off to hunt the
buffalo.

The said horse began by standing straight up on its hind legs like a
man! Victor held on by the mane. Reversing the process, it pointed its
tail to the sky. Victor stood in the stirrups. It swerved to the
right, it swerved to the left, but Victor swerved with it
accommodatingly. He was a splendid horseman. Finding that out at last,
the steed took the bit in its teeth and ran away. Victor let it run--
nay, he whacked its sides and _made_ it run. Dozens of wild fellows
were curvetting and racing around him. It was his _first_ hunt. Mad
with excitement, he finally swept away from his comrades with a series
of war-whoops that would have done credit to the fiercest redskin on the
North American plains.

CHAPTER SIX.

DESCRIBES A GREAT HUNT.

The huge bison, or buffalo, of the North American prairie is gregarious;
in other words, it loves society and travels in herds. These herds are
sometimes so vast as absolutely to blacken the plains for miles around.

The half-breed buffalo-hunters of Red River were also gregarious. From
the moment of their quitting the settlements they kept together for
mutual help and protection. Although a free, wild, and lawless set,
they found it absolutely necessary for hunting purposes to organise
themselves, and thus by voluntary submission to restraint, unwittingly
did homage to Law! On a level plain at a place called Pembina, three
days out from Red River, the whole camp squatted down; the roll was
called, and rules and regulations for the journey were agreed upon and
settled. Then ten captains were named, the senior being Baptiste
Warder, an English half-breed, a fine bold-looking and discreet man of
resolute character, who was thus elected the great war chief of the
little army. As commander-in-chief Baptiste had various duties to
perform, among others to see that lost property picked up about the camp
should be restored to its owner through the medium of a public crier,
who went his rounds every evening. Each captain had ten stout fellows
under him to act as soldiers or policemen. Ten guides were also
appointed, each of whom led the camp day about and carried its flag or
standard. The hoisting of the flag each morning was the signal for
raising the camp. Half an hour was the time allowed to get ready,
unless, any one being sick or animals having strayed, delay became
necessary. All day the flag remained up; its being lowered each eveni