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Entered according to Act of Congress, in June. 1870, by J. W. Bubkk & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia Vol. IV—No. 19. THE YOUNG- EXPLORERS; OR, BOY-MFS IN TEXA3, CHAPTER XVII. ||JaME of all kinds was very abundant in the country we passed over to-day. We were scarcely ever out of'sight of half a-dozen herds of deer, and occa sionally a herd of antelopes was seen bounding gracefully away in the distance, K,for they were much more shy than the deer, and seldom per mitted us to ap proach nearer than half-a-mile of them. We al so passed one solitary old buf falo bull, that was standing on the apex of an abrupt elevation, gazing grimly down upon the little band of ex plorers so pre sumptuously trespassing on his domains. He looked like a very tough old customer, and we left him in undisturbed possession of his native wilds. In the chaparral we flushed many flocks of a species of quail, that differed in some respects from the common quail of the old States. They were a third larger, and of a bluish or lead-colored hue. Just after we had emerged from an extensive tract of chaparral into the open prairie, we saw a number of ani MACON, GEORGIA, NOVEMBER 5, 1870. mals of some sort ahead of us; but they were such a long way off we could not make out what they were. Mr. Pitt, however, took a peep at them through a spy-glass he had with him, and said they were men on horse back, or rather, four men on horse back, with six loose animals or pack mules. “ See which way they are travelling,” said Uncle Seth. After another “squint” at them, Mr. Pitt said he believed they were coming towards us: but they were still so far off he could not say whether they were Indians or white men. “ Well, if there’s only four of them,” said Uncle Seth, “ it don’t much matter wliat they are; for we kin sartainly hold our own agin any such squad as that.” In a little while Mr. Pitt took ano ther peep at the strangers. “ I think,” said he, “they are white men; but I may be mistaken.” “Let me have the ‘bring’em near,’” said Uncle Seth ; and after a long sight at the party, he said they were un doubtedly white men; “for,” said he, “ they’ve got hats on, and I never knowed an Ingen wear anything on his head except a feather or two, or may be so a pair of buffalo horns.” When we had approached within a mile of the'party, we noticed they came to a halt, evidently for the purpose of Whole No. 175. reconnoitering us. It is in this cautious and suspicious manner that parties on the plains always make their advances towards each other. In this instance, our reconnoiterers appeared soon to come to the conclusion that we were either white men, or else, if Indians, that our party was such a small one they could easily cope with us if our their way back into the settlements from a trapping expedition after beaver; that they had been'as high up the country as the head waters of the Llano, where they had found the beavers very abun dant, and had been very successful in trapping; and that the six pack-mules were loaded with their peltries. r ihey told us also, that they had had several intentions were hostile. At any rate, they moved rapidly towards us again. As they came up within speak ing distance, one of them said: “Hello, stran gers, which way are you travel ling ? ” Uncle Seth — who, as usual, was in advance replied that “We were n’t bound for any place in particu lar; only looking round at the country.” “Well,” said the one who had first spoken, “we are mighty glad to see you, any how, for you’re the first white men we have laid eyes on for th e 1 ast four months.” He then in formed us that they were just on