses had plenty of wet grass； and I caught the
rain in my slicker； and so had enough water for myself。 Personally； I
have but once been as long as twenty…six hours without water。
The party pitched their permanent camp in a canyon of the Brazos known
as Canyon Blanco。 The last few days of their journey they travelled
beside the river through a veritable hunter's paradise。 The drought
had forced all the animals to come to the larger water…courses； and
the country was literally swarming with game。 Every day； and all day
long； the wagons travelled through the herds of antelopes that grazed
on every side； while； whenever they approached the canyon brink； bands
of deer started from the timber that fringed the river's course；
often； even the deer wandered out on the prairie with the antelope。
Nor was the game shy； for the hunters； both red and white； followed
only the buffaloes； until the huge； shaggy herds were destroyed； and
the smaller beasts were in consequence but little molested。
Once my brother shot five antelopes from a single stand； when the
party were short of fresh venison； he was out of sight and to leeward；
and the antelopes seemed confused rather than alarmed at the rifle…
reports and the fall of their companions。 As was to be expected where
game was so plenty； wolves and coyotes also abounded。 At night they
surrounded the camp； wailing and howling in a kind of shrieking chorus
throughout the hours of darkness； one night they came up so close that
the frightened horses had to be hobbled and guarded。 On another
occasion a large wolf actually crept into camp； where he was seized by
the dogs； and the yelling； writhing knot of combatants rolled over one
of the sleepers； finally； the long…toothed prowler managed to shake
himself loose； and vanished in the gloom。 One evening they were almost
as much startled by a visit of a different kind。 They were just
finishing supper when an Indian stalked suddenly and silently out of
the surrounding darkness； squatted down in the circle of firelight；
remarked gravely； 〃Me Tonk；〃 and began helping himself from the stew。
He belonged to the friendly tribe of Tonkaways； so his hosts speedily
recovered their equanimity； as for him； he had never lost his； and he
sat eating by the fire until there was literally nothing left to eat。
The panic caused by his appearance was natural； for at that time the
Comanches were a scourge to the Buffalo…hunters； ambushing them and
raiding their camps； and several bloody fights had taken place。
Their camp had been pitched near a deep pool or water…hole。 On both
sides the bluffs rose like walls； and where they had crumbled and lost
their sheerness； the vast buffalo herds； passing and repassing for
countless generations； had worn furrowed trails so deep that the backs
of the beasts were but little above the surrounding soil。 In the
bottom； and in places along the crests of the cliffs that hemmed in
the canyon…like valley； there were groves of tangled trees； tenanted
by great flocks of wild turkeys。 Once my brother made two really
remarkable shots at a pair of these great birds。 It was at dusk； and
they were flying directly overhead from one cliff to the other。 He had
in his hand a thirty…eight calibre Ballard rifle； and； as the gobblers
winged their way heavily by； he brought both down with two successive
bullets。 This was of course mainly a piece of mere luck； but it meant
good shooting； too。 The Ballard was a very accurate； handy little
weapon； it belonged to me； and was the first rifle I ever owned or
used。 With it I had once killed a deer； the only specimen of large
game I had then shot； and I presented the rifle to my brother when he
went to Texas。 In our happy ignorance we deemed it quite good enough
for Buffalo or anything else； but out on the plains my brother soon
found himself forced to procure a heavier and more deadly weapon。
When camp was pitched the horses were turned loose to graze and
refresh themselves after their trying journey； during which they had
lost flesh woefully。 They were watched and tended by the two men who
were always left in camp； and； save on rare occasions； were only used
to haul in the buffalo hides。 The camp…guards for the time being acted
as cooks； and； though coffee and flour both ran short and finally gave
out； fresh meat of every kind was abundant。 The camp was never without
buffalo…beef； deer and antelope venison； wild turkeys； prairie…
chickens； quails； ducks； and rabbits。 The birds were simply 〃potted；〃
as occasion required； when the quarry was deer or antelope； the
hunters took the dogs with them to run down the wounded animals。 But
almost the entire attention of the hunters was given to the buffalo。
After an evening spent in lounging round the campfire and a sound
night's sleep； wrapped in robes and blankets； they would get up before
daybreak； snatch a hurried breakfast； and start off in couples through
the chilly dawn。 The great beasts were very plentiful； in the first
day's hunt twenty were slain； but the herds were restless and ever on
the move。 Sometimes they would be seen right by the camp； and again it
would need an all…day's tramp to find them。 There was no difficulty in
spying themthe chief trouble with forest game； for on the prairie a
buffalo makes no effort to hide and its black； shaggy bulk looms up as
far as the eye can see。 Sometimes they were found in small parties of
three or four individuals； sometimes in bands of about two hundred；
and again in great herds of many thousands； and solitary old bulls；
expelled from the herds； were common。 If on broken land； among the
hills and ravines； there was not much difficulty in approaching from
the leeward； for； though the sense of smell in the buffalo is very
acute； they do not see well at a distance through their overhanging
frontlets of coarse and matted hair。 If； as was generally the case；
they were out in the open； rolling prairie； the stalking was far more
difficult。 Every hollow； every earth hummock and sagebush had to be
used as cover。 The hunter wriggled through the grass flat on his face；
pushing himself along for perhaps a