The Crayon miscellany

Front matter

m

IRVING'S CRAYON MISCELLANY.

RIVERSIDE EDITION.

Chapter I

The Pawnee Hunting-Grounds. — Travelling Companions. — A Commissioner. — A Virtuoso. — A Seeker of Adventures. — A Gil Bias of the Frontier. — A Young Man's Anticipations of Pleasure 11

CHAPTER n.

Anticipations disappointed. — New Plans. — Preparations to join an Exploring Party. — Departure from Fort Gibson. — Fording of the Verdigris. — An Indian Cavalier 17

CHAPTER IH.

An Indian Agency. — Ritiemen. — Osages, Creeks, Trappers, Dogs, Horses, Half-breeds. — Beatte, the Himtsman 22

CHAPTER IV.

The Departure . .27

CHAPTER V.

Frontier Scenes. — A Lycurgus of the Border. — Ljmch's Law. — The Danger of finding a Horse. — The Young

CHAPTER VI.

Trail of the Osage Hunters. — Departure of the Count and his Party. — A Deserted War-Camp. — A Vagrant Dog. — The Encampment 36

CHAPTER VII.

News of the Rangers. — The Count and his Indian Squire. — Halt in the Woods. — Woodland Scene. — Osage Village. — Osage Visitors at our Evening Camp 40 iv CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER VIII.

The Honey Camp 49

CHAPTER IX.

A Bee-Hunt 52

CHAPTER X.

Amusements in the Camp. — Consultations. — Himters' Fare and Feasting. — Evening Scenes. — Camp Melody. — The Fate of an Amateur Owl . . .57

CHAPTER XI.

Breaking up of the Encampment. — Picturesque March. Game. — Camp-Scenes. — Triumph of a Young Hunter. — 111 Success of Old Hunters. — Foul Murder of a Polecat 64

CHAPTER XII.

The Crossing of the Arkansas 72

CHAPTER XIII.

The Camp of the Gi.en. — Camp-Gossip. —Pawnees and their Habits. — A Hunter's Adventure. — Horses found, and Men lost 76

CHAPTER XIV.

Deer-Shooting. — Life on the Prairies. — Beautiful Encampment. — Hunter's Luck. — Anecdotes of the Delawares and their Superstitions 86

CHAPTER XV.

The Search for the Elk. — Pawnee Stories ... 94

CHAPTER XVI.

A Sick-Camp. — The March. —The Disabled Horse.— Old Ryan and the Stragglers. — Symptoms of Change of Weather, and Change of Humors .... 102

CHAPTER XVII.

Thunder-Storm on the Prairies. — The Storm-Encampment. — Night Scene. — Indian Stories. — A Frightened Horse 109

CHAPTER XVIH.

A Grand Prairie. — Cliff Castle. — Buttalo Tracks.— Deer hunted by Wolves. — Cross Timber . . . 115

CONTKNTH.

CHAPTER XIX.

Hunters' Anticipations. — The Rugged Ford. — A Wild Horse 120

CHAPTER XX.

The Camp of the Wild Hokse. — Hunters' Stories. Habits of the Wild Horse. — The Half-breed and his Prize. — A Horse-Chase. — A Wild Spirit tamed . 126

CHAPTER XXI.

The Fording of the Red Fork. — The Dreary Forests of the " Cross Timber." — Butfalo ! 134

CHAPTER XXII.

The Alarm Camp 139

CHAPTER XXIII.

Beaver Dam. — Buffalo and Horse Tracks. — A Pawnee Trail. — Wild Horses — The Young Hunter and the Bear. — Change of Route l-lii

CHAPTER XXIV.

Scarcity of Bread. — Rencontre with Buffaloes. — Wild Turkeys. — Fall of a Bufialo Bull . . . .155

CHAPTER XXV.

Ringing the Wild Horse 160

CHAPTER XXVI.

Fording of the North Fork. — Dreary Scenery of the Cross Timber. — Scamper of Horses in the Night. — Osage War-Party. — Efiects of a Peace Harangue. — Buffalo. — Wild Horse 166

CHAPTER XXVII.

Foul-Weather Encampment. — Anecdotes of Bear-Hunting. — Indian Notions about Omens. — Scruples Respecting the Dead 171

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A Secret Expedition. — Deer-Bleating. — Magic Balls . 182

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Grand Prairie. — A Buffalo Hunt . . . -188 vi CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER XXX.

A Comrade lost. —A Search for the Camp. — The Commissioner, the Wild Horse, and the Buttalo. — A Wolf Serenade 199

CHAPTER XXXI.

A Hunt for a Lost Comrade 204

CHAPTER XXXn.

A Republic of Prairie-Dogs 210

CHAPTER XXXHI.

A Council in the Camp. — Reasons for Facing Homewards. — Horses lost. — Departure with a Detachment on the Homeward Route. — Swamp. — Wild Horse. — Camp -Scene by Night. — The Owl, Harbinger of Dawn 215

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Old Creek Encampment.— Scarcity of Provisions. — Bad Weather. — Weary Marching. — A Hunter's Bridge . 225

CHAPTER XXXV.

A Look-out for Land. — Hard Travelling and Hungiy Halting. — A Frontier Farm-house. — Arrival at the Gan-ison 232

ABBOTSFORD.

Abbotsford 243

NEWSTEAD ABBEY.

Historical Notice 323

Arrival at the Abbey 334

The Abbey Garden 342

Plough Monday 350

Old Servants 355

Superstitions of the Abbey 361

Annesley Hall . 371

The Lake 395

Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest .... 399

The Rook Cell 410

The Little White Lady 416

Introduction

'AYING, since my return to the United States, made a wide and varied tour, for the gratitieation of my curiosity, it has been supposed that I did it for the purpose of writing a book ; and it has more than once been intimated in the papers, that such a work was actually in the press, containing scenes and sketches of the Far West.

These announcements, gratuitously made for me, before I had put pen to paper, or even contemplated anything of the kind, have embarrassed me exceedingly. I have been like a poor actor, who finds himself announced for a part he had no thought of playing, and his appearance expected on the stage before he has committed a line to memory.

I have always had a repugnance, amounting almost to disability, to write in the face of expectation ; and, in the present instance, I was exjDected to write about a region fi-uitful of wonders and adventures, and which had already been made the theme of spirit-stirring narratives fi-om able pens, yet about which I had nothing wonderful or adventm'ous to ofier.

Since such, however, seems to be the desire of the public, and that they take sufficient interest in my viii INTRODUCTION.

wanderings to doem them worthy of recital, I have hastened, as promptly as possible, to meet in some degree the expectation Avhich others have excited. For this purpose, I have, as it were, plucked a few leaves out of my memorandum book, containing a month's foray beyond the outposts of human habitation, into the wilderness of the Far West. It forms, indeed, but a small portion of an extensive tour ; but it is an episode, complete as far as it goes. As such T offer it to the public with great diffidence. It is a simple narrative of every-day occurrences, such as happen to every one who travels the prairies. I have no wonders to describe, nor any moving accidents by flood or field to narrate ; and as to those who look for a marvellous or adventurous story at my hands, I can only reply in the words of the weary knife-grinder: " Story ! God bless you, I have none to tell, sir."

A TOUR ON THE PKAIEIES.

A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.

CHAPTER I.

THE PAWNEE HUNTING-GROUNDS. —TRAVELLING COMPANIONS. —A COM- MISSIONER. — A VIRTUOSO. — A SEEKER OF ADVENTURES. — A GIL BLA8 OF THE FRONTIER. — A YOUNG MAN'S ANTICIPATIONS OF PLEASURE.

N the often vaunted regions of the Far West, several hundred miles beyond the Mississippi, extends a vast tract of uninhabited country, where there is neither to be seen the log house of the white man, nor the wigwam of the Indian. It consists of great ^-assy plains, interspersed with forests and groves, and clumps of trees, and watered by the Arkansas, the grand Canadian, the Red River, and their tributary streams. Over these fertile and verdant wastes still roam the elk, the buffalo, and the wild horse, in all their native freedom. These, in fact, are the hunting-grounds of the various tribes of the Far West. Hither repair the Osage, the Creek, the Delaware and other tribes that have linked themselves with civilization, and live within the vicinity of the white settlements. Here resort also the Pawnees, the Comanches, and other fierce and as yet independent tribes, tlie nomads of the prairies, or the inhabitants of the skirts of the Rocky Mountains. The regions I have mentioned form a debatable ground of these warring and vindictive tribes ; none of them presume to erect a permanent habitation within its borders. Their hunters and " Braves " repair thither in numerous bodies during the season of game, throw up their transient hunting-camps, consisting of light bowers covered with bark and skins, commit sad havoc among the innumerable herds that graze the prairies, and having loaded themselves with venison and buffalo meat, Avarily retire from the dang:erous nei";hborhood. These expeditions partake, always, of a warlike character ; the hunters are all armed for action, offensive and defensive, and are bound to incessant vigilance. Should they, in their excursions, meet the hunters of an adverse* tribe, savage conflicts take place. Their encampments, too, are always subject to be surprised by wandering war parties, and their hunters, when scattered in pursuit of game, to be captured or massacred by lurking foes. Mouldering skulls and skeletons, bleaching in some dark ravine or near the traces of a hunting-camp, occasionally mark the scene of a foregone act of blood, and let the wanderer know the dangerous nature of the region he is traversing. It is the purport of the following pages to narrate a month's excursion to these noted hunting-grounds, through a tract of country which had not as yet been explored by white men.

It was early in October, 1832, that I arrived at Fort Gibson, a frontier post of tlie Far West, silnated on the Neosho, or Grand River, near its confiiience with the Arkansas. I had been travelHiig for a month past, with a small party from St. Lonis, up the banks of the Missouri, and along tlie frontier line of agencies and missions, that extends from the Missouri to the Arkansas. Our party was headed by one of the Commissioners appointed by the government of the United States to superintend the settlement of the Indian tribes migrating from the east to the west of the Mississippi. In the discharge of his duties, he was thus visiting the various outposts of civilization.

And here let me bear testimony to the merits of this worthy leader of our little banrl. He was a native of one of the towns of Connecticut, a man in whom a course of legal practice and political life had not been able to vitiate an innate simplicity and benevolence of heart. The greater part of his days had been passed in the bosom of his family and the society of deacons, elders, and selectmen, on the peaceful banks of the Connecticut ; when suddenly he had been called to mount his steed, shoulder his rifle, and mingle among stark hunters, backwoodsmen, and naked savages, on the trackless wilds of the Far West.

Another of my fellow-travellers was Mr. L., an Englishman by birth, but descended from a foreign stock ; and who had all the buoyancy and accommodating spirit of a native of the Continent. Having rambled over many countries, he had become, to a certain degree, a citizen of the world, easily adapting himself to any change.

He was a man of a tlioiisand occupations ; a botanist, a geologist, a hunter of beetles and butterflies, a musical amateur, a sketcher of no mean pretensions, in short, a complete virtuoso ; added to which, he was a very indefatigable, if not always a very successful, sportsman. Never had a man more irons in the fire, and, consequently, never was man more busy nor more cheerful.

My third fellow-traveller was one who had accompanied the former from Europe, and travelled with him as his Telemachus ; being apt, like his prototype, to give occasional perplexity and disquiet to his Mentor. He was a young Swiss Count, scarce twenty-one yeans of age, full of talent and spirit, but galliard in the extreme, and prone to every kind of wild adventure.

Having made this mention of my comrades, I must not pass over unnoticed a personage of inferior rank, but of all-pervading and prevalent importance, — the squire, the groom, the cook, the tent-man, in a word, the flictotum, and, I may add, the universal meddler and marplot of our party. This was a little, swarthy, meagre, French Creole, named' Antoine, but familiarly dubbed Tonish, — a kind of Gil Bias of the frontiers, who had passed a scrambling life, sometimes among white men, sometimes among Indians ; sometimes in the em^ploy of traders, missionaries, and Indian agents ; sometimes mingling with the Osage hunters. We picked liim up at St. Louis, near which he has a small farm, an Indian wife, and a brood of half-blood children. According to his own account, however, he had a wife in every tribe ; in fact, if Jill tliis little vagabond said of himself were to be believed, he was without morals, without caste, without creed, without country, and even without language ; for he S{)oke a jargon of mingled French, English, and Osage. He was, withal, a notorious braggart, and a liar of the first water. It was amusing to hear him vapor and gasconade about his teri'ible exploits and hairbreadth escapes in war and hunting. In the midst of his volubility he was prone to be seized by a spasmodic gasping, as if the springs of his jaws were suddenly unhinged ; but I am apt to think it was caused by some falsehood that stuck in his throat, for I generally remarked that immediately afterwards there bolted forth a lie of the first magnitude.

Our route had been a pleasant one, quartering ourselves, occasionally, at the widely separated establishments of the Indian missionaries, but in general camping out in the fine groves that border the streams, and sleeping under cover of a tent. During the latter part of our tour we had pressed forward in hopes of arriving in time at Fort Gibson, to accompany the Osage hunters on their autumnal visit to the buffalo prairies. Indeed the imagination of the young Count had become completely excited on the subject. The grand scenery and wild habits of the prairies had set his spirits madding, and the stories that little Tonisli told him of Indian braves and Indian beauties, of hunting buffaloes and catching wild horses, had set him all agog for a dash into savage life. He was a bold and hard rider, and 2 longed to be scouring the hunting-grounds. It was amusing to hear his youthful anticipations of all that he was to see, and do, and enjoy, when mingling among the Indians and participating in their hardy adventures ; and it was still more anmsing to listen to the gasconadings of little Tonish, who volunteered to be his faithful squire in all his perilous luidertakings ; to teach him how to catch the wild horse, bring down the buffalo, and win the smiles of Indian princesses ; — " And if we can only get sight of a prairie on fire !" said. the young Count — " By Gar, I '11 set one on fire myself!" cried the little Frenchman.

CHAPTER IT.

ANTICIPATION'S mSAPPOINTED. — NEW PLANS. — PREPARATIONS TO JOIN AN KXPI,ORIN(; PARTY. — DEPARTURE FROM FORT GIBSON. — FORDING OF THE VERDIORIS. — AN INDIAN OAV^VLIER.

HE anticipations of a young man are prone to meet with disappointment. Unfortiniately for the Covmt's scheme of wild campaigning, before we reached the end of our journey, we heard that the Osage hunters had set forth upon their expedition to the buffalo grounds. The Count still determined, if possible, to follow on their track and overtake them, and for this purpose stopped short at the Osage Agency, a few miles distant from Fort Gibson, to make inquiries and preparations. His travelling companion, Mr. L., stopped with him ; while the Conunissioner and myself proceeded to Fort Gibson, followed by the faithful and veracious

Tonish. I hinted to him his promises to follow the Count in his campaignings, but I found the little varlet had a keen eye to self-interest. He was aware that the Commissioner, from his official duties, Avould remain for a long time in the country, and be likely to give him permanent employment, while the sojourn of the Count would be but transient. The gasconading of the little braggart was suddenly therefore at an end. Pie spoke not another word to the young Count about Indians, buffaloes, and wild horses, but putting himself tacitly in the train of the Commissioner, jogged silently after us to the garrison.

On arriving at the fort, however, a new chance presented itself for a cruise on the prairies. We learnt that a company of mounted rangers, or riflemen, had departed but three days previous, to make a wide exploring tour, from the Arkansas to the Red River, including a part of the Pawnee hunting-grounds, where no party of white men had as yet penetrated. Here, then, was an opportunity of ranging over those dangerous and interesting regions under the safeguard of a powerful escort ; for the Commissioner, in virtue of his office, could claim the service of this newly raised corps of riflemen, and the country they were to explore was destined for the settlement of some of the migrating tribes connected with his mission.

Our plan was promptly formed and put into execution. A couple of Creek Indians were sent off express, by the commander of Fort Gibson, to overtake the rangers and bi-ing them to a halt until the Commissioner and his party should be able to join them. As we should have a march of three or four days through a wild country, before we could overtake the company of rangers, an escort of fourteen mounted riflemen, under the command of a lieutenant, was assigned us.

We sent word to the young Count and Mr. L. at the Osage Agency, of our new plan and pros-

A TOUR ON THE PltAIRIES. 19

pects, and invited them to accompany us. The Count, however, conld not forego the delights lie had promised himself in mingling with absolutely savage life. In reply, he agreed to keep with us until we should come upon the trail of tlie Osage hunters, when it w^as his fixed resolve to strike off into the wilderness in pursuit of them ; and his faithful Mentor, though he grieved at tlie madness of the scheme, was too stanch a friend to desert him. A general rendezvous of our party and escort was appointed, for the following morning, at the Agency.

We now made all arrangements for prompt departure. Our baggage had hitherto been trans- ])orted on a light wagon, but we were now to break oiu- way through an untravelled country, cut up by rivers, ravines, and thickets, wliere a vehicle of the kind would be a complete impediment. We were to travel on horseback, in hunters' style, and with as little encumbrance as possible. Our baggage, therefore, underwent a rigid and most abstemious reduction. A pair of sadillebags, and those by no means crammed, sufficed for each man's scanty wardrobe, and, with his great-coat, were to be carried upon the steed he rode. The rest of the baggage was placed on ])ack-horses. Each one had a bear-skin and a couple of blankets for bedding, and there was a tent to shelter us in case of sickness or bad weather. We took care to provide ourselves with flour, coffee, and sugar, together Avith a small sup})ly of salt pork for emergencies ; for our main subsistence we were to depend upon the chase.

Such of our horses as had not been tired out ill our recent joui-ney, were taken with us as pack-horses, or superiuimeraries ; but as we were going on a long and rough tour, where there would be occasional hunting, and where, in case of meeting with hostile savages, the safety of the rider might depend upon the goodness of his steed, we took care to be well mounted. I procured a stout silver-gray ; somewhat rough, but stanch and powerful ; and retained a hardy pony which I had hitherto ridden, and which, being somewhat jaded, was suffered to ramble along with the pack-horses, to be mounted only in case of emergency.

All these arrangements being made, we left Fort Gibson on the morning of the tenth of October, and crossing the river in the front of it, set off for the rendezvous at the Agency. A ride of a few miles brought us to the ford of the Verdigris, a wild rocky scene overhung with forest-trees. We descended to the bank of the river and crossed in straggling file, the horses stepping cautiously from rock to rock, and in a manner feeling about for a foothold beneath the rushing and brawling stream.

Our little Frenchman, Tonish, brought up the rear with the pack-horses. He was in high glee, having experienced a kind of promotion. In our journey hitherto he had driven the wagon, which he seemed to consider a very inferior employ ; now he was master of the horse.

He sat perched like a monkey behind the pack on one of the horses ; lie saim', he sliouted, he

A TOUR ON THE PRAIltlES. 21

yelped like an Indian, and ever and anon blasphemed the loitering pack-horses in his jargon of mingled French, English, and Osage, which not one of them could understand.

As we were crossing the ford we saw on the opposite shore a Creek Indian on horseback. He had paused to reconnoitre us from the brow of a rock, and formed a picturesque object, in unison with the wild scenery around him. He wore a bright -blue hunting - shirt trimmed with scarlet fringe ; a gayly colored handkerchief was bound round his head something like a turban, with one end hanging down beside his ear ; he held a long ritle in his hand, and looked like a wild Arab on the proAvl. Our loquacious and ever-meddling little Frenchman called out to him in his Babylonish jargon, but the savage, having satisfied his curiosity, tossed his hand in the air, turned the head of his steed, and galloping along the shore soon disappeared among the trees.

Chapter III

AN INDIAN AGENCY. — RIFLEMEN. — OSAGES, CREEKS, TRAPPERS, DOGS, HORSES, HALF-BREEDS. — BEATTE, THE HUNTSMAN.

AVING crossed the ford, we soon reaelied the Osage Agency where Col. Choteau has his offices and magazines, for the dispatch of Indian aifairs, and the distribution of presents and supplies. It consisted of a few log houses on the banks of the river, and presented a motley frontier scene. Here was our escort awaiting our arrival ; some were on horseback, some on foot, some seated on the trunks of fallen trees, some shooting at a mark. They were a heterogeneous crew : some in frock-coats made of green blankets ; others in leathern luniting-shirts, but the most part in marvellously illcut garments, much the worse for wear, and evidently put on for rugged service.

Near by these was a group of Osages : stately fellows ; stern and simple in garb and aspect. They wore no ornaments ; their dress consisted merely of blankets, leggins, and moccasons. Their heads were bare ; their hair was cropped close, excepting a bristling ridge on the top, like the crest of a helmet, with a long scalp-lock hanging behind. They had fine Roman coiuite nances, and broad deep cliests ; and, as they generally wore their blankets wrapped round their loins, so as to leave the bust and arms bare, they looked like so many noble bronze figures. The Osages are the finest -looking Indians I have ever seen in the AVest. They have not yielded sufficiently {is yet to the infiuence of civilization to lay by their simple Indian garb, or to lose the habits of the hunter and the warrior ; and their poverty prevents their indulging in much luxury of apparel.

In contrast to these was a gayly dressed party of Creeks. There is something, at the first glance, quite Oriental in the appearance of this tribe. They dress in calico hunting-shirts, of various brilliant colors, decorated with bright fringes, and belted with broad girdles, embroidered with beads ; they have leggins of dressed deer-skins, or of green or scarlet cloth, with embroidered knee-bands and tassels ; their moccasons ai'e fancifully wrought and ornamented, and they wear gaudy handkerchiefs tastefully bound round their heads.

Beside these, there was a sprinkling of trappers, hunters, half-breeds, Creoles, negroes of every hue ; and all that other rabble rout of nondescript beings that keep about the frontiers, between civilized and savage life, as those equivocal birds, the bats, hover about the confines of light and darkness.

The little hamlet of the Agency was in a complete bustle ; the blacksmith's shed, in particular, was a scene of preparation ; a strap})ing ncgi'o was shoein<>- a horse ; two lialf-breeds were fabrieating ii'oii spoons in which to melt lead for bullets. An old trapper, in leathei'n hanting-frock and moccasons, had placed his rifle against a work-bench, while he superintended the operation, and gossiped about his hunting exploits ; several large dogs were lounging in and out of the shop, or sleeping in the sunshine, while a little cur, with head cocked on one side, and one ear erect, was watching, with that curiosity common to little dogs, the process of shoeing the horse, as if studying the art, or waiting for his turn to be shod.

We found the Count and his companion, the Virtuoso, ready for the march. As they intended to overtake the Osages, and pass some time in hunting the buffalo and the wild horse, they had provided themselves accordingly ; having, in addition to the steeds which they used for travelling, others of prime quality, which were to be led when on the march, and only to be moiuited for the chase.

They had, moreover, engaged the services of a young man named Antoine, a half-breed of French and Osage origin. He was to be a kind of Jackof-all-work ; to cook, to hunt, and to take care of the horses ; but he had a vehement propensity to do nothing, being one of tlie worthless brood engendered and brought up among the missions. He was, moreover, a little spoiled by being really a handsome young fellow, an Adonis of the frontier, and still worse by fancying himself highly connected, his sister being concubine to an opulent white trader !

A TOUR ON THE PRAlR/h'S. 25

For our own parts, tlio Commissioner an<l myself were desirous, before setting out, to procui'e another attendant well versed in wood-eraft, who might serve us as a hunter ; for our little Frenchman would have his hands full when in camp, in cooking, and on the march, in taking care of the pack-horses. Such a one presented himself, or rather was recommended to us, in Pierre Beatte, a half - breed of French and Osage parentage. We were assured that he was acquainted with all parts of the country, having traversed it in all directions, both in hunting and war parties ; that he Avould be of use both as guide and interpreter, and that he was a first-rate hunt(3r.

I confess I did not like his looks when he was first presented to me. He was lounging about, in an old hunting-frock and metasses or leggins, of deer-skin, soiled and greased, and almost japanned by constant use. He was apparently about thirty-six years of age, square and strongly built. His features were not bad, being shaped not unlike those of Napoleon, but sharpened up, with high Indian cheek-bones. Perhaps the dusky greenish hue of his complexion aided his resemblance to an old bronze bust I had seen of tlie Emperor. He had, however, a sullen, saturnine expression, set off by a slouched woollen hat, and elf-locks that hung about his ears.

Such was the appearance of the man, and his manners were equally unprepossessing. He was cold and laconic ; made no promises or professions ; stated the terms he required lor the services of himself and his horse, which we thought rather high, but showed no disposition to abate them, nor any anxiety to secure our employ. He had altogether more of the red than the white man in his composition ; and, as I had been taught to look upon all half-breeds with distrust, as an uncertain and faithless race, I would gladly have dispensed with the services of Pierre Beatte. We had no time, however, to look out for any one more to our taste, and had to make an arrangement with him on the spot. He then set about making his preparations for the jourjiey, promising to join us at our evening's encampment.

One thing was yet wanting to fit me out for the Prairies — a thoroughly trustworthy steed ; I was not yet mounted to my mind. The gray 1 had bought, though strong and serviceable, was rough. At the last moment I succeeded in getting an excellent animal : a dark bay ; powerful, active, generous-spirited, and in capital condition. I mounted him witli exultation, and transferred the silver gray to Tonish, Avho Avas in such ecstasies at finding himself so completely en Cavalier, that I feared he might realize the ancient and well-known proverb of " a beggar on horseback."

Chapter IV. The Departure

HE long-drawn notes of a bugle at length gave the signal for departure. The rangers filed off in a straggling line of march through the woods : we were soon on liorseback and following on, but were detained by the irregularity of the pack - horses. They were unaccustomed to keep the line, and straggled from side to side among the thickets, in spite of all the pesting and bedeviling of Tonish ; who, mounted on his gallant gray, witli a long rifle on his shoulder, worried after them, bestowing a superabundance of dry blows and curses.