The spot we had chosen for our camp was near the edge of a small rivulet
with low banks. In fact, the surface of the water was nearly on a level
with that of the prairie. There was no wood, with the exception of a
few straggling cotton-woods, and some of the long-leafed willows
peculiar to the prairie streams.
Out of the cotton-woods we had made our camp-fire, and this was some
twenty or thirty paces back from the water, not in a conspicuous
position, but in the bottom of a bowl-shaped depression in the prairie;
a curious formation, for which none of us could account. It looked as
if fashioned by art, as its form was circular, and its sides sloped
regularly downward to the centre, like the crater of a volcano. But for
its size, we might have taken it for a buffalo wallow, but it was of
vastly larger diameter than one of these, and altogether deeper and more
funnel-shaped.
We had noticed several other basins of the same sort near the place, and
had our circumstances been different, we should have been interested in
endeavouring to account for their existence. As it was, we did not
trouble ourselves much about the geology of the neighbourhood we were
in. We were only too anxious to get out of it; but seeing that this
singular hole would be a safe place for our camp-fire--for our thoughts
still dwelt upon the rascally Pawnees--we had kindled it there.
Reclined against the sloping sides of the basin, with our feet resting
upon its bottom, our party disposed themselves, and in this position
went to sleep.
One was to be awake all night as guard; though, of course, all took
turns, each awaking the sentinel whose watch was to follow his.
To the doctor was assigned the first two hours, and as we went to sleep,
we could perceive his plump rounded form seated upon the outer rim of
the circular bank above us. None of us had any great faith in the
doctor as a guard, but his watch was during the least dangerous time of
night, so far as Indians are concerned. These never make their attack
until the hours after midnight, as they know well that these are the
hours of soundest sleep. The horse-drive of the previous night was an
exception, but that had happened because they had drawn near and seen no
horse-guard. It was a very unusual case. They knew that we were now on
the alert; and if they had meditated farther mischief, would have
attempted it only after midnight hour. We had no apprehensions
therefore, and one and all of us being very much fatigued with the day's
hunting afoot, slept soundly. The bank against which we rested was dry
and comfortable; the fire warmed us well, and redoubled our desire for
repose.
It appears that the doctor fell asleep on his post, or else we might all
of us have been better prepared for the invasion that we suffered during
that night.
I was awakened by loud shouts--the guides were uttering them. I sprang
to my feet in the full belief that we were attacked by Indians, and at
first thought caught hold of my gun. All my companions were roused
about the same time, and, labouring under a similar hallucination, went
through a like series of manoeuvres.
But when we looked up, and beheld the doctor stretched along the ridge,
and still snoring soundly, we scarce knew what to make of it.
Ike and Redwood, however, accustomed to sleep with one eye open, had
waked first, and had already climbed the ridge; and the double report of
their guns confirmed our suspicions that we were attacked by Indians.
What else could they be firing at?
"This way all of you!" cried Redwood, making signs for us to come up
where he and his companion already were, waving their guns around their
heads, and acting in a very singular manner, "this way, bring your guns,
pistols, and all--quick with you!"
We all dashed up the steep, just at the moment that the doctor suddenly
awaking ran terrified down. As we pressed up, we could hear a mingling
of noises, the tramp of horsemen as we thought, and a loud bellowing, as
if from a hundred bulls. The last sounds could not well have been more
like the bellowing of bulls, for in reality it was such. The night was
a bright moonlight, and the moment we raised our heads above the scarp
of the ridge we saw at once the cause of our alarm. The plain around us
was black with buffaloes! Tens of thousands must have been in the drove
which was passing us to a great depth on both sides. They were running
at a fast trot--some of them even galloping, and in some places they
were so thickly packed together, that one would be seen mounting upon
the hind-quarters of the other, while some were thrown down, and
trampled over by their companions.
"Hyur, hyur, all of ye!" cried Ike, "stand by hyur, or they'll git into
the hole, and tramp us to shucks!"
We saw at a glance the meaning of these instructions. The excited
animals were rushing headlong, and nothing seemed to stay their course.
We could see them dashing into and across the little streamlet without
making any account of it. Should they pour into the circle in which we
stood, others would follow, and we might get mingled with the drove.
There was not a spot on the prairie where we could have been safe. The
impetuous mass was impelled from behind, and could neither halt nor
change its course. Already a pair of bulls had fallen before the rifles
of our guides, and to some extent prevented the others from breaking
over the ring, but they would certainly have done so had it not been for
the shouts and gestures of the trappers. We rushed to the side
indicated, and each of us prepared to fire, but some of the more prudent
held their loads for a while, others pulled trigger, and a succession of
shots from rifles, double-barrels, and revolvers soon raised a pile of
dead buffaloes that blocked up the passage of the rest, as though it had
been a barrier built on purpose.
A breathing space was now allowed us, and each loaded his piece as fast
as he was able. There was no time lost in firing, for the stream of
living creatures swept on continuously, and a mark was found in a single
glance of the eye.
I think we must have continued the loading and firing for nearly a
quarter of an hour. Then the great herd began to grow thinner and
thinner, until the last buffalo had passed.
We now looked around us to contemplate the result. The ground on every
side of the circle was covered with dark hirsute forms, but upon that
where we stood a perfect mass of them lay together. These forms were in
every attitude, some stretched on their sides, others upon their knees,
and still a number upon their feet, but evidently wounded.
Some of us were about to rush out of our charmed circle to complete the
work, but were held back by the warning voices of the guides.
"For yur lives don't go," cried Redwood, "don't stir from hyur till
we've knocked 'em all over. Thur's some o' them with life enough left
to do for a ween o' ye yet."
So saying, the trapper raised his long piece, selected one of the bulls
that were seen on their feet, and sent him rolling over.
Another and another was disposed of in the same way, and then those that
were in a kneeling position were reconnoitred to see if they were still
alive, and when found to be so were speedily disposed of by a bullet.
When all were laid out we emerged from our hole, and counted the game.
There were no less than twenty-five dead immediately around the circle,
besides several wounded that we could see straggling off over the plain.
We did not think of going to rest again until each of us had eaten about
two pounds of fresh buffalo-beef, and what with the excitement of this
odd adventure, and the jokes that followed--not a few of them levelled
at our _quondam_ guard--it was near morning before we closed our eyes
again in sleep.