ng
was the signal for encamping. Then the captains and their men arranged
the order of the camp. The carts as they arrived moved to their
appointed places, side by side, with the trains outwards, and formed a
circle, inside of which, at one end, the tents were pitched in double
and triple rows, the horses, etcetera, being tethered at the other end.
Thus they were at all times ready to resist attack from Indians.

Among other rules laid down on this occasion at starting were the
following:--

No hunting to be allowed on the Sabbath day. No party to fork off, lag
behind, or go before, without permission. No hunter or party to run
buffalo before the general order, and every captain in turn to mount
guard with his men and patrol the camp. The punishments for offenders
were, like themselves, rather wild and wasteful. For a first offence
against the laws, a culprit was to have his saddle and bridle cut up!
For the second, his coat to be taken and cut up; and for the third he
was to be flogged. A person convicted of theft was to be brought to the
middle of the camp, and have his or her name loudly proclaimed three
times, with the word "thief" added each time.

It was the third week out from the settlement when the hunters met with
Victor Ravenshaw and his friends, yet up to that day they had failed to
find the buffalo, and were well-nigh starving. The intelligence,
therefore, that scouts had at length discovered game, had filled the
camp with joy.

After having taken a little of the mettle out of his steed, as related
in the last chapter, Victor caused him to make a wide circuit on the
plain, and came up behind the line of hunters just as they topped a
prairie undulation, or wave, and sighted the buffalo. It was a grand
array, the sight of which thrilled the young sportsman to the heart.
Full four hundred huntsmen, mounted on fresh and restive steeds, were
slowly advancing, waiting eagerly for the word to start. Baptiste
Warder, their chief, was in front with his telescope, surveying the game
and the ground. Victor pushed in between Ian and Rollin, who rode near
the centre of the impatient line. The wild cattle blackened the plain
at the distance of about a mile and a half from them.

"Surely they must have seen us by this time," said Victor, in a voice of
suppressed agitation.

"Have you got your powder-horn and bullets handy?" asked Ian.

"Yes; all right."

"Put 'im in de mout, de mout," said Rollin qui