The hoisting of the flag every morning is the signal for raising camp.  Half an hour is the full time allowed to prepare for the march, but if anyone is sick, or their animals have strayed, notice is sent to the guide, who halts until all is made right.  From the time the flag is hoisted however, till the hour of camping arrives, it is never taken down.  The flag taken down is a signal for encamping, while it is up the guide is chief of the expedition, captains are subject to him, and the soldiers of the day are his messengers, he commands all.  The moment the flag is lowered his functions cease and the captains and soldiers’ duties commence.  They point out the order of the camp, and every cart as it arrives moves to its appointed place.  This business usually occupies about the same time as raising camp in the morning, for everything moves with the regularity of clockwork.

The captains and other chiefs have agreed on rules to govern the expedition, such as, that no buffaloes are to be run on Sunday, no party is to lag behind or to go before, no one may run a buffalo without a general order, etc.  The punishment for breaking the laws are for a first offence:  the offender had his saddle and bridle cut up:  for the second, to have the coat taken off his back and cut up:  for the third, the offender was flogged.  Any theft was punished by the offender being three times proclaimed “Thief,” in the middle of the camp.

On the 21st of June, after the priest had performed mass, for many were Roman Catholics, the flag was unfurled at about six or seven o’clock and the picturesque line was formed over the prairie, extending some five or six miles towards the southwest.  It was the ninth was gained.  This was a journey of about 150 day from Pembina before the Cheyenne River miles, and on the nineteenth day, at a distance of 250 miles, the destined hunting grounds were reached.  On the 4th of July, since the encampment was in the United States, the compliment was paid of having the first buffalo race.

No less than 400 huntsmen, all mounted and anxiously waiting for the word “Start,” took up their position in a line at one end of the camp, while Captain Wilkie issued his orders.

[Illustration:  Herd of buffaloes feeding on the high plains]

At eight o’clock the whole cavalcade broke ground, and made for the buffaloes.  When the horsemen started the buffaloes were about a mile and a half distant, but when they approached to about four or five hundred yards, the bulls curled their tails or pawed the ground.  In a moment more the herd took flight, and horse and rider are presently seen bursting upon them, shots are heard, and all is smoke, dust and hurry, and in less time than we have occupied with a description a thousand carcasses strew the plain.

When the rush was made, the earth seemed to tremble as the horses started, but when the animals fled, it was like the shock of an earthquake.  The air was darkened, the rapid firing, at first, soon became more and more faint, and at last died away in the distance.