en they returned laden with rich furs from their periodical
hunting expeditions. But this knowledge of his only served to whet his
curiosity and his desire to _see_ the denizens of the prairies with his
own eyes, and now that his wish was accomplished, it greatly increased
the pleasures of his journey.

Dick had just reached the "wallow" referred to by Joe Blunt, and had
reined up his steed to observe it leisurely, when a faint hissing sound
reached his ear. Looking quickly back he observed his two companions
crouching on the necks of their horses, and slowly descending into a
hollow of the prairie in front of them, as if they wished to bring the
rising ground between them and some object in advance. Dick instantly
followed their example and was soon at their heels.

"Ye needn't look at the waller," whispered Joe, "for a' t'other side o'
the ridge there's a bull _wallerin'_."

"Ye don't mean it!" exclaimed Dick, as they all dismounted and picketed
their horses to the plain.

"Oui," said Henri, tumbling off his horse, while a broad grin overspread
his good-natured countenance; "it is one fact! One buffalo bull be
wollerin' like a enormerous hog. Also, dere be t'ousands o' buffaloes
farder on."

"Can ye trust yer dog keepin' back?" inquired Joe, with a dubious glance
at Crusoe.

"Trust him! Ay, I wish I was as sure o' myself."

"Look to your primin', then, an' we'll have tongues and marrow-bones for
supper to-night, I'se warrant. Hist! down on yer knees, and go softly.
We might ha' run them down on horseback, but its bad to wind yer beasts
on a trip like this, if ye can help it; an' it's about as easy to stalk
them. Leastways, we'll try. Lift yer head slowly, Dick, an' don't show
more nor the half o't above the ridge."

Dick elevated his head as directed, and the scene that met his view was
indeed well calculated to send an electric shock to the heart of an
ardent sportsman. The vast plain beyond was absolutely blackened with
countless herds of buffaloes, which were browsing on the rich grass.
They were still so far distant that their bellowing, and the trampling
of their myriad hoofs, only reached the hunters like a faint murmur on
the breeze. In the immediate foreground, however, there was a group of
about half a dozen buffalo cows feeding quietly, and in the midst of
them an enormous old bull was enjoying himself in his wallow. The
animals, towards which our hunters now crept with murderous intent,