Howdy, To continue with 49er Reuben Cole SHAW's Northern trail experiences, we now hunt for a buffalo - a little more detailed than 49er Augustus M.HESLEP's previously posted hunt. Let's see if Shaw is more successful:-)): "On July 8th[1849] I had an opportunity of gratifying my desire to capture at least one buffalo, for I was then one of the hunters. Exchanging my Spanish saddle-mule for a horse said to be a leader in the chase, we were off before sunrise, and in a short time sighted a large herd of buffaloes quietly gazing on the river bottom. There were estimated to be four miles away, but in the clear atmosphere of that locality they seemed much nearer. We managed to keep out of their sight until within a mile of them, when they threw up their heads and were soon in rapid motion for the hills. "We thought to cut them off by taking advantage of the ground, but they beat us to the bluffs and for a short time were out of sight in a perfect labyrinth of low sandhills, among which they scattered in all directions. It would have been useless to attempt to estimate the number of animals in the herd, for they occupied three or four miles of the river bottom, yet it seemed but a few minutes from the time those nearest us became aware of our presence until every buffalo had gained the bluffs and was lost to view. Our horses became excited and did their best to overtake the fleeing herd. Each hunter selected his route and we were soon out of sight of one another. "An immense cloud of dust hung over the landscape and a buffalo could hardly be distinguished 30 yards away, while numerous washouts, or gullies, made rapid riding both difficult and dangerous. "Back in the hills a mile or two I found myself within 20 yards of the game, and, raising my gun, I fired at the nearest buffalo. The animal didn't fall, but I DID:-) At the report of the gun my horse... became terribly frightened and changed his course very suddenly, leaving me in a heap on the hard, gravelly earth. "The fall resulted in my being considerably bruised and shaken up, but not otherwise injured. My clothing received some gaping rents, while my canteen was crushed into a shapeless mass and completely ruined. I was pleased, however, to find that my gun had passed through the ordeal without material injury. "The frightened horse took the back track at once. carrying with him my ammunition and small arms, and leaving me with an empty gun to get out of the hills as best as I could. Slowly and sorrowfully I walked back to the valley, where I found my horse and joined the other hunters, and thus ended my FIRST and LAST buffalo hunt."(From Shaw's "Across the Plains in '49"). And it looked so easy in the movies:-))) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>