Part 17 (2/2)

I roused up round and listened, they also could hear the sa sound

I was not yet perfectly convinced that the chief was right, but he asserted that there was no mistake about the matter

When we told the chief that we had no food, he looked rather blank, and shortly returned with some dried venison, which ere fain to cook as best we could before the fire We had a small supply of biscuit, and a stream at hand furnished us ater Thus fortified, we mounted our horses and rode to the top of a hill near at hand, from which we could con, however, of a buffalo could be seen; still the chief was confident that he was not mistaken, and we pushed our horses in the direction of the sounds we had heard for at least ten one about another tenthe prairie

”I told you so,” said the chief; ”there they are, and we shall in less than another hour be up to thein of the herd, looking, as I have said, like a black line thrown along the edge of the sky, or a low shore just visible across a lake

We calculated that the place where we first heard the sounds of the animals' feet could not have been less than twenty miles off As we drew near we observed that the herd was in the wildest state of co at each other and fighting desperately, the sounds produced by the knocking together of their hoofs as they raised their feet fro and loud and furious roars as they engaged in their terrific conflicts, created an uproar which it see our horses took so quietly; but we had chosen ani the buffalo, and they were as eager as ere for the chase Under other circureat caution to approach the herd; but engaged as they noere they were not easily alar the e rode directly at thealloped forward ”Single out the cows; they alone are worth eating Don't stop to raes after you have fired, but pour in the powder, and drop down the bullet upon it 'Twill serve your purpose, for you er till you're close to the aniround”

We, of course, promised to follow his instructions, and dashed forward

As we got nearerthat the herd was so densely packed that we should have the greatest difficulty inour horses injured by their horns; not that the buffaloes would have run at them, but in consequence of the rapid way in which they e, in all directions We therefore galloped along in front of the herd with the intention of getting on their flanks, or finding soht reach the cows

At last the chief proposed that we should dis the horses under the care of soht this a very hazardous experiment, and made some remark to that effect

”Not so hazardous as you may suppose,” answered the chief ”The animals will not see you, and you have only to leap out of their way should any co”

”I have often shot buffalo in that way,” exclaimed Robin ”Keep with me, David, and we'll see e can do”

I preferred trusting him to the chief, whom Alick and Martin followed

Robin and I were soon in the e; but it was necessary to keep our eyes round us on all sides, and to be ready to leap here and there, to get out of the way of the animals, which were constantly on the move The part we had entered was of course far more open than that where we first made the attempt

Robin's coolness onderful He was the first to shoot a cow

”Let it alone,” he said; ”I see some more out there”

As we et at the cows, a wholearound us, and presently several, putting their heads to the ground, dashed forward, directly towards the place where ere standing

”Here! here!” cried Robin; ”we shall be safe,” and he pointed to a deep hollohich in the rainy season had held water, but was now perfectly dry

We both leaped in; when the bulls ca thereatest desperation The only chance we had of getting out of our disagreeable position was to kill the bulls and h them We fired and loaded as fast as we could, and seven lay stretched on the ground

”Now,” cried Robin, ”is our tih the herd; but greatly to our disappointment, e looked out for the coe found that our firing had alar this sort of work, we regained our horses and galloped on to wherea party of our Indian friends, who had just killed a cow

Most of the herd hadwhat had happened, bellowing furiously, caround with his horns The Indians, unwilling to stand his charge, turned and fled; when the ani eance on my steed

My well-trained aniun loaded, fired at the bull, which was not three yards fro his chest, he fell dead The Indians now returned, and began cutting up the cow While they were so engaged, another cohich they supposed to be the alloped towards us, bellowing loudly They, not having their ar that the coas resolved on revenging herself for the slaughter of her daughter