In  the  course  of  our  march  we  struck  the
Arkansas,  but  found  ourselves  still  below  the
Red  Fork ;  and,  as  the  river  made  deep
bends,  we  again  left  its  banks,  and  continued
through  the  woods  until  nearly  three  o'clock,
when  we  encamped  in  a  beautiful  basin,  bor-
dered by  a  fine  stream,  and  shaded  by  clumps
of  lofty  oaks.  The  horses  were  now  "  hob-
bled ;"  that  is  to  say,  their  fore  legs  were
fettered  with  cords,  or  leathern  straps,  so  as
to  impede  their  movements,  and  prevent
their  wandering  far  from  the  camp  :  they
were  then  turned  loose  to  graze.  A  number
of  rangers,  prime  hunters,  started  off  in  dif-
ferent directions  in  search  of  game.  There
was  no  whooping  or  laughing  about  the
camp,  as  in  the  morning ;  all  were  either
busy  about  the  fires,  preparing  the  evening's
repast,  or  reposing  upon  the  grass.  Shots
were  soon  heard  in  various  directions.    After

E  6


84  TOUR    ON    THE    PRAIRIES.
a  time,  a  huntsman  rode  into  the  camp  with
the  carcass  of  a  fine  buck  hanging  across
his  horse.  Shortly  after  came  in  a  couple
of  stripling  hunters,  on  foot,  one  of  Avhom
bore  on  his  shoulders  the  body  of  a  doe.  He
was  evidently  proud  of  his  spoil,  being  pro-
bably one  of  his  first  achievements,  though
he  and  his  companion  were  much  bantered
by  their  comrades,  as  young  beginners,  who
hunted  in  partnership.
