I
slowly began to realize that I was left alone on the plains on foot, how
many miles from home I did not know. Remembering I had my guns all
right, it was my impulse to go in pursuit of my horse as I thought I
could eventually catch him after he had got over his scare, but when I
thought of my 40 pound saddle, and I did not want to leave that, so
saying to myself that is the second saddle I ever owned, the other
having been taken by the Indians when I was captured, and this saddle
was part of the outfit presented to me by the boys, and so tired and as
hungry as a hawk, I shouldered my saddle and started out in the
direction I was going when I went into camp, saying to myself as I did
so, if my horse could pack me and my outfit day and night I can at least
pack my outfit. Keeping my direction as well as I could I started out
over the prairie through the dark, walking all that night and all the
next day without anything to eat or drink until just about sundown and
when I had begun to think I would have to spend another night on the
prairie without food or drink, when I emerged from a little draw on to
a raise on the prairie, then looking over on to a small flat I saw a
large herd of buffalo. These were the first I had seen since I became
lost and the sight of them put renewed life and hope in me as I was then
nearly famished, and when I saw them I knew I had something to eat.

Off to one side about 20 yards from the main herd and about 150 yards
from me was a young calf. Placing my Winchester to my shoulder I glanced
along the shining barrel, but my hands shook so much I lowered it again,
not that I was afraid of missing it as I knew I was a dead shot at that
distance, but my weakness caused by my long enforced fast and my great
thirst made my eyes dim and my hands shake in a way they had never done
before, so waiting a few moments I again placed the gun to my shoulder
and this time it spoke and the calf dropped where it had stood. Picking
up my outfit I went down to where my supper was laying. I took out my
jack knife and commenced on one of his hind quarters. I began to skin
and eat to my hearts content, but I was so very thirsty. I had heard of
people drinking blood to quench their thirst and that gave me an idea,
so cutting the calf's throat with my knife I eagerly drank the fresh
warm blood.

It tasted very much like warm sweet milk. It quenched my thirst and made
me feel strong, when I had eaten all I could, I cu