o often brushed off with bloody hands, that his whole visage
was speckled with gore, and his dress was by no means immaculate.

While Dick related his adventure, or _mis-adventure_ with the bull, Joe
and Henri completed the cutting out of the most delicate portions of the
buffalo, namely, the hump on its shoulder--which is a choice piece, much
finer than the best beef--and the tongue, and a few other parts. The
tongues of buffaloes are superior to those of domestic cattle. When all
was ready the meat was slung across the back of the pack-horse, and the
party, remounting their horses, continued their journey, having first
cleansed themselves as well as they could in the rather dirty waters of
an old wallow.

"See," said Henri, turning to Dick and pointing to a circular spot of
green as they rode along, "that is one old _dry_ waller."

"Ay," remarked Joe, "after the waller dries, it becomes a ring o'
greener grass than the rest o' the plain, as ye see. 'Tis said the
first hunters used to wonder greatly at these myster'ous circles, and
they invented all sorts o' stories to account for 'em. Some said they
wos fairy-rings, but at last they comed to know they wos nothin' more
nor less than places where buffaloes wos used to waller in. It's often
seemed to me that if we knowed the _raisons_ o' things we wouldn't be so
much puzzled wi' them as we are."

The truth of this last remark was so self-evident and incontrovertible
that it elicited no reply, and the three friends rode on for a
considerable time in silence.

It was now past noon, and they were thinking of calling a halt for a
short rest to the horses and a pipe to themselves, when Joe was heard to
give vent to one of those peculiar hisses that always accompanied either
a surprise or a caution. In the present case it indicated both.

"What now, Joe?"

"Injuns!" ejaculated Joe.

"Eh! fat you say? ou is de?"

Crusoe at this moment uttered a low growl. Ever since the day he had
been partially roasted he had maintained a rooted antipathy to Red-men.
Joe immediately dismounted, and placing his ear to the ground listened
intently. It is a curious fact that by placing the ear close to the
ground sounds can be heard distinctly which could not be heard at all if
the listener were to maintain an erect position.

"They're arter the buffalo," said Joe, rising, "an' I think it's likely
they're a band o' Pawnees. Listen an' ye'll hear their shouts quite
plain."