We were very sorry that evetiing to learn that these
rascally Sioux had shot a good many of our milch-
cows — nearly half of them, indeed — with their arrows,
and several of them fatally. The first intimation we
had of ijr wasvffbm seeing their fine old thorough-
bred bull walk Micross the river, tracking his course
with blood, into the Fort, and up to the foot of the
staff from which floated the colours of his country,
and there sink down and expire. Poor fellow ! I

K 2



132 RAMBLES AND ADVENTUEBS. [ohap. t.
often rejoice that I knew not when Ramsay and I met
the two Sioux what barbarities they had just been
practising on our poor cattle, or I fear I should have
acted on his suggestion, and have shot them both.
The loss of this handsome, noble animal was
universally regretted in the Fort, for besides his great
value as their only means of continuing the breed of
domestic cattle in that remote region, he proved
most useful in drawing home many a heavy load of
meat, and much of the wood for the fuel in the
Fort; as a tribute to his memory, I must here
record a single combat of his with a bison, which,
according to the description of his keeper, " Black
Joseph," must have been truly Homeric.
