he camp. Sigenok called us early in the morning, and,
after a hasty breakfast, in high spirits we mounted our horses, and
accompanied the band of hunters. We made a wide circuit, so as to let
the wind blow from the buffaloes towards us. I should tell you that the
animal denominated the buffalo by the North Americans is what is
properly called the bison by naturalists. They roam in vast herds over
the interior of America, from Mexico as far north as the large river
Saskatchewan and Lake Winnipeg. We rode on, drawing nearer and nearer,
till, as we ascended a slight elevation, we saw over it on the plain on
the other side a vast herd of big-headed, dark, hairy monsters, more
buffaloes than I supposed existed on the whole continent. They were
feeding quietly, as if not aware of the approach of foes. Our captain,
an experienced hunter, rode along the ranks commanding silence,
directing every man to look to his arms, and exhorting the novices not
to shoot each other, a danger which might justly be apprehended. Each
hunter now ascertained that his rifle was loaded, and then filled his
mouth with bullets--a ready-at-hand pouch, that he might the more
quickly drop them into his piece. I was afraid of following this
example, for fear of the bullets dropping down my throat or of my gun
bursting. Malcolm and I kept close to Sigenok. He told us to do what
he did, not to lose sight of him, assuring us that our horses understood
hunting perfectly. Our hearts beat with eagerness. We had now got near
enough, in the opinion of our leader, to charge. The signal was given,
and at headlong speed the band of huntsmen dashed in among the
astonished animals. The buffaloes fled in all directions, the horsemen
following, firing right and left, and loading again with extraordinary
rapidity, seldom missing; and as each animal fell, the hunter who had
killed it dropped some article of his dress, or other mark, by which he
might distinguish it.

It was the most exciting scene in which I was ever engaged--the hunters,
so lately a dense and orderly body, were now scattered far and wide over
the plain, many miles apart, in pursuit of the buffaloes; some
terror-stricken, others infuriated to madness. Sigenok had killed five
or six, and Malcolm had also, much to our gratification, killed one,
though I had not been so successful, from nervousness, I fancy; when the
Indian being at some distance, as we were in full chase of another
buffalo,