An Autobiography of Buffalo Bill (Colonel W. F. Cody)Buffalo Bill
History
An Autobiography of Buffalo Bill (Colonel W. F. Cody)
Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917; Entertainers -- United States -- Biography; Pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography; West (U.S.) -- Biography
It was evident to all of us that there could be little more sport for
that day. At the request of General Sheridan I guided the Russians back
to camp. Several of the others in the party decided to indulge in a
little hunt on their own account, and presently we saw them galloping
madly over the prairie in all directions, with terrified buffaloes
flying before them.
As we were crossing a stream on our way back to camp we ran into a
small band that had been frightened by some of these hunters. They came
sweeping across our path, not more than thirty feet away, and as they
passed Alexis raised his pistol and fired generally into the herd. A
buffalo cow fell.
It was either an extraordinary shot or a "scratch," probably the
latter. The Duke was as much astonished as any of us at the result, but
we gave him three rousing cheers, and when the ambulance came up we had
a second round of champagne in honor of the prowess of our
distinguished fellow hunter. I began to hope that he would keep right
on killing buffaloes all the afternoon, for it was apparent that every
time he dropped an animal a basket of champagne was to be opened. And
in those days on the Plains champagne was not a drink that could be
indulged in very often.
I took care of the hides and heads of the buffaloes the Grand Duke had
shot, as he wanted them all preserved as souvenirs of his hunt, which
he was now enjoying immensely. I also cut the choice meat from the cow
that he had killed and brought it into camp. At supper he had the
pleasure of dining on buffalo meat which he himself had provided.
Eight buffaloes were killed by Alexis during the three days we remained
in camp. He spent most of his time in the saddle, and soon became
really accomplished. After he had satisfied himself as to his own
ability as a buffalo killer he expressed a desire to see how the
Indians hunted them. He had never seen bows and arrows used in the
pursuit of game. Spotted Tail, who had joined the hunt according to his
promise, picked out some of his best hunters, and when Alexis joined
them directed them to surround a herd. They were armed with bows and
arrows and lances.
I told the Grand Duke to follow one particularly skillful brave whose
name was Two Lance, who had a reputation for being able to drive an
arrow clear through the body of a bull. The Indian proved equal to his
fame. He hauled alongside of an animal, and, bending his powerful bow,
let fly an arrow, which passed directly through the bulky carcass of a
galloping brute, who fell dead instantly. The arrow, at the Grand
Duke's request, was given to him as a souvenir which he doubtless often
exhibited as proof of his story when some of his European friends
proved a little bit skeptical of his yarns of the Western Plains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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