striking sight, numbering fourteen, in the most ragged and woebegone
condition imaginable. They had been on a trapping expedition, but
having met with nothing but disasters from the beginning, were now
straggling back to St. Louis on foot.

The explorers proceeded at a leisurely pace that day and having
gone into camp, observed three Indians drawing near, one of whom
was a boy about a dozen years of age. They were Cheyennes that had
been out among the Pawnees to steal horses, but having met with
no success, were returning home. Catching sight of the white men,
they unhesitatingly entered camp, confident of being treated well,
as of course proved to be the case. After supper one of the warriors
drew a rude but correct map of the country around them, and gave
it to Fremont.

On the first of July, while riding over a delightful prairie country,
on the right bank of the river, a herd of buffaloes, numbering
nearly a thousand, came up from the water and began slowly crossing
the plain, cropping the grass as they went. As the prairie was
three miles broad only, a fine opportunity was given the hunters
to charge before the animals could scatter among the hills.

The fleetest horses were quickly saddled and Carson, Fremont, and
Maxwell prepared for the chase. By that time the herd was a half
mile away and they did not notice the hunters until they were within
three hundred yards. Then followed an agitation of the animals,
quickly followed by their precipitate flight. The horses dashed after
them. A crowd of bulls brought up the rear, they having stationed
themselves there to defend the females. Every once in a while they
would whirl about and stare, snorting at the horsemen, as if they