nd
stock; yet, even as they stood, they were worth a good sum, for they
were already cleared--the chief work of the settler being thus done.
However, they realized as much as my father expected, and with a
well-equipped train and several hired attendants we set out.

The first part of our journey was tolerably easy; the emigrants were
good-humoured, we had abundance of provisions, the country was well
watered, and the cattle could obtain plenty of rich grass to keep up
their strength. But as soon as we got out of the more civilized
districts our difficulties began. Some of the rivers were very difficult
to cross, and often there was no small danger of the waggons sticking
fast in some spots, or being carried down by the current in others; then
we had hills to surmount and rocky ground to pass over, where there was
no herbage or water for our beasts.

My father kept aloof as much as possible from the other emigrants, so
that we did not hear of the complaints they were making. At last a
rumour reached us that the owners of several of the waggons were talking
of turning back. We had met at different times two or three trains of
people who had given up the journey, and these had declared that the
hardships were greater than any human beings could bear; but my father
had made up his mind, and go on he would, even if he carried his own
waggons alone over the prairie. A few Indians hovered round us at times,
but our rifle-shots warned them to keep off; and at night we encamped,
under my father's direction, in military fashion, with the waggons
placed so as to form a fortification round the camp.

Our fresh provisions had come to an end, too, and it now became very
important that we should procure game.

We had encamped one evening, when several Indians approached, making
signs that they were friends. They proved to belong to a tribe which had
been at peace with the white people. Our guide knew one of them, and we
had no doubt that they could be trusted. They have long since been
driven from their old hunting-grounds, and I forget even the name of the
tribe. When they heard that we were in want of fresh food, they said
that if any of our hunters would accompany them they would show us where
buffalo could be found; and that we might either shoot them ourselves,
or that they would try to kill some for us.

Few of our people, although hardy backwoodsmen, were accustomed to
hunting; and few, indeed, had ever seen any buffalo.