ght, numbering
fourteen, in the most ragged and woebegone condition imaginable. They
had been on a trapping expedition, but having met with nothing but
disasters from the beginning, were now straggling back to St. Louis on
foot.

The explorers proceeded at a leisurely pace that day and having gone
into camp, observed three Indians drawing near, one of whom was a boy
about a dozen years of age. They were Cheyennes that had been out
among the Pawnees to steal horses, but having met with no success, were
returning home. Catching sight of the white men, they unhesitatingly
entered camp, confident of being treated well, as of course proved to be
the case. After supper one of the warriors drew a rude but correct map
of the country around them, and gave it to Fremont.

On the first of July, while riding over a delightful prairie country,
on the right bank of the river, a herd of buffaloes, numbering nearly
a thousand, came up from the water and began slowly crossing the plain,
cropping the grass as they went. As the prairie was three miles broad
only, a fine opportunity was given the hunters to charge before the
animals could scatter among the hills.

The fleetest horses were quickly saddled and Carson, Fremont, and
Maxwell prepared for the chase. By that time the herd was a half mile
away and they did not notice the hunters until they were within three
hundred yards. Then followed an agitation of the animals, quickly
followed by their precipitate flight. The horses dashed after them. A
crowd of bulls brought up the rear, they having stationed themselves
there to defend the females. Every once in a while they would whirl
about and stare, snorting at the horsemen, as if they had made up their
minds to fight; but when the hunters came nigher, they turned about and
plunged after the herd. Describing the exciting incident, Fremont wrote;

"In a few moments, during which we had been quickening our pace, we were
going over the ground like a hurricane. When at about thirty yards we
gave the usual shout and broke into the herd. We entered on the side,
the mass giving away in every direction in their heedless course. Many
of the bulls, less fleet than the cows, paying no heed to the ground,
and occupied solely with the hunters, were precipitated to the earth
with great force, rolling over and over with the violence of the shock,
and hardly distinguishable in the dust. We separated, on entering, each
singling out his game.

"My ho