That was the first buffalo I had ever seen though I had travelled hundreds of miles in the buffalo country.  The conviction weighing upon my mind that it was a huge bear I was approaching had so excited me that, although within fair gun-shot, I actually could not see his horns.  The general and my companions had many a hearty laugh at my expense, he often expressing wonder that my keen eye could not, when close to the animal, perceive the horns, while he could see them plainly nearly two miles away.

When we moved up the river again, we hoped to fall in with game, though unfortunately found but little in our course.  When we had advanced some twenty miles we halted.  Our position looked threatening.  It was midwinter, and everything around us bore a gloomy aspect.  We were without any provisions, and we saw no means of obtaining any.  At this crisis, six or seven Indians of the Pawnee Loup band came into our camp.  Knowing them to be friendly, we were overjoyed to see them.  They informed our interpreter that their village was only four miles distant, which at once accounted for the absence of game.  They invited us to their lodges, where they could supply us with everything we needed, but on representing to them our scarcity of horses, and the quantity of peltry we had no means of packing, they immediately started off to their village.  Our interpreter accompanied them, in quest of horses, and speedily returned with a sufficient number.  Packing our effects, we accompanied them to the village, Two Axe and a Spaniard named Antoine Behele, chief of the band, forming part of our escort.

Arrived at their village, we replaced our lost horses by purchasing others in their stead, and now everything being ready for our departure, our general informed Two Axe of his wish to get on.

Two Axe objected:  “My men are about to surround the buffalo,” he said; “if you go now, you will frighten them.  You must stay four days more, then you may go.”  His word was law, so we stayed accordingly.

Within the four days appointed they made the “surround,” and killed fourteen hundred buffaloes.  The tongues were counted by General Ashley himself, and thus I can guarantee the assertion.

There were engaged in this hunt from one to two thousand Indians, some mounted and others on foot.  They encompassed a large space where the buffalo were contained, and, closing in around them on all sides, formed a complete circle.  The circle at first enclosed measured say six miles in diameter, with an irregular circumference determined by the movements of the herd.  When the “surround” was formed, the hunters radiated from the main body to the right and left, and the ring was entire.  The chief then gave the order to charge, which was communicated along the ring with lightning-like speed; every man then rushed to the centre, and the work of destruction