!" but Dick was too sleepy and
miserable to say anything. Crusoe, however, rose up to show his
sympathy, and laid his wet head on his master's knee as he resumed his
place. This catastrophe happened three times in the space of an hour,
and by the third time they were all wakened up so thoroughly that they
gave up the attempt to sleep, and amused each other by recounting their
hunting experiences and telling stories. So engrossed did they become
that day broke sooner than they had expected--and just in proportion as
the grey light of dawn rose higher into the eastern sky did the spirits
of these weary men rise within their soaking bodies.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE "WALLERING" PECULIARITIES OF BUFFALO BULLS--THE FIRST BUFFALO HUNT
AND ITS CONSEQUENCES--CRUSOE COMES TO THE RESCUE--PAWNEES DISCOVERED--A
MONSTER BUFFALO HUNT--JOE ACTS THE PART OF AMBASSADOR.

Fortunately the day that succeeded the dreary night described in the
last chapter was warm and magnificent. The sun rose in a blaze of
splendour and filled the atmosphere with steam from the moist earth.

The unfortunates in the wet camp were not slow to avail themselves of
his cheering rays. They hung up everything on the bushes to dry, and by
dint of extreme patience and cutting out the comparatively dry hearts of
several pieces of wood, they lighted a fire and boiled some rain water,
which was soon converted into soup. This, and the exercise necessary
for the performance of these several duties, warmed and partially dried
them, so that when they once more mounted their steeds and rode away
they were in a state of comparative comfort and in excellent spirits.
The only annoyance was the clouds of mosquitoes and large flies that
assailed men and horses whenever they checked their speed.

"I tell ye wot it is," said Joe Blunt, one fine morning about a week
after they had begun to cross the prairie, "it's my 'pinion that we'll
come on buffaloes soon. Them tracks are fresh, an' yonder's one o'
their wallers that's bin used not long agone."

"I'll go have a look at it," cried Dick, trotting away as he spoke.

Everything in these vast prairies was new to Dick Varley, and he was
kept in a constant state of excitement during the first week or two of
his journey. It is true he was quite familiar with the names and habits
of all the animals that dwelt there, for many a time and oft had he
listened to the "yarns" of the hunters and trappers of the Mustang
Valley, wh