prevent him?" replied Dan.

Next morning all was bustle, eager expectation, and lively conversation
in the camp. Archie was there again, promoted to the condition of a
full-fledged hunter by the possession of a gun. Little Bill was there
also. He had improved so much in health and strength that he was
permitted to ride with the runners on a pony; but was to content himself
with viewing the battle from afar--that is, well in rear.

"Now, Little Bill," said Archie, with the seriousness of a grandfather,
as they galloped with the hunters over the rolling plains, across which
were streaming the first beams of the rising sun, "you must promise me
to keep well in rear, and on no account to join in the chase. It's of
no use to go in without a gun, you know, and there is great risk when in
the thick of it, that you may come across a bullet or two. You'll have
all the fun without the danger, Little Bill."

"All right, old boy; I'll do my best."

"Hallo, Archie!" cried Jenkins, galloping up alongside, with the
blunderbuss in his left hand, "I've bin lookin' for you, lad. It's not
easy to spy out a friend in such a shoal o' queer craft. Are 'ee goin'
to sail alongside o' me this bout?"

"Of course I am, Fred. A man that can steer his way by compass over
such a sea o' grass is worth holding on to."

"Well, then, heave ahead. We'll hunt in couples. I see they're gettin'
into line o' battle, which means that the enemy's in view."

The sailor was right. Buffalo were seen grazing in the far distance,
and the cavalcade was getting into line so as to advance in good order.

As on a former occasion, they approached at a slow pace until the
animals began to lift their heads and throw inquiring glances in the
direction from which the mounted host came. Then the word was given to
trot, and, finally, to charge.

The rush on this occasion was even more tremendous than on the former,
for there were considerably more men, and a larger herd of buffalo.

The lumbering heavy gait of the latter at the first start did not
suggest the racing speed to which the clumsy creatures attained when
they were hard pressed. Soon the dropping shots of the fast riders
swelled into the rattling musketry of the real fight, and ere long the
plain became strewed with dead and wounded animals, while smoke and dust
obscured the air.

There was no order maintained after the first onset. Every man seemed
to fight for his own hand. Crossing and