Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. To My Grandson GEORGE INMAN SEITZ CONTENTS CHAPTER I TAKING UP A "CLAIM" IN KANSAS--THE TRAIL FROM LEAVENWORTH--ANIMALS SEEN EN ROUTE--PRAIRIE CHICKENS--BUILDING THE CABIN--THE COSY SITTING-ROOM--ANIMALS FOUND IN THE TIMBER AND ON THE PRAIRIE--WHY THE CREEK WAS NAMED "OXHIDE" Page 1 CHAPTER II THE HOUSE IS FINISHED--BUILDING CORRALS--THE HOUNDS--THEIR FIGHT WITH A LYNX--ITS HIDE GIVEN TO GERTRUDE--THE IMMENSE HERD OF BUFFALO--CAPTURE FOUR CALVES--GET THEIR PONIES IN A STRANGE MANNER--BREAKING THEM Page 13 CHAPTER III THE BOYS GO FISHING FOR THE FIRST TIME--AN IDEA SUDDENLY STRIKES ROB--ROB'S QUEST AND LUCK--THE ISLAND OF WILLOWS--ROB'S BIG CAT--JOE'S TUSSLE WITH A PANTHER CUB--KILLS HIM--IS WOUNDED--SKINS THE ANIMAL, AND GETS HOME AT LAST--GIVES THE BEAUTIFUL ROBE TO HIS MOTHER Page 29 CHAPTER IV BOY AND GIRL LIFE AT ERROLSTRATH RANCHE--THEIR PETS--THE GIRLS ENCOUNTER A BIG PRAIRIE WOLF--JOE TO THE RESCUE--DEATH OF THE FEROCIOUS BEAST Page 48 CHAPTER V THE FRIENDLY PAWNEES CAMP ON THE OXHIDE--OLD "YELLOW CALF," THE CHIEF--JOE IS NAMED "THE WHITE PANTHER"--JOE GOES HUNTING WITH THE BAND--HE LEARNS THE LANGUAGE--HUNTING WITH THE BOYS OF THE TRIBE Page 62 CHAPTER VI THE STORY OF THE MASSACRE ON SPILLMAN CREEK--SCOUTS GO TO THE RESCUE--JOE AND ROB TALK OVER THE HORRID WORK OF THE SAVAGES--THE DOG SOLDIERS--CHARLEY BENT--PLACE OF RENDEZVOUS--PARTY STARTS OUT--JOE'S OPINION IS ASKED Page 71 CHAPTER VII ARRIVAL OF CAVALRY ON THE ELKHORN--A DEER HUNT--WHAT THE SCOUTS SAW--THE STORY OF THE TWO LITTLE GIRLS--THE DEAD AND WOUNDED--MEN HIDDEN IN THE BRUSH--AN INDIAN LEGEND--ARRIVAL OF THE INFANTRY--THE DEER HUNT IN THE MORNING--DEATH OF THE DEER Page 98 CHAPTER VIII MR. TUCKER PASSES THE NIGHT AT ERROLSTRATH--HE TELLS SOME STORIES OF HUNTING BIG GAME IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS--SAGACITY OF THE FEMALE BIGHORN--THE AMERICAN COUGAR--THE BEAR AND THE PANTHER--THE RABBIT HUNT--HOW THE BOYS TRAINED THEIR HOUNDS Page 118 CHAPTER IX INDIAN RAIDS--KATE IS MISSING--"BUFFALO BILL'S" OPINION--"BUFFALO BILL" FINDS HER LITTLE BASKET--THE SOLDIERS RETURN TO THE FORT WITHOUT FINDING HER--GRIEF OF THE FAMILY Page 137 CHAPTER X HOW KATE WAS CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS--THE BAND RIDE RAPIDLY SOUTHWARD--AT THE INDIAN VILLAGE--HER DETERMINATION TO ESCAPE--TEACHES THE SQUAWS--IS TREATED KINDLY Page 147 CHAPTER XI