a sort of aside: 'You keep close to me, eh! _mon petit
ami_. Kill big buffalo for sure, eh!'

Hector responded with a grateful smile. 'I will that if I can, but
your fine horse will likely run away from my pony.'

'Non-non--that's all right,' laughed Narcisse, pleased at the
compliment to his steed. 'You keep so near me as possible.'

The different groups of riders being about a quarter of a mile apart,
the whole party covered a pretty wide stretch of prairie, as they
steered due west at a leisurely lope.

The leader's plan of campaign was that, on a herd of buffalo being
sighted, every effort should be made to surround it without stampeding
it, and to this end instructions had been given to the captains of each
band that not a shot should be fired until the signal was given by
Carter himself.

On they loped over the billowy prairie, the tensity of eagerness
growing with each mile covered. Suddenly, Carter, who was a little in
advance of all the others, pulled up on the hither side of a swale, and
gave the signal agreed upon for a general halt. It passed from band to
band almost instantaneously and the hunters became as motionless as
statues.

Carter, slipping from his horse, went forward cautiously on foot some
little distance, and then, dropping on all fours, peered over the top
of a big swale beyond which, perhaps, was the big game they sought.

'He see 'em! Buffalo near now!' exclaimed Narcisse to Hector, as he
tightened rein and grasped his gun more firmly. 'You be ready, eh?'
Hector was too excited to do more than nod assent, as he kept his eyes
following every movement of Carter.

The latter, evidently satisfied with his scrutiny, made haste back to
his horse, and, having remounted, by making a sort of semaphore of
himself, waving his arms in rapid fashion, signalled to the captains of
each band.

They caught his meaning, and the next instant, all were in motion
closing in toward their leader. When they were near enough he
signalled for them to spread out in a single line, then, waving his gun
above his head as a final signal for them to do likewise, he dashed
forward at the full speed of his swift steed.

As they swept over the swale, the buffalo came in sight--a fine herd,
numbering several hundred, grazing on the rich grass in utter
unconsciousness of the human cyclone rushing upon them.

The wind blew from them towards the hunters, thus giving the latter,
whose ponies' hoofs made scarce