cast our eyes over this fresh and delightful valley, we beheld a troop of
wild horses quietly grazing on a green lawn, about a mile distant, to our
right, while to our left, at nearly the same distance, were several
buffaloes; some feeding, others reposing, and ruminating among the high,
rich herbage, under the shade of a clump of cottonwood trees. The whole
had the appearance of a broad, beautiful tract of pasture land, on the
highly ornamented estate of some gentleman farmer, with his cattle grazing
about the lawns and meadows.

4. A council of war was now held, and it was determined to profit by the
present favorable opportunity, and try our hand at the grand hunting
maneuver which is called "ringing the wild horse." This requires a large
party of horsemen, well mounted. They extend themselves in each direction,
at a certain distance apart, and gradually form a ring of two or three
miles in circumference, so as to surround the game. This must be done with
extreme care, for the wild horse is the most readily alarmed inhabitant of
the prairie, and can scent a hunter a great distance, if to windward.

5. The ring being formed, two or three ride toward the horses, which start
off in an opposite direction. Whenever they approach the bounds of the
ring, however, a huntsman presents himself, and turns them from their
course. In this way they are checked, and driven back at every point, and
kept galloping round and round this magic circle, until, being completely
tired down, it is easy for hunters to ride up beside them and throw the
lariat over their heads. The prime horses of the most speed, courage, and
bottom, however, are apt to break through and escape, so that, in general,
it is the second-rate horses that are taken.

6. Preparations were now made for a hunt of this kind. The pack horses
were now taken into the woods and firmly tied to trees, lest in a rush of