按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 quarter of a mile by his toes and
fingers； heedless of the spiny cactus。 When near enough to the huge；
unconscious quarry the hunter began firing； still keeping himself
carefully concealed。 If the smoke was blown away by the wind； and if
the buffaloes caught no glimpse of the assailant； they would often
stand motionless and stupid until many of their number had been slain；
the hunter being careful not to fire too high； aiming just behind the
shoulder； about a third of the way up the body； that his bullet might
go through the lungs。 Sometimes； even after they saw the man； they
would act as if confused and panic…struck； huddling together and
staring at the smoke puffs； but generally they were off at a lumbering
gallop as soon as they had an idea of the point of danger。 When once
started； they ran for many miles before halting； and their pursuit on
foot was extremely laborious。
One morning my cousin and brother had been left in camp as guards。
They were sitting idly warming themselves in the first sunbeams； when
their attention was sharply drawn to four buffaloes that were coming
to the pool to drink。 The beasts came down a game trail； a deep rut in
the bluff； fronting where they were sitting； and they did not dare to
stir for fear of being discovered。 The buffaloes walked into the pool；
and after drinking their fill； stood for some time with the water
running out of their mouths； idly lashing their sides with their short
tails； enjoying the bright warmth of the early sunshine； then； with
much splashing and the gurgling of soft mud； they left the pool and
clambered up the bluff with unwieldy agility。 As soon as they turned；
my brother and cousin ran for their rifles； but before they got back
the buffaloes had crossed the bluff crest。 Climbing after them； the
two hunters found； when they reached the summit； that their game；
instead of halting； had struck straight off across the prairie at a
slow lope； doubtless intending to rejoin the herd they had left。 After
a moment's consultation the men went in pursuit； excitement overcoming
their knowledge that they ought not； by rights； to leave camp。 They
struck a steady trot； following the animals by sight until they passed
over a knoll； and then trailing them。 Where the grass was long； as it
was for the first four or five miles； this was a work of no
difficulty； and they did not break their gait； only glancing now and
then at the trial。 As the sun rose and the day became warm； their
breathing grew quicker； and the sweat rolled off their faces as they
ran across the rough prairie sward； up and down the long inclines； now
and then shifting their heavy rifles from one shoulder to the other。
But they were in good training； and they did not have to halt。 At last
they reached stretches of bare ground； sun…baked and grassless； where
the trail grew dim； and here they had to go very slowly； carefully
examining the faint dents and marks made in the soil by the heavy
hoofs； and unravelling the trail from the mass of old footmarks。 It
was tedious work； but it enabled them to completely recover their
breath by the time that they again struck the grassland； and but a few
hundred yards from the edge； in a slight hollow； they saw the four
buffaloes just entering a herd of fifty or sixty that were scattered
out grazing。 The herd paid no attention to the new…comers； and these
immediately began to feed greedily。 After a whispered consultation；
the two hunters crept back； and made a long circle that brought them
well to leeward of the herd； in line with a slight rise in the ground。
They then crawled up to this rise and； peering through the tufts of
tall； rank grass； saw the unconscious beasts a hundred and twenty…five
or fifty yards away。 They fired together； each mortally wounding his
animal； and then； rushing in as the herd halted in confusion； and
following them as they ran； impeded by numbers； hurry； and panic； they
eventually got three more。
On another occasion the same two hunters nearly met wit