Our travellers next morning resumed their journey, and for several days
continued on without meeting any incident worth recording. They crossed
many large streams, among which may be mentioned the Neches and Trinity
of Texas.
On the "divide," between the Trinity and Brazos rivers, an adventure
befell them that came near having a painful result.
In hot weather it was their custom to halt during the noon hours, both
to refresh themselves and rest their animals. This is the custom of
most travellers through these wild regions, and is called "nooning."
With this intention, one day, they drew bridle by the edge of a tract of
prairie, and dismounted. Behind them was the forest through which they
had just passed, and before them lay the prairie, which they intended to
cross in the cool of the evening. The surface of the latter was quite
level, covered with a green mantle of young buffalo-grass, with here and
there an island of low timber that broke the monotony of the view. In
the distance a thick forest of live oak bounded the prairie on the other
side; and although the latter appeared only two or three miles distant,
it was not less than ten--so deceptive is the pure atmosphere of these
upland regions. The country in which they now were was what is termed
"timber prairie"--that is, a prairie interspersed with groves and
copses.
I say our adventurers had just dismounted, and were about to take off
their saddles, when an exclamation from Francois drew the attention of
his brothers.
"_Voila_!" cried he, pointing out to the open ground. "Buffaloes--
buffaloes!"
Basil and Lucien looked in the direction pointed out. Three large dark
objects were seen on the crest of a low swell in the prairie. They were
moving about; and one was evidently smaller than the others.
"Of _course_ they are buffaloes," continued Francois. "Look at their
size! Two bulls and a cow, no doubt."
His brothers agreed with him. None of the three had ever seen buffaloes
in their native wilderness; and of course had but an indistinct idea of
how they might appear from a distance. Buffaloes they must be--elk or
deer would look red--wolves red or white; and they could not be bears,
as these last would not likely be out on the prairie in threes, unless,
indeed, they might be grizzly bears--who do sometimes go out into the
open ground to dig for the "pomme-blanche" and other roots. This,
however, was not probable, as the grizzly bears are seldom or never
found so far to the eastward. No. They were not "grizzlys." They were
not wild horses neither, that was plain enough. Buffaloes, then, they
must be.
Like all who see buffaloes for the first time in their native pastures,
our young hunters were filled with excitement--the more so, since to
meet with these animals was the object of their expedition, of the long
and perilous journey they had undertaken.
A hurried consultation followed as to how they should capture these
three. It was true that none of them was a _white_ buffalo; but no
matter. Our hunters wanted to taste buffalo-beef; and the chase after
these would give them practice, which might serve them afterwards. How,
then, were they to set about it?
"Why, run them, of course," counselled the ready Francois, with the air
of an experienced buffalo-hunter.
Now, there are several methods of hunting buffaloes, practised upon the
prairies, both by whites and Indians. The most common is that of which
Francois spoke, "running." This is done by simply overtaking the
buffalo, galloping alongside of him--the hunter, of course, being on
horseback--and shooting him through the heart while he runs. Shoot him
in the region of the heart you must; for you may put twenty bullets into
his great body elsewhere, and he will still manage to get away from you.
The hunters aim a little above the brisket, and behind the
fore-shoulder. The white hunters use the rifle, or sometimes a large
pistol--which is better for the purpose, as they can load it more easily
while going in a gallop. The Indians prefer the bow--as they can shoot
arrow after arrow in quick succession, thus slaying many buffaloes in a
single "run." So expert are they with this weapon, that their arrows
have been known to pierce through the bodies of large buffaloes, and
pass clear out on the other side! At times the Indians use spears with
which they thrust the buffaloes, while galloping alongside of them.