Wild Life in the Far West: Being the Personal Adventures of a Border Mountain Man. Captain James Hobbs
We crossed the fork, staked out our animals and, after supper, lay down in the tall grass that cov- ered the valley. I stood guard from two till half-past three in the morning, and when one of the company named Spencer had taken my place, the six on guard had all been changed. About daylight, while the camp was wrapped in slumber, I was startled out of my blanket by a yelling, stamping of horses' feet, cutting tent-ropes, and then came the click of two arrows against a water bucket by my side. We sprang to our feet and seized our rifles, amazed to discover that three or four hundred Pawnee Indians had crept through the long grass, surprised our guard and made a fierce assault with a view of running off our animals. We were not slow in returning their fire and soon the savages were driven into a corner where a precipitous ledge prevented their retreat. Finding it difficult to create a stampede among our horses and mules, and seeing us all well armed, the Indians took to the river in front of us and swam over. I broke one red-skin' s back with a bullet as he was climbing the opposite bank, and three others were killed. Our party were more frightened than hurt, though one or two were pierced with arrows. At that early period guns and ammunition had not been freely sold by Indian agen- cies to these hostile western tribes, and their principal weapon was the bow and arrow. After this our party
MEETING A PARTY OF AMERICANS AND SACS. 21
kept a stronger guard and looked out for night sur- prises.
I had little difficulty in keeping the company sup- plied with meat, as there were great numbers of buffalo, antelope, deer, elk, &c, on the plains at that time.
After traveling about one hundred and twenty-five miles further, we met at Big Coon creek a party of about three hundred Sacs with twenty-five or thirty Americans. These Sac Indians were friendly, and were taking one hundred and fifty buffalo calves to Missouri to raise for English purchasers. These calves had been given to cows whose calves had been killed to make room for these hump-backed strangers. Be- sides these calves the party had young grey wolves, elk, and antelopes.
We camped and feasted together four days, fishing for trout in Coon creek, hunting deer, &c, and at night carousing around, drinking liquor, and having a good time generally.
The reader must bear in mind that the men who en- gaged in expeditions of the kind we were on, were not noted for their total abstinence, any more than the rep- resentative sailor, having the same roving and frolick- ing nature.
Their party was under the direction of Mr. Fitz- hughes, and he had taken the Sacs as a protection to his American party. . He warned us that there were signs of Indians before us, though he could not say what tribe. About four days after leaving our friends we arrived at the ' 'Caches, ' ' a camping place on the banks of the Big Arkansas river, deriving its name from the fact that a number of wagons had been broken down in that neighborhood and the provisions and goods
22 PURSUIT OF A BUFFALO COW.
"cached," or stored there for safe keeping till they could repair damages.
The next morning after leaving this camping ground, our attention was attracted by a distant smoke among some sand hills on the left side of the Arkansas. Our suspicions were that the smoke proceeded from Indians and was, perhaps, a hostile signal to notify other Indians of our approach.
We continued on our route and as our party moved slowly, only fifteen miles per day, and as I hunted on horseback, it gave me plenty of time. I killed three buffaloes that day, one of which, being old and tough, was abandoned after our boys had skinned him. The last one I shot was a fat buffalo cow which ran across the trail in front of our train late in the afternoon. I dashed after her wounding her with my pistols, and she swam across the river in the direction of the smoke. I started to the rear of the train for my Haw- kins rifle, the men laughing at me for letting the cow escape.
"Don't try to follow that cow," said Bent, "she is going straight for that smoke and it means 'Injun' and no good in 'em either."
"But I'll get her," I answered, for I was mad on ac- count of some of the boys laughing at me.
"Get your pack mule," said I to my young friend, Batiste, "and we'll fetch that buffalo back."
"All right," he answered, and we crossed the river. I went ahead, and about three miles from the train came up with the cow. She turned and showed fight. I galloped around her several times, finally getting in a good shot which killed her. Jumping off my horse I began cutting off the choice pieces for use in camp, young Batiste helping me and loading his mule until,
LOST IN THE DARKNESS. 23
suddenly, it was dusk and we were in doubt which way to return to our train. It was very soon pitch- dark, so we could not discern the tracks by which we had come, nor could we see the few Cottonwoods that lined the river, relieving the barren plain, and only at intervals could we see the stars.
''John,'' said I, ''this running around the buffalo has bewildered me, but I think yonder is the way back."
"No," replied John, "I know the way I came, fol- low me," starting off in a different direction from what I proposed.
We traveled in this dismal fog and darkness, occa- sionally stopping to hear, if possible, some signal from our friends who we vainly hoped would be out looking for us. Nothing but the sound of a distant wolf, or night owl screeching, to break the stillness, when we stopped about ten o'clock, and said I, "John, we are going wrong. We have come at least ten miles and the best thing we can do is to stay here all night." It was September and we slept comfortably enough, ex- cept being disturbed in the middle of the night by grey wolves, who, snuffing our meat from a distance, came prowling around us. We had kindled a fire, very luckily, before going to sleep, and knowing the habits of these "varmints," I made them scatter by flashing powder in our fire, and we were left in peace the bal- ance of the night.
About sunrise we awoke and looking around for our train, to our amazement, could not even see the Cot- tonwoods that marked the bank of the river up which our train was moving.
We had been going away from the river on account of John's injudicious advice and want of experience. So we turned and retraced our steps as rapidly as our
24 CAPTURED BY COMANCHES.
loads would permit, and were traveling along cheerful- ly, when a large herd of buffalo appeared and dashed along towards us, passing us at a fearful rate, as though terribly frightened.
"That means hunters or Indians," said I, and still they came thundering past, probably two thousand in number, filling the air with dust, and we discovered that they were closely followed by Indians, shooting arrows into them and piercing them with lances.
"To that little hollow, to that little hollow," I ex- claimed to John," throw away the meat and make for that hollow we just passed."
Batiste didn't need any urging, but we both wheeled and rode for the hollow, hoping to reach it before we were seen.
Descending the little ravine we looked back to see if we were safe and were astonished to see nine "Co- manches" close behind us.
"How d' ye do?" said a stalwart chief in good English.
"How d' ye do" I replied for politeness' sake, but the state of his health was a matter of little concern to me just then.
"Texas?" (They hated Texans and it was well I answered,)
"No, friendly, going to establish a trading post with the Comanches and other Indians."
"Friendly? better go with us awhile, though. Got any tobacco!"
I had a little old clay pipe and Batiste had another, which we gave them with some tobacco, and they took us in tow, starting for their camp where we arrived late that afternoon, our escort having swelled from the nine who captured us to about a thousand. They gave us some cooked buffalo meat and afterwards es-
"OLD WOLF" SUSPICIOUS. 25
corted us to the head-quarters of their tribe,