We hunted for many miles around, including north-eastern New Mexico and the “pan-handle” of Texas. We had the hill-side covered with hides for some distance; and game becoming scarce, we concluded to pile up our hides and load up our outfit and start for other quarters. We followed the Cimaron down into _Kansas_; and just before we went into the _territory_ we came on to a large herd of buffaloes, and killed enough to load our wagon with _hides_, leaving the rich, delicious meat to the wolves. We followed the river into the territory, and one evening a government officer with three men came out from Salt Springs to our camp; for we had been reported killing buffaloes in the territory. The officer rode up insultingly, and without any questions began to abuse us and call us _trespassers_ and _thieves_, and said he had a great mind to upset the wagon and burn every hide we had. We told him we had not killed the buffaloes in the _territory_. But he continued his abuse; and thinking it about _our time_ to talk, and being four against four, we told him we had _enough talk_ now, and we wanted to see him burn the hides. We were well prepared; and seeing his position, he rode off with his men--I suppose partially convinced that a star upon the breast of an abusive scoundrel does not enable him to ride over honest men. It was now getting late in the season, and we concluded to haul our hides to market and travel over the south during the summer. We left the outfit at the _dug-out_, and two stayed with it and the other two hauled hides. We took up two fall loads, and had as many more as we could haul with the outfit the third trip. We shipped them to Kansas City and sold them well, and struck a rich dividend. We camped up and down the Arkansas, fishing and occasionally shooting a deer among the brush along the river, and spending some time moving in the refined society of the valley, and now and then staying a little late conversing with the cultured daughters of the ranchmen. We spent many pleasant days and evenings thus; and after trimming up the outfit carefully, and laying in a good supply of ammunition and such eatables as we supposed would be needed on our trip, we were ready to start again for southern sights. CHAPTER IV. Summer Trip Through the South--Indian Agencies--Canadian River--Lion Fight--Red River--Double Mountain--Staked Plains--Pecos River--Indian Skirmish--Santa Fe, New Mexico--Return to the Arkansas Valley--Description of the Plains--Mirage--Dangers of the Prairie--Wild Horses and How Captured--Creasing Animals.