Hissodecha; "we can't run them; they would be off
through the thicket in a moment, and we would lose them all."

"Yes," replied the scout, "that is certain; but we can get them for all
that. I never saw a better place for a 'surround,' and it will take but
a short time to get your braves in position."

"True," said Hissodecha, "if the wind is right. How is it?"

"There is none," said the scout taking a feather from his head-dress and
tossing it in the air. "You see it falls direct."

"I see," said Hissodecha; "let us divide the men. We have enough to pen
them in completely. You can guide one-half of them to their stands. I
will go with the rest. You, Tahteckadahair," he continued, "had better
bring up your horse and stay where you are. It is about as good a stand
as you can get. You will have to wait patiently, as it may be an hour
before all are placed. When you hear the signal, which will be the
hunter's whistle, you may gallop forward and do your best. If we succeed
we shall have plenty of sport and a good supper, and I suppose you are
ready for that by this time."

The renegade now left me, followed by the scout, and went back to the
rest of the party. Their intention was to separate the band into two
equal parties, and each taking an opposite direction, to place men at
regular intervals around the prairie. They would keep in the chaparral
while on the march, and only discover themselves when the signal was
given. In this way, if the buffaloes did not take the alarm, we should
be almost certain of securing the entire herd.

As soon as Hissodecha left me, I selected my hunting arrows, which,
unlike those used for war, are not poisoned. Then I brought up my horse,
and having nothing else to do, I remained seated upon his back watching
the animals as they fed on, unaware of their danger.

The screaming of birds who flew up from the thicket showed that the
hunters were proceeding to their stands. Now and then an old bull,
standing like a sentinel on the outskirts of the herd, would snuff the
wind and strike the ground violently with his hoof as though suspecting
that something was wrong; but the others did not seem to mind him and
kept on cropping the luxuriant grass. Suddenly an object made its
appearance, emerging from the _motte_ in the center of the prairie. It
looked like a buffalo calf proceeding to join the others. As usual, a
pack of coyotes were sneaking around the herd, and these, on perceiving
the calf