Frank on the Prairie by Harry Castlemon

Author:Harry Castlemon
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781620133422
Publisher: Duke Classics

Chapter XI - A Buffalo Hunt

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The next morning, after breakfast, the boys seated themselves by the fire, and while Frank mended his bridle, which Pete had broken the day before, Archie was endeavoring to conjure up some plan for the day's amusement. Even in that country, which abounded with game, the boys were at a loss how to pass the time, for the grizzlies had interfered with their arrangements considerably. If they went hunting in the mountains, they might come across another bear; and their recent experience with those animals had shown them that the hunters were sometimes the hunted. They had no desire for further adventures with the monsters, and they had at last decided that they would take a gallop over the prairie, when they were startled by the clatter of horses' hoofs in the creek, and old Bob—who, at daylight, had started out on a "prospecting" expedition—galloped into camp, breathless and excited. The boys very naturally cast their eyes toward the prairie, to see if he were not followed by a grizzly; but the sight of one of those animals never affected the old trapper in that manner. He had seen what he considered larger and more profitable game.

"Dick," he exclaimed, drawing up his horse with a sudden jerk—"Dick, have some buffaler hump for dinner?"

"Sartin," replied the trapper, hastily rising to his feet, and throwing away his pipe. "In course. Saddle up to onct, youngsters. We'll have some game now as is game."

The announcement that there is a herd of buffaloes in the vicinity, always creates an uproar in a hunter's camp, and there was no exception to the rule this time. The boys had never seen the trapper so eager; and even Mr. Winters, generally so cool and deliberate, was not so long in saddling his horse as usual. This, of course, had an effect upon the boys; but, as is always the case, their hurry occasioned them a considerable loss of time. Archie could not find his bridle, and Frank, in his eagerness, broke his saddle-girth; and, to increase their excitement, the others, as soon as they had saddled their horses (Dick rode one of the mules) and secured their weapons, rode off, leaving them alone. Archie, after a lengthy search, found his bridle in the wagon, and Frank at last succeeded in mending his saddle-girth with a piece of buckskin. The boys' rifles stood together against a tree, close by, with all the accouterments hanging to the muzzles. Frank's being a common "patch" rifle, he, of course, had a powder-horn and bullet pouch, while Archie carried the ammunition for his breech-loader in a haversack. The latter was ready first, and hastily seizing the gun that came first to his hand, secured Frank's instead of his own, and, putting his horse into a gallop, rode down the bed of the creek, throwing the powder-horn and bullet pouch over his shoulder as he went. Frank was ready a moment afterward, and finding his own rifle gone, he, of course, took Archie's.

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