horses. The
Indians had completely surrounded the herd of buffaloes, and were now
advancing steadily towards them, gradually narrowing the circle, and
whenever the terrified animals endeavoured to break through the line,
they rushed to that particular spot in a body, and scared them back
again into the centre.

Thus they advanced until they closed in on their prey and formed an
unbroken circle round them, whilst the poor brutes kept eddying and
surging to and fro in a confused mass, hooking and climbing upon each
other, and bellowing furiously. Suddenly the horsemen made a rush, and
the work of destruction began. The tremendous turmoil raised a cloud
of dust that obscured the field in some places, and hid it from our
hunters' view. Some of the Indians galloped round and round the
circle, sending their arrows whizzing up to the feathers in the sides
of the fattest cows. Others dashed fearlessly into the midst of the
black heaving mass, and, with their long lances, pierced dozens of
them to the heart. In many instances the buffaloes, infuriated by
wounds, turned fiercely on their assailants and gored the horses to
death, in which cases the men had to trust to their nimble legs for
safety. Sometimes a horse got jammed in the centre of the swaying
mass, and could neither advance nor retreat. Then the savage rider
leaped upon the buffaloes' backs, and springing from one to another,
like an acrobat, gained the outer edge of the circle; not failing,
however, in his strange flight, to pierce with his lance several of
the fattest of his stepping-stones as he sped along.

A few of the herd succeeded in escaping from the blood and dust of
this desperate battle, and made off over the plains; but they were
quickly overtaken, and the lance or the arrow brought them down on the
green turf. Many of the dismounted riders were chased by bulls; but
they stepped lightly to one side, and, as the animals passed, drove
their arrows deep into their sides. Thus the tumultuous war went on,
amid thundering tread, and yell, and bellow, till the green plain was
transformed into a sea of blood and mire, and every buffalo of the
herd was laid low.

It is not to be supposed that such reckless warfare is invariably
waged without damage to the savages. Many were the wounds and bruises
received that day, and not a few bones were broken, but happily no
lives were lost.

"Now, lads, now's our time. A bold and fearless look's the best at all
times. Do