d by enraged and armed Sioux to the number of
300, who challenged the Saulteaux to come forth man to man, and fight it
out. The latter declined, and the half-breeds, many of whom were
related by marriage to the Saulteaux, managed to patch up a hollow peace
between them.

At last Victor, Ian, and Rollin got away, glad to have done both with
buffalo and savages. They now possessed three good horses, a supply of
fresh provisions, and plenty of ammunition. Thus provided they galloped
off with light hearts over the boundless plains, and soon left the camp
of the hunters far behind them.

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Note 1. This is no picture of the fancy, but true in all its details.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE CHASE CONTINUED, AND BROUGHT TO A FIERY TERMINATION.

With the unerring certainty of blood-hounds, the three friends now
settled down to the pursuit of Petawanaquat. From the Saulteaux Indians
they had received an exact description of the spot where the fugitive
had parted from them; they had, therefore, little difficulty in finding
it. Still less difficulty had they in following up the trail, for the
grass was by that time very long, and a horse leaves a track in such
grass which, if not very obvious to unaccustomed eyes, is as plain as a
highway to the vision of a backwoods hunter or a redskin.

Over the prairie waves they sped, with growing excitement as their hopes
of success increased; now thundering down into the hollows, anon
mounting the gentle slopes at full swing, or rounding the clumps of
trees that here and there dotted the prairie like islets in an
interminable sea of green; and ever, as they rounded an islet or topped
a prairie wave, they strained their eyes in earnest expectation of
seeing the objects of their pursuit on the horizon, but for several days
they raced, and gazed, and hoped in vain. Still they did not lose
confidence, but pressed persistently on.

"Our horses are fresh and good," said Victor as they reined in to a
gentle trot on the brow of a knoll to rest for a few minutes, "and
Petawanaquat's horse, whether good or bad, is double-weighted--although,
to be sure, Tony is not heavy."

"Besides," said Ian, "the redskin does not dream now of pursuit; so
that, pressing on as we do, we _must_ overtake him ere long."

"Voila, de buffalo!" said Rollin, pointing to a group of these huge
creatures, in the midst of which two bulls were wagi