The contest after these opening performances grew lively and exciting. The buffalo evidently fully appreciated the situation, and the wolves were not to be robbed of their meal. The hindquarters of the buffalo streamed with blood, and the animal showed signs of exhaustion. He did not dare to lie down for that would be fatal, The wolves had three of their number hors du combat. The noise of the contest had attracted quite an audience of cayotes, and a few interloper wolves, sitting at a distance, licking their chops, and impatiently awaiting the issue, evidently expecting an invitation to participate in the feast. The buffalo made several efforts at flight, but soon found that that was a useless manoeuvre. The battle test had been going on more than an hour, and having no more time to devote to that sort of recreation, a well directed volley laid out several of their wolfish excellencies. The buffalo did not stop to thank us for our timely assistance, but took the first moment of relief to hobble off. The animal was evidently badly injured, and doubtless our interference was merely prolonging the burden of life, now doubly an encumbrance.

A wolf feast over the carcass of a buffalo is one of those sharp-toned entertainments, which could only be compared to an old fashioned tea-party, composed of snappish octogenarian, paralytic, and generally debilitated characters of both sexes, with a fair sprinkle of shriveled virginity, and a few used up celebates of the masculine gender. Each one guzzling to his hearts content, and growling, and finding fault with his neighbor.

The construction of railroads has developed a new and extensive field for pleasure seekers. The facilities of communication now opened with that strange and remote section, the plains, and, at the same time, the opportunity afforded of seeing the buffalo, that animal above all others associated from our earliest years with everything wild and daring, now invites visitors from all parts of the country. From the cities of Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and other less important points during the autumn of 1868, excursions were made up at low rates of fare.

The following announcement of an excursion I found at one of the railroad stations. I give a copy of it as one of the peculiar and progressive innovations made by the railways.

RAILWAY EXCURSION

AND

BUFFALO HUNT.

An excursion train will leave Leavenworth, at 8 a. m. and Lawrence, at 10 a. m. for

SHERIDAN,

On Tuesday, October 27, 1868, and return on Friday. This train will stop at the principal stations both going and returning.

Ample time will be had for a grand Buffalo

HUNT ON THE PLAINS.

Buffaloes are so numerous along the road that they are shot from the cars nearly every day. On our last excursion our party killed twenty buffaloes in a hunt of six hours.

All passengers can have refreshments on the cars at reasonable prices.

Tickets of round trip from Leavenworth, $10.00.

The inducements, at these rates, to any one anxious to visit the plains, and see a live buffalo, and perhaps a "live injun," not so acceptable at that time, were certainly very tempting, as the full expense of the above trip, at the regular rate of fare, would not have been short of seventy dollars. A quarter of a century hence, the buffalo and the Indian will have entirely disappeared from the line of the railways. The few that still survive will have then been driven to the most remote, inaccessible, and uninhabitable sections, if not entirely exterminated.

CHAPTER XIII.

CARR'S GALLOP ALONG THE REPUBLICAN—ARRIVAL OF OSAGE WARRIORS.

HILE the Commanding General was deeply absorbed in completing his preparations for the contemplated movement towards the Washita river in the south, the savages on the Republican were kept in constant alarm and uneasiness. About the middle of October, a squadron of the 10th cavalry, one hundred and fifty men, while acting as escort to Brevet Major General Carr, Major 5th cavalry, en route to his command in the field, supposed to be on the Beaver, was attacked by a large party of Indians, numbering nearly five hundred warriors. The savages exhibited great boldness, approached close to the column, and fired with deliberate aim. The engagement began early in the morning and ceased at two o'clock in the afternoon, inflicting a loss of ten warriors killed and many wounded on the part of the savages, and three enlisted men wounded in the command. From a warrior, wounded in the fight, information was obtained that their camp was on the Solomon, at Chalk bluff, and that they had left it the night before, that it consisted of eight hundred lodges of Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, and Sioux, and stated that a large war-party had gone to the Saline.

Hardly had the savages recovered from their discomfiture on the banks of the Beaver, than they again found themselves unexpectedly confronted by a more powerful force. No sooner had the Commanding General learned this acceptable information, than he ordered a new movement from Fort Wallace, putting every available man in the field. By a fortunate coincidence, the 5th cavalry, under Colonel Royal, had just returned to the

railroad for supplies. As this was the column in search of which Carr had moved north with an escort, the General joined it and hastened preparations for a new start. Some reinforcements were sent forward. The entire force when it moved, consisted of companies A, B, F, H, I, L, and M, 5th cavalry, and Pepoon's scouts, Carr, commanding, in all about four hundred and eighty men.

It was Friday, October 23, when the troopers started afresh. The line of march lay in a north-westerly direction, towards the little Beaver. The weather was delightfully clear and bracing. The plain, hardened by recent rains, rendered the marching less toilsome than before.

Two days had elapsed. The column pushed forward with rapid steps, the animals instinctively hastening towards watering places and camp. Officers and men scanned the country in every direction, in expectation of spying some detached band of savages watching their line of march, and indicating their proximity to the scene of fresh encounters. But the bold horsemen did not appear. Immense herds of buffaloes, with all the appearance of a sense of security, were seen far and near, grazing upon the broad undulations which swept away on all sides. The aged bulls, banished from the herd like so many trusty sentinels, at times snuffed the air, and seeing nothing to excite alarm, returned to their accustomed habits. The cows, and their progeny in the inner circle, confiding in the watchfulness of the outposts of the herd, grazed with perfect composure. The antelope, startled at imaginary dangers, could be seen galloping in the distance. The diminutive prairie dogs rushed to and fro, vigorously wagging their stumpy tails, barking fiercely, and popping in and out of their subterranean dwellings. The wolf might be seen lying in wait for his prey, or skulking out of the way of something more formidable than his questionable prowess would tempt him to encounter.

All of the second day the column moved onward. The rapidity of the march was accelerated by the destruction of fifteen wagons. The signs of Indian war-parties were growing

more frequent, but as yet no hostile warrior had been seen. It was four o'clock in the afternoon as the column reached the summit of a "divide." Two hundred warriors, mounted and painted, with bows strung, now rose as if by magic. It was evident from their actions that they had no disposition to attack, their object being to retard the movement of the column. They resorted to the practice of firing the dry grass to the windward as an impediment to the march. Detachments of troopers, well mounted, made several dashes, but the savages, with their usual skill, avoided an encounter. From the persistence exhibited in declining an engagement, it was apparent that their main body had not as yet come up, and, until they were ready, it were a fruitless task to essay forcing an action. The troops, therefore, pushed forward, carefully protecting their flanks and rear from surprise.

The third day, the column, in battle array, with trains in the centre, moved out of camp at an early hour. An engagement was surely expected A distance of ten miles having been traversed, a strong party of savages took position in front as if determined to dispute, with firmer resolution, the further progress of the troops. A squadron of cavalry, under Kane, Schenofsky, and Forbush, was ordered forward on the charge. The savages withdrew, while the troopers, for a distance of three miles, kept up a vigorous pursuit. The squadron now halted, and fell back to the main body. The Indians, in turn, charged. At this juncture, Pepoon's scouts were also ordered to the front. The engagement now become more general. A number of men, dismounted, advanced as skirmishers. The savages fought on horseback, galloping along the front of the skirmishers, dodging behind their horses at an imaginary bullet, or firing as a favorable opportunity offered.

As the column reached the summit of a commanding eminence, immense clouds of dust, rising in the distance, indicated another large body moving away in great haste. There was now no doubt of the fact that the savages in front were a strong covering party to delay the advance of the column, while their