Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/170

 zest Lander secured a promising portion but on endeavoring to bolt a morsel found it to be as tough and resilient as rubber. His teeth were strong and sharp-set by hunger but it was impossible for him to chew it, let alone to swallow it.

"Bull!" grunted Long Simons observing the collapse of Lander's hopes. "Tough old bull, too."

It was one of the great disappointments of Lander's life. He had set his heart on that first meal of buffalo steaks. Papa Clair sought to cheer him up by assuring:

"Very soon some fat cows. Ah, name of heaven! But that will be fine eating!"

"Don't tell me any more," growled Lander. "One must be a wolf to eat anything grown in this country."

They pushed on up the river to the South Platte where the company was put on the alert by a scout discovering three dead buffaloes near the confluence of the two forks.

"Injun work! We must 'a' scared 'em away before they could dress the critters," said Bridger.

Throwing out scouts on each side and far in advance they proceeded to investigate the huge